Smartest Dog Breed: How To Deal With Them

Who would not want to have a smart dog? Other than non-dog lovers, I'd bet people would get a kick out of having a very smart dog as their pet, right? I'd love to have one, don't you? However, taking care of smart dogs can be quite tricky. Though they may be smart, they can also be very independent thinkers and might cause a bit of trouble when not cared for properly. Some of them might even try to challenge your authority from time to time, and if you do not know how to control them, you are in for a bit of problem, my friend.

One of the dogs considered to be in the smartest dog breed category would have to be the Border Collie. Since he is considered to be "Numero Uno," let us use him as an example.
Border Collies were once bred to help man in herding sheep. Yes, they are originally herding dogs. However, because of their legendary intelligence, Border Collies are now being used in search and rescue missions and have helped save the lives of millions of people. The thing with intelligent dogs though, is that they tend to become a bit neurotic when their intelligence is not used to its full potential.

In the case of Border Collies and other herding dogs, they would try to "herd" the family together, especially the children. This can be very annoying since they would be nipping at your toes in an attempt to keep you all together in one place. If this has been a perennial problem for you and your family, you can try the following tips in order to control your dog:

• Burn your dog's excess energy by taking him out for a run once or twice a day. This would not only keep them calm, but healthy and fit as well.

• Provide stimulating games for your dog to make his brain work. The game of Fetch, although simple, is actually very stimulating. They would be using their senses to look for the ball and bring it back to you. Not to mention, they would be running around and exercising those legs.

• Teaching your dog new tricks is also a good way to stimulate his brain. This gives him a sense of purpose and prevents him from getting bored. You could start with the Fetch game with the use of a ball. You can then gradually upgrade to more useful tasks like fetching the newspaper, or your slippers or his leash.

Training an intelligent dog is not hard. You could actually do it yourself. However, if you do not have the time nor the willpower to do so, enrolling him to a training academy is the next best thing. You have to remember though that an intelligent dog requires a firm hand. Show him you are his boss, and you would never have any problems.

For more information about popular dog breeds, please to go to:
Smartest Dog Breeds