We all like to think our dog is the smartest dog in the world and I suppose someone does own the single most intelligent dog, so maybe it is you. But I doubt it! What are the chances of that?
Anyway, there are certain dog breeds that are generally more intelligent than others. In this post we will look at the top ten smartest dog breeds from the 10th most intelligent to the 1st.
Don’t worry if your breed of dog isn’t on this list, it’s usually not all that important to have a really smart dog. As long as you train your dog well he will seem smarter than most dogs anyway.
Alright, let’s take a look at the most intelligent dog breeds starting with number ten and working our way to number one. The top 10 smartest dogs are…
#10 - Australian Cattle Dog
As its name suggests, the Australian Cattle Dog was originally bred for herding cattle and they are very intelligent. They need to be stimulated to be happy, as one would expect from an intelligent dog with a working background. These dogs are most happy when they are working so they need regular exercise and lots of mental stimulation.
#9 - Rottweiler
Although you may have heard differently, the Rottweiler is actually a great family dog, and this breed is not nearly as fierce as many people believe. They are very good with kids and are extremely loyal and loving to their family members. They are very smart dogs and are easy to train. Rottweiler’s are also renowned for their guarding ability and are known as the best guard dog in the world.
#8 - Papillon
The Papillon is a lovable and intelligent dog that is very protective of its owner. As with most intelligent dogs they are usually quite easy to train.
#7 - Labrador Retriever
These are one of the most popular dog breeds because of their good nature, love of children, intelligence, and ability to easily socialize with other dogs. Labradors need a lot of exercise and have a tendency to develop weight problems.
#6 - Shetland Sheepdog
This is a dog breed that was bred for herding sheep and other livestock. To do their job well they obviously need to be intelligent and that is why they come in at number six on the smartest dogs list. They’re not quite as good as some of the other breeds on this list at socializing with other people or children, but they are excellent pets with their own family.
#5 - Doberman Pinscher
Despite their reputation, Dobermans can be great family dogs and really good with children if they are trained properly. It is important that the Doberman be trained early on in its life or they can be temperamental. They are very smart, and like many intelligent dogs are very protective of their home and family.
#4 - Golden Retriever
These are one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world and they are great with children, and are a very loyal and loving dog. It’s quite common to see Golden Retrievers winning dog competitions where intelligence is important.
#3 - German Shepherd
This is a dog breed that is often associated with police, military, and service dog work. It’s chosen for these jobs because it is intelligent and very capable in most situations. German Shepherds make great family and guard dogs, and are good with children. They need to be trained and know who their master is from a young age to ensure both they and the family get the most out of their relationship.
#2 - Standard Poodle
The second smartest dog might surprise a lot of people because they aren’t usually associated with being so intelligent. They are one of the easiest dogs to train and don’t like to be left alone because they love people so much. However, they are very protective and can be quite vicious if an intruder comes on their property.
#1 - Border Collie
The smartest dog in the world is the Border Collie. This is another dog breed that is often seen winning competitions where intelligence is important. Because they are so intelligent, they need to be stimulated regularly and are most happy when they’re working or performing in competitions or dog trials.
There you go, the top 10 smartest dog breeds. If you own one of these breeds and you have trained your dog properly, you can be confident that you have one of the most intelligent dogs in the world.
Finally, let me end by saying that the breeds above are overall the smartest dogs in the order given. It’s a generalization of most dogs of each particular breed. There are always exceptions to any rule so it’s possible that the single smartest dog in the world isn’t from a breed listed above. It’s also possible that the single dumbest dog in the world is from a breed on this list. However, in general the above dog breeds are the top 10 most intelligent dogs.
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Having an untrained dog is not only embarrassing; it can also be stressful for your dog and be harmful to him in many situations. If your dog isn’t trained it’s much more difficult to take him out in public because he won’t listen, or he might harm someone or get in harms way himself. For these reasons and many more, dog training is a very important part of owning a dog.
At the very least, you must train your dog to obey the “sit” and “come” commands. If you knows those really well then you will be able to control your dog in most social situations. More importantly, you’ll be able to call your dog back to you if you see he is heading into a dangerous situation.
Let’s face it, owning a dog that does not obey you can really harm your relationship with your dog and make him much less pleasurable to own. You got a dog so that you would have a companion that you can take on walks and so they can accompany you to certain places. But if your dog isn’t trained he won’t listen to you and you will soon find that no one wants him around, including you. The result is that you spend less and less time with your dog and your bond becomes weaker and weaker, which will also lead to more behavior problems for your pet.
A well trained dog, on the other hand, is a treat for everyone, especially you as the owner. You will find that your friends and family welcome your dog and even request that you bring him over. This is really what having a dog is about, being able to bring your “best friend” with you and have him be welcome.
When training your dog, you want to start with the basics and make sure he has those mastered before moving on to more challenging commands. If your dog has problem areas like excessive barking or jumping up on people, then try working on those too because they can be particularly annoying.
Perhaps the most important command to train your dog is “sit” because it causes your dog to become stationary and can stop him from running around and causing trouble, or being a nuisance to others. It is also a command that your dog must master before he learns other commands. That’s because the sitting position is where he will be starting in before proceeding to other commands such as lay down. Sort of like a basic course in school that you have to take before you can take a more advanced course.
When it comes to dog training, you will definitely need to be patient, but if you have a dog, or are thinking about adopting one, then you must know that training is a vital part of dog ownership. After all, you want your dog to be safe, secure, and happy - don’t you? Training him to obey is critical for all three of those!
Dog training doesn’t have to be a “chore” or be unpleasant. Think of it as a bonding experience between you and your pet. Set aside some time each day for training and you will soon find that you and your dog come to a different understanding and a deeper, more satisfying relationship.
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I’m a firm believer in adopting a dog when you are looking to get a new one. There are more than enough breeders, pet stores and puppy mills out there adding to the overcrowding of dogs in this world every day. It’s much better to go to your local animal rescue shelter and give a home to a dog in need.
There are plenty of wonderful dogs and puppies to adopt from just about any animal shelter. And you will always have the joy and satisfaction of knowing you rescued your dog and gave him a home when he really needed one. Every dog/puppy I have ever rescued was just as good, or better, of a pet than all the ones I purchased from breeders.
Lately I’ve been thinking about getting another dog, so for the past few weeks I have gone to the local animal shelter several times to find the right one. I have found so many that it’s almost impossible to choose between them. I wish I could just adopt them all but unfortunately I can’t. I enjoy taking as many of them as I can out when I am there and giving them some exercise, love and attention.
Some of the ones I was trying to decide between have now been adopted, which is awesome as far as I am concerned. At least I know they are going to a new home. It’s the ones that have been there for a long time that break my heart every time I have to leave them.
Currently there are three dogs/puppies that I have narrowed it down to and I am going back today to see them again. Honestly, I hope they are gone when I get there because then I know they found a home.
Here are the three that I really want right now and am having a tough time choosing:
1) Two year old female Pit Bull named Jazz. Of all the dogs there she seems to be one of the best behaved. She’s quiet, calm, obedient, and super cute. I’ve taken her out several times and she hasn’t done anything to deter me yet. As far as I can see she is about as perfect a dog as you can get. My girlfriend absolutely loves her so that helps too.
2) One year old male Black Lab Mix named Elliot. He’s a big boy probably weighing around 90 pounds and kind of a brute, but he and I have a bond that started the first day I went in there. I’ve taken him out a couple times and he’s a very good dog.
I feel really sorry for him because he’s so big and when you first take him out he likes to jump on you and pulls on the leash quite a bit. After a few minutes he does calm down and listens really well. I just fear that most people won’t give him enough of a chance to see how good he can be.
3) Three month old female Pit Bull puppy named Savannah. She’s about as adorable as a dog can possibly be. You can’t help but fall in love with her as soon as you see her. Yeah she’s a little crazy but that can be expected of any puppy. I did some basic training techniques with her and she was surprisingly good for her age. I can tell she will be a great dog in the hands of the right owner.
* Side note: In case you didn’t notice, two of the three I have narrowed it down to are Pit Bulls. Most people cringe at the thought of Pit Bulls, however as a very knowledgeable dog person and overall dog lover, I can tell you that they really are one of the best dog breeds in existence. They only get a bad rap because there are some shitty people out there who exploit their desire to please their owners by making them do bad things. They are not naturally bad dogs, far from it actually. Generally speaking, you won’t find a better dog than you will with the Pit Bull.
Another thing I like to stress to people when giving information about adopting a dog is to go for the ones that are at least a year old or older. I know I have a young puppy in my possible adoption mix right now, but for the most part I try to only adopt non-puppies and I encourage others to do the same.
You can pretty much count on all the puppies being adopted because they are cute and everyone wants a puppy. It’s the older dogs that have less of a chance of finding a home so you can be their savior! Remember, the puppies are going to grow up really fast and before you know it you will have a full grown dog on your hands anyway. Might as well just start out with an adult dog and save yourself some of the headaches that come along with puppies.
Also, when you adopt an adult dog, you already know how big it will be and what it’s going to look like when it grows up. Plus, most of them will already be potty trained and have some other training, and you can get a basic idea of what kind of dog they are going to be once you get them home. There are several advantages of adopting an adult dog that you don’t get with a puppy.
And, if you can, you should go for the specific breeds or individual dogs that don’t have as much of a chance of getting adopted. They need a home too and will be just as wonderful of a pet as the others, maybe even better. These are usually the big dogs, the ones that aren’t as cute, the feisty ones, and certain breeds like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Akita’s and others. They all have less a chance of being adopted so help one of them out if you can.
I want to add that I’ve owned and/or have extensive experience with several dog breeds ranging from small to large. I am also much more knowledgeable about dogs in general than the majority of people in this world. And I can say without a doubt that Pit Bulls and Rottweilers are my two favorite breeds of dog. Please don’t form a negative attitude about these breeds by listening to people who are uneducated about dogs, or the ignorant media. Trust me, overall these breeds are two of the most loyal, loving, obedient, intelligent, trustworthy, protective, sweet, clean, fun, and all around amazing breeds there are!
There’s no such thing as a bad breed of dog. The only things that are bad are the owners who make the dog the way they are on an individual basis. If you are a good owner who plans to train your dog and care for it properly then you should not be deterred from owning any breed of dog as long as it fits with your personality and accommodations you are able to give it.
Well, I will leave you with that for now. Hopefully I have shed a little light on a few things for you when it comes to adopting a dog. Next time you are looking for a new dog remember that your local animal rescue shelter / humane society is full of awesome dogs that really need your help. You can typically get adoption dogs for much cheaper than anywhere else and they will usually have at least some of their vaccinations done. Even more reasons to adopt a dog!
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When you get your new puppy all you can think about is how cute and cuddly he is. He’s so much fun with his limitless energy, enthusiasm, and clumsiness. In fact, your puppy is nearly perfect except for one small thing… those puddles of pee and piles of poop he keeps leaving in the middle of the carpet!
One of the first things you will want to do with your new puppy is getting started on the house training. It can actually be an easy task if you know how to do it properly. Here are some things to remember in order to make house training less of a challenge for you and your puppy:
1. The first thing you must realize is that your puppy has a very small bladder. He cannot “hold it” for 8 hours or more while you are at work and expecting him to is just setting you both up for disappointment. If you cannot be home to take him outside every 2 to 3 hours, then you must provide him with access to a designated place to go inside.
2. House training your dog can take several weeks, or even months, and requires patience, persistence and consistency. Be prepared to provide all 3 for your puppy.
3. You can start training your puppy as early as 3 weeks old, but remember the younger your dog is the smaller the bladder, therefore the less time between potty breaks.
4. Never punish your dog when he has an accident in the house. Always reward your dog when he goes in the designated area. The reward must immediately follow the action or your dog will have no idea why he is being rewarded.
Like any other type of dog behavior training, house training involves following a certain series of steps to get your puppy to realize what is expected of him. Also like other types of dog training, you have to get your dog to perform the action so that you can reward him. Luckily this is easy with house training since your puppy will need to do his “business” many times a day; therefore you have a lot of opportunity to encourage the wanted behavior of going outside or in the designated area!
Here are some steps to take when house training your dog or puppy:
1. Observe your puppy and take note of his routine. He’ll probably need to go after eating and at certain times of the day. You’ll want to watch him very carefully at all times so you can “catch” him right before he goes. When you see him sniffing his favorite area, squatting or circling, it’s time to take action.
2. When you see your dog is about to do his business say, “outside” or some other word that you want the dog to associate with going potty outside. Say it in a firm and somewhat loud voice. You can use any word you want but it is important that you choose one word and use it every time and make sure it’s not a word you want to use for any other training commands.
3. This should interrupt your dog and you want to swoop in, pick him up and carry him outside.
4. Once you have him in the area that you want him to use as his bathroom say “potty” or some other command you want to use to get him to do his business. Again, be consistent with the word.
5. When he finishes his business, praise him and give him a treat to let him know that he did “good.”
It’s important to note that your dog will probably have accidents in the house and you should never punish him for these. If you do not catch him right before he goes then you’ll need to just clean up and wait until next time. If you stumble across an accident and punish the dog for it after the fact, he will have no idea why and you will not be helping your cause of house breaking. Contrary to what many people will tell you, rubbing his nose in it will not do anything.
Like every other dog training task, house training your puppy will require you to be consistent. Try to be around enough so that you can get him outside to do his business most of the time. Eventually he will get the idea and you will have a mess and odor free home from then on. Even after your dog is house trained he may still have accidents every once in a while. This is normal and should not be punished.
Remember that dog training is a never ending process and no dog will be perfect all the time!
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Dog training is something that every dog owner should do and is definitely worth the time and effort it takes. However, before you start, there are some things you need to know in order to make training your dog easier and more pleasant for both you and your dog.
The very most important thing you must always remember is that you are the boss! By nature dogs are pack animals and adhere to a strict hierarchy with every pack having a “leader.” In order to train your dog properly and more easily, you need to establish yourself as the pack leader early on in your relationship.
Some dogs may be more aggressive than others, some more dominant, some easier going, but no matter what your dog’s personality, you must be firm in your commands. Don’t let your dog get the upper hand or he will start to think that he is the leader. Now, I don’t mean that you need to be physically abusive to your dog, far from it! You just need to show your leadership through your actions and body language.
Another thing to consider is that while your dog understands you at about the same level as a two year old, he is not a human. In fact, your dog has many differences from humans that cause him to interpret your commands and act much differently than a 2 year old child would. So, do not expect him to behave like your 2 year old during training.
When training your dog, you need to be consistent. Set aside about 30 to 45 minutes every day to work on training. You can start training your dog as young as you want but don’t be discouraged if you have an older dog because training can be done at any age.
You want to start training your dog with the basics. The “sit” command is a good place to start as getting your dog to sit is the basis for many other commands. Work on this one command every day until your dog has it mastered, then move on to the next command.
During training, you want to be firm. Always use the same word for each command and say the word clearly. Never punish your dog when he does not do what you want but, instead, use positive reinforcement when he DOES do what you want. Punishing or scolding will only confuse your dog, so have patience when he is not behaving the way you want. The best thing to do is ignore him and he will soon learn that he only gets the reward when he performs the desired action.
Try to work on dog training every day at first. As your dog learns more and more commands, you can slow down a bit, but training should always be a part of your relationship with your dog. It can be fun and rewarding for both of you to keep learning new behaviors and taking the training to the next level.
Dog training is something that requires consistency, persistence and patience but your efforts will be highly rewarded with a well behaved dog as well as a stronger bond with your best friend. Training your dog properly is good for his safety, health, and happiness as well as the safety of those around him. And dog training can also be a lot of fun for both you and your dog!
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