Top 10 Smartest and Dumbest Dog Breeds

CBS4.com ^ | 4/7/08

[When do we get liberated?]

Anybody know where the Pit Bull shows up on the list? I mean not mine, he is a total numbnut. I mean pits in general

[windcliff]

Boarder Collie #1

[Hyzenthlay]

I’ve never had a dog, but I’ve had quite a few friends and neighbors who had dogs, and I have to more or less agree with the list. Although my all-over favorite dog (or dogs) is the litter of Golden-Labradoodle puppies my neighbors’ dog had one summer... they were so much fun!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I doubt the rankings very much. Basenjis are incredibly clever and seem to spend most of their time outsmarting their owners.

Some dogs are amazingly intelligent and didn’t make the list.

[devolve]

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There was a great show on the ultra liberal PBS-TV about this

They put all breeds of dogs through a series of various tests

One test was to simply put a towel over the dog’s head and accurately measure how long it took for the dog to remove the towel

Dogs like Border Collies just shook them off instantly

Some dogs took many minutes to figure our how to remove the towel - it was amazing!

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Primates also have very different levels of intelligence

Chimp, Orangatan, Gorilla, etc.

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Some birds can mimic human speech - some are killing predators, some sing outside your window, some drop colorful fragrant gifts on your new car

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I will not infer that humans may also be very different in cognitive skills, jumping, mental processes, running, violence, lifting heavy objects, logic, sports, civil behavior, removing a towel from their head, etc. as it would not be “PC”

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We had a Collie when I was young - “Heather” was smarter than many of the current crop of idiots you are now seeing on FNC, CNN, MSNBC

That includes the media staff, guests, and some controversial idiots we now see on the news; especially one alleged primate who uses many prison/gang hand gestures and body movements when he speaks -

DISCLAIMER: You’re on your own on this one; it may not be intelligent to post in print or discuss this with others

[Tijeras_Slim]

Basenji’s are smart, just not slavishly obedient.

[Babsig]

Have you laughed so hard that it hurts? I just have after reading your post. OMG that was funny. Did you really do that?

[Darren McCarty]

Some of the smartest dogs I've met were Norweigian Elkhounds.

I was at a friend's house, and they had two of them. They distrusted me at first as watchdogs should, and then it became "trust but verify". I was literally watched the entire time by one of them to make sure I was good people. Even if it was a "tailing" distance, it was there. It wasn't an unfriendly watch, just good situational awareness.

They are very manipulative as well. After I was petting one of them, she barked. I made the mistake of responding to the bark.

I wouldn't want to tangle with them either. The two of them killed a deer once. One of their neighbors was very unhappy about it. The response "They are elkhounds. That's what they do."

[potlatch]

Lol, I’ll bet you and Heather had some deep discussions.....! Sorry, couldn’t help myself!

Piper loves me to throw the sheet or blanket over him and then wrestle him around with my hand [he’s tiny]. All four legs start ‘fighting’ at you’, it’s cute.

“Removing a towel from their head” may become an ‘issue’, people-wise!

Free Republic slowed to a crawl for me and the pager just went out!!

[Darren McCarty]

I've known a few retrievers who were as dumb as a sack of hair. ;~)

I know a bunch that were, except when it came to finding food or something that passes for food. They had great noses, that's for sure. One neighbor's Golden found a gutted deer that someone hunted. The deer's stomach was brought back as a showoff. I was there. I was gone soon after.

[devolve]

.

Heather was a great watchdog too

Tex was the ultimate watchdog

He controlled the excessive speed of vehicles and got irritated if they slowed down or stopped near our house

Good comment about “towelheads”!

[Churchillspirit]

Of all the cats I have been fortunate enough to be employed by, my favorite was a Siamese/Maine coon mix. Smart and incredible personality.

He's been gone more than five years, but I miss that little guy every day.

[Vicki]

Have to disagree about the Basenji. We had two of them and the female was so smart it was almost scary. Basenji’s are a very different breed of dog. They are cat-like and are aloof. This alone might make them seem dumb to people who don’t understand the breed.

[ntnychik]

So, you’re named after your dog?

[Let's Roll]

Thanks for the Chow training insight. Interesting.

[MomwithHope]

OK I will give props to the Border Collie but the Maltese should be in that smart list. My Yogi is a little genius -

[potlatch]

LOL, I occasionally come up with something good!
We love our dogs and never forget them.

[potlatch]

[So, you’re named after your dog?]

LOL, you should have known that from over 6 years ago! I’ve mentioned it a lot, posted his picture.

Think I have an old thread in my links on my profile page where people told how they chose their Freeper name.

[poinq]

They are wrong about the Mastiff. If they think chasing a ball is intelligence they are wrong about intelligence as well. A Mastiff is very intelligent, very controlled and easily fits into a family.

[KosmicKitty]

Duchess thanks you.

She is a very proud Olde English Bulldogge. She’s quite certain that this article referred to the smaller British bulldogs as Madam is a very intelligent creature.

She certain reigns in this household! :-)