Best Dog Breeds Info

What do you think the are the smartest breeds of dog? What dog breeds are the most clever, think the most and take up training and tricks with the most ease? I’ve made a list of those I consider to have the best balance of trainability and innate ready to “mould” intelligence.

Remember that, as with humans not all dogs of the same breed will be brilliant minds. Breeding comes into play, as does the environment in which you raise your dog. In addition you must put the effort in. Ironically more effort is often needed for these breeds.

These breeds are not happy just lying about all day, they need to be stimulated. If you don’t gove them what they need then you may well end up with a problem dog. So beware, if you’re not sure about your time or commitment but still want a dog go for a less demanding breed.

If you want to spend your time with a clever dog, remember you need to always be training him or her and setting new tasks or things to do. Physical exercise also plays a large part in mental health. To stay clever and happy your dog has to stay fit and active!

The Border Collie
While the Border collie is without a doubt a dog that is on the high maintenance list, he’s also one of the smartest dog breeds you can find. Just look at the way they herd sheep if you need any example. They’re loving it!

The issue you may hit with the Border Collie is that they need a a huge amount problem of stimulation or they end up very restless. They are a true working dog breed and have a need to active hard wired in. You need to be able fill this need for them. A lot of long energetic walks and mental games. Be sure too that someone is able to be home much of the time to keep the dog occupied and prevent shoe destruction!

If you can offer this time and space then the Border Collie is a great dog breed for you. If not then I advise against. If they don’t have enough space to move, or a job to do, they’re going to be crazy.

The Shetland Sheepdog
You’ll often hear owners of this beautiful breed swear that their dog has more intelligence than a young child, and they’re not far off. These dogs aren’t just beautiful; they’re one of the cleverest dog breeds around.

Raised to mostly herd literally hundreds of sheep and cattle their job requires a lot of intelligence and focus. So as an owner you need to be able to satisfy this need.

The Shetland sheepdog has a very kind personality and makes a great family pet. They can be wary of strangers though so introducing friends and family can take time.

The Rottweiler
Don’t go running because of their bad-dog reputation. It’s a farce based on factors like over-hyped media hysteria over a handful of attacks that were more down to bad owners than the dogs - Bad owners who, if they’d had a Yorkshire Terrier probably would have made it mad enough to attack someone! The film the Omen didn’t help either. As with Jaws and sharks it demonized the breed. Totally undeserved.

Rottweiler’s are among the smartest dog breeds- extremely intelligent dogs that aren’t actually overly aggressive. They follow commands well, and they’re also quick to pick up on what you’re doing - unlike with some dogs, you only need to go through a trick a few times before they get it down.

Rottie’s are also extremely family-friendly, and make some of the best guard dogs. If you can get past their fearsome, near-monstrous reputation, you can really have a wonderfully smart dog!

Keep in mind that they are a big breed, if you have small kids in the family and don’t have a big house then I advise against as such large playful puppies and young dogs (upto 2 years) can scare children with their play. It is only play but imagine getting a huge head height dog come running up to you ate high speed and imagine what you’d think - exactly!

The German Shepherd
Very similar in model to the Rottie. The breed one of the most popular working dogs with many roles in police, military, customs and security services as well as softer roles as guide dogs. Very intelligent and keen to learn they make a great choice for the same reasons you’d choose a Rottie. Not overly aggressive unless trained to be so, with a great bark and growl they are though naturally territorial and pack-protective so they also make excellent guard dogs.

The same factors with house space and young kids apply to th German Shepherd too.

Remember that the smartest dog breeds have the same basic traits in common - they need a lot of love, plenty of space to run around in, and a lot of attention.

Not Seeing the Breed you expected?
This list isn’t definitive and there are other very intelligent breeds. Retrievers and Labradors are great though a bit too food obsessed to make the elite list in my opinion. Poodles, Australian cattle dogs and Doberman’s are all excellent intelligent dog breeds to consider.

German Shepherds, often called in short form as “GSDs” are not an ancient breed. In fact they’re not much over 100 years old. Also called by some Alsatians due to their breeding having originally taken place in the Alsace region of Germany. Breed aficionados who admire their intelligence and good manner will also often refer to them as The Noble Shepherd.That celebrity was well earned as these brave dogs became police dogs, guide dogs and film stars who repeatedly proved their intelligence and faithfulness. German Shepherds are among the most highly regarded breeds for reasons that are easy to see. German Shepherds, (translated from the German, Deutscher Schäferhund) are very intelligent, exceedingly loyal, protective and good looking dogs.

The German Shepherd is medium-sized (75-90lbs/34-41kg). The male ranges from 24-26 inches (61-66cm) at the withers (top of the shoulder bones), the female a bit smaller. They have two-tone coats - typically black and tan and have deep brown eyes, perky ears and square lonf nosed heads. All in all a great looking breed when in motion or still.

There are a number of sub-breeds that are still considered purebreds by many. Pure white German Shepherds are in high demand due to their great looks and mild kind personalities. Then there’s a long-haired type that looks like it sounds! The long hair color is still typical black and tan German Shepherd but with hair on the face and chest longer than the regular type.

GSD’s are popular on the dog show circuit too. Their strong agility, intelligence, good looks and willingness to be trained lets them do well in many show classes not just looking good as with many fancy breeds! Sadly their white and long haired cousins are often banned from mainline shows.

The silliness that can be endemic in “dog show politics” defines them as non-pure. That’s just daft and unless you’re planning on doing shows seriouslt then you should consider both types as perfectly fine options for your dog partner if you like the look of either type.

German Shepherds are justly famed for their guard and rescue dog abilities. They bond with owner or trainer within a few months and are strong and fit enough to do a hell of a lot of hard work.

Even better they’re not overly aggressive by nature though of course they can be but when trained and instructed to be so. They have extraordinary scent detection abilities which when combined with their other attributes makes them very popular with police, customs and military for sniffer dog work.

If you enjoy training dogs then good news - They enjoy training too and will give you a lot of satisfaction. Yet, unlike other breeds such as Dalmatians they don’t need unremitting action in order to be calm and happy.

They can be equally relaxed just watching and waiting. They can be content to walk calmly along a border on guard patrol or just hang out at home or in the garden waiting for the next game.

They’re good with children and don’t usually threaten the neighbors or visitors unless they’ve been trained to react when someone comes onto the property. They may growl or bark, however, since anyone not of ‘their pack’ is naturally suspect.

While very hardy in general, German Shepherds do have health conditions which they are somewhat more predisposed to than other breeds. Bloat (GDV, Gastric Dilatation Volvulus) is possible and occurs when the stomach dilates as a result of an excess of fluid, and sometimes twists. Otitis Externa is an inflammation of the ear canal that often affects dogs with long ears, such as those of the German Shepherd.

Hip Dysplasia is very well know as a potential problem too. It tends to affect the them as they get older. The best defense is to get your Shepherd from a breeder who’s breeding family line has not had problems with it.

But apart from diseases, they’re relatively easy to care for. Coat, nail and other aspects need only a small effort to keep them healthy and looking fine.

German Shepherds have a double-layered coat comprised of a short, thick, wiry overcoat and a soft, dense undercoat. The fur sheds some in Spring but needs only moderate care. Bathing the water-resistant coat is needed only occasionally, while regular brushing is enough to keep the skin and hair healthy.

If you’re sure that the GSD is the dog breed for you then the next step is to locate a good breeder. The GSD like some other popular breeds has been over bred in some places. Like over and inbreeding in human populations this is not good!

Bad health and mental characteristics tend to exaggerate rather than the good. So do your research, ask owner clubs about good breeders, check out online forums or clubs and see what breeder names keep popping up as good.

Get in contact with them, find out if they have litters due, costs and so on and be prepared to be asked about your lifestyle and accommodation - Good breeders are like parents and want their “kids” to go to a good home. So if you get questioned on this that’s a very good sign!

Terrier dog breeds are among the most varied breeds, ranging from the wee toy Yorkie to the great big Airedale. Originally developed to hunt and catch small game, the group has largely adapted its role in human life over the past 200 years. But the huge range of size, personalities and looks plus the fact that there is a terrier to suit nearly every dog lover lifestyle means terriers to continue to be among the most popular group in the world.Variety and choice is one of the most most attractive things about the Terrier group of dog breeds. Take just the small terriers for example; Norwich’s appear and act in one way, Border terriers very differently and Glen of Imall’s differ again. A Mini Bull on one hand is a determined high energy action dog whereas the much loved Yorkie, determined and terrier like as ever won’t ask for a mad run in the woods several times a day!

Medium-sized terriers, such as the Welsh Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier could hardly be more different in appearance. To the beginner, it would be difficult to find reasons to put them into the same group. Yet both have similar ancestry, being developed not far from one another by modern measurements of distance.

Some of the larger terriers look still more different from their smaller cousins. Some like the Lakeland, Airedale and Irish Terriers are more similar to one another, in appearance and behavior, than they are to the smaller breeds. Yet, a Kerry Blue - while much larger than the Scottie - was bred in similar circumstances and displays common behaviors. That shows in the stance, the coat and other attributes, such as their high spirits and able hill herding competency.

These are all very different from others that carry the terrier name. The Border Terrier has some similarity with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier though the Stafford is bit taller and broader both have the same square head, close coat and highly alert nature. Yet, you could hardly find two terriers more closely related, while looking dissimilar, than the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire-Haired Fox.

This ’similarity within diversity’ is no accident, of course. Originally bred to hunt, many breeds in different terrains the different terrier types were designed for purpose. Fox and rabbit hunting has certain demand whereas rats and badgers. But animals that live above ground, such as squirrels need a different type of hunter. When we consider the background of the terrier breed the reason for the similarity yet difference fact is clear. At heart hunters terriers were bred in many different areas and terrains and climates to hunt a great range of prey. Some to run down fast moving rabbit, hare and fox, others to get down and dirty in rat holes or hunt in deep wooded bush. It’s no surprise that there is such similarity within the diverse physical range of terrier breeds when you recall that basically the breed was bred to hunt mainly small game such as rats, rabbits, hare and fox. The differences arise from the wide range of places they were bred and the prey they were bred to go after.

These variations took on even larger dimensions as the generations went by and hunting became much less common. Everything from movies to shows and agility contests, guard duty and drug-sniffing duty has called terriers into action. Breeding a dog to perform services for the deaf is obviously going to take a very different dog from one who will simply be a fun family pet.

Tastes in terriers run as wide a range as the breeds. Some like the portability and cute look of a little Westie. Others will find their hearts stolen by a miniature schnauzer or impishly cute Border, with their floppy ears and cute quizzical look. Still others can’t resist the lovable good nature of an Airedale and enjoy their tall, dignified stance and classic looks.

So no matter what your situation is, your age, location, ability to do walks, the great thing about the terrier group of breeds is that there will be one to suit you.

Did you know that there, are last estimate, about 800 or more pure dog breeds? (not to mention endless mixes of course) With that huge number of breeds to decide between, how should you go about deciding what breed is perfect for you? Well as luck would have it, you can pin down the alternatives and determine the right dog breed for you by following a few basic steps.

First, think about your available space. Do you live in an apartment or flat? If so, you will want to rule out large dogs unless you have access to a large open space close by and can take them out to it 3+ times a day 365 days a year - A wood or forest is good. At my place in Sweden we have exactly this situation and know sevveral people with large breeds who do fine due to this. But if you don’t have this or can’t take them out a lot then be kind to yourself and the dog and don’t get a large breed. Instead look for dogs in the Toy group, such as Yorkshire Terriers, or some of the smaller dogs in the Terrier group, like the Border Terrier or Miniature Schnauzer. I have a Border Terrir and live in a flat and it’s a perfect arrangement. The fact that he gets 10km a day in the forest over the road is a bonus

If you have children, you will must consider the size of your dog, as well. Very small dogs, such as Chihuahuas or Maltese, can be very delicate and are often accidentally injured by young children. On the other hand, very large dogs, such as Great Danes or Saint Bernards, can be overly boisterous as puppies and can accidentally turn your child into a human bowling pin. Consider medium sized breeds, such as Fox Terriers, Schnauzer’s or Retreiver’s, instead.

Next, consider how much exercise you are able to give your dog. If you have a home with a fenced yard, your dog will be able to get some exercise on his own. However, dog breeds in the Sporting, Hound, and Herding groups are very high energy animals and you will need to have enough time to provide them with more intensive exercise. Plan to take a lot of long walks with your dog or go for a daily romp in the park. After all, these dog breeds were bred to work hard and don’t do well unless they have a job to do or a way to burn off excess energy.

Finally, don’t forget to think about grooming needs. Some dog breeds only need a half hour or so of grooming a week, while others need to be brushed for an hour a day. If you are short on time, don’t buy a Standard Poodle or a Maltese, unless, of course, you plan to take your dog to a groom. Breeds like Boston Terriers or Whippets are good picks for people who don’t have time to do a lot of grooming.

When you determine which breed of dog you want, you will need to consider the age of the dog. A lot of people prefer to buy a cuddly little puppy instead of an older dog. While puppies haven’t acquired any bad habits, it will be up to the new owner to be sure that the puppy becomes house-trained and obedience trained. Older dogs are often already house-trained and usually have some obedience training. They are also more likely to be less hyper and less destructive. However, they can have behavioural problems or health problems that prompted the former owner to find them a new home.

Do you want to buy a puppy? If so, you will need to find a reputable dog breeder who has a litter of the breed you are interested in. Often, a good breeder will have a waiting list for puppies. If you aren’t the patient sort, you may be tempted to buy a puppy from a pet store. However, many pet store puppies come from puppy mills and have genetic health faults, bad temperaments, or other problems. It is usually safest to buy a puppy directly from the breeder. I advise you find a good breeder and wait. It’s worth it. I waited 6 months for my Border Terrier and it was well worth it!

If you are interested in an older dog, you may want to visit your local animal shelter or call a breed rescue. These groups evaluate the dogs’ health and temperament before adopting them out.

Once you’ve narrowed down the breed choices and have determined which dog is right for you, don’t get too relaxed. After all, you still have one more important decision to make, what to name your new family/pack member!!

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