DEAR PET TALK: Our family wants to get a dog and we can’t agree on what kind. We want a smart dog and some of us think poodles are the smartest, others think terriers. —Crazy For a Smart Dog Family
DEAR CFASDF: There’s intelligence, emotional intelligence, and just all around “smarts” — and all of those criteria are difficult to quantify among dogs. Some dogs are bred to learn tasks quickly and efficiently. Does that qualify a dog to be smarter than one who is so eager to please their people that they’re attentive and highly trainable?
Some dogs may be smart but have behavioral issues, especially if treated inconsistently or not properly trained. However, no matter how smart a dog may be, remember that you and your dog are partners. By working with your dog, you’ll help bring out his or her best attributes. Humans have been breeding dogs for millenia; our relationship goes back more than 36,000 years and crosses global cultures (think of Inuits and huskies; Europeans and hunting dogs, Chinese Emperors and Shih-tzus sleeping on their feet at the foot of the throne!).
However, some organizations make it their business to evaluate general smarts. According to the American Kennel Club, intelligence among canines is in the eye of the beholder. Their estimate of the top five smartest dogs are border collie, poodle, German shepherd, golden retriever, and Doberman pinscher.
I would have put border collies at the top-dog spot because — let’s face it — herding sheep across a varied terrain, understanding and anticipating the decisions of large, crowd-oriented ungulates, listening to complex requests and requirements by the human shepherds — well, that’s a bit more complicated than a game of fetch!
I’ve known plenty of very smart golden retrievers, who also have an uncanny intelligence in terms of understanding the humans they spend time with. Maddie, who has sadly passed, was a golden owned by Connie McBrier who was a brilliant therapy dog. Maddie would lean her body against a child who might seem agitated, or who was speaking rapidly on visits. She would instinctively know who might need to spend time with her, and visit that person and make contact with her eyes and her body. So when you think “intelligence,” understand that is a multi-faceted concept!
Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Visit us on Facebook and call or text questions to 978-320-1335
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