The Smartest and Silliest Dog Breeds

Ever wondered where your furry friend fits on the list of clever canines? Well, wonder no more. Dog Diaries can proudly present the list of the top five smartest and silliest dog breeds.

But here’s the thing… Just because this is what the ‘experts’ say, does it mean the list is right? Do you have a Border Collie that’s just about the daftest thing on four legs? Or is your Afghan Hound a doggy Einstein? So if you’d like to agree or prove us wrong, use the Comment facility to let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Clever canines

1. Border Collie – Consistently ranked brightest of the bright, the Border Collie was one of the first dog breeds to be imported in Australia. Border Collies have long been used as sheepdogs because of their high intelligence and fantastic work ethic. Loyal and friendly, they make great companions for people who have the time to devote to them. However, their cleverness makes them prone to boredom, so do not leave home alone for extended periods.

2. Poodle – Their rather preened appearance often leads people to think poodles are pretty vacant. But nothing could be further from the truth. Poodles are highly intelligent, which makes them easily trained. Quick-witted and obedient, they often display near-human powers of reasoning. On the down side, though, they require a lot of maintenance.

3. German Shepherd – Widely used by police forces around the world, the German Shepherd is known for its trainability, its bravery, its agility and its devotion to its owner/handler. It also possesses one of the keenest senses of smell in the canine world. Also known as the Alsatian, the breed is easily trained and can make a perfect companion for a devoted owner. Their strength means they would be best suited to an active owner.

4. Golden Retriever – Loyal, affectionate, eager to please, great with kids, the Golden Retriever has long been one of the most popular breeds. Retrievers consistently perform well in obedience competitions and excel at performing tricks. They are prone to eye problems and hip dysplasia as they get older. A wonderful dog!

5. Doberman Pinscher – There are a number of reasons Dobermans are often used as guard dogs, loyalty, assertiveness and fearlessness among them. However, it would be wrong to think of them as innately aggressive. As with people, some are more temperamental than others, and Dobermans have been trained to work as therapy dogs in hospitals. But this is not a breed to be associated with children.

For the record… the Shetland Sheepdog, Labrador Retriever, Papillon, Rottweiler, and Aussie Cattle Dog rank sixth to tenth on the list.

Daft dogs

1. Afghan Hound – It’s sweet, affectionate and sensitive, and has one of the oldest pedigrees of all dog breeds. But the Afghan is notably hard to train (in fact, some trainers call it ‘cat-like’ in its desire not to obey). It is also high maintenance in terms of grooming. And, hey, as the saying goes, ‘When you look this good, you don’t have to know anything’!

2. Basenji – Another pooch that is more like a cat in terms of its hard-to-train personality (not to mention the fact that it grooms itself and will happily spend hours staring out of the window!). Full of energy, so best suited to an active owner.

3. Bulldogs – Loyal, courageous and dependable (traits normally associated with smart dogs), the Bulldog takes an age to learn simple commands. However, they are generally wonderful with children, making them great family dogs, although they require a lot of attention and affection.

4. Chow Chow – Cute and fluffy-looking, but incredibly obstinate so very hard to train. Chow Chows are loyal to their owners but can be a nightmare with visitors – human and animal alike. A great companion dog, but requires a firm hand to prevent it taking over!

5. Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound) – Another dog with cat-like characteristics. Keeps itself very keen and, despite being very affectionate, is remarkably unconcerned about pleasing its owner. Requires regular grooming and is prone to suffering leg fractures.
For the record… the Bloodhound, Pekingese, Mastiff, Beagle and Bassett Hound occupy places six to 10 on the list.

Don’t forget to send us your comments about this list.