The 10 dumbest breeds?

This is a place to gain some understanding of dog behavior and to assist people in training their dogs and dealing with common behavior problems, regardless of the method(s) used. This can cover the spectrum from non-aversive to traditional methods of dog training. There are many ways to train a dog. Please avoid aggressive responses, and counter ideas and opinions with which you don't agree with friendly and helpful advice. Please refrain from submitting posts that promote off-topic discussions. Keep in mind that you may be receiving advice from other dog owners and lovers... not professionals. If you have a major problem, always seek the advice of a trainer or behaviorist!

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Rocky *CGC*- With the- angels.

Gone but never,- ever forgotten- xxx

Barked: Thu Aug 2, '12 2:08am PST


	Firstly, I haven't been on here for a while due to loads of things, but it's awesome to be back Rocky is still going strong and had an awesome couple of weeks on holiday in the Highlands of Scotland... I have loads of pics and will share them later Back to the main point though, the Dogster home page today has a list of the 10 dumbest breeds... I was very shocked to see the Rottie at number 2!!! The Beagle at number 3!!! And The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at number 1!!! I grew up around Rotties and yeah, they can be bloody stubborn but dumb, definitely not! It also goes on to say, you'll be lucky if your Rottie remembers you and finishes with 'they are loyal'... How can a dog be loyal to someone it doesn't recognise? That's a little contradicting, I think. What about the other breeds mentioned? I only really have experience with Rotties but has anyone else owned any of the other dogs on the list and do you think they deserve to be titled 'dumb'? Just curious

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Shiver Me- Timbers- "Charlie"

My Little Dog, a- heartbeat at my- feet.<3

Barked: Thu Aug 2, '12 2:45am PST


	Dumbest Dogster article I have EVER read. In fact, teasing or serious, it was offensive. I do not consider stubborn breeds to be 'dumb' at all, thank you very much. Difficulty in Training: The No. 1 guideline people use to determine if a dog is wanting in the brains department. So I'm assuming this includes the vast range of stubborn dogs there are out there. Woops, my Beagle is occasionally stubborn, guess he's an idiot! Totally not the fault of the owner if they can't find what works for their dog. Inadaptability to New Situations: A dumb dog usually has more trouble adapting to a new environment than one with a modicum of brains. My issue with this part is that there are many dogs that are fearful, and therefore, tend to have trouble adapting to new situations - this DOES NOT make them dumb, it makes them react to situations based on past experiences. Simply put, a little D&CC should help, but us dumbies can't figure that out. Confusion About Who’s In Charge: If a dog is lacking in intelligence, he’s more likely to assume he is alpha, and it takes much persuasion to change this. Really? Back to the alpha debate again? Many dumb breeds share similar desired characteristics such as cheeriness, cuddling ability, lap warming, patient temperaments, unquestioned devotion, and a desire to always be by your side. Not that smarter breeds can’t have these traits, but a dumb dog tends to be a happy-go-lucky guy who is attuned to you. While I COMPLETELY disagree with the terms used in this paragraph, I do agree that my dumb Beagle is in fact cheery, cuddly, likes to warm laps, albeit not so patient, doesn't question his devotion, and does have a desire to be by my side, but does that make him dumb or mean they're traits of my dumb dog? No... It means he's happy and enjoys being with me. Rottweiler: How the Rottie gets on some of the top 10 intelligent breeds lists is a mystery. This breed is known for having trouble concentrating and learning commands. You’re also lucky if your Rottie remembers who you are. But these dogs are also very loyal and affectionate. Rottweilers may be stubborn, a little hard-headed at times, but they can certainly concentrate when you give them the motivation and they have NO issues learning new commands. Forgetting a person isn't a problem and the fact the paragraph contradicts itself is hilarious. Beagle: This breed has won at Westminster, so it’s clear it can prance around a ring on a lead very well. But the Beagle’s learning capabilities are limited, with the exception of using his sense of smell. This is put to use to find contraband in the Beagle Brigade, the troop of dogs who work airports. This is a very, very sweet breed who is devoted to his family. Very sweet and devoted indeed, but if my Beagle's learning capabilities are limited, why does he know around 40 tricks and commands and reliably complies with all those asked of him to boot? Mastiff: This antiquated breed is sensitive as well as dumb. Training takes great patience. He does make a wonderful guard dog and family companion. I love that they didn't even make a description of WHY these sweethearts were dumb. I think the intent of the article was to be witty and humorous, light and teasing. However, it came off as offensive, giving the author a portrayal of lacking much canine knowledge, single-handedly tackling itself with contradictories(which in itself was amusing). Perhaps I took it too seriously, and I realize that, but it wasn't even a well-written article to begin with and was a waste of a read, tbh.

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Trust me...I'm a- beagle

Barked: Thu Aug 2, '12 4:19am PST


	I'm not plannin' on reading the article. But I'd like to say that Oz knows more tricks than both Cobain (Border Collie) and Rigby (Kelpie mix) combined. He was EASIER to train than the other dogs as well - mainly because the others seem to ask "what is the point in this?" while Oz does it because I tell him to And a Rotti? Never ONCE have I associated a breed that was once used for herding to be dumb. What about retrievers? "cheeriness, cuddling ability, lap warming, patient temperaments, unquestioned devotion, and a desire to always be by your side." I've yet to meet a retriever that doesn't display that behaviour. Yet they're frequently on the top 5 for intelligence. By the logic I'm reading here, Labradors and Goldens should be on that list Only once have I met a truly "dumb" dog, and this guy is a BYB'd French Mastiff. Nice temperament on the guy, but he probably walks into walls a few times per day. Not because he can't see them, just because he's not paying attention. Any attempts to train him are met with a blank stare. He is a good dog though for the most part Edited by author Thu Aug 2, '12 4:26am PST

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Buster

1201864

Barked: Thu Aug 2, '12 4:23am PST


	It's ridiculous because some of the stupidest breeds on these lists are the most intelligent huskies, akitas etc they're just not bred to listen to humans all that well. It's just lovely that humans judge intelligence on how willing an animal is to follow their every command without hesitation hence why collies, labs and gsds tend to be in the top 5. Being devoted to their family makes them dumb surely that would be some of the soppier gundogs. I know mastiff owners that say they can be difficult to train but it doesn't make them dumb most of the breeds at the bottom are specialists at what we've bred them to do for centuries like follow a trail and not stop.Surely they don't have to think they're superior to humans just ask any terrier they rule the world . Why are cavs on there? They're very smart little dogs even by their own reckoning of picking things up very quickly. Edited by author Thu Aug 2, '12 4:30am PST

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Jackson Tan

Lad about town

Barked: Thu Aug 2, '12 6:21am PST


	As mastiffs were used as Roman war dogs I think they would have to combine some brains with brawn ... otherwise I don't think that they would have lasted long in these dripping Germanic forests. They do look a bit goofy but I've never found mastiffs to be dumb ... sensitive sure, but able to think for themselves too. Bit harsh on the poor old mastiff. My kelpie walks into fences and mailboxes on the lead. Brainy breed indeed!

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Kolbe

Where can I run- today?

Barked: Thu Aug 2, '12 6:49am PST


	I think they are confusing "intelligence" with "biddability". There's been previous discussions on this before. "Dumbest breeds" is not a really good word choice.

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Sanka

The ground is my- newspaper.

Barked: Thu Aug 2, '12 6:52am PST


	I just read this article and was going to post a similar thread. You read my mind! Yeah, the article is just not well written. Sure, some dogs aren't as bright as others. You can mention it in a fun, laugh at yourself kind of way. But Dogster was super harsh, and their reasoning for classifying dogs as "dumb" just don't make sense. I was thoroughly confused by this one: "Confusion About Who’s In Charge: If a dog is lacking in intelligence, he’s more likely to assume he is alpha, and it takes much persuasion to change this." What?!?

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Sarge

Teddybear

Barked: Thu Aug 2, '12 7:25am PST


	I've had 3 rotties before and they were all very easy to train. They were the easiest to train out of all the breeds I've ever had. I left one with my parents when I joined the military and only came home to visit about twice a year and she always remembered me so I don't get how they can say they have poor memories and can't recognize their handlers. The article was just a waste of time and not informative at all.

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Rexy

I dig in mud- puddles!

Barked: Thu Aug 2, '12 7:35am PST


	Yeah....so much for Dogster keeping it "fun, informative and friendly"!! The double standards abound... How fast do you think I'd get a bath if I started off a post by telling a person that the reason they are having issues is because they chose a stupid breed?