The guy who wrote it is Stanley Coren. He's a neuropsychologist and professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. I don't know if he has ever even owned a dog. I just remembered the title of the book and did a search. I guess I should read his list, LOL.

The pure breed community now is by in large a show dog community and for that reason dogs are identified by what they look like. That is a very recent perception. It wasn't to long ago that dogs were identified only by what they did. Because we have been breeding to mirror a standard function for all intent and purpose has been reduced to just instincts. Every type/breed at one time had a function and some of those functions did not require biddability. Some of those function were for just companionship some just scenting some just pulling and we should respect each. We have to stop buying dogs like we buy art and then wonder why mine can't do what there's can do.

I also noticed that Carol's Bloodhound breed wasn't mentioned in the working dog group either. I guess to mention the Bloodhound in the working dog list would invalidate that breed being in the last list of "unintelligent" dogs, so maybe that's why the guy couldn't put it in the working dog list

The list is skewed

Hmmm...where are these other lists Sandy. I can't see them or the link.

 Quote: steve strom

The guy who wrote it is Stanley Coren. He's a neuropsychologist and professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. I don't know if he has ever even owned a dog. I just remembered the title of the book and did a search. I guess I should read his list, LOL.

Coren's web site says that he currently owns 3 dogs and is an instructor at the Vancouver Dog Obedience Training Club, in addition to his day job as an academic at UBC. I do recommend the book - its puts the list in perspective, and does a nice job IMO of discussing different breed attributes in relation to "intelligence" and "trainability". It also describes problem-solving tests you can try with your dog to assess level and type of intelligence - my GSD scored well (though not as well as the GSD x border collie mix I used to own) and my husband's mostly Airedale mutt did exactly as Coren predicts based on breed type. Not dumb, but he sure is stubborn!

 Quote: Mike J Schoonbrood

Are there dumb dogs out there? Seen a few of those too :p But usually its the former, coupled with a handler that doesn't have a clue.

This made me laugh, I have seen this ALL too often.

I see so many people saying their dog is smart or dumb depending on how fast the dog picks up on what they want it to learn. I had a guy tell me once that when someone says they want a smart dog they usually need one that will lay around and do nothing all day!

I have 2 Border Collies. Both very intelligent, but they sure don't learn the same way. With my older dog I pretty much just show her what I want and she does it. She lives to please and has had great focus from the day I got her. My younger dog can pick up on things quickly (I think it took 3 repetitions to learn the cats name and I wasn't even trying to teach it to him...), but is not nearly as focused and not interested in doing thing just to please. When I got him I was lucky if I could get him to focus for more than 15 seconds. He is much better that he used to be, but still not to the level of my other dog. As for learning things, I'd better have food or a frisbee with me if I want an eager pupil.

I get comments all the time on how smart Missy is, but not Kipp, when in fact their intelligence level is about the same. The difference I see in them is the desire to please, focus, and motivation for learning.

 Quote: alex corral

Hmmm...where are these other lists Sandy. I can't see them or the link.

If you click on the blue numbers in the "Rank" column, the list of breeds in that rank come up. Took me a while

You might want to check out this bulldog video. It was actually posted on my agilitypoodle group.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCPUU5sEyEc