How Smart Is Your Dog?

You might think your Beagle is the smartest Dog, but it's got the unfortunately listed as one of being among the least trainable of dog breeds. What about that the snarling Doberman next door? It's a study fast.

Dog likes human intelligence, comes in various ways. While the best in any breed can be cultivated through by owners willing to put in the time & effort, there are also fixed realities when it comes to your animal's inherent disposition.

If it's a hunting dog, herd, or retriever, this breed dog is more likely to be quick & agile on its feet, eager to hardworking, and to please you. It also learns faster. If it's sheepdog to be a livestock guard dog or a scent hound, it might seem distracted and just a little slow.

However, even though some breeds are more agile, dog trainers say that any dog can learn the basics like to sit and stay. It just may take them longer to master them.

The key is understand what your dog is built for and how to motivate it.

But remember, the smartest dogs is not always the best pets. Your task is to find a breed that suits your lifestyle and focus on unlocking the best in your dog.

Top Dogs

In his bestselling book, The Intelligence of Dogs, neuropsychologist Dr. Stanley Coren, focuses on trainability as a marker of intelligence.

A psychology professor at the University of British Columbia consulted assessments of 110 dog breeds by more than 200 professional dog obedience judges who scored the breeds based on work/obedience tests.

These top dogs absorbed commands in less than five repetitions and achieve an obedience rate of 95% or better. Below is a list & description of a breed provided by the American Kennel Club:

Border Collie: this breed is a workaholic and considered one of the world's premier sheep herder, highly regarded for its intelligence, extraordinary instinct, and working bilities.

Poodles: Extremely smart and lively. Originally Bred to retrieve things from water. Miniature poodles may have been used for truffle hunting.

German Shepherd: The world's leading police, guard, and military dogs -- also loving family companions and herding dogs.

Golden Retriever: Intelligent and eager to please its owner. Originally bred as a hunting companion dog; it is an ideal as a guide and and search and rescue assistant dog.

Doberman Pinschers: Known for their stamina and speed. Originally bred to be guard dogs and in demand as a police and military use.

Shetland Sheepdog: This breed is essentially a miniature working Collie. It is a rough-coated, longhaired working dog that is very intelligent.

Labrador Retriever: This is An ideal sporting dog & family dog. They are gentle & intelligent.

Papillon: A cheerful, alert breed neither timid no aggressive. Known as the Pygmy Hound in the 16th & 17th centuries, it reachs 8-11 inches tall at the shoulder.

Rottweiler: Robust and powerful, they are happiest with a job. Suitable as a police dogs, herding dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, obedience competitor dogs, and devoted companion dogs.

Australian Cattle Dog: Best suited for herding, obedience training, or agility training. Energetic & intelligent.

Do Smart Dogs Make Better Pets?

You might think that a smart dog will obey you. But that's not the case.

If your dog seems clueless, it may be because it has been raised to be more independent or less so eager to please its owner, Yin said.

"A Doberman will get bored and destroy your sofa and vase collection, if you're out of the house for 8 to 10 hours a day. An English bulldog might take 8 hours to realize you're not home," Coren says. " When you come home, it will greet you with your pottery still on the shelf."

Owning a smart dog "is like owning a very smart child," Redenbach says. "They're always interested in something and will get into trouble if they get bored.

"Can they the type of person who can exercise it a few hours each day? How much time are they willing to invest in training them, because the more energetic a dog is, the more training it may need," she said. "They think they want a smart dog, which is a huge misconception. They don't need a smart dog; they need a attentive dog."

Veterinarian Sophia Yin, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist in Davis, California, advises people to seriously evaluate the amount of energy they have energy to the breed they want to own.

Redenbach doesn't like categorizing dogs simply as intelligent or stupid; she says such classifications are too simplistic. Like Yin, she says positive and consistent training will make essential to raising excellent dogs.