Tag: German Shepherd

The 10 Smartest Dog Breeds

We all know dogs are smart creatures. But have you ever noticed that some seem to be smarter than others? Like human intelligence, dog intelligence occurs in many different forms. Certain breeds have particular inherit qualities and are bred to be more intelligent in certain areas.

For example, if a dog is bred to retrieve, herd, or hunt, they are more likely to be eager to work, quick on their feet, and more willing to please you. Livestock guard dogs or scent hounds, on the other hand, can sometimes seem dense or distracted.

So, while certain dog breeds are smarter in particular areas, all dogs have the capability to be trained. Some might just take a bit longer to catch on!

Stanley Coren, a neuropsychologist and author of “The Intelligence of Dogs”, uses trainability to assess a dog’s intelligence. He used research from over 200 professional dog obedience judges on more than 100 breeds. The judges scored the breeds on obedience/working tests. These ten dog breeds learned commands in no more than five repetitions and obeyed these commands at least 95% of the time.

Border Collie

The Border Collie is often thought of as a workaholic and is the world’s best sheep herder. They have extraordinary instinct, extreme intelligence, and a strong work ethic.

Poodle

Poodle’s are smart and active. They were originally bred as water retrievers. Poodle’s are a devoted family dog and make excellent companions.

German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a wonderful family companion along with a highly respectable guard, police, and military dog. They were bred to herd.

Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever’s are eager to please and highly intelligent. They were originally bred as a hunting companion and work exceptionally well as guide dogs as well as search-and-rescue helpers.

Doberman Pinscher

This is a breed known for their speed and stamina. They were bred as guardians and also work as police and war dogs.

Shetland Sheepdog

Also known as the “Sheltie”, the Shetland Sheepdog is a miniature working Collie. They have a keen intelligence and are excellent herders.

Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers are very social dogs. They are also extremely gentle and highly intelligent. They make a wonderful family and sporting dog.

Papillon

This is an alert and happy breed. They are not known to be shy or aggressive. Though small, they are an energetic, highly intelligent breed.

Rottweiler

This breed is happiest when it has a job to do. They are powerful and hearty yet make a devoted companion. They make excellent police, service, and therapy dogs as well as herders and obedience competitors.

Australian Cattle Dog

Australian Cattle Dogs are very intelligent and energetic. They love when they have a job to do such as obedience, agility, or herding.

Although these are the “smartest” dog breeds, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the “easiest”. Chris Redenbach, a dog trainer based in Atlanta said that having a smart dog “is like having a smart kid. They’re always into something and will get into trouble if they are bored”. (Pets.WebMD).

Highly intelligent dogs require a lot of time, training, and patience as they get bored easily. They tend to be more energetic than less intelligent dogs, requiring more time and training. However, many dogs that don’t appear to be very intelligent, may just be bred to be more independent.

So, it’s not necessarily a matter of “smart versus dumb” dogs, it’s more about breed, instinct, and – most importantly – training. Even the most stubborn dog can learn with enough training!

The Best Names For Your German Shepherd Dog

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In addition to their striking beauty, German Shepherds are extremely intelligent, spunky, loyal, and an overall joy to be around. If you recently added a German Shepherd to your family, be ready for a lifelong companion full and personality and zest. But now comes the hard part – what are you going to name them? If you’re completely stumped on what to name your German Shepherd – we’re here to help. Below are some of the best names for both female and male German Shepherds!

Female

Athena

Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare and the daughter of Zeus.

Asia

Of Greek origin meaning “sunrise.”

Belle

“Beautiful” in French.

Brownie

A popular dessert, also refers to the dark colors of a German Shepherd.

Cleopatra

Of Greek origin meaning “glory of the father” and was the name of the queen of Egypt.

Dixie

A southern name, Dixie is often used as a name for spunky dogs. Also a term for the whole American South.

Elle

Of French origin and means “she.”

Evita

Evita is of Hebrew origin and means “living one.”

Kasha

Typical spelling of the Polish name “Kasia” and means pure and beautiful.

Leena

Leena is of Muslim origin and means “tender.”

Maxie

Of English origin and means “the greatest.”

Millie

Millie is a Latin name and means free-born and noble.

Nikita

A Russian name, Nikita means “victory of the people” and “unconquerable.”

Olive

Perfect for laid-back German Shepherd, Olive is a Latin name that means “symbol of peace.”

Petra

Derived from the Greek work “petros” which means “stone, rock.”

Ruby

Typically refers to the gemstone, ruby comes from the Latin word “ruber” which means red. It’s the birthstone for the month of July.

Sadie

Sadie is a derivative of Sarah and means “princess.”

Sage

Of English origin, Sage means “wise one.”

Tasia

Tasia is a Greek name that means “resurrection.”

Venus

The Roman goddess of love.

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Male

Axel

A Scandinavian name, Axel means “father of peace.”

Apollo

Apollo was the son of Zeus and the god of prophecy, beauty, and wisdom.

Bruno

A German name, Bruno comes from the word “brun” which means shield or armor.

Captain

Of English origin, captain means “he who is in charge.”

Duke

Duke is an English name and used as royalty title.

Dakota

Can refer to the indigenous Native American tribe and translates into “friend” or “friendly” – perfect for a laid-back, friendly German Shepherd.

Falcon

Of English origin, a falcon was regarded as a symbol of spend and courage during the Middle Ages.

Hudson

Thought to be related to the Old Saxon name “Hugh” that comes from the German word “hug”, which means “heart, mind, spirit.”

Jack

A common name during the Middle Ages, it became a slang word for “man.”

Kuma

Kuma is the Japanese word for “bear” – perfect for a big, fluffy German Shepherd.

Max

Short for both Maximilian, meaning “greatest” and Maxwell, meaning “great spring.”

Nova

Of Latin origin, the name Nova means “new, young.”

Napoleon

Of Italian origin, Napoleon often refers to the famous Napoleon Bonaparte.

Orion

Orion is a Greek name meaning “rising in the sky” or “dawning.” In mythology, Orion was a hunter and son Poseidon. Also refers to the constellation.

Radar

Perfect for a German Shepherd pup with big ears!

Rusty

Often used as a nickname for red-haired people or dogs.

Tarzan

A fictional character, the name Tarzan was made famous by the movie “The Legend of Tarzan.”

Thor

Of Old Norse origin meaning “thunder.” Also refers to the Norse god of strength, war, thunder, and storms as well as the son of Odin.

Viking

Viking is of Old Norse origin and means “raider.” Also refers to the pirates and traders who settled in parts of northwestern Europe during the 8th and 11th centuries.

Zorro

Zorro is Spanish for fox – perfect for a clever and sly German Shepherd.

Ultimately what you name your new pup is up to you. But if you’re scrambling for one and need some help – consider one of these unique names for new German Shepherd pup!

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