A Doggy Day @ The Park!

How Smart Is Your Dog?

Find out where yours ranks among the 10 brightest breeds and whether smarter dogs make better pets.

When I originally sat down to write All Good Dogs, I had a variety of questions regarding dogs and dog ownership.  Are dogs really intelligent or are we somehow deceived into just believing they are?  Do dogs really make wonderful family additions or not?  Are these furry, four legged creatures just a lot of hard work and maintenance or is there a genuine quality of life and well-being to support the effects of dog ownership on people?  Is becoming a volunteer pooper scooper really worth the hassle of added monetary expenses such as: food, county licensing fees, veterinarian bills, immunization shots and proper owner training courses for the dog?  And don’t forget, somebody has to pick-up that poop; the bigger the dog the bigger the scooper!  Also, there is no return on investment as a dog owner.  No matter how far or fast your dog can run, or how talented your dog catches the ball while riding a skate board in a You Tube video, or how cute it gazes at you after rummaging through a stinky kitchen garbage can.  A dog does require personal time, attention and some financial investment.

By Julie Edgar

WebMD Pet Health Feature

You might think your beagle is the smartest canine on the block, but he's got the dubious honor of being among the least trainable of dog breeds. The snarling Doberman next door?  He's a quick study.

Dog intelligence, like human intelligence, comes in various forms. And although the best in any breed can be nurtured by owners willing to put in the time and effort, there are fixed realities when it comes to your animal's inherent qualities.

If it's bred to hunt, herd, or retrieve, the dog is more likely to be quick on its feet, eager to work, to move, and to please you. It will learn faster. If it's bred to be a livestock guard dog or a scent hound, it may seem distracted and just a bit dense.

Yet, even if some breeds are more nimble, trainers say any dog can learn the basics like sitting and staying. It just might take them longer to catch on. The key is knowing what your pooch is built for and how to motivate him.

But keep in mind that the smartest dogs often don't make the best pets. Your job is to find a breed that suits your lifestyle and to focus on bringing out the best in your dog.

Top Dogs

In his bestselling book, The Intelligence of Dogs, parapsychologist Stanley Coren, PhD, focuses on train-ability as a marker of intelligence. The University of British Columbia psychology professor relied on the assessments of 110 breeds by more than 200 professional dog obedience judges who scored breeds based on working/obedience tests.The top dogs absorbed commands in less than five repetitions and obeyed those 95% of the time or better. Here's the list along with a breed description by the American Kennel Club:

·         Border Collie: A workaholic, this breed is the world's premier sheep herder, prized for its intelligence, extraordinary instinct, and working ability.

·         Poodle: Exceptionally smart and active. Bred to retrieve things from the water. The miniature variety may have been used for truffle hunting.

·         German Shepherd: The world's leading police, guard, and military dog -- and a loving family companion and herder

·         Golden Retriever: Intelligent and eager to please. Bred as a hunting companion; ideal as a guide and as assistance with search-and-rescue operations.

·         Doberman Pinscher: Known for its stamina and speed. Bred to be a guardian and in demand as a police and war dog.

·         Shetland Sheepdog: The "Sheltie" is essentially a miniature working Collie. A rough-coated, longhaired working breed that is keenly intelligent. Excels in herding.

·         Labrador Retriever: An ideal sporting and family dog. Gentle and intelligent.

·         Papillion: A happy, alert breed that isn't shy or aggressive. Known as Dwarf Spaniels in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, they reach 8-11 inches high

·         Rottweiler: Robust and powerful, the breed is happiest with a job. Suitable as a police dog, herder, service dog, therapy dog, obedience competitor, and devoted companion.

·         Australian Cattle Dog: Happiest doing a job like herding, obedience, or agility. Energetic and intelligent.

Angels Are Dog Owners, Too.

We often talk about how good dogs go to heaven, but we often miss the part about what they do once they get there.  Well, like most people, I believe all good dogs in heaven have good owners, too.  I also believe they need a daily walk just as much as dogs on earth do. However, I also wonder if the care dogs receive in heaven is underestimated by us all.

So here I am, sitting at home, when the phone rings.  It’s my sister-in-law, Michelle. She tells me her eldest son is at the local high school and the vehicle he is driving has failed to turn over. In a sense, he is stranded. She asked me if I would swing by her home to pick her up so we can decide what to do with the vehicle from that location. Her desperate words to me were, “This car cannot breakdown. I depend on it for everything.”

After tweaking under the vehicle hood, we consider the option of towing the car home instead of trying to determine the source of an electrical problem as Colorado winds of 16 miles per hour blow through our present location.  Now, I am not an auto mechanic and I have no aspirations of trying to become one. So for me, towing is always good option. Just as Michelle started dialing the phone number to quicken our impending vehicle rescue, I observe a very nice elderly couple approaching us from behind. With them, were two beautiful dogs leashed and coming our way through the park next to the school.

As they approached, what I had failed to notice was how huge these two hounds really were. The lady yelled out to us, “Hey folks, do mind if our dogs are off-leash?”  As dog owners ourselves, I quickly stated, “Not at all.”  Just then, both curious animals approached us revealing how majestic in size and gentle demeanor they were. One thing I love about dogs is how diverse each breed expresses who they are through their physical characteristics, instinct, and individual personality.

Michelle asked, “Wow, what kind of dogs are these?” The lady answered and said, “These are Irish Wolfhounds.”  Irish Wolfhounds are like Great Danes, yet they dress in a much heavier fur coat around their body, especially around their muzzles. They remind me of "Chewy from Star Wars." My question to her was how much maintenance do they require?  The lady described the breed as “couch potatoes.”  However, later, I observed one the Wolfhounds chase a low flying bird through the park.  Behavior indicative of heeler breeds like my Joey & my Hapa; who have chased birds along the beaches in California to our beautiful blue lakes here in Colorado; you know, the herding instinct hard at work.

As our conversation continued with this female stranger, I look over to my left, and there is the gentleman with his head fully engulfed under the hood of Michelle's car, reaching into the carriage of the engine compartment. So, I walk over to where he is tweaking. And a very few seconds later, he yelled out to my nephew, “try it, again son.” Low and behold, the engine turned over. I thought, “It’s a miracle.”  The lady then said, “Oh yes, he really is good at fixing things like that;” in such a matter of fact way.  The gentleman leaned over to me and said, "It was just the Starter, sometimes wires come loose like that, so you have to re-connect them again, that's all." 

We were so grateful these kind strangers with their two Irish Wolfhounds crossed our path. The Good Book says, “Be kind to strangers, for some have entertained angels unawares.” I looked over to my nephew and Michelle and said, “I believe we just encountered angels. “ This is why I believe all goods dogs go to heaven, but most of all, I think angels are good dog owners, too.