The dog in your house and the one you play with at your best friend’s home may appear all innocent, fun, and affectionate. You would love their innocence with which they follow you with their tails wagging, all the way to the kitchen, and ask you for a snack.
But did you know these dogs have the capacity to be the best secret agents out there?
Yes, you read that right!
Dogs are smart, super-intelligent, and extremely sharp. They observe things very keenly and understand what is happening around them. Some of these dogs come with very sharp noses and a keen sense of smell, making them great detectives.
In this article, we shall talk about the dog breeds that could have been secret agents and would surely showcase exceptional performances at it!
Dog Breeds That Could Have Been Secret Agents
1. Shetland Sheepdog

This is a gorgeous dog, and it is fluffy; you would want to spend your whole day cuddling it.
But, this is not the only thing it is good at.
Intelligence
The Shetland Sheepdog is an absolutely brilliant spy dog material. PetMD claims this dog is known for its big brain. Being super intelligent and quick to pick up clues, it can surely memorize the important details of an event and recall them anytime.
This Quora thread proves it is one of the most intelligent dogs out there.
Sharp Hearing
Unlike most dogs who come with the superpower of a sharp smell, this one has great ears. It can hear whispers from the other end of the room quite clearly!
Extremely Focused
This dog is super focused! Nothing can affect its focus when it’s performing the assigned task. Be it solving puzzles at home or herding and guarding on the farm, nothing can distract it! They are also highly trainable, and this quality of theirs makes them phenomenal service dogs as well.
2. Belgian Malinois

If you’ve ever come across a Belgian Malinois, you would know that it can easily take up the role of a secret agent. It is loaded with all the qualities required to make a mission successful.
Sense Of Smell
No one can beat this dog when it comes to the sharpness of its sense of smell. As a matter of fact, it is so good at detecting explosives and apprehending suspects that it is often used by law enforcement and military teams to detect criminals.
Working Drive
These dogs are more driven than the corporate employees! They are versatile dogs and perform various tasks with absolute dedication and commitment. This dog breed showcases great performance even in the most demanding roles.
Physical Strength
The Belgian Malinois is a sturdy dog with a natural instinct to protect, as per Britannica. Hence, it can easily be a great choice for the secret missions that require the agent to be strong and agile.
History Tidbit: Hurricane was a Special Operations Dog for the Secret Service in the United States of America and was quite popular for its special detective qualities.
3. Border Collie

Border Collie is one of the smartest dogs out there and is ranked quite high in intelligence. This makes it a good choice for secret missions that require it to showcase brain power.
Trainable Dogs
This dog is highly trainable, thanks to its sharp intelligence and eagerness to please its owners. It is always up and willing to learn new commands and skills. Its strong nose can easily be trained to detect specific items that help it in its missions greatly!
Emotional Intelligence
Don’t think this dog is just intelligent in terms of its brain power. It is phenomenal when it comes to understanding others, thanks to its emotional intelligence. It can sense what others are going through and react accordingly. Hence, a lot of times, it is also used as a therapy dog during missions.
Great Stamina
Originally bred as a herding dog, it has great intelligence and stamina, two things that are required for a dog to complete its secret missions. Its “creeping” and “sweeping” running skills also help it get through many intricate situations during missions. Purina claims it is incredibly active!
4. Poodle

Yes, Poodles are small! But don’t you dare to equate its tiny size with being insignificant. It is one of the most phenomenal dogs used in secret missions.
Sharp Smelling Sense
Poodles are great sniffers! They can easily sniff out a criminal. This quality comes from their ability to sniff out truffles as hunting partners. They are also outstanding additions to search and rescue operations, helping human agents be successful in their missions.
Strong Desire To Learn
Poodles are easy to train. They are really intelligent and possess a very strong desire to learn. Hence, it is possible to teach these quick learners new skills in a very limited time and by utilising very little energy.
This Reddit Thread says it is a highly smart and intelligent canine!
Service Dogs
Poodles are quick to take action and make strong bonds with their owners. When it comes to providing comfort to fellow mission agents, they showcase great compassion. It is well-suited to offer therapy work when the mission gets too intricate.
5. Doberman Pinscher

This sleek and muscular dog with a very intimidating presence can surely be a great choice when it comes to choosing a secret agent.
Fiercely Loyal
Well, yes, all dogs are loyal, but this dog is on some other level when it comes to loyalty. They are devoted and keen to defend their fellows no matter what! As guard dogs, they will go to any level when it comes to protecting their partners. Pet parents adore them for their protective nature and guarding skills.
Physically Strong
A Doberman is swift to take action, super-agile, and showcases great strength in everything it does! In fact, it consistently emerges as a winner in most of the agility competitions it participates in.

Great Intuition
AKC claims this dog has a great intuition. Its perceptive nature makes it phenomenal in taking timely decisions and being proactive in everything.
6. Shiba Inu

Despite being really small, the Shiba Inu is one of those many breeds that are tiny yet fierce! As a secret agent, it is a great pick.
Hunting Dog Capabilities
Originally bred as a hunting dog, they are quick in their actions. WebMD mentions that, at first glance, they may appear small, but when it comes to their ability to take swift actions, no one can really compete with them.
Resilience and Agility
Back in the day, they were bred to hunt in rugged terrain. Hence, they developed the resilience to run around the tough spaces, going after the prey. It retains these qualities even today and utilises them in the police and military work it is assigned with.
Strong Work Ethics
This dog has a strong work ethic. This enables the Shiba Inu to excel in assignments that would typically take many hours to complete.
7. German Shepherd

Oh, the phenomenal German Shepherd. There is no one like this dog when it comes to completing secret missions, thanks to its James Bond personality!
Highly Trainable
German Shepherds are not only extremely intelligent, but they are also quite eager to please their owners. In fact, they are highly receptive to specialised training, and training them as secret agents is not a tough task. Their phenomenal adaptability is showcased in the ease with which they take up new tasks.
Defensive and Loyal
This dog is not only extremely loyal, but Britannica claims it is also always there to defend its fellows when needed. It would surely showcase a gentle nature at home, but when it comes to the task it is assigned, there is no performer better than it!
Great At Covert Operations
Covert operations require special skills. German Shepherds possess all of them, including surveillance and security provision. Oh, and they are great at keeping secrets as well!
Conclusion
Dogs have a long history of being used as secret agents. They possess all the qualities that a trainee of James Bond would possess. Hence, in the animal world, there can be no better secret agent than a dog! The intelligent canines are not only sharp at sensing a change in the situation but also take proactive actions without looking for constant instructions.