I think all dogs are smart. I think different breeds train us differently. Many people will call a pug dumb because they have their own agenda. They do what you ask of them if it's convenient at the time. I don't call that dumb, I call it brilliant! LOL! I like dogs that think for themselves. It's more challenging and way more entertaining LOL!
Brainy small dogs
- Thread starter SSBGSCKSKLDLSW
- Start date
Poodle coats are high maintenance. Probably the most work of all small dogs as far as I see (although I think Bichon's and Pekingese might give them a run for their money LOL).
I think I heard a collie owner once say that those collie/sheltie type coats need less work than people think they do. Although I can't be 100% sure, I may be thinking of another breed.
Cass.
I think I heard a collie owner once say that those collie/sheltie type coats need less work than people think they do. Although I can't be 100% sure, I may be thinking of another breed.
Cass.
Poodles are very smart, as others have mentioned, but I've also heard that they're quite sensitive to the feelings in their environment. I was looking into getting one for awhile, and if you keep the coat in a "puppy cut" then you can probably do the clipping yourself with a little practice. There are books on how to do it, your local library may even have one (mine did).
Another smart and small but sturdy dog you might want to also look into is a Havanese.
So true with the pugs! I had a pug that really didn't seem very bright, but really, it worked well for him! And he had such a sweet temperment that I didn't mind if he was a little dense, lol. "Smart" dogs can be great, but as the owner of a dog that's just TOO smart, there is something to be said for dogs of more average intelligence.
Another smart and small but sturdy dog you might want to also look into is a Havanese.
So true with the pugs! I had a pug that really didn't seem very bright, but really, it worked well for him! And he had such a sweet temperment that I didn't mind if he was a little dense, lol. "Smart" dogs can be great, but as the owner of a dog that's just TOO smart, there is something to be said for dogs of more average intelligence.
I'm very interested in this too. I want a small dog but couldn't deal with dumbness, neuroticism or too much disobedience, so I'm having trouble deciding/finding what I want...
This link shows a ranking of dog breeds (only US lines, I believe?)... It says "smartest" but the study it's based on was actually about obedience/working intelligence - how quickly a dog learns new commands, plus how reliably it then obeys them:
http://www.petvr.com/index.php/pages/toptensmartestdogbreeds.html
With humans the estimate is that intelligence is 50-60% genetically passed on and the rest depends on nurture. Possibly the same with dogs...? So perhaps up to 50% will depend on how you raise your dog. Also, some breeders will have genetically smarter lines than others, but figuring out who's got what...tricky.
Del.
This link shows a ranking of dog breeds (only US lines, I believe?)... It says "smartest" but the study it's based on was actually about obedience/working intelligence - how quickly a dog learns new commands, plus how reliably it then obeys them:
http://www.petvr.com/index.php/pages/toptensmartestdogbreeds.html
With humans the estimate is that intelligence is 50-60% genetically passed on and the rest depends on nurture. Possibly the same with dogs...? So perhaps up to 50% will depend on how you raise your dog. Also, some breeders will have genetically smarter lines than others, but figuring out who's got what...tricky.
Del.
the only problem with the studies, is some of the smartest dogs are the most difficutl to train...lol. too smart for their own good i always say. i knew a staffy bull, was the smartest dog in the world in my opinion because she woudl figure things out...but train her?! oh boy, not for beans...youd swaer she was deaf, but she was a puzzle solver, by the time she was 12 weeks shed been home for a week and not only learnt which cupboard the treats were in but how to open it and get around the child saftey clips...
but it took us about 6 months to teach her to sit...
the poodle coat isnt quite as bad as many say...of course those fluffy show clips are hard, but keep it in a puppy or kennel clip (or even shaved close) whihc with a nice set of clippers and a little practice is actually easy. quick brushing/combing out everyday, clipping once a month shoudlnt be too much of an issue
as a walking/jogging companion id probably still go with a pap, i think a pappillion is the only toy breed i could suggest that would love to jog...lol.mabe not quite as far as the collies but those little dogs are great paced. i was amazed ive seel them run agility, flyball and frisby, and a frined of mine had a Pap who whent on 5 mile hikes with her 3 times a week...their coats probably about the same as a collies, comb out and a trim now and again but otherwise pretty much was and wear.
but it took us about 6 months to teach her to sit...
the poodle coat isnt quite as bad as many say...of course those fluffy show clips are hard, but keep it in a puppy or kennel clip (or even shaved close) whihc with a nice set of clippers and a little practice is actually easy. quick brushing/combing out everyday, clipping once a month shoudlnt be too much of an issue
as a walking/jogging companion id probably still go with a pap, i think a pappillion is the only toy breed i could suggest that would love to jog...lol.mabe not quite as far as the collies but those little dogs are great paced. i was amazed ive seel them run agility, flyball and frisby, and a frined of mine had a Pap who whent on 5 mile hikes with her 3 times a week...their coats probably about the same as a collies, comb out and a trim now and again but otherwise pretty much was and wear.
Poodles are very smart, a joy to train, love people & other pets. They excel at obed. and agility training. They love to swim & retrieve. I keep my 2 in a short all over clip, no poofiness for them. They get clipped every 8 weeks. The in between maintenance is extremely easy. All I have to do is keep their ears combed out as I do keep those longer and clean their ears because the breed can be prone to ear infections if they aren't kept clean. They are more than willing to go for a jog with you or cuddle with you on the couch. While I have standards, toys or minis should have the same breed traits - the only difference is size.
Yes, thank you for not calling them pap-pillions or anything, but asking! I always apprecaite that, we get the most unusual pronunciations. xD
Wow, both of my breeds made the top 10 in those studies. *Feels special* Though, I do have agree, I think all dogs are 'smart' but in different sense. Just so happens that I love the smarts that herding type dogs have the best. They're very responsive and willing to please. Trainable, but they can definitely think on their own. Papillons are the most intelligent breed I've been around imo. I know shelties rank higher, but I think my paps would beat my shelties hands down. Well, it depends on the personality. Trey is a little dense. Nikki is smart- but in that sneaky sort of way. Whe's trainable, but she knows how to get what she wants. She also knows what she's not supposed to do, and how to do what she wants anyways without getting caught. Sneaky sneaky... Beau is always following what's going on. Both the paps picked up things much faster than the shelties. Both learned to retrieve quicker than any gundogs we've ever had either.
Del, you look like you tend to like sort of the breeds I do. (I used to have a gsd x before these. I love the working/herding mentality) I'd recommend looking into papillons and shelties as small breeds. I've really enjoyed both of them.
Shelties imo are a bit more laid back than paps and they still have some of that herding instinct. (esp Nikki). Very caring, eager to please, but they think on their own. Trey's a bit weird, but he's smart. He's more of a lacking common sense but brilliant with commands smart. As for papillons, they're very smart. They pick up commands readily. Harry was 5 months old, and I taught him to sit in three tries. I asked him twice, but by the third try he was sitting on his own. Beau's the same way, just picks up things left and right. He was so easy to conformation train because he's really driven to please his owners. They're intuitive, and love using their paws as much as possible- this includes Beau opening his pen door once with his paws. They're both wonderful in obedience, flyball, and agility and are some of the more prominent breeds in those sports. The smallest (height wise) national flyball team was made up of all shelties and a papillon. Both breeds dominate the smaller agility classes too. Beware though, both these breeds need active lifestyles, as they need to be occupied. I'm not saying they're hyper 24/7 but they need some activity. They also make great lapdogs, and our two paps play enough with each other to get lots of exercise haha. Also, shelties are VERY vocal, just be aware.
Actually, no. Collie/Sheltie grooming is a lot worse. As far as grooming... Papillons are very easy. They have a single coat whereas collies have a double coat, but they DO shed (I see people saying they don't). They don't shed near as much as double coated breeds. Papillon grooming is just a simple brushing every other day or so, and I comb out the ears. Bathing is pretty regular, and every now and then the hair on the feet needs trimmed, and that's it. Maintaining a mature sheltie coat is a bit tougher. They SHED like no other. If you don't want mats or your carpet covered in dog fur, then you need to get a rake or something and brush them out daily. A good brushing is needed every day or they will get tangles and you'll most likely have to cut them out. The coat isn't too hard to maintain if you do this, but they'll still shed. xD Feet hair and legs need to be trimmed occasionally. Other than that, both breeds have fairly 'natural' coats. IE- no heavy trimming or shaping. If you take them to groomers, you need to specify (for both) that you don't want the feathering cut off on their legs, and papillons, you don't want the ears trimmed! lol
Wow, both of my breeds made the top 10 in those studies. *Feels special* Though, I do have agree, I think all dogs are 'smart' but in different sense. Just so happens that I love the smarts that herding type dogs have the best. They're very responsive and willing to please. Trainable, but they can definitely think on their own. Papillons are the most intelligent breed I've been around imo. I know shelties rank higher, but I think my paps would beat my shelties hands down. Well, it depends on the personality. Trey is a little dense. Nikki is smart- but in that sneaky sort of way. Whe's trainable, but she knows how to get what she wants. She also knows what she's not supposed to do, and how to do what she wants anyways without getting caught. Sneaky sneaky... Beau is always following what's going on. Both the paps picked up things much faster than the shelties. Both learned to retrieve quicker than any gundogs we've ever had either.
Del, you look like you tend to like sort of the breeds I do. (I used to have a gsd x before these. I love the working/herding mentality) I'd recommend looking into papillons and shelties as small breeds. I've really enjoyed both of them.
Shelties imo are a bit more laid back than paps and they still have some of that herding instinct. (esp Nikki). Very caring, eager to please, but they think on their own. Trey's a bit weird, but he's smart. He's more of a lacking common sense but brilliant with commands smart. As for papillons, they're very smart. They pick up commands readily. Harry was 5 months old, and I taught him to sit in three tries. I asked him twice, but by the third try he was sitting on his own. Beau's the same way, just picks up things left and right. He was so easy to conformation train because he's really driven to please his owners. They're intuitive, and love using their paws as much as possible- this includes Beau opening his pen door once with his paws. They're both wonderful in obedience, flyball, and agility and are some of the more prominent breeds in those sports. The smallest (height wise) national flyball team was made up of all shelties and a papillon. Both breeds dominate the smaller agility classes too. Beware though, both these breeds need active lifestyles, as they need to be occupied. I'm not saying they're hyper 24/7 but they need some activity. They also make great lapdogs, and our two paps play enough with each other to get lots of exercise haha. Also, shelties are VERY vocal, just be aware.
Actually, no. Collie/Sheltie grooming is a lot worse. As far as grooming... Papillons are very easy. They have a single coat whereas collies have a double coat, but they DO shed (I see people saying they don't). They don't shed near as much as double coated breeds. Papillon grooming is just a simple brushing every other day or so, and I comb out the ears. Bathing is pretty regular, and every now and then the hair on the feet needs trimmed, and that's it. Maintaining a mature sheltie coat is a bit tougher. They SHED like no other. If you don't want mats or your carpet covered in dog fur, then you need to get a rake or something and brush them out daily. A good brushing is needed every day or they will get tangles and you'll most likely have to cut them out. The coat isn't too hard to maintain if you do this, but they'll still shed. xD Feet hair and legs need to be trimmed occasionally. Other than that, both breeds have fairly 'natural' coats. IE- no heavy trimming or shaping. If you take them to groomers, you need to specify (for both) that you don't want the feathering cut off on their legs, and papillons, you don't want the ears trimmed! lol
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2006
- Messages
- 43
- Likes
- 0
- Points
- 0
I was saying it Pa-pillion and I nearly shot my self every time I said it. It sounds silly that way. I was thinking that if thats how you actually say it I am going to pronounce it different so it sounds better.
I love how willing the collies are to please yet they are capible of being independant. I suppose I would enjoy having a dog like that just smaller. I want another Sheltie but mom wants a toy dog. Paps, poodles, and poms are what we're consitering. Darn I want another Sheltie! Mine is getting old. Im going to miss her when she's gone. She has been the kindest, genltest, most wonderful dog I have ever met. She has been my bestfriend sicne we brought her home. It's sort of depressing now thinking that her years are almost up.
She's always loved the snow. She's been acting real old lately but this morning I took all three of them out in the snow and she was actually running with the puppies and playing in it. It was nice to see her behave like a pup again. She has really slowed down this year but nothing was keeping her out of the snow. She was the one that didn't want to come in after. THe puppies were ready to go for a nap and she was all "NO! I AM STAYING OUTSIDE!"
I love how willing the collies are to please yet they are capible of being independant. I suppose I would enjoy having a dog like that just smaller. I want another Sheltie but mom wants a toy dog. Paps, poodles, and poms are what we're consitering. Darn I want another Sheltie! Mine is getting old. Im going to miss her when she's gone. She has been the kindest, genltest, most wonderful dog I have ever met. She has been my bestfriend sicne we brought her home. It's sort of depressing now thinking that her years are almost up.
She's always loved the snow. She's been acting real old lately but this morning I took all three of them out in the snow and she was actually running with the puppies and playing in it. It was nice to see her behave like a pup again. She has really slowed down this year but nothing was keeping her out of the snow. She was the one that didn't want to come in after. THe puppies were ready to go for a nap and she was all "NO! I AM STAYING OUTSIDE!"