| As a species, dogs are smart and one particular | | | | obedience competitions and performing tricks. They |
| study discovered that the average dog is capable of | | | | are also used more and more as service dogs |
| counting to 5, reasoning, and understand | | | | because they are so easy to train. |
| approximately 165 words. But some dog breeds are | | | | Number 3 - German Shepherd |
| smarter than others and their "vocabulary" is as high | | | | German shepherds have always been known for |
| as 250 words. | | | | their intelligence as well as their instinct to protect |
| Over 200 experts in dog-obedience were asked to | | | | and their courage. This makes them one of the best |
| rank 110 breeds of dogs in order of their intelligence. | | | | breeds to act as a guard dog that there is. Because |
| Here is a countdown from number five to number | | | | they are so smart, German Shepherds are happiest |
| one of the breeds they determined to be the | | | | when they have a job to do or a purpose. That job |
| smartest. This top 5 list is the same for several | | | | is often as police dogs and search dogs. |
| different surveys. | | | | Number 2 - Standard Poodle |
| Number 5 - Doberman Pinscher | | | | The standard poodle is known to be one of the |
| Besides being intelligent, Dobermans are loyal, | | | | most trainable breeds. They are extremely smart and |
| fearless, and very assertive. The nature of this breed | | | | love to be with people. They are a very happy and |
| is to be dominant, but because they are so intelligent | | | | sensitive breed and don't like to be left alone. They |
| and loyal they can be controlled easily. While | | | | are so smart and easy to train that they can even |
| commonly thought of as protective and guard dogs, | | | | be used as guard dogs and hunting dogs. |
| they can be trained to be gentle enough to act as | | | | Number 1 - Border Collie |
| therapy dogs in hospitals. | | | | The most intelligent breed is the Border collie and like |
| Number 4 - Golden Retriever | | | | other very smart breeds, they are happiest when |
| Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular | | | | they have a particular job to do. They crave |
| breeds as well, in large part because of their loyalty, | | | | company, praise, and need a lot of exercise so if left |
| affection, and gentleness. Golden Retrievers love to | | | | by themselves for very long they can be destructive. |
| please, not just people but other animals. They have | | | | Their intelligence and ease of training are well known |
| higher than average intelligence and this combined | | | | and are always leaders when it comes to |
| with a great deal of patience and their eagerness to | | | | competitions in obedience and agility as well as at |
| make their owners happy makes them excel in | | | | sheepdog trials. |