You may think your bloodhound is the best pet anyone has ever owned, but in reality, it isn’t the smartest dog. On the other hand, the Papillon your neighbor owns may not look extremely cute to you, but it is one of the top 10 smartest dog breeds.
However, when it comes to owning a pet, it doesn’t matter how smart or dumb your dog is. Sometimes, it isn’t the wisest idea to own the smartest dog breed especially if you leave your pet alone at home. Rather, you should look for the dog which is bred to suit your lifestyle and your needs. Also, it is necessary to consider what your pet is built for. When you know that, you will better motivate him and nurture the best in him.
10. Australian Cattle Dog
These dogs are one of the smartest dog breeds which are also highly affectionate and cute. They have a particularly pleasant nature and so, make excellent family pets. However, these dogs need a lot of exercise and so, you should be ready to spend a few hours on exercising if you want to own this breed. These dogs were originally bred to herd cattle in Australia, which is the reason why they are given this name.
9. Rottweiler
These are often seen as guard dogs because of their courage and possessiveness towards their masters. They may look aggressive and scary to you, but in reality, these dogs are particularly affectionate and they are often trained to be proper family dogs.
8. Papillon
Did you know that the Papillons are considered as one of the most affectionate dogs? This may come as a surprise to you especially if you thought they looked a bit scary. Well, they do scare everyone because of their toughness and aggressiveness. But besides that, there is no doubt about their intelligence. They love to be around humans and can be highly protective about them. They are also one of the easiest dog breeds to train.
7. Labrador Retriever
Do you want a pet for your family? Labrador retriever can be the best pet for you as they love to be around humans and specifically children. They are one of the most popular family dogs often seen around playing with children. These are genuinely loving and patient. They require extensive exercise, and without that, they gain a lot of weight. If you own a Lab, make sure you take him daily to the park for exercising.
6. Shetland sheepdog
Under all that hair of Shetland Sheepdog, there is certainly an extremely intelligent brain hiding. Many owners of Shetland dogs say that their intelligence can be compared to human intelligence. Although they were originally built for herding cattle, they are also loving family pets and love to be around humans. These dogs are tremendously loyal and affectionate toward their masters.
5. Doberman Pinscher
These dogs are extremely loyal and courageous. They are often considered as one of the best guard dogs. Because of their extra ordinary intelligence, they always need something to do, and some purpose to fulfill. And when there is nothing to do, they get bored easily and can get pretty destructive. When it comes to protecting their masters, they do the job perfectly and even get violent if there is any need. When trained from an early age, these can also be excellent family pets.
4. Golden retriever
Apart from ranking at number four in the smartest dog breeds, Golden Retrievers are also one of the most affectionate dogs ever. Looking at their cuteness and pleasant nature, you cannot doubt that. These dogs are intensely loyal, pleasant and happy. They are exceedingly common as pets and family dogs. They are also highly obedient and usually win in obedience competitions.
3. German Shepherds
These dogs are often seen as guard dogs because of their strong, protective instincts and legendary courage. They need a purpose in their life, and if given that, they are the best pets ever. Because of their intelligence and courage, they are often involved in search and rescue missions and are often seen as police dogs. If they are trained to obey from an early age, these also make perfect family pets.
2. Poodle
Poodles are remarkably easy to train and are the second in smartest dog breeds. Neglect to train them, however, and expect a world of trouble! They are often known to get out of control with “little dog syndrome”. Generally though, these dogs are generally extremely happy and pleasant dog breeds. These will give more than double their body weight to you in love. They love it when you are around and hate it the other way around.
1. Border Collies
Border Collies are known everywhere for their legendary intelligence. They take the first rank in smartest dog breeds. They are loving, charming and my personal favorite! This is not just because of their intelligence, but their playful and enthusiastic nature. These intelligent dogs always need something to do. Staying idle is the one thing they generally find hard to do. These dogs are actually bred to work all day long and so, if they are not given any work, they will feel miserable and may even become aggressive because of that.
Although these are the smartest dog breeds, they are not all easy to train, much less control. Since they are more intelligent, they will require a lot of training. If you want to own one of these breeds, you should get ready for some physical exercise and be sure to start them when they are young.