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The Early Show on CBS did a segment last week on the smartest and dumbest dog breeds. I’ve heard of some breeds not being as bright as others, I’m not sure what their criteria was.
Anyway, they say the dumbest breeds are:
1. Afghan Hound
2. Basenji
3. Bulldog
4. Chow Chow
5. Borzois
6. Bloodhound
7. Pekingese
8. Mastiff
9. Beagle
10. Basset hound
and the smartest are:
1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog
Like I said, I’m not sure what they’re basing their rankings on exactly. I’ve known a pretty smart beagle and a dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks poodle so it’s a safe bet that it’s all relative anyway!
What do you think of the lists?
[image: flickr]
Interesting list. I’ve owned a German Sheperd, a hybrid Wolf mixed with Sheperd, a Lhasa Apso & 3 Rottweilers. From my own personal experience, All 3 Rotties had completely different personalities but they were the smartest dogs I’ve ever owned. One was very stubborn and knew what she was doing even if it was wrong but she had the attitude that if I want to do something Im going to do it anyway, especially if noone was looking, she knew how to open doors, and would pull out fruits from the fruit bowl and eat them as if she were a human. She would hide things and remember where she placed them weeks later.. while another Rottie I’ve owned was alway easy to please and never did anything wrong. All together the rottie was the easiest breed to train and exhibited the most personality then any of the dogs I’ve ever owned or been around. The Lhasa Apso was also very intelligent and I would recommend them to anybody who is interested in a small lapdog. I’ve had friends who have owned huskies and they them selves always admitted they were stupid breeds just pretty to look at.
i have a bulldog and would have to agree they are pretty dumb. i also have a border collie and he is the smartest dog i have ever seen.
I’ve had two bassets. The first was reasonably intelligent. The second was dumb as a stump. They were both lovable and loyal. There will never be any conclusion to this argument–everyone has their favorite dogs and loves them for different reasons. Personally, I think bassets are smarter than they’re given credit for (except my 2nd one)–they know better than to retrieve a stick that you’re just going to throw again. “Fool me once…”
If the Afghan is number one on this list, its because it cant be trained as other dogs can. The Afghan hound works purely off instinct and this is why it has survived as being one of the oldest breed of dogs. They can be compared to a horse, fight or flight but if they decide to fight… take cover! Oh and btw.. once the AH loves and trusts you, they will do whatever you ask (because they actully do know exactly what you want) but ONLY when YOU earn their respect!
This list was compiled from a book by Stanley Coren from the University of British Columbia called “The Intelligence of Dogs” written back in 1994. And even HE states that this is based on a dogs ability to follow obedience commands and does not necessarily reflect “understanding” or creative problem solving. And while I have my own bias as to the most intelligent breeds, being the Standard Poodle, not the toys, and the Schnauzers, I think it really boils down to the owners training ability. Thus, the dog’s “intelligence” reflects the intelligence of the owner.
where is yorkie on the smart and dumb list?
Our 14 yr. old beagle past away last month. She was the smartest, sweetest dog I’ve ever owned. She understood everything that was said and even herded us to the kitchen for a snack! We were so heart-broken without her, we rescued a beagle -bassett mix! She is beautiful and has a great nose,,but if she is to learn 400 words, I hope she lives to be 15! We love her anyway!
No dog is “dumb”. It’s really unfair to say that when it’s really the handler’s at fault here. Yes, some breeds are difficult to train than others but that doesn’t necessarily make them dumb. I formerly volunteered at the Humane Society and even did some training with the dogs; so I worked with a lot of breeds (pure or mixed). And they’re all fairly intelligent. Also, as my first dog, I have a Pekingese and before she turned one (last month), I was able to teach her several tricks without struggle – give paw, wait, lie down, spin, play dead, go get leash
It’s really unfair to say that those dogs are dumb – or any for that matter – and instead should be titled as something else.
Hey this list does suck made by someone that has never owned dogs. Blood hound very smart and extremely committed. Police dog, family dog, rescue dog and protecter anyone cones around my neighborhood that is not supposed to be anyone in a mile radius knows lol. My hound never had a accident in the house after 4 months old. They love to please and make there owner. Last thing you will never find a dog better for kids than the blood hound taught my kid to walk he held on and she slowly walked next to him . Very smart
therre is a difference between intelligent and trainable. own three wssd (white german shepards. at three months old my pup obeys all simple commands- sit, out, ly down, heel, stay, leave, she even eats when i tell her to and will eat vile things like her meds just cause i said so. then i have a yorkshire terrier – standard. who will know exactly when i am about to leave, even when i dont dress, or get the keys, just by saying goodey to my house mates in a way that he knows that i am leaving and not them, tried to fool him on many occasion but it is impossable. yet i cannot get him to sit down on command in the first instuction. he is 2 years old and still tries his luck.
have also owned borders collies, huskies,beagles,foxterriers, boerboel, ridgeback,staffie. even in the breed there are discrepensies and i still feel that all breeds have a place. for each individual human personality there is a dog and dog breed that you will be best suited to.
my breed of choice will still be the white swiss shepard dog. i can bring any mangy mutt home and they will play nice if i say. they stick around for attention and move off if i ask. thy will antisipate my every need and desire, and adore and follow me into the fire. they will not mess in the house if theire lives depended on it… and all this whithout even training them. thy just know. that said, my yorki is my best gaurd dog and can spot a unstrustworthy person a mile away. he will not stop until they leave and he has saved us many haertache once we started listening. thanks to him i still have my other dogs as he warned me to pick up the piosen that the criminals chucked over my fence before the sheperds could get to it.
so how does one choose in the end?
Even though the list is entitled “dumbest” breeds, it doesn’t necesarily mean that the breed is stupid it simply means that there are other breeds that have the capability of being slightly more intelligent than others. So don’t be offended if you see that ypur dog is up on that list, because i agree that every individual dog will be different. For instance, you could own a very smart beagle and someone else could have a not so bright labrador, and there will be cases of this where one of the “dumbest dogsz’ are smarter than a dog of the smartest breeds.
I potty trained my 12 week old chow chow in 3 days. 6.5 years later and he has never messed in the house. He is very protective of me and discerning of strangers, but that is exactly what he was bred to be like. He is single-handedly the smartest dog I have ever known, and I have owned a Sheltie and a Border Collie. I can teach him any trick I want (including “go to the corner”) in 2 hours. Any list that attempts to reduce a dog’s intelligence to its breed misses the point entirely. Dogs have an individuality and personality on par with humans and no one could possibly assume to assign an intelligence value to a dog with which they have not interacted.
WOW most of you are really missing the point of this! Of course there are exceptions to every breed and for those of you that think poodles should not be on this then you have no experience at all with them! They are extremely easy to house break, protective and VERY easy to train. This is the same list for smartest and dumbest basically everywhere. You have to remember too that house breaking is a huge problem for many dog breeds and most of the dogs on the dumbest list are notorious for their horrible house breaking! and really if a dog can’t be trained to go on pee pads or outside how smart can it really be? and of course there are exceptions to every breed. You might buy a retriever that is the worst dog you’ve ever owned but may adopt a beagle that’s wonderful. These are the typical best and worst dogs when you combine all factors. There are exception to every rule but generally the list is true.
LuvDawgs, don’t take it so personally. Plus, the list is from CBS, so no need to call anyone here an ignoramus.
This list is ridiculous. I don’t know how I ran across it tonight. My Pekingese trained easier than all the other breeds I’ve owned including: German Shepherd, Rottweiler (one of the worst), Cocker Spaniels, Huskies, Akitas, Shih tzus, Lhasa Apsos, and a Golden. I’ve always said how smart Pekes were and then I see this list made by some ignoramus who’s obviously never owned a dog and felt the need to say something. Chow Chows are also very smart. I’ve known many. What a stupid list.
I’ve got a border collie so both those lists make sense to me, except for the poodle, papillon and beagle. But what about the collie?? and are Australian terriers smart????????i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i
Austrial Cattle Dogs (not terriers) are very intelligent. I have 2. One red heeler and one blue heeler. The blue will take you by the hand and walk you to the door when she wants to go out. I don’t have to raise my voice at all… just talk to them and it’s like they know exactly what I’m saying. They listen better than either of my sons ever did!!
I have a Siberian Husky all the research that i have done the experts says this breed is one of the smartest and oldest breeds in the world. Well my husky is one of the most loveable, but i will swear the dumbest to.
what about pugs lol
Where was the pug on the “stupid” list? I own one, and let’s just say she’s not the brightest crayon in the box.
We had a Basset, and he could go get the paper, speak when asked and get you to follow him. He was also smart enough to get ham three times a day. Rufus was smart enough to tell you when he wanted the heater turned on to sleep in front of it, or stand in front of the fan to tell you he was hot and wanted it trun on as well.
I agree about Labs – we had one that actually looked both ways before crossing the street. Another one would only drink fresh cold water from the bath tub ( no potty water for him), and would take his mouth and try to turn the faucet on to get it! He never could, but he would watch as you turned it – actually watching to learn how to turn it himself!
Most of us want a dog to love and be loved in return – in that ALL dogs are smart!