Studies consistently show that dogs display many behaviours associated with intelligence. They have advanced memory skills and can react appropriately to human gestures, actions, and voice commands. But do you know what the top 10 smartest dog breeds are?
Most breeds on this list are descended from working dogs, which explains why they are all bright. We've selected the top 10 most intellectual dog breeds below. Breeders would pick the canines that were the most clever, trainable, and effective in their jobs. Doing this created breeds of intelligent animals that prosper when given the proper training and exercise.
Border Collie
When it comes to dog intellect, Border Collies routinely place first. They were bred for the arduous labour of herding sheep, which many people still do today. They must be able to act quickly and decide where to drive the sheep with just a few directions from their handler. They must also cooperate with other dogs and the shepherd to ensure the sheep arrive where they are supposed to.
Border Collies make fantastic friends and are ideal for dog sports like agility, obedience, canicross, and disc dog, thanks to their exceptional agility and speed.
Poodle
Some people might believe that the Poodle is just a showy dog carried around by the upper classes, but they would be mistaken. The Poodle is a gun dog that excels at retrieving game from water, just like many other dogs on this list. Their intelligence comes in handy because they need to be able to negotiate challenging terrain quickly.
The Poodle is adept at various tasks and canine sports; they make devoted canine companions and are excellent service and agility dogs.
Poodles are becoming a popular parent breed for several of the country's favourite mixed-breed dogs, including Cockapoos and Labradoodles.
German Shepherd
Although trained to herd sheep and defend them from predators and other dangers, the noble German shepherd is best known for his work as a police dog. Owners of working German Shepherds need them to be clever, capable of making independent judgments, and able to understand their handler's directions, just like the other herding dogs on this list.
German Shepherds are highly devoted to their owners and excellent at obedience training, whether employed as police dogs or treated like pampered puppies at home.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a wonderful family dog and is not just simple to teach. Despite being originally bred as gun dogs, their outstanding emotional intelligence makes them perfect candidates for support dogs. They possess the independence of thought and speed of decision-making needed for many of their jobs.
Doberman Pinscher
Fans of the breed will recognize Doberman Pinschers as smart, devoted, and active friends even though they were initially bred as guard dogs. Thanks to their defence instinct, they are extremely trainable and have perfect focus and attention. Modern Dobermans are significantly less aggressive than their working relatives, and with constant training, they may make fantastic house companions.
Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog, also known as the Sheltie, is another herding dog bred on the Shetland Islands. Farmers needed Shelties to do all sorts of things around the farm, including keeping birds out of the field and letting their families know when a stranger was approaching the farm. They are intelligent and quick, meaning they dominate agility in their size group and are often top picks for competitors who don't want to run a Border Collie.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador is the classic family dog, and despite their goofy behaviour at home, these hardy pooches are incredibly easy to train and eager to please. Because they were bred to be gun dogs, they must be able to think on their feet, judge scenarios, and make quick decisions - the same skills required to be an exceptional assistance dog.
Papillon
The smallest dog on this list may come as a surprise to some. However, when you look past its showy 'butterfly' ears, you'll find a dog with exceptional intelligence, charm, and drive. It's no surprise that the Papillon has inherited some of the brain power of early Spaniels, and owners are often surprised to discover that their dogs can excel in sports like agility and obedience.
Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a misunderstood breed of dog employed for various tasks, including police and military work, herding cattle, and pulling butcher carts. These perceptive canines have demonstrated their capacity to fit into various roles, including that of cherished family members, and they adore working. They flourish under strong, dependable leadership and develop strong ties with their owners.
Australian Cattle Dog
This strong puppy was developed to transport livestock over great distances. The Australian Cattle Dog needs to be tenacious, determined, and quick-witted to deal with creatures that are considerably larger than itself; fortunately, they possess all three of these traits in abundance. The Australian Cattle Dog is unique among canines because its ancestors were tamed dingos, which were said to have extraordinary intelligence.