Some dog breeds stand out from the crowd when it comes to working intelligence (i.e. following commands). Psychologist Stanley Coren called these breeds in his book The Intelligence of Dogs as the most clever of the bunch after researching nearly 200 dog-obedience jurors.
The Border Collie is lively, loving and, of course, smart. A Border collie dog is a solid working canine who excels in sheep herding, sportsmanship, strength, and snuggling. For their “herding eye,” a stern look used to stare down and herd other animals, border collies are also recognized.
The poodle is, and for good reason, the 7th most common dog breed. Not only are poodles very intelligent, they are also confident, active dogs, with the added bonus of being hypoallergenic. Poodles can be easily taught to monitor, search, reclaim, and obey because of their high intelligence. Poodles are originally the national dog of France, where they were first used as retrievers.
Not surprisingly, the German shepherd is the second most common breed of dogs since they are brave, confident, and intelligent. They are exceptional all-purpose staff and, as police dogs or support dogs, are used in a variety of specialized circumstances. German shepherds often do not lightly offer affection, but they are deeply committed pets of the family who are great with children.
Intelligent, polite, and loyal sports dogs are, that’s what Golden retrievers are. Whether it’s hunting, acting as a seeing-eye dog, assisting in search-and-rescue or just being a caring friend, Goldens take their roles to heart and aim to be the best at what they do.
Doberman pinschers have the intellect required to continue training, in addition to stamina, agility, and pace, in order to be an in-demand Doberman Lying Downpolice dog or war dog. “At the National War Dog Cemetery in Guam, there is also a bronze Doberman pinscher statue named “Still Faithful” to commemorate the dogs, mainly Dobermans, killed in service during the Second Battle of Guam in 1944.
Whether or not your dog is one of the brightest breeds, remember that with patience, discipline, and the right energy, any Pack Leader can teach and train their dog irrespective of the breed or age of that dog.