Sometimes, intelligent dog breeds can be a bit frustrating for first-time owners. Canine geniuses have high cognitive abilities, and they like to show it off with their creative problem-solving skills, such as stealing snacks or unlocking a gate.
Dogs can understand more than 150 words and possess an IQ of a two-year-old human toddler. Canine intelligence has three distinct types, including instinctive, adaptive, and working intelligence. To be precise, dog intelligence is much more than just how fast a dog learn new tricks.
These smart dogs might not be able to count up to 10, but they have an idea of how many treats you put in their food bowl. Their ability to rapidly estimate the sheep in the flock or ripened fruits on a tree is known as the “approximate number system.”
Here are the most genius smart dog breeds to consider keeping.
Genius Smart Dog Breeds To Consider Keeping
1. German Shepherd
German Shepherd is a canine Einstein known for its athleticism, versatility, and loyalty. Originally bred as guarding and herding dogs, GSDs can learn a variety of tasks. Due to their high trainability, they make excellent service, military, and police dogs.
German Shepherds are exceptionally well-behaved and have starred in movies and TV shows. They even have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In GSDs, intelligence is an inherited trait that has been passed down through generations.
They excel at obedience competitions and are capable of performing tasks that many humans would find difficult. GSDs are so smart that they would learn a new command in less than five repetitions. Also, when given a new command, 95% of the time they will respond the very first time you say it.
2. Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Cattle Dogs are one of the highly intelligent breeds. Having lots of stamina and athleticism, they excel at canine sports like flyball, agility, and obedience. These clever pooches can outsmart their handlers if not engaged properly.
In a Quora thread, “How smart is an Australian Cattle Dog?,” Deedra English explains that her two-year-old ACD is the most agile and graceful creature. She brought a sick kitten home, which was looked after by her ACD.
According to Britannica, ACDs are very smart, but are equally independent and strong-willed. These highly energetic dogs require lots of activity for physical and mental stimulation. They make perfect companions for active individuals who love adventures.
3. Border Collie
Border Collies have a generally higher IQ score than other members of the dogdom. It puts them close to the intelligence level of a three-year-old human child. Borders are blessed with exceptional cognitive abilities.
A Border Collie named Chaser was the smartest dog on planet Earth. It was able to identify more than 1,000 proper nouns throughout its life, explains the American Kennel Club. She had 30 balls and knew all of them by a proper noun.
Another Border Collie named Betsy was able to learn more than 340 words.
These canine brainiacs are the obedience champs, agility stars, and herding winners, having a strong desire to work. They possess exceptional problem-solving abilities and can learn new commands faster than many other dog breeds.
4. English Springer Spaniel
These fluffy doggos are the natural athletes who love exploring their surroundings. English Springer Spaniels can figure out an advanced dog trick unbelievably fast. According to Hill’s Pet, they are the happiest when working with you and are highly trainable.
English Springer Spaniels are friendly and outgoing, making them perfect candidates for socialization and training. They possess excellent hunting and retrieving skills and have a strong desire to please. These active mutts have bundles of energy and require regular activity to channel it.
Lack of physical exercise and mental stimulation can lead to destructive behaviors like chewing on furniture. Having a history as gundogs, English Springer Spaniels are hardwired to obey commands and have astonishing problem-solving capabilities.
5. Shetland Sheepdog
Looking like a miniature version of Lassie, Shetland Sheepdogs are one of the smartest dog breeds. Herding instincts are ingrained deep in a Sheltie’s DNA. These pooches will follow you from room to room and are curious to explore new things.
Shetland Sheepdogs excel at dog sports like agility, obedience, flyball, and herding competitions. They like to keep their minds active, so even when they are in deep sleep, they will have one ear open. A strong desire to please their owners makes training a breeze.
Shelties have been used as medical alert dogs, therapy, and service dogs. However, they are sensitive to harsh treatment, so reward-based training works best for them. According to Omlet, Shelties are active but do not require hours of walking.
6. Golden Retriever
The next intelligent dogs on our list are Golden Retrievers, the most beloved family pets. Goldens excel in a variety of tasks; they have been working as therapy dogs, trusted law enforcement partners, and rescue dogs.
Apart from this, Golden Retrievers excel at many dog sports, including agility and obedience. These highly trainable doggos have an eagerness to please. Their brains make up a higher percentage of their mass than many other dog breeds.
In fact, Goldens’ body-to-brain ratio is more akin to humans. Golden Retrievers can learn new tricks in fewer than five repetitions, while dogs with average intelligence tend to learn them in 15 and 40 repetitions.
7. Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are one of the popular breeds in the U.S. Originally bred to hunt and retrieve waterfowl, Labradors are capable of learning multiple words. They are highly responsive to training sessions and learn new commands easily.
Due to their immense intelligence, they make great therapy and search and rescue dogs. Labrador Retrievers also excel at activities like dock diving and water rescue operations. They possess excellent problem-solving skills and are ranked 7th on the AKC list of the smartest dog breeds.
Some people believe that a Labrador’s coat color affects its relative intelligence. For instance, many assert that chocolate Labs are more hyperactive and aggressive than their yellow and black counterparts. However, it does not stand true.
8. Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzer is a smart dog with a playful and alert nature. They were bred to work on farms and still love having a task to do. Regular exercise and mental enrichment are important to unleash the happiest Schnauzer.
Agility and obedience training are excellent ways of engaging your Mini Schnauzer. They are highly perceptive and like learning new tricks. Miniature Schnauzers learn new commands in five to 15 repetitions and obey the first command 85 percent of the time.
Miniature Schnauzers employ a creative problem-solving approach towards unfamiliar situations and commands. Their high adaptability is also reflective of their smartness. They are friendly and eager to please canines, so you can train them easily.
9. Papillon
Papillons are the real definition of “beauty with brains.” Despite their small size, they are quite alert and make excellent watchdogs. Papillons are quite athletic, and they frequently win agility competitions. They are so attuned to their humans that many people believe Paps can read minds.
Papillons look very delicate, but they are trainable and love learning new tasks. These smart and lively dogs are proactive observers. They have a proportionately large brain for their body size, which adds to their intelligence.
While their butterfly-like ears give them a distinctive appearance, they also contribute to their acute sense of hearing. Their heightened hearing ability enables them to differentiate between a myriad of sounds with precision and react swiftly to their environment.
10. German Shorthaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointers are happy-go-lucky and eager to please. GSPs are highly intelligent dogs with a happy-go-lucky nature and an eager-to-please personality. These hard workers are quite easygoing and have high energy levels.
GSPs have a high prey drive and make ideal companions for individuals looking for a versatile hunting partner, and are always up for adventures. German Shorthaired Pointers require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy and content.
GSPs are highly curious, especially when they are outdoors, where they get to follow a plethora of scents. Despite having a strong desire to please, they can be a bit challenging to train due to their willfulness and independence.
Conclusion
Some smart dog breeds are worth having as a pet. These geniuses surpass other breeds in their problem-solving abilities and intelligence. If you are planning to adopt a canine Einstein, one of these dogs may be the right fit for you.
However, regular exercise and proper training using positive reinforcement methods are important to have a happy and healthy pet. Lastly, don’t forget to shower your pup with loads of love.
