Border collies top list of smartest pooches, Afghans dumbest

MELBOURNE - The list of top ten smartest pooches has border collies at number one, while Afghans are listed as the dumbest.

The list compiled by Sunshine Coast-based vet Mark Perissinotto, showed that border collies are the most intelligent dogs known to man, followed by the German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Shetland sheepdog, Labrador, Papillon, Rottweiler and Australian cattle dog.

The Gap’s Lisa Williamson, who has owned border collies for more than two decades, said they were undoubtedly dogs with enormous potential.

“You can teach them to pretty much do anything. Mine can answer the phone, open cupboards and bring anything back from anywhere. If I drop a set of car keys in the park, I can actually send my dog to find them,” the Courier Mail quoted Williamson as saying.

Afghan breeder Chris McGreevy of Bracken Ridge admitted her dogs could do none of those things but said that was no indication they lacked intelligence.

“They just operate in a different way. If you told them to go fetch, they’d say ‘Get it yourself’. The Afghan is a highly intelligent dog. It’s a very independent dog,” McGreevy who has owned and bred afghan hounds since 1975, said.

Those that were classed as “no-brainers” were the shih tzu, basset hound, mastiff, Pekingese, Irish setter, Borzoi, cavalier King Charles spaniel, bulldog, basenji and afore-mentioned Afghan hound.

Dr Perissinotto from VetShopAustralia.com said he compiled the list based on his 23 years of experience, the advice of dog behavioural experts and dog owners. (ANI)