The world's smartest dogs
Source: pmarkham
Ask any dog owner and you will hear tales of just how smart, clever and intelligent their four legged friend really is. It is impossible to be around any companion dog and not have a feeling that they understand what is being said, have the ability to problem solve and even develop extremely creative ways to get into things they have no business being involved in.
Despite how smart everyone thinks that his or her dog is, there are some breeds that are known for their overall intelligence. This level of intelligence is typically related to the breed traits and characteristics, as well as an actual thinking ability. Finding the right match between natural ability and intelligence is the key in maximizing any dog's thinking power and performance.
In research studies that test different breeds for intelligence in a range of activities and not just their given breed traits, the Border Collie constantly comes out as the brightest. They are able to learn a wide variety of commands and are outstanding in obedience, agility, learning tricks with minimal repetition, as well as herding and responding to non-verbal commands.
Number two on the list is the Standard Poodle. This dog can be taught to hunt, perform a huge variety of tricks, learn basic commands with little repetition and practice as well as complete in agility and obedience work. Poodles can also be trained to be guard dogs and companion dogs, providing assistance for disabled individuals.
Number three and four respectively in most research includes the German Shepherd Dog and the Golden Retriever. Highly versatile and able to work on a job even without direct human supervision, these are often very serious dogs that are still highly affectionate and loyal. They are considered to be very easy to train and have a natural ability to tune into human emotion, responding to stress, joy and sorrow in amazingly human ways.
Rounding out the top five is the Doberman Pinscher. This dog has done it all from being a war dog, assistance dog, guard dog and police dog, through to competing in agility and obedience classes. The well bred Doberman is loyal and loving, and has a true need to be around his or her family to be truly happy and content.
As with any generalisation about intelligence, each dog within a breed will have his or her own areas of strength. Encouraging the dog to think, solve problems and learn new tricks are all good ways to boost your dog's intelligence and thinking ability, while also providing great mental stimulation.
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