The Smartest Dog Breeds in America

The Labrador retriever is the most popular breed in the United States, according to the American Kennel Club. It is also one of the most sought-after breeds for challenging work, whether as guide dogs for the blind or search and rescue. When lives are in danger, you want a dog that is smart and dependable – just like the Labrador retriever.

This breed gets its name from the shape of its ears – “papillon” is French for butterfly – but it’s also known as the Continental Toy Spaniel. Smart, alert, and playful, the papillon makes a great pet. As a bonus, it has a relatively long life expectancy.

Poodles come in different size varieties and all are intelligent. Miniature Poodles are 15 inches or under and excel in advanced obedience competition, where retrieving and jumping skills are required.

Because of its size, the standard is the best all-round athlete of the Poodle family. They are more than 15 inches tall at the shoulder and are remarkably versatile.

The toy Poodle is less than 10 inches tall. It has the same build and proportions as the miniature and standard and is equally intelligent.