Are Golden Retrievers Smart? Breed Intelligence
Golden Retrievers, one of the most demanding family dogs, are known for their gentle, soft, and good behavior. But a question arises: are Golden Retrievers smart? The answer is a big YES! They are graded number 4, just after German Shepherds, in terms of intelligence and smartness.
How can we compare dogs regarding smartness? Well! The easiest way to find ranking in terms of smartness for dogs is to give them similar situations and grade their response for almost every factor. In this article, we will explain the smartness matrix and traits of a Golden Retriever that forces us to grade the dog as smart.
How to Decide the Intelligence of the Dog?
The first question that comes to our mind is to find a method to calculate a dog’s intelligence. We can’t give paper and pen to a dog, give questionnaires, and check answers like humans. We need to gauge the dog in different situations.
Dr. Stanley Coren shared three intelligence types in his studies which are as follows:
A simple experiment to find out the intelligence level of the dog is to hide the food. Ask your dog to find it calculate its time and inspect its response throughout the food-finding process. You can devise similar challenges daily to check out the smartness and intelligence level of your lovely Golden Retriever.
Displayed Golden Retrievers Smartness
Intelligence and non-intelligence become visible in just a few tasks, challenges, and tricky situations. Whenever a dog faces a situation, where the mind is required to be used, you can easily grade its smartness level.
A Golden Retriever displays smartness in performing the following tasks:
Golden Retriever is no exception to such experiments. It will amaze you with its super intelligence daily. You just need to observe the Retriever’s behavior in small tasks. We have made your understanding process easy by segregating different situations and responses of a Golden Retriever in which it displays its smartness and intelligence.
Hunting
The dog was bred to provide retrieving services in the 20th century. It performed its duty well. It initially went with human beings as a gundog where it pointed the prey right at the perfect spot. People who are fond of hunting are still dependent on Golden Retriever’s intelligence and hunting abilities.
Unfortunately, instead of hunting fowl and birds, it hunts tennis or golf balls nowadays due to the requirements of people. But whatever is required, as far as hunting is concerned, a Golden Retriever will amaze you with its smartness in any hunting task.
Guiding Abilities
Hunting may not be required daily but a Golden Retriever serves guiding purposes almost daily. Whether you are crossing a road, finding some lost item, or going to an unknown place it will guide you in every situation. Due to excellent sniffing abilities, it smells threats from very long distances and gets ready immediately.
They are treated and considered as a responsible and trustworthy dog. It’s very easy for them to sense the danger and guide them in various situations. You will observe the intelligence and smartness of a Golden Retriever in most affairs and it will guide you amicably.
Rescuers and Heros
A Golden Retriever knows how to find a missing person in the forest or some other unknown place, thanks to its retriever traits and smartness. It performs rescue services very well. So, if you’re planning to go outside on a trip where chances of being lost are available, then take your Golden Retriever with you, it will not only guide you but also protect you as well.
In many parts of the world, Golden Retrievers are providing rescue services very well. They sniff very well and find out things and new routes very quickly. Overall, A Golden Retriever will display its smartness while on a rescue mission.  Â
Protection Tasks and Challenges
Whether you are at the airport, border, or any other sensitive place, you will see a Golden Retriever very often that is performing its duty very well. Protective dogs are taught, from a very young age, about focusing on certain smells while ignoring the rest. Moreover, a protective dog needs to be smart and intelligent to perform its tasks well.
By inheritance and genetics, a Golden Retriever possesses all such features and traits that are required for any protection dog. So, it’s a perfect choice for such types of situations. Don’t ignore it when you need guard duties at any stage of your life.
Showing Off
If you’re a true fan of Golden Retriever, then you might know that it loves training and learns things quickly. So, it’s up to you to teach the dog as many things as possible. It will salute, shake hands, walk with pride, run, stop, and revolve with your small gesture.
Golden Retrievers have proved their smartness in terms of showing off at multiple occasions and events conducted in the United States. So, teach your dog and bring him to the event and it will make you feel proud.
What Does the Smartness of A Golden Retriever Mean to You?
A famous saying says that a wise enemy is better than a foolish friend. That single statement tells us the prospects of living with a Smart and intelligent Golden Retriever. You will get the following benefits by adopting a smart Golden Retriever instead of a dumb dog.
And the list of its benefits based on smartness continues….
Conclusion
There isn’t any doubt about the smartness of a Golden Retriever. It will amaze you in every aspect like guiding, hunting, rescuing, and showing off merely on its intelligence. You just need to give him a good diet and groom him well so that he remains healthy, smart, and intelligent. It’s the best choice if you are looking for a smart dog.
