As long as they live with their owners long enough, most dogs are smart enough to understand and do the simple things their owners want. Different dogs are intelligent in different ways: some dogs learn to do things quickly based on instinct and natural ability, while others are motivated based on on the desire to please their owners. To bring out the intelligence of dogs, they need to be trained in accordance with their natural characteristics and personalities. Here are top 15 smartest dog breeds.
#1 – Border Collie
The Border Collie is a herding dog breed originating from Scottish Borders. They are hard-working, intelligent, energetic and highly trainable breed. The Border Collie has independent and extremely intelligent thinking to handle their work. However, if they do not work, play, or exercise regularly, they will feel bored and destructive. Border Collie owners should expect to spend a lot of time with their dog. Nowadays, the Border Collie is still used in their traditional work of herding livestock and is a family dog.
#2 – Standard Poodle
In the past, the Standard Poodle was a retriever or gun dog, used in particular for duck and waterfowl hunting. Nowadays we often see Standard Poodle appearing in agile and obedient competitions. The Standard Poodle is a intelligent dog, easy to train, suitable for playing with children, and they also have hypoallergenic fur. And not just Standard Poodle, all versions of Poodle are great, smart, docile companions. However, Standard Poodles are thought to be high-maintenance, pampered dogs and they may also require professional grooming.
#3 – German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog is a breed of medium to large-sized herding dog that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd Dog is large, powerful, muscular, agile, intelligent, confident and has a noble personality. Loyalty, courage are what people often mention about this breed. The German Shepherd Dog wants to protect and please those who are special to them. However, The German Shepherd Dog builds deep relationships with their companions, and prone to separation anxiety so they require a lot of attention from their owner. Nowadays, the German Shepherd Dog is used for a variety of jobs, including disability assistance, search and rescue, police and military roles, and acting.
#4 – Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a Scottish gundog with great beauty. Golden Retrievers are friendly, smart, devoted friends, docile, easy to train and have love in life. They are eager to please and suitable for making friends with all ages, from children to the elderly. However, Golden Retrievers also shed a lot, requires exercise and is also prone to separation anxiety so they need a lot of attention from their owners. Nowadays, Golden Retrievers are used for a variety of jobs, including assistance dogs, therapy dogs, detection dogs, and search and rescue participants.
#5 – Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher, also known as Dobermann, is a medium-large working dog that originated in Germany. The Doberman Pinscher is sleek and strong. Doberman Pinscher is considered one of dogkind’s noblemen. The Doberman Pinscher is an intelligent, loyal, fearless and vigilant dog, and they always cling to the humans they love. They are known for their ability to learn, retain their training, and are one of the best guard dog breeds in the world. Nowadays, The Doberman Pinscher works as a police dog often used in law enforcement.
#6 – Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog, also known as Sheltie, is a small dog breed originating from Scotland. Shelties are a sheepdog, they are enthusiastic at work and show good skills. They are also excellent athletes in the agility competition. The Sheltie is docile, very intelligent, playful, enthusiastic, energetic dog and easy to train.
#7 – Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a medium-to-large or large breed of working dog originating from Germany. When it comes to the Rottweiler, many people probably think of a strong, muscular dog, and maybe some people are scared. However, properly raised Rottweiler, they are very sweet, loyal, courageous, playful and always ready to protect their families. Rottweilers often lick their owners to show affection and get attention. Nowadays, Rottweilers are known primarily as guard dogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs.
#8 – Papillon
The Papillon is a small breed of dog, with its outer appearance highlighted by large ears, resembling butterfly wings. They are also an intelligent, friendly, adventurous dogs, most of the time they are happy, they are a bit mischievous, enjoy being active and are willing to engage in fun activities with cats. However, Papillon should also be given rigorous training and mental stimulation to prevent behavioral issues arising from boredom. They are also quick-learning dogs and love to learn new things.
#9 – Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is a medium-large breed of retriever-gun dog originating from United Kingdom and Canada. They have an adorable appearance and an outgoing, friendly, vivacious personality. The Labrador Retriever is a intelligent, playful, energetic, easy to train, easygoing, human-friendly dog that is suitable for making friends with all ages. They show deep affection for their caregivers and owners and they have high separation anxiety so they also require a lot of attention from their owner. Labrador Retrievers are often used as therapy dogs and they are also people who work hard in support, rescue and police work.
#10 – Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog is also known by the other name Blue Heeler or Red Heeler, is a breed of herding dog originating from Australia. They are compact in appearance, but full of muscle, they have short and beautiful hair and need little grooming and bathing. The Blue Heeler is also a healthy dog, rarely getting sick, and rarely seeing a vet. The Blue Heeler is a hard-working dog, if they are not working they need to exercise regularly to avoid being bored. Although some of them think independently, but their loyalty and intelligence make them easy to train.
#11 – Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a herding dog originating from Belgium. They are muscular and powerful, but the looks seem elegant. The Belgian Malinois are very intelligent, active, friendly, protective, alert, confident and hard-working dogs. Belgian Malinois exhibit energy levels that are among the highest of all dog breeds. Nowadays, the Belgian Malinoisare is used as a working dog for tasks including: tracking humans for suspect apprehension in police work; detection of odors such as explosives, accelerants (for arson investigation), and narcotics; and search and rescue missionss. In addition, the US Secret Service uses the Belgian Malinois to guard the grounds of the White House.
#12 – Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd, also known as Aussie, is a breed of medium-sized herding dog that originated in United States. They have a similar appearance to the Border Collie. The Australian Shepherd is a smart, loyal, highly energetic, loving, kind, devoted dog. They require a lot of exercise and attention, if not working or playing will make them bored, and they have high separation anxiety.
#13 – American Staffordshire Terrier
The American Staffordshire Terrier, also known as the Amstaff, is a medium-sized dog breed originating in The United States of America. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a stocky, muscular breed with a broad head and well defined jaws. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a smart, loyal, confident, courageous, loving, good-natured and highly trainable breed. The American Staffordshire Terrier need physical and mental activity to avoid being bored and they are also prone to separation anxiety, a condition which causes them to destroy things when left alone.
#14 – Belgian Sheepdog
The Belgian Sheepdog is a breed of medium-sized herding dog that originated in Belgium. The Belgian Sheepdog is an intelligent, sensitive, agile, active, alert dog with high trainability. They also tend to form special bonds, wanting to protect and please those special to them. However, Belgian Sheepdogs also need a lot of exercise to avoid getting bored and can being snappy.
#15 – Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is a large scent hound, famous for its ability to distinguish human scents in great distances, even days later. With a keen sense of smell and strong tracking ability this breed is often used by police and law enforcement around the world to track escaped prisoners, missing people and lost pets. The Bloodhound is gentle, friendly, affectionate, independent, inquisitive, easygoing dog and they are usually not tired of following the scent.
