The Smartest Dog Breeds in the World

9. Shetland Sheepdog

Weighing in at 11 to 24 pounds, the Shetland sheepdog, or Sheltie packs a lot of intelligence and energy into a compact package. These Scottish herding dogs are sometimes called miniature collies due to their resemblance to the rough-coated collie breed made famous by the TV show Lassie, but they were developed independently. Shelties tend to be affable and easygoing compared to many other herding breeds, but they still need plenty of exercise. They excel in sheepdog trials, agility competitions and as therapy dogs.