Top 5 Smartest Dogs

For the most part, dogs are pretty smart animals.  You can teach them to follow complicated commands, sniff drugs and guide the blind.  Try teaching a cat any of those tricks!  But it’s a well-known fact that not all dogs are equally smart.  I recently came across an article that discusses what, according to 122 veterinary professionals, are the five smartest dog breeds.

The gentle, loving and easygoing Golden Retriever has been hailed as an ideal dog for years, and anybody who’s owned them has only the best things to say about them.  But they’re also pretty intelligent.  Originally bred for hunting, Goldens are devoted family dogs who need plenty of exercise and activity.  For Goldens, the best activity is something that stimulates both the mind and the body.

Australian Shepherds aren’t afraid to show their love for you by leaning on your leg, sitting on your foot or jumping onto your lap.  But these dogs, originally bred to herd sheep, are also very intelligent, excelling at such activities as obedience, agility, flying disc competitions and herding trials.

While they may look silly and prissy, Poodles are active dogs that thrive on learning and attention from their owners.  They’re excellent choices for agility and obedience competitions, and even though Poodle’s aren’t always show dogs, they still require intense grooming.

A fearless, loyal dog, German Shepherds are naturals for military and police work.  But even if you’re not involved in such a line of work, German Shepherds tend to be loyal and energetic companions who love to spend time with their family.

Originally bred as herding dogs, Border Collies are intense, hardworking and energetic dogs.  Imposing their will on sheep is in their bones, so these dogs just might want to do the same thing to you too.  These dogs have exceptional focus, which is a real plus in the field, but if Border Collies are left without anything to do, this focus can turn out to be a problem.