Top 10 Least Intelligent Dogs
It was inevitable to write this list after we posted the top 10 most intelligent dogs. With good comes bad and with smart comes stupid. With every positive quality comes a negative. Yes, this applies to dog breeds, as silly as it may sound. You have probably seen or heard about how smart some dogs are. These dogs are usually the ones that hog up all of the limelight. Mostly everyone wants an intelligent dog that can be trained to do things that most dogs can’t. On the other hand, some people don’t.
What’s so wrong with a not-so-intelligent dog anyway? It all depends on what you want to do with the dog. If you’re looking for a dog that will herd your cattle, you’ll want one that is on the more intelligent side. If you’re looking for a lap dog to sit and cuddle with day-to-day, you probably aren’t too worried about how smart the dog is. It’s time to steal some of the thunder from those intelligent breeds. Move over Labradors! Here is a list of the top 10 least intelligent dog breeds:
10. Basset Hound
At the top of the list is the Basset Hound. You can find this breed sporting droopy eyes and long ears that drag on the floor when it walks. These dogs have a very keen sense of smell and can pick up odors most dogs can’t. Though this breed of dog lacks intelligence, they are very gentle dogs and are devoted to their owners. Basset Hounds aren’t the brightest dog in the bunch, but they have great tempers and are great around people. Even though you might be stuck repeating “sit, speak” or other commands to a Basset Hound, this breed of dog is perfect for an owner who is looking for a dog that is well behaved.
9. Beagle
Another breed of dog that has been proven very challenging to train is the Beagle. Though these dogs are very cute and cuddly, they can easily drive you up the wall, especially when you are trying to train them to do certain things. Beagles can’t be necessarily considered stupid dogs, but they are very independent, which makes training much harder than it is with many other breeds of dog. This breed is always sure to provide its owner love and attention, especially after the long day of learning how to heel. Beagles are generally small to medium sized dogs and are great with children and other breeds of dogs, just not cats.
8. Mastiff
Does bigger breed always mean bigger brain? Not in this case. The Mastiff is one of the biggest dog breeds available, but they have proven to be extremely stubborn. The Mastiff can weigh up to 130lbs. It’s like you have another person living in your home with you! Though they have always been great guard dogs, training a Mastiff to do certain things is most definitely a task at hand. If you plan to train a Mastiff, you want to have previous dog training experience. You also want to be sure that you speak in a kind, soft voice since these big-bodied dogs are a little on the sensitive side. When training a Mastiff, it is important that the sessions are short and sweet.
7. Pekingese
What a name, huh? The Pekingese has proven to be a very difficult dog to train. You might be able to blame it on the fact that these breed of dog has so much hair everywhere. Maybe it’s so hard to train because it can’t see or hear properly because of all of the fur! Though this would be a great excuse for the Pekingese, this breed of dog is simply very independent and dominating. Training a Pekingese can be like training a very stubborn child. In order to successfully train this breed of dog, you have to be firm and you have to be consistent. This is the perfect example of a small dog with a big heart. Though ranging from a small to medium sized dog, the Pekingese has always been a great breed to have as a watch dog. They are extremely loyal to their owners, but stubborn at the same time.
6. Bloodhound
This may come as a surprise. The Bloodhound is #6 on the list. If you’ve heard anything about this breed of dog, you have probably heard about how great of a nose it has. Though not the most intelligent dog, I think it’s safe to say that the keen sense of smell this breed of dog has is enough to reconsider its “low” intelligence. The Bloodhound can track any scent that is needs to. Amazingly, these dogs are able to trace and follow a scent trail that is hundreds of hours old. Could your dog’s nose do that? Probably not! When it comes to training the Bloodhound, you need to be firm and be extremely patient. They are independent and determined dogs, so they kind of follow their nose more than they follow your training commands.
5. Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound)
If you have ever had a pet cat, you can relate to owning a Borzoi. This breed of dog is extremely cat-like, especially when it comes to the independent and free-thinking nature of the dog. Though not an extremely popular dog, many people enjoy this breed because of the affection they bring. The Borzoi can be seen as one of those “stuck-up” dogs. As silly as it sounds, these dogs are generally more concerned about themselves than they are their masters. You can probably find a Borzoi cleaning itself. If you are willing to spend hours upon hours training this type of dog, good luck! Again, this dog, despite its hardships when it comes to learning training commands, is a very loyal dog that is extremely affectionate.
4. Chow Chow
No we’re not talking about food. This is another breed of dog that has a personality that is very similar to a cat. Chow Chows are generally small indoor dogs with a yappy bark. The Chow Chow demands attention, especially when there is a new visitor at the home. They are a very jealous breed of dog and like to be at the center of everything. Any owner who has a Chow Chow must be firm and strong-willed. This breed of dog, though small, is very dominant and can easily take charge of its owner if the owner isn’t firm enough. Again, this dog isn’t stupid, it has proven to be very hard to train because of the nature and personality of the dog. Remember, stubborn doesn’t mean stupid. In any case, the Chow Chow is a great dog to have around the house to snuggle with.
3. Bulldogs
Despite the name, Bulldogs are one of the most gentle and affectionate breed of dog that you will ever come into contact with. The Bulldog is a very courageous dog that sometimes seems to have a mind of its own. Don’t let the name fool you. Yes a Bulldog can guard, control, and bait a bull, but it takes time and patience in order to train a Bulldog to do so. These dogs are very dependable, but it’s getting past the training part that becomes a hassle. Bulldogs are extremely great dogs when it comes to guarding the home. If you’ve ever seen a Bulldog, you’ve probably noticed that its face isn’t the prettiest one around. Who would want to mess with a dog with such a mean face? Bulldogs are very affectionate and time consuming, especially with training.
2. Basenji
Another not-so-popular dog, but let’s bring it to the spotlight. The Basenji is known for its bark. It is so unique in the fact that it sometimes can sound like a human being either laughing or crying. If you’ve ever been around a Basenji, you’ve probably looked around for a baby or a chuckling human. This breed of dog is just another breed that has cat-like characteristics. These dogs can spend hours grooming themselves, much like cats. After grooming, you can probably find a Basenji looking out the window, watching everything outside. These dogs have proven to be very temperamental as well as independent. This is what makes the Basenji a hard breed of dog to train.
1. Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound is one of the oldest breeds of dogs known today. They were around during ancient times and their personalities haven’t changed much. They are affectionate and love being around their owners. They are also extremely sensitive and don’t have a high dominance level. Though these dogs aren’t looking to rule above you, they have an extremely low obedience level. You may need to call for your Afghan Hound a few times before it comes back inside of the house. Many say that the personality of the breed makes up for its lack of intelligence. The Afghan Hound has also been said to be cat-like and prefers to be on its own instead of listening to an owner.
Really? No comments? I guess no one wants to admit they have one of these breeds. Well, my brother had a bulldog and he was a great dog and so much fun to play with. Intelligence can be a detriment at times. The smarter the dog the more destructive they can be as they can get bored very easily.
I find this list a little silly…I have a Basset Hound and he was extremely easy to train. I read allot on Basset Hounds and was shocked how wrong they were on how hard they are to train. It's the owners that don't know how to train their dogs that have problems. My dog Chip has surpassed my belief in him. The longest time it took him to learn a trick was 3 days and that was putting a treat on his nose. I don't do that trick anymore because I decided it was a little mean to him LOL. But all the other tricks I taught him only took a day or a day and a half. I admit every animal is differnt and you can't train them all the same way but I know Basset hounds should never even been put on this list and I'm sure many people who know them would agree.
I agree with you.I'm not sure why but i do LOL.
Ridiculous to say Bassets are not inteligent, ive owned 3 over a period of 40 years and each dog had its own character, they dont train easily but thats only because they are very wilfull and know their own mind not because they are stupid.
As for being gentle yes most probably are but my last dog DUKE was a full on hooligan and was in many a fight but was very loyal but he had a temper as well.
They need a strong owner and plenty of exercise and attention, get one if you are prepared to put in the effort but they are not the easiest dog to keep, but I love them and would never buy another breed.
I have a Basset Hound that is 5 years old…I have had him since he was 6 weeks…he is a GREAT dog!! Very smart!! Never, ever potties in the house…he sits on command, rolls over, gives me “Five” and gives kisses….he know lots of words…..In fact I have to spell them out….it just depends on how much time you spend with these dogs….they are not dumb by any means….I love my BASSET HOUND!!
I have a beagle and English pointer mix and u can tell him to talk to you and he will whine and bark. He understands body and verbal language. I’m 15 and I trained him. You just have to start at a puppy. So my dog I’m sure isn’t unintelligent no offense to your research.
The pics are great. Although the Basenji (#2) looks quite thoughtful. Chows definitely deserve to be on this list, but they are beautiful to see.
My boyfriend has a German Shepard and let me tell you I wish we had an unintelligent dog. I swear to you all, the dog understands every single English word. He knows too much and he dominates everyone. Not to mention, he is only loyal to his master (my boyfriend) and pays no attention to anyone else in the house. I think I want a beagle as our next dog. There so cute just like Uno, who won last years dog show =)
German Shepard's are definitely one of the most intelligent and loyal dogs around, however going to beagle is quite a step down. Beagles, if trained well can be obedient and intelligent but generally not that smart. I had two growing up, both were constant calamities in terms of injuries, but hilarious to watch and play with.
beagles are not stupid just stubborn. i have had 2 at the same time one was older and he used to go scratch at the back door to go outside then when you got p to let him out he ran to your seat and glared at you if you tried to move him. my other dog was 1and a half when we got here and she had 2 litters of puppies already but she was pretty smart. we could let her out in the front yard and she would never run off and we could walk here without a lesh. but we had to put both of them down the girl most recently. but i really love beagles and want another one
Exactly, beagles remain childish for about two years, while other dogs get mature in one year or so. They just like to play, I don´t think they are that slow …
This isn't really a list of stupid dogs, but a list of stubborn or independent dogs. I think it's the individual dog that can be stupid. One of my dogs is very smart, and the other one has no common sense whatsoever.
I think one very important dog was left off the list. The Yorkie, I find those dogs to be the dumbest, most annoying, most hyper dog on the planet. I have a Shepard and the brains on him are incredible but Yorkies o man!
They really are annoying, like most of the toy breads are.
I don´t like tiny dogs…It’s not just the low intelligence, most of them r just mean, selfish and bad with kids!
Ha silly people, Yorkies aren't part of the top breeds, they are hunting dogs and the reason there hyper is because they are smart and need something to do, just like poodles. Both have been bread for hunting, and then converted in to fashion pieces.
Sigh, any dog can be a brilliant friend, or a horrible nightmare. The "dumbest" dog can learn up to 50 commands (words or gestures) the average dog owner only teaches five. sit, stay, down, come, and leave it.
I think we need more people education
i disagree about the chow being a stupid dog. my aunt has one and he has to be one of the most intelligent dogs ive ever seen, its pretty remarkable. ill put a video on youtube of him to prove it
Would anybody happen to know how intelligent shihtzu's are?
i was pretty surprised to see bulldogs on there, i thought they were supposed to be pretty smart dogs
i had an american bulldog that was 3 months old i was walkin him when a bigger dog ran by and scared him away atleast a mile from my home, i thought for sure he was gone and id never see him again and when i cam back home he was laying down on the porch bulldogs are VERY INTELLIGENT
I disagree with Basset Hounds being on this list. I've had bassets all of my life and they are very intelligent dogs. Most people confuse stupidity with being stubborn. They are quick to pick up on things at an early age and once they are trained right, they will do anything for you. They aren't dumb, just independent and sport the greatest personality.
Katherine, that is what the whole list is based upon, how easily you can train a dog. No dogs are exactly "stupid," but notice the Basset Hound is at #10 on the list? That's because they ARE stubborn. The list wasn't made to call any dog stupid or not smart, just to point out that some dogs are much more trainable than others.
Thanks for reading my list, comments are appreciated.
then you need to renaim the title of this article to: top 10 least trainable, not least intelligent
the title is clearly misleading and will lead to people arguing a type of dog being on the list as katherine did
Bulldogs aren't stupid,per say, they just don't like to please humans. My parents bred bulldogs,and they are deffinitely stubbon dogs,if they have a place on the couch,don't expect them to move. Beagels,now,are stupid dogs. My boyfriend has one and the thing never shuts up.Also,setters are pretty stupid.Amazing dogs,so nice, but stupid.Like get stuck on the roof in a blizzard stupid.
Will all I have to say about the last comment is do some history because Beagles are not stupid that is what they where breed to do. If you do your history you will find that all dogs have a past that can help to explain why they do what they do. So this hole stupid dog thing is stupid. i think they should of named it misunderstood dogs instead. : ) o one more thing, all dogs have their own personality just like people so yea you can end up with a stubborn dog, that is just personality and it doesn't have to do with the breed.
Aussie Lover,
Again, this list is not based on how "dumb" a dog is. There's no IQ test for a dog to determine it's intelligence. The list is based on how trainable a breed of dog is. I understand all that you said, but let's not read into the list title so much.
beagles are so hard to train because of how intelligent they are not how unintelligent they are… I have a beagle and she is smarter than most people i know
I found my ex's basenji to be extremely intelligent. She could climb anything to destroy it. She ate through, destroyed or busted: walls, floors, a bookcase, two couches, four or five chairs, a table, two of my winter coats (stored in a closet), two pairs of my glasses, countless groceries (even those on the top shelves of a cabinet with doors), a couple of dozen books, a car seat, a cordless drill, an electric screwdriver, and many, many, many other items. However, she never learned any obedience commands. Nor did she recognize her name, unless you were holding food. Never again.
Ashley,
But it'd be pretty cool if there WAS an IQ test for dogs…
Watch this space, I think I'm onto something!
PS: Someone once told me that Beagles were really smart.. :S
God Bless,
x
Milly,
That WOULD be cool, but hard to imagine how it'd even be administered.
I believe in a sense that all dogs are smart. All breeds are made to do a certain thing, therefore a dog can be smart in a certain action, like retrieving, or herding.
As for Beagles, I've done my research on them because I wanted one, and yes they are smart, but they are extremely stubborn and don't always stay focused. They often get sidetracked by scents, which again, isn't the dog's fault, just the breed.
I had a basenji a long, long time ago who was extremely easy for me to train… but very willful. She was a regular Houdini. You couldn't keep her penned for anything.
Also, I want to know why dalmatians aren't on this list. I've never known a good, even-tempered, smart dalmatian. Maybe that's just me?
To call any of these dogs un-intelligent is a bit much. I have worked with several chow chows through my volunteer work and I have not found any of them to be unintelligent. I had a friend who owned a Beagle and her dog was very smart. Many of this breeds simple take a bit longer to train not because they are stupid but often because they can be very independent and stubborn. The list of the smartest dogs is all dogs that just learn more quickly and pick things up faster. Those breeds are often not as independent and stubborn as some breeds can be. The truth is you really have to base dog by dog. You can even have a dog on the smart list who is not that smart. It does not take rocket scientist that if someone wants a herding dog they are going to pick a breed that has been bred for that specific job.
This is a Dog IQ test â?? It tests a dogs "adaptive intelligence- the ability to solve problems, understand language and learn social cues, like responding to a human smile."
http://www.abc.net.au/animals/dog_test/
Basenji's have successfully survived in Africa since ancient times. They are technically semi domesticated and therefore should not be on the list, they have only been around western culture for a little while. In fact they are prized in africa for their intelligence because they are still used by the tribespeople of the Congo. They are extremely independent and find no use in followin orders since they have survived on their own for such a long time. Dumb list.
So you should have titled the list "most difficult dogs to train."
Intelligence and ability to train do not necessarily go hand-in-hand. If that were the case, it could be argued that Saluki's are the most unintelligent dogs. That is FAR from truth.
Yes. Change the title. It's offensive and false.
i have say it, basset hounds are very unintellegent, my friend owns 1 and they are so clumsy, but at the same time are the 1 of the most cuttest dogs i have ever seen
Uhm. Well, the least intelligent? Not true. It depends on the trainer. They may be hard to train, and a little stubborn, but that doesn't make them the least intelligent. Just the hardest to train. Ugh, if you make a list, make it non offensive please.
Umm…chow chows are large dogs! Not small and yappy!
Yeah I saw that too and was going to comment on it. Chow’s are anything but small. They are quite big and extremely stocky. The chow, as well as the basengi, are among the oldest breeds around, and like other primative breeds they are harder to train and are more independent. I had a purebred Siberian Husky, another primitive breed, and though extremely intellegent they can also be very stubborn, independent and harder to train. My current dog is a german shepherd/husky mix and is much easier to train than a pure husky would be.
This list is taken from Stanley Coren’s “intellegence of dogs” and he measured only trainability, not problem-solving or other quantifiable measures to guage intellegence. Some of the dogs on this list, like bulldogs, are probably truly among the least intellegent dogs-probably because they weren’t selectively bred for intellegence the way herding or working would be, but instead were selected for their stocky bodies and pushed in, braceocephalic (sp?) faces. Whenever a breed is bred specificly for looks their intellegence will suffer. This is why working lines of dogs like Border Collies and German Shepherds are among the smartest dogs (#1 and #3 on Coren’s list respectively) while their show lines counterparts are not as smart.
yes they are husky and can be big I have 2 one is 2 years old and the other is a 14 week old
pup my dog are very socialized from the start when I got them at the age of 8 weeks old. my
2 year old one has changed her personalilt sence i got the pup she snubs you and don’t want
nothing to do with you after you have gave the pup any attention the 2 year old know tricks
and does like people before the pup came. now there is some people that she growls at never
did beforeany suggestions to help with the problem I am having.
Agreed with kittyx. Chows weigh between 50-70 pounds and were guard and work dogs. I think maybe you were looking for a Chihuahua?
I own two chihuahuas and they are the sweetest smartest dogs I’ve ever known. My dogs are able to respond to RUSSIAN are you even able to say 10 words in Russian? Bi-lingual chihuahua owners unite!!!!
Whoever wrote this list should have done a bit more research and picked a different title. Most of the dogs listed are difficult to train precisely because they are intelligent and can think for themselves. Obviously, this does not make them unintelligent. Also, the descriptions of some of the breeds are inaccurate (eg, as kittyx pointed out regarding Chow Chows). This article is a bit ridiculous.
This list is taken from Stanley Coren’s “the intellegence of dogs”, who by his own admission based his list only on trainability, and concedes that many dogs who ranked poorly may in fact be very intellegent, just also very stubborn and/or independent.
I agree though that whoever wrote the descriptions of the breeds knows little about dogs. As soon as I read the description of the Chow I lost all respect for whoever wrote this, because he obviously had never seen one
One thing I disagree about your comment however is that you seem to imply that the harder a dog is to train, the smarter it is because “it thinks for itself.” This is true in some cases but overall is a very simplistic and naive blanket statement. It really depends on what the dog was bred to do. Most herding dogs are very intellegent and very trainable, because they were selected to be smart and respond to their owners. Other dogs, like Siberian Huskies and Malamutes, where bred to be independent and intellegent- their senses are better than humans so they were bred to think independently because if their owner commanded to lead his sled through dangerous conditions they are indepent enough to ignore his command if they feel it will lead them to danger. Toy dogs were bred to be companions and show dogs and thus intellegence was not as important as size and looks. Beagles, Basset Hounds and Bloodhounds were selected for their noses, and for physical features that aided their hunting ability. So you need to look at the breed and what it was bred to do, not just trainibility (or lack there of)
I agree with kittyx, chow chows are large dogs. Now who do you think should be included on the list?
I've had a basset hound for over 2 years and when it was a pup it wouldn't listen to anyone unless they bribed her with food(they are like garbage disposals if you ask me). =D but once we said her name enough and used her treats to tell her what to do(she would only listen to the treat) lol. my point is…they are smart enough to do all the tricks you can teach. it's just that sometimes owners don't give them the right motivation. it's different for a lot of different breeds. some like socks some like napkins….usually something they can chew on or eat.
ERS: puppy's are soo cute!!!
PS: ERS means Extremely Random Statement
hitler owned a afgan.. says alot doesnt it lol
they are nice dogs, but they are truly a bit doey.
our next door neighbour owns 2 and 1 ran [literally] into a telegraph pole
Actually, the fact Hitler owned an Afghan hound doesn't say anything. Afghan hounds are one of the oldest breeds and loved for their beauty and grace.
Hitler owned German Shepherds, I have never read anywhere that he owned Afghans. Even if he did, what would it matter? What does that say anything about the breed? This is about the dumbest comment I have ever read, you should be on this list, maybe right behind the Bulldog. I own a German Shepherd now and I don’t think I would ever get another breed if dog, I just love these dogs. The fact that Hitler owned German Shepherds says nothing about the breed, other than that they and still are extremely popular dogs in Germany, for obvious reasons
I've seen my beloved chow-chow on several "stupid" lists, now. I generally have pretty thick skin about it because so few people understand the breed; however, the description of the breed in this list is simply inaccurate. Comparing a chow to a cat IS a pretty good analogy. Chows are notoriously independent and aloof; however, contrary to the author's assertion, they couldn't care less about attention from strangers (in fact they are VERY suspicious and stand-offish with strangers) and are only mildly interested in attention from their owner. Not being "attention hounds", they DO NOT suffer from jealousy at all. They keep a keen eye on their owner to ensure no harm is coming to him/her (as their owner is THEIR property), otherwise they have little to no interest in new people. A chow NEVER seeks to be the center of attention. Instead they prefer to leave others alone and be left alone. Chow chows are a MEDIUM to LARGE sized dog and I can assure that anyone who has had one bark at them would NOT describe their bark as "yappy". In fact, far from being "yappy", chows only bark with cause…and it is a VERY foreboding bark. They are a very quiet dog unless riled. If my chow barks, I get up and check, because he doesn't bark to hear the sound of his own voice. Although they look fuzzy and cuddly, most chows do not really enjoy being cuddled and fawned over; though, they will suffer this indignity in moderation from their owner. They do not play fetch, frisbee, come when called, or perform any other "trick" they deem to be beneath their dignity. Stubborn? Oh, HELL YES! Stupid, NO.
This is wrong, beagles are one of the smartest dogs……. So change the list
ya you are stupid if you think that beagles are stupid. beagles are very smart. they are hard to train because the are a sent hound. so do not think that the beagle hound is a dumb dog because they are not. TIP:if you having traing probs. with your beagle food if the key because the like smells.
Irish Setter is scientifically one of the least intelligent dogs.
The issue with this is that they are mistaking (or combining) intelligence with trainability, which are two entirely different things. The intelligent dogs are often the hardest to train because they can come up with a million and ten ways to test you and undermine what you say.
Despite that, this is still silly and irrelevant because intelligence (or lack there of) comes down to the individual dog. I've met dogs of these breeds who were very smart dogs, and I've also met Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers (breeds that are generally listed as being very intelligent) who were dumb as wet sand.
Sadly I feel the need to comment on this ignorant list. I've own Pekingese and they aren't unintelligent. I've commented for years how smart they are and how much easier they were to train than my previous dogs (German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Golden, Spaniels, Huskies, Chihuahuas, Pugs etc.). What's written under the Pekingese on here is that it is stubborn and dominant. This person has obviously never owned a Pekingese, or any dog for that matter. Several of the dumbest are shockers, and several of the smartest are a joke. The dogs that are difficult to train are not dumb, they just require a firm, consistent, and intelligent owner. Also it says that Pekingese are small to medium sized dogs. Wrong again. The largest ones top out at 14 pounds which is toy (small). Many mature to smaller than that. One of mine is 10 pounds.
I have to agree with ChowChowPapa – I have owned Chows for years. They are very trainable, you just need to know HOW to do it. I also work with rehabilitating other dog breeds that others considered "untrainable", and continue working with them until their "bad" habits are turned around. Often it's a matter of continuing to try different methods until you find one that works for the dog. Usually a lack of ability to train a dog is the fault of the human and not the dog. Not every training method works for every breed of dog. You do not train a Yorkie the same way that you train a Chow. Sometimes you can't even train 2 dogs that are the same breed in the same way.
If this article is about the "trainability" of a dog, then it should be titled as such, because the "intelligence" and the "trainability" of a dog are two different things.
The description that was posted of the chow looks more like a Pomeranian than that of a chow. The picture is right, but the description and attitude is exactly like a Pom. I think the author seriously needs to research what they are posting prior to posting incorrect information. The very smallest full grown chow that I have ever seen is 40 lbs, and usually it is much closer to 50 lbs for a petite female. My male was almost 90 lbs, and considered a larger chow. They are not small, and everyone knows that chows are not dogs that bark often, and yappy would definitely NOT describe the sound. It is a deep, chesty *WOOF*, and when you hear it, you go check it out. I had my first chow for 3 weeks before I ever heard it bark, and I didn't know what on earth the sound was.
Before you adopt ANY breed of dog, you should research it thoroughly, and talk to breeders of the dog to find out as much information about the breed so that you know what you would be getting yourself into before you do it. The chow is no different.
I def agree w/ most of these comments. This list itself should be posted under "top 10 least intelligent lists about dogs" lol. I myself have owned several beagles and they are definitely not unintelligent, just really stubborn. Obviously when you call people's dogs "unintelligent", you're just asking for negative feedback. Maybe you should've thought of a less offensive title.
Maybe it was going for controversial? Not offensive. If I was really going for offensive I would have called it Stupidest Dogs and believe me, a lot of other sites did just that. Least Intelligent was the nicest way I could think to say it. How about, "Not the smartest Dogs"?
It's more a list of the most stubborn and independant breeds, rather than the unintelligent ones. Ease of training has very little to do with the dog's intelligence and more to do with the amount of work required for the training. Wonder if this guy is just too lazy to train a dog?
How do you know it was a guy who did this list, Shannon?
And, by the way, people almost ALWAYS do lists of the "MOST INTELLIGENT DOGS" with regards to trainability. This list was just a play on that. But I don't see people having a problem with those lists.
I have to agree with the comments that put these dogs as stubborn, not necessarily stupid.
Having the Bulldog on this list surprised me. I've owned/trained Bulldogs for years and they are INCREDIBLY smart… just INCREDIBLY stubborn as well and are definitely difficult to train.
On the flip side – in the "10 Mos Intelligent Dogs" list, I was very surprised not to find the American Pit Bull Terrier on that list. Police, Search and Rescue, Swat, the Military and others have finally recognized the intelligence of this breed and are also now using them in their line of work. Looks like these lists were just thrown up here for fun and to get people commenting. It doesn't seem that any real work was put into researching which breeds are actually intelligent and which breeds aren't. They sure were very fun articles to read!
I owned a mastiff and he was very smart as well as protective. we always said that he was like a human in a dog’s body it is all how you train a dog not the breed. a golden retriever can be dumb if not properly trained.
Nice article
Very cute and entertaining to read about the lesser intelligent ones. xD
Though, I think you’ve confused the Chow Chow with the pomeranian… if anything, the size seems off. Chow Chows are quite big, and pomeranians are known as the small, yappy, and dominant center-of-attention type.
Anyway, nice read
Your info regarding ChowChows is wrong.
They’re not small or yappy.
Damn just Google them ffs
What an unfortunate title and uneducated list !
Stubbornes and independency should not be confused with stupidity, quite the contrary I would say!
My bassethound is anything but stupid. You show him a piece of food and he’ll learn a new trick in minutes. Sometimes I wish he wasn’t as smart it would be easier to live with him in the house.
hmm…they are just stubborn. When somebody is stubborn he is extra inteligent and don’t want to be someone sub. They have personality. So…those dogs are more inteligent then other.
This list is just silly. Independent does not mean stup*d. I’m sorry but what you’re looking for title wise isn’t “the 10 most stup*d dogs.” it’s “the 10 most hard to train dogs.” and then there’s still breeds on here that don’t belong here. But no, not all breeds are good for first time owners, and several of these are more “advanced” breeds. But stup*d? Hardly.
Severe misnomer. The title should be “Top 10 least trainable dogs”….refusing to be trained easily could be taken as a sign of great intelligence and independence, not stupidity. My aunt/uncle had a Basenji, and that dog was smarter than my cousins. Completely untrainable, much like a cat, very independent, but that =/= stupidity by any means. There were places in their neighborhood nobody could ever figure out how she got into.
Can’t speak for the other types, but I will say in my personal experience I’ve come across more stupid Boston Terriers in my life than any other breed.
The fact that most of these dogs are independent thinkers and don’t like to be pushed around speaks of intelligence in my mind, lol. They are all very sweet dogs, but they just like to do their own thing. What’s wrong with that?
I adopted my dog Milly about 5 months ago. We got her a DNA test because her breed was such a mystery. It turns out she is basenji/chow chow mix, and MAN, she is SO difficult. I love her to death and she is a very sweet girl when she wants to be, but she is extremely difficult to train. Looking at this list made me laugh, because both descriptions seem so accurate. I am really glad I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I adopted her, because I don’t know if I would have taken her home. But I’m so glad I did. She’s my baby
This dude is crazy !?! The hounds are actually extremely smart!!!
I like how this is a list of least intelligent dogs and it counts down 10, 9, 9, 7…..
Also: a dog’s intelligence is not just determined by how easily they learn tricks.
That is funny. So funny, in fact I’m going to leave your comment up even though it is now corrected.
lol these dogs are actually very smart and can be easy to train if you know how but if they don’t listen to your its more than likely they just don’t like you very much because I’ve trained many dogs and these are very easy to teach compaired to others
There’s a difference between intelligence and obedience. This post should be called “top ten least obedient dogs”
I guess no one has bothered to mention this yet, but: What credentials does the person who compiled this list have? I’d venture a guess and say, “none.”
This is all baseless conjecture, and helps to feed human ignorance. Thanks for nothing.
Even though I love my little Beagle puppy, Gator, I have to agree with everything mentioned about them, and a few comments of my own. He is very independant and will only let me hold him when he wants to be held, not whenever I want to. Also, if I light a cigarette while I hold him he knocks it out of my hand and jumps out of my lap. He also love underwear and takes them out of the laundry basket and he loves to unroll the toilet tissue from the holder and drag it all over the house. Also he likes to molest my little kittens and he drags them around like their rag dolls. But other than that I love him to death!!!
You say in most of the breed descriptions that these dogs are merely stubbornly hard to train, not in fact outright stupid. So why is the list title “Top 10 Least Intelligent Dogs”? Was this written on assignment for a paltry sum, given a once-over by some random would-be editor behind a laptop in a Midwestern state, then thrown on the net to edify us all?
Shih tzus should really be on this list. And if this list is about trainability rather than intelligence which it seems to be, Shiba Inus would definatley qualify for this list.
That bit about the Chow chow is such BS!
‘Chow Chows are generally small indoor dogs with a yappy bark.’
The guy writing this obviously has no idea what the hell the’re talking about! Chow Chow’s are very big dogs..
‘The Chow Chow demands attention, especially when there is a new visitor at the home.They are a very jealous breed of dog and like to be at the center of everything.’
My friend has a Chow chow and they’re quite shy and do NOT demand attention but they are extremely loyal to their owners.
I’m a little confused, what does how hard it is to train a breed have to do with the intelligence of the breed? How do Basenji’s which are known to be thinking dogs and spend have their lives trying to out smart there owners make the less intelligent breed list? I’m thinking the phrase “a poor tradesman blames his tools” applies here. I have two Basenji’s which will heal, sit stay, come all off leash. They can open baby gates, open doors knobs, and hang on every word that you say to them. They are a smart breed that are trainable with positive enforcement only as long as you do your homework as you should with every breed and understand that as long as you keep their training interesting they will cooperate . No they won’t play ball, chase Frisbee they just prefer more stimulating games such as searching, climbing,chasing, hunting or spending time with their human family.
This list I must say is highly inaccurate due to the nam “The Top Ten Least Intelligent Dogs” considering the fact that most dogs were bred for a fine purpose. Whether it be the fearless Basenji still used today by the Pygmies in Central Africa to hunt Lions, the Chow Chow used by Chinese merchants and Emperers for hunting, guarding and pulling sleds or like the English Bulldogs used once for bull baiting but now mainly as companions, every dog had a sole purpose for being bred. Just as helpful advice maybe this list would be better off named “The Top Ten Most Stubborn/Independent Dogs” because that would be describing the personality of most of the dogs you’ve listed.
I agree the title is misleading. It should have been ’10 most independent dogs’. Many miniature dogs were bred as hunting dogs so they are bound to be restless. Dogs like chow chow, basenji, are genetically closest to wolves so are bound to be more independent. The herder breeds respond more to our commands so we tend to classify them as intelligent. If the list was for humans, certainly independent people who asks questions would be considered intelligent compared to somebody who always does what he’s told to do!
Yes, but who is going to want to read a list about the most independent dogs. Checking with Google’s keyword tool, the search term “least intelligent dogs” is searched on 4 times more than “most independent dogs.” At least we avoided the term stupid, which would have been ignorant for us to use. We are not stating any breed is stupid. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. I love my Jack Russell Terrier, but he has many, many weaknesses. Short attention span being his biggest.
this list is actuallly vry inaccurate. Actually dogs that are harder to train can actually be more intellegent as they challenge why you’re asking them to do it. Most of the dogs on this list are extremely intellegent especially beagles and basenjis.
This is the STUPIDEST thing i have ever seen none of these dogs are dumb, it doesnt deppend onj a whole breed it depends on a indevial of that breed :\(sorry about the spelling )….
I agree, most of these dogs would qualify as independent rather then stupid. When I think of a stupid dog, I think of the Cocker Spaniel. I have a Shiba Inu, and I am not sure if he is plain stupid, or just really independant (let him off the leash re just rans off and he thinks that humans are to be avoided at all costs – until he gets hungry hours later then manages to find his way home) and he only obeys commands if he is within arms reach.
I dont think Chows are stupid, nor mastiffs. I have a chow/ lab and he is so adorable, and very smart. He isnt stubborn, or aggressive either. He is extremely laid back, and protective of my family and I. His bark is also far from yappy, it sounds like a Pit bull. He is the cutest dog, and so nice, unless you try to hurt us, then he gets mean. But i wouldnt trade him for any dog, because their is no better dog :3
I am very offended by this claim. These dogs are very intelligent dispite their independence. They may be stubborn or difficult to train but they are extremely intelligent creatures. If you are going to judge them on their disobedience and how hard they are to train, then I beleive a name like ‘Top 10 Toughest Dogs to Train’ would be more appropriate. Please take this into consideration.
Matilda
Who wrote this list. I’ve had Bassets and they were pretty smart. Always know when to play the right cards at the right times. One of them everytime he would get into trouble he would roll over or give the sad eyes. He knew it would get him out of trouble. I have also spent alot of time around some other breeds on this list, al of which were not stupid at all.