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Who is smarter- herding dogs, or hunting dogs2007-11-25 2:55:12

You know, the herding dogs are very smart, but them Labs, they are ausome workers and loyal family members. What do you think?!?!?!?

Answers:

I think it comes down to the individual dog and owner. Herding dogs are extremely intelligent but they can also be very difficult if not properly handled. Hunting dogs are probably a bit more anxious to please.

Googulage...my father hunted for years, mostly with Irish Setters. He swore the best hunting dog he ever had was a standard poodle though.

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I say herding... they have border collies and german shepherds :) They are both extremely intelligent dogs

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For trainability the herding breeds are easier to train, as they need to work closer to man to do their jobs, the hunting breeds are intelligent but it is a different type of intelligence they are able to make more decision on their own since they were created to work mostly at greater distances, as such they can be a little more stubborn when it comes to training and will get bored easier

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For overall brains, I'd go with the herders. But since I don't want only a smart dog, I want a smart and loyal dog, I'd go with a mix. And I got one! My dog is part German Shepherd (obviously, a herder!) and part Golden Retriever (a hunter). I think she's a perfect mix of those herder smarts (ooh, that stinker is too smart sometimes!) and that hunter loving loyalty. She's an absolute charmer (that's the Golden Retriever), and has proven herself, despite having been raised in the city, a smart, dependable, wonderful farm dog (the German Shepherd).

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The same instinctive behaviors are involved in both; it's just that they are molded differently by training. Both use hunting and stalking beavior up to a point. Both have the end result curbed, so as not to eat the sheep, or the bird, or whatever it is. So both are equally "smart".