12 Vizsla Mix Breeds You Might Just Fall in Love With. Keep in mind, they’re able to do this with little to no human training. Pit bulls, as a group, are intelligent dogs, soft to their owners and relatively easy to train as they are eager to please their owners. And while obedience training can be a little difficult, it’s not always the case. They are great problem solvers, and will figure things out if given time. They’re some of the most affectionate and kind dog breeds, despite what media portrays them to be. Many do not. Answer Save. As Buddhasmommy described, her pit knows his command but doesn’t always follow. He’s a funny clown but sensitive to my moods and needs. Beauty Without Vanity. There is no way you can compare a mutt to a Poodle or Shepherd. And according to Stanley Coren, there are two other dimensions of dog intelligence: Instinctive and adaptive intelligence. They’re some of the smartest dogs i’ve ever seen…give them a chance!”, 9. In honor of Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week, here are my top ten reasons why Pit Bulls rule!. So, are Pit Bulls smart? However, other advocates in this conversation claim that in most cases of pit bull attacks, the blame lies squarely on the owners and not on the dogs. Their popularity among irresponsible owners have given them a bad reputation they don’t deserve. Very good dogs to be around if you love them openly and often.”, 7. These results placed the Staffordshire Bull Terrier in the “average intelligent” category. The association holds that this leads to the dangers of dogs being euthanized based on what they look like rather than what they have done. American Pit Bull Terrier — You may be thinking, “wrong list,” but this is one of the smartest dog … 4 Answers. They were some of the most versatile breeds back in the day (and probably still are!). Positive methods will work best for training this breed. }. Others are going to wonder whether it’s possible to receive a brindle Pitbull with blue eyes. That being said, there are four types of Pit Bulls: the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Bulldog. Unfortunately, Pitbulls, as short and low maintenance as they might… Read More Not the most obedient, but feels like he just understood situations better.”. Despite their relatively low rankings on the dog intelligence list, Pit Bulls are much smarter than you think. Thus, we only have data on those two dogs for obedience and working intelligence. 1. He ignores everything to give me what I need. Shermanf says Yes: “My red nose pit bull is sooo smart. With that information, he formed his final rankings. However, adaptive and instinctive intelligence are what really makes them smart dogs. The all-black pitbull is among the more striking, but nevertheless, it might not be as rare as some pitbull lovers are lead to trust. Of course, no responsible parent would leave their child unattended with any breed of dog. Instinctive intelligence refers to the ability or skill that the dog was bred for. But it’s a fact that the Pit Bull was once considered a wonderful pet for kids. 1 answer. All these jobs and roles that Pit Bulls once had doesn’t mean they’re just versatile, but that they also have high instinctive intelligence. Coren himself wrote a blog arguing that pit bull attacks were not in isolation and have statistical evidence to suggest they may be aggressive dogs.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'pawesome_net-leader-2','ezslot_14',108,'0','0'])); Animal rights organization PETA also advocated for breed-specific sterilization when talking of pit bulls. She is incredibly smart, and very much a confident and alpha dog.”, 2. While the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier are dogs that have a ranking on Coren’s list, this list is by no means exhaustive. I have fed him top quality dog food since I got him at 6 weeks, he always gets a lot of compliments on his soft, shiny coat and bright quick eyes. This means that they can also be stubborn at times. The American Veterinary Medical Association has also argued that breed alone is an arbitrary predictor of behavior and aggressiveness, and cannot be taken as a solitary factor in making this decision. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Not only were pit bulls admired, but they were also used as mascots and as spokesdogs. I train by positive reinforcement and he will learn anything on the second take. Once called “Nanny Dogs” and praised for their loyalty, Pit Bulls have become a favorite for dog fighters and abusers because of their muscular build and trainability. Despite their relatively low rankings on the dog intelligence list, Pit Bulls are much smarter … Pit bull owners will naturally report that the dogs are intelligent and make for great pets. You haven’t met my red nose pit bull, Tank (aka Big Dummy). Sure, they can be stubborn dogs and are protective of the ones they love, making them great guard dogs as well. However, they can be stubborn and thick-headed, and so they require the attention of an owner who is smart and patient. And although obedience & working intelligence may be the closest, it still have its flaws. To mark the occasion, we’ve gathered some of the most interesting, impressive, and surprising facts about pit bulls (plus a few unfortunate myths). But compared to a Shih tzu, or perhaps greyhound these dogs would come out on top. Is your Pit Bull able to learn from previous experiences and past mistakes? There’s nothing wrong with being average, and in the American’s case, they did better than average. And while instinctive intelligence is roughly the same for all Pit Bulls, adaptive intelligence can vary from dog to dog. Lv 6. He’s just being super stubborn. Despite their retraining, the aggression in their DNA remains. TheSmartCanine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This meant that the American Staffordshire Terrier is able to understand a new command with 15 to 25 repetitions. Very. Are Pitbulls & Bullies Easy To Train? Pit bulls do get a bad reputation for being dangerous and aggressive dogs. However, it doesn’t tell the full story. Stanley Coren believes that the final dimension of dog intelligence is adaptive intelligence. This is now a broad categorization used for any dog that is medium to large in size, has a short coat, and a bulky head that is larger in proportion to the rest of the dog’s form. I know he knows his commands and can be a good dog (he shows me that on his “good” days). Coren published his book The Intelligence of Dogs in 1994. Or better than any I’ve had the pleasure of being aquatinted with!!….  =  In the early 20th century, pit bulls became known as military heroes. I own a pitbull right now. With all phases of training, praise is … However, adaptive and instinctive intelligence are what really makes them smart dogs. It is difficult to quantify the intelligence of a dog. With some dogs this may not be a problem at all, while with others disciplining may be more of an issue. Pitbulls are impressively loyal, bold and courageous animals. For obedience & working intelligence, they’re the 94th and 48th smartest breed, respectively. Pit Bulls are fairly quick to learn, but they also have a certain stubborn streak which is a direct result of their intelligence. He’s the most loving dog I’ve ever owned.”, 10. For example, herding dogs were bred for, well, herding. According to Rover, Pit Bulls have a lot of energy and determination, which can come off as stubbornness and willfulness. Richard has been raising dogs his whole life, including a Poodle, Pomeranian, Corgi and Australian Shepherd. I feel horrible but I’m at my wits end trying to find a way to get Buddha to behave himself. Pitt bulls. The brindle pitbull is an excellent example. The most intelligent dog breeds in the world are in a class of their own. The Mini Pitbull takes after its Patterdale parent in that she is usually a very … They are intelligent, super-loyal, very loving, and have high amounts of energy. This Pit Bull Is The Smartest Dog On The Planet… And Possibly The Sweetest! They also have a 70% success rate of obeying a new command on the first attempt. This dimension (obedience & working) of canine intelligence is largely credited to Stanley Coren, a renowned pHD and canine psychologist. There have been several cases of pit bull breeds attacking unsuspecting children, causing grievous injury and in some cases, even death. The American forces took pit bulls to represent them back in World War I. So who are these ultra-smart dogs? The more experienced the owner, the easier training will be. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier may take 25 to 50 repetitions to learn a new command, and had a 50% success rate of obeying it on the first go.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'pawesome_net-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',106,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'pawesome_net-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',106,'0','1'])); But while this is a recognized list of measuring a dog’s intelligence, it is still only one method and does not have to be taken as gospel truth. Highlights: Confident, Enthusiastic, Obedient. This writer is a New Yorker with wanderlust. In the short amount of time I was outside, he figured out how to open the cabinet to get to his cookies. ANSWER: Pit bulls, as a group, are intelligent dogs, soft to their owners and relatively easy to train as they are eager to please their owners. Pit Bulls are a collective of dog breeds that have come a long way since their early days. They are likely just not in the mood. Author has 99 answers and 300.5K answer views Pit bulls, as a group, are intelligent dogs, soft to their owners and relatively easy to train as they are eager to please their owners. And the truth is, all dogs are smart enough to give you what you need. Anyone who has owned one of these fascinating dogs will tell you straight up that the Pit bull is a very smart dog indeed. There is also something to be said about the kind of training and affection the dog is provided—this is true for all breeds, but especially for pit bull type dogs. However, we believe the best way to gauge a breed’s intelligence is by asking the owners. Unfortunately, not all dog breeds took part in Coren’s trials – it’s why not all four Pit Bull breeds tested for intelligence. With some dogs it may be easier to get through the training period, others may require more patience. Not all dog breeds will “work” for the sake of working, such as the Border Collie. We’ve raised many in our lives and we’re always so pleased with their capability and obedience.”, 6. However, they do seem to have something of a strong will, so they do best with strong leadership and focused training. They are quite stubborn, but it's only because of how smart they really are. “Looks can be deceiving” is a statement that is applicable even to dog breeds and appearance may not always be a reliable method of identification.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'pawesome_net-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',102,'0','0'])); The term pit bull is used more as a category rather than as a descriptor for a specific breed. He is the smartest of all the dogs breeds I have owned in my 58 years.That covers poodles, Shepard’s, Pomeranians, Labradors, Rottweilers and a lot of shelter mutts all of whom I loved dearly. I went inside to get my car keys and Tanner was laying on the floor eating his cookies. Many Pit Bulls get along wonderfully with other animals. Therefore, the behavior of all dogs that fall under this category may be different, including where they may rank on a scale of intelligence.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'pawesome_net-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',103,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'pawesome_net-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',103,'0','1'])); The answer to this will also differ from individual dogs. They are hard workers and any difficulty in training them is not due to a lack of intelligence.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'pawesome_net-leader-1','ezslot_10',107,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'pawesome_net-leader-1','ezslot_11',107,'0','1'])); Pit bulls are highly intelligent dogs, but they also have a strong personality. Bring home a Pit Bull today and you won’t regret it! The natural ability to push livestock (cattle, sheep) toward directions and formations require a special type of smarts, that is, instinctive intelligence. And although these dogs were originally bred for bull-baiting, ratting and other “dark” jobs, they were reinvented and bred to be multi-purpose dogs. Don’t let these “experts” tell you whether your dog is smart or not. Pit bulls are allowed into the store on-leash; they are able to participate in adoption fairs. they wouldn't be as smart as perhaps a herding dog like a border collie,or Austarlian shepherd. The truth about pit bulls is simple: They’re sweet, smart, hilarious, loyal companions. Owners will tell you that these dogs can certainly go on their “stubborn streaks” from time to time. The categorization of this breed can be ambiguous as they can look like various other pedigree breeds. My blue nose Pitt is the smartest and most intelligent animal I’ve EVER OWNED!!!! They include some of the most popular American breeds, such as the German Shepherd, Poodle, Golden Retriever, Labrador, Rottweiler and the Doberman. I have a 110 lb. I’m 4’10, 100lb. However, they’re both people-oriented and loyal dogs. He’s amazing. Female pitbulls are smaller and have a lighter build than males, so use the columns for male and female animals in accordance with your pet’s gender.