Posted on 05/02/2015 7:53:29 AM PDT by MtnClimber
When one is looking to bring home a dog, one of the things that factors into the decision is their intelligence. Finding out the intelligence level of specific dog breeds is important in terms of how easily a dog can be trained and how obedient and responsive they will be based on their ability to understand commands, which will give one the best chance of having a happy life with their new pet as opposed to having it be an added stress. Dogs with the highest levels of intelligence are very well-suited for work as service dogs for those with visual impairments in particular.
My neighbor’s cocker spaniel is VERY smart. I love that dog. Very smart and very sweet and friendly.
LOL! That pic
There could also be classes or places that have agility games for dogs...we have a lab/border mix we got when she was 2...wish we had done that...she’s 14.5 now and heading into twilight...best dog we ever had
That’s my dog
My sister and her family are on their second German Shepherd. I’ve loved both of them and both were very different. They got the 1st one when he was young, she took him to agility and obedience classes and you couldn’t ask for a better, sweeter, more protective dog. They both also got their Delta certifications and she was going to take him into nursing homes, but shortly thereafter my nephew was born and she didn’t have the time. He was very large for a Shepherd - long and weighed in at about 115 lbs. never thought anyone would bother me when I was walking him! Unfortunately, he got cancer and eventually he had to be put down so he wouldn’t suffer.
The second one that they have now is about 9, but sometimes still thinks he’s a puppy (weighing in at about 85lbs). he’s a sweet dog, but not as well trained as the 1st one. They got him in a fluke soon after the 1st one died because of a friend’s divorce - the husband said if they didn’t find him a home, he was going back to the breeder. He’s a purebred (not sure about the 1st one, but he sure looked like it).
Both of them were/are very protective with family members. When we go to the ocean with various kids, they keep an eye on them and “herd” them periodically. The 1st one used to do that with all of us when we took him to the off leash dog park. My sister and her husband have spent thousands of dollars on both of the “free” dogs for various reasons.
I’ve been thinking about getting a dog, but I work all day and don’t have a yard right now, so I don’t think it would be fair to the dog. also, not sure what breed (or mutt) I want to get. My cousin raised and showed purebred standard poodles for a while - they’re very smart as well. I like them because they don’t shed. A friend of mine has a Labordoodle that is pretty darn cute and seems rather smart and loyal. But I do love Shepherds!
I had a Corgi that watched television. Note - I’m not talking about “seeing moving images”. I’m talking about WATCHING. He liked light comedy, but hated police procedurals and would leave the room in disgust. In particular, he loved Susanne Sommers in Three’s Company and Carrie in Sex and the City. He watched America’s funniest videos for the animal videos. My FIL thought that we were insane until my dog sat down with him and watched a Sopranos marathon. We had a Tivo, and when my FIL would go to the bathroom he would pause it and the dog would give him a dirty look. After that, he believed.
The weird thing was that he could even understand cartoon representations of dogs. Look at “Snoopy” in Peanuts. He immediately recognized the cartoon dog as a dog. We tested him with a stick figure drawing of a dog. He barked at it!
Of course, with my dog watching television, that demonstrated that he was as smart as many people, which is not actually saying much...
Border collies and other herding breeds (shelties, Corgi’s, German shepards) might be smart, but they are not good with small children. They are fine with them until they run or move (which is basically, always). Then they want to herd them!
“I’ve come to believe we confuse our view of intelligence and responsive obedience.”
That would give Democrats a high intelligence rating. ;^)
One of my dogs is Rottweiler/German Sheppard mix (Eli). Eli is pretty smart. Although we leave water for him when we leave the house, he won’t drink it until we get home. He has apparently learned the cause (drinking water) and effect (having to pee) and when we get home, after the initial meet n’ greet, he then goes to the water bowl for a drink. It’s funny to watch.
We rescued a sweet little poodle mix a few years ago. She’s our first dog, and I was looking for a hypoallergenic one that would be good with teens. I was so surprised to find out poodles are smart.
We love ours. I wasn’t a dog person beforehand
, but my daughter’s were having medical problems and I thought a dog would help. I was correct, but she helped me too!
The one I had was very, very smart. Occasionally, hubby will put the metal dog dishes into the dishwasher to clean them. Now, this border collie liked to eat her food, then pick up the metal dish out of its holder and bat it around the house. So, when he emptied the dishwasher, he put water in one dish and put both dishes in the holder. The BC kept trying to pick up the dish full of water. We couldn't figure out why, until I realized that he must have put water into the dish that ususally held the food, which is the one she would bat around the house. She could tell the difference.
So, if you have room for them to run, and you will train them and give them some work to do, they will be fine. They are not good in an apartment, or at home alone.
My dog is a Norrbottenspets!
He is pretty smart but has tendencies to act like a mountain goat, climbing on things. Sometimes he thinks he is a Greyhound, racing around the house, at full speed. When I’m working or repairing things, his nose is always in the way.
He might not be the smartest dog around but he can read cursive!
Yes, our little guy has been running our house for 13 years now. Poor fellow has a cancer growth on this lip, and his hearing is going, so I don't think he will be with us for much longer. Hubby and I will mourn him greatly, as he has been a wonderful companion for our family. The first ah-roo did it -- we were his slaves immediately after that.
Those breeds victimized by being portrayed as "less intelligent," must be granted privileges and positions now occupied by the privileged breeds.
Pit Bulls can be trained and hired to herd sheep.
There is no reason why Chihuahuas cannot be trained to find snowbound travelers and deliver little barrels of brandy to them.
Shih Tzus must be hired to track escaped convicts.
Yorkshire terriers are to be hired as guard dogs.
True story. She thinks it's her truck.
I love GSD and Malinois dogs. We are on our second shepherd. She is 9, acts 2 and very intelligent.
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