The Smartest Dog Breeds in the World

2. Poodle

Poodles may be stereotyped as foolish, fanciful dogs, but breed aficionados know how smart they can be. Standard poodles were originally bred as hunting dogs who worked independently to retrieve birds and other prey for their owners. Their famously dense, curly coat helps insulate them from cold water. They became popular in the United States as circus performers, which they excelled at due to their intelligence and trainable nature. Today, many people with disabilities choose poodles as service dogs due to those same qualities, as well as their ability to work independently and their hypoallergenic coats.