The smartest?
Border collies, poodles, and German shepherds, in that order, says Stanley Coren, a canine expert and professor emerit us
at the University of British Columbia.
Those breeds have been created recently compared with other dog breeds and may be smarter in part because we’ve trained and bred them to be so, Coren said. The dogs at the top of the pack are on par with a 2.5-year-old. Click here for complete article.
I doubt that Coren’s study will surprise dog lovers but it will interest us.
As a lover of hounds, especially Afghans, I must speak in their defense. They never score well in typical tra
ining tests.
They do not learn to fetch.
They run after things that catch their eye because they are sight hounds.
They pounce on their game and hold them down, waiting for you arrive.
Mine have been remarkably intuitive, as you will read in my books. If you bond with them, that bond will be as strong as any you’ve ever had.
Mine, especially Balthazar/Baltho, have helped with my therapy sessions, often pointing out what I have missed. My other dogs, and cats, have helped too, but none has matched Baltho’s abilities as a co-therapist.Â
I also must say that Hattie, my third Afghan, showed herself to be most noble as my little grey beardie, Flopsy, lay dying on my bed. They were like sisters. Hattie sensed what was happening and carefully got up on the bed in front of Flopsy, lay down facing her, and hugged her with both paws for a few moments. I knew what Hattie was signalling. Then, Hattie got down and came to stand at my side, placing her head under my hand until Flopsy expired.