I have 4 dogs currently and my german shepherd is no longer with us but in the years I had him I found him to be the by far the hardest working dog there is and its easy to see why they are used in law enforcement and even military-a true professional.

He was also by far the most intelligent dog I have ever owned.Stood head and shoulders above the others ,including a pure breed border collie I own currently.Problem solving abiitity incuded things like being able to calculate the shortest routes to and from through obstacles and the ability to tell time by watching the position of the sun and shadows created and later in life he could understood complete sentences ,even pick up the basic content of some conversations.

He knew “M” spelled Mcdonalds…Ha HA.

He could pick out letters like P_A_R_K spoken spelled park.

But if You said P_A_R_T he knew it was not park.

I’d rate him a 10 on a scale of 1-5 for intelligence and In general I know they are the hardest working dogs out there.

I submit to you the Airedale Terrier. I will not take the time to give a major listing on the breed, except that it is the largest of the terrier class, is one of the most intelligent of all canines, is family-friendly, and is a fantastic watchdog (Airedales were historically used to hunt mountain lions, and I think even grizzlies). I have previously had three Airedales, each of them amazing. I am excited to one day be out of school and with another Airedale at my side.

The one thing to keep in mind is no matter what breed, each dog needs a loving and devoted family. Obedience training is not only fun and educational for the entire family, but it keeps the dog socialized and his mind busy. Who doesn’t want a well-behaved pseudo-human where everyone he encounters says, “What a great dog!”

Thanks for a great article.

Oh, and about those roaming herds of chihuahuas…

http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=24702

There are so many loving pits that are in shelters that need homes. Go visit one and see what you think. They aren’t the monsters many (ignorantly) believe they are.

The AKC lists them as ideal family dogs. I agree.

Tollers are intelligent, reasonably easy to train and are wonderfully happy and friendly dogs. Around people, the tail tends to wag the dog, they get so excited sometimes. The Toller will also retrieve until it’s ready to fall over from exhaustion, so exercise caution when playing fetch.

A caveat: When running full-out, a Toller can herniate their back if their hindquarters go out from under them. Also, at a full out run, Tollers are fully capable of catching rabbits or squirrels if they have a head start!

For more information:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/nova_scotia_duck_tolling_retriever/index.cfm

My two cents, for what it’s worth.

Dachshunds may not look manly, but a hound bred to chase badgers down into their holes, kill them, and drag their cooling carcasses back to the surface, are courageous and lively dogs.

I will echo the suggestion that you check with a breed rescue organization before going to a breeder. Nearly every breed club registered with the AKC ( http://www.akc.org ) has a parallel rescue organization. Greyhounds in particular have a huge population needing rescue. They are bred in huge numbers for the dog tracks, and the racing organizations have little or no desire to keep them once they reach retirement age.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_bull

If you really want a pure-bred dog, there are plenty in the shelters about to be put down. Regardless, don’t support the puppy mills; don’t buy from pet stores.