Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds

Whether you are the proud owner of a German Shepherd, Chihuahua, Puggle, or any other breed of dog, you know that they are naturally labeled as smart, trainable, and loyal companions.  But do you know what the smartest of those breeds are?  If you have a dog that has not made it to this top ten list, not to worry.  Having a less intelligent dog breed could actually be a blessing in disguise – a highly intelligent breed will more than likely find something to entertain itself in your absence, from chewing the furniture to pulling the roll of toilet paper off of the roll.  A less intelligent pup will probably not realize you are even gone, let alone find something to do!  Here is the list of the top 10 dog breeds, compiled by veterinarians.

#10. Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog is a medium-sized, short-coated dog that was originally bred for herding cattle.  They are also a very active breed that is known to be an athletic and loving family pet.  They respond well to structured training, are not aggressive, and form a strong attachment with their owner.  They can be very protective of their owners and their possessions, and are easy to groom and maintain.

#9. Rottweiler
Not only is the Rottweiler intelligent, but extremely courageous, one of the best guard dogs, and very reliable.  In fact, during the First and Second World Wars, Rottweilers were put into service in various roles, including as messenger, ambulance, draught, and guard dogs.  Rottweilers are well suited to being good companions, and make for a wonderful family dog.

#8. Papillon
Although small and cute to look at, Papillon’s are much tougher than they appear.  One of the oldest of the toy Spaniels, they are typically happy, friendly, and adventurous.  They are usually not shy or aggressive, and maintain a high level of intelligence.

#7. Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever’s are very loving, kind, loyal and compassionate to their owners and are widely used by police and other official persons for their detection and working abilities.  Typically, Labradors are athletic and love to swim, play catch and retrieve games, are good with young children, and for protection.

#6. Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog can be a little wary of strangers and children, but are very loyal and affectionate with their own family.  They are vocal, excitable, energetic dogs who are always willing to please and work hard.  Shelties do well with children if they are reared with them from an early age; however, their small size makes it easy for a child to accidentally injure them, so supervision is necessary.

#5. Doberman Pinscher
Although Doberman Pinscher’s are known as a dominant breed, they can be quite docile and even work as therapy dogs in hospitals.  They have incredible stamina and love to work, and can be great family dogs if trained properly.  Dobermans are extremely loyal, assertive, and fearless, and can be counted on to protect it’s master and it’s family.

#4. Golden Retriever
Consistently ranked as the most popular breed of dog, the Golden Retriever makes up everything we love about dogs.  They are loyal, loving, patient, great with children and eager to please.  With such great intelligence, it’s no surprise that Golden Retrievers excel in obedience competitions and at performing tricks.  The breeds intelligence and versatility suit the dogs well for a variety of roles including guide dog for the blind, hearing dog for deaf people, hunting dog, illegal drug detector, and search and rescue participant.

#3. German Shepherd
Because of their intelligence, a German Shepherd needs a purpose or job in life to be truly happy.  This intelligence, in addition to their courageous nature make this breed excellent police and search dogs.  They are able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other large breeds, and are among the top five most popular dogs in the United States.

#2. Poodle
Poodles rank second on the list of intelligent dog breeds, and are among the easiest to train.  They love to be around people, making them a popular family dog.   The poodle dog breed is skillful in many dog sports, including agility, obedience, tracking, and even herding.  Poodles have taken top honors in many conformation shows, including “Best in Show” at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.  Poodles like to be in the center of things and are easily trained to do astonishing tricks involving both brains and agility.

#1. Border Collie
Border Collies set the standard in competitions for such skills as agility, obedience, and sheepdog trials, and are extremely energetic, acrobatic, and athletic, and frequently compete with great success in dog sports.  Border Collies do not like to be left alone for very long, so if you have a standard 9-5 job, this is not the dog for you.  They are very demanding, energetic pets that are better off in households that can provide them with plenty of play and exercise with humans or other dogs.