The list of the world's smartest dog breeds, according to a survey of 122 veterinary professionals conducted by Vetstreet, probably comes as no surprise. Border collies, German shepherds, poodles, Australian shepherds and golden retrievers all have a reputation for being intelligent dogs.
1. Border collie. According to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man.
Australian Shepherds are known to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, and are renown for their obedience, agility, and excellence in herding and other active sports.
The breed is considered highly intelligent and easy to train. Aussies are known for being especially eager to please their owners. True to their herding instincts, Aussies are very protective of their families and territory and will let you know if strangers approach, but they are not considered aggressive.
Australian Shepherd vs Border Collie: Intelligence and trainability. When it comes to intelligence, both of these breeds are super sharp dogs who love to learn, but it's the Border Collie who comes out on top time and time again, being ranked the most intelligent dog breed in the world.
Aussies can be very clingy. They crave human companionship and love being included in pretty much everything you do, including being involved in all family activity. Since they require an active lifestyle, they will want to join in everything and anything that is going on around them.
According to Coren's standards, the Australian Shepherd ranked (drumroll, please) 42nd among 138 breeds. This ranking may feel lower than expected if you know Australian Shepherds well.
Border Collie
The valedictorians of the dog world, these herders took the top spot in Stanley Coren's intelligence rankings, meaning most can learn a new command in under five repetitions and follow it at least 95% of the time.
Australian Shepherds are very good with children and tend to get along well with other pets. They have a very easy-going temperament, making them great family pets as well as herding animals.
Named the smartest of all the toy dog breeds, the Papillon is no lap dog. Despite their small size, they're highly active and make brilliant watchdogs.
One of the key differences between the cat brain vs the dog brain is their cognitive function. As discussed, cats are independent thinkers and problem solvers, while dogs tend to be more socially intelligent and trainable.
Family dogs such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, and Irish Setters are playful and protective. Pugs, Brussels Griffons and French Bulldogs love their families – particularly their laps.
Using American Kennel Club group designations, those dogs classified as terriers, toys, or in the non-sporting group were more than three times as likely to be diagnosed with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction compared to the other breed groupings.
In fact, the Chinese-Australian Terence Tao is the person with the highest IQ in the world at present. With an outstanding IQ of 230, Terence Tao was born on July 17, 1975 in Adelaide, Australia. He was regarded as a child prodigy as claimed by educational researcher Miraca Gross while researching gifted children.
Australian Shepherds are the 18th most popular dog breed, according to the AKC. This ranking makes them more popular than dogs such as Pomeranians and Chihuahuas.
Your Aussie will bond to his family and be protective of and loyal to them. Many dog owners are surprised to learn that even though Aussies have strong guarding and herding instincts, they are sweet and cuddly indoor dogs that can even be kept in apartments.
The Root of the Behavior
Dogs plop themselves on top of each other for a few reasons. Dogs learned to pile as puppies, they demonstrate dominance, or they're having a grand ole time playing. A dog starts learning survival skills when he is born and in a litter.
Australian Shepherds are very active dogs. Most likely, they won't want to cuddle because they're so active. If you wanted a lap dog, an Australian Shepherd probably wasn't the best choice.