It's no wonder that Labrador retrievers have been the most popular dog breed in the United States for the past 19 years straight. They are sweet, family friendly and super trainable. To prove our point, here are videos of Labradors that have learned to perform common tricks, compete in athletic competitions, assist humans and even save lives.
Gordon tears up the course in this agility competition. Too bad we can't crank the
trance music at the actual agility events, since it certainly heightens the drama!
Favorite Toys: Maddox loves his tennis balls. Jessie loves a squeaky baby.
Favorite Treats: Both love marrow bones from the store.
Likes: Swimming, and anywhere that allows them to run in and explore the outdoors.
Dislikes: Thunderstoms.
Fun Fact: Maddox and Jessie go to work with their owner every day.
Likes: Food. "Pet parties," tumbling in very green grass in the park, dinnertime.
Dislikes: Long walks, rushing, vegetables, waiting for dinnertime.
Weird Quirks: Cabela hates closed doors, so he frequently will "bump" open a closed door with his nose.
Congratulations to our submitter, Guy Volk. If you'd like to submit your pet to Cute Pet of the Day, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!
Favorite Treats: Peanut butter frozen inside a Kong toy, or homemade frozen peanut-butter/yogurt pops.
Favorite Toy: Ultimate Ring tug toy.
Likes: Walks and smoothies on Sunday! Dislikes: Cameras, cell phones and dust mops.
Weird Quirks: Sam likes to gather all his toys in one spot and check to see that they are all present and accounted for. Cha Cha likes to sleep in a basket in the closet, buried under a pile of clothing.
Congratulations to our submitter, Venusfreak1. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!
Which dog breeds are the most intelligent? And just what makes them so smart?
We took the list of the top ten brainiest breeds and asked dog guru Billy Rafferty, author of "Happy Dog: Caring for Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit" to give his perspective. "While most smart dogs have certain traits in common -- loyalty, vigilance, perceptiveness, a caring nature -- "there are many different kinds of intelligence," says Rafferty. "Canine intelligence is more nuanced than people think."
In the photo gallery below, Rafferty explains the pros and cons of owning these clever (but sometimes high maintenance) canines. And to learn more about how the original list was created, check out "The Intelligence of Dogs" by neuropsychologist Stanley Coren, PhD,. Coren based his findings on evaluations of breeds made by over 200 dog obedience judges in the U.S. and Canada.
#10 Australian Cattle Dog
The name says it all. This breed literally lives to herd. Pros: Protective of its owner and its owner's property. Even when it comes to its own toys, the Australian cattle dog likes things handled in an orderly fashion. (Many will put them in a pile when they're finished playing!) Cons: With herding in its genes, nipping at the ankles -- of humans, including children -- might be how this breed thinks it's helping to keep things in line.
Duncan Smith, Getty Images
Smartest Dog Breeds
#10 Australian Cattle Dog
The name says it all -- this breed literally lives to herd. Pros: Protective of its owners and its owner's property. Even when it comes to his own toys, the Australian Cattle Dog likes things handled in an orderly fashion. (Many will put them in a pile when they're finished playing!) Cons: With herding in their genes, nipping at the ankles -- of humans, including children -- is a common occurrence as they try to keep things in line.
#9 Rottweiler
Plagued by a bad rep, the Rottweiler moreoften uses its courage, intelligence and fierce loyalty for good rather than bad. Pros: Raised right, they are great with children. (Rafferty's three-year-old great-niece and her family's Rottweiler sleep in the same bed!) Cons: Unfortunately, Rottweilers are often mistrained. Make sure you know a Rottweiler's history before adopting one.
#8 Papillon
Named after the French term for "butterfly" -- check out those ears! Pros: Its big, open ears catch sound with utmost efficiency, allowing this dog to process and react to its environment more quickly. Cons: None, really. Those folks who may be turned off by typical toy dogs should note that the Papillon's got the bravura, athleticism and stamina of a dog ten times its size.
#7 Labrador Retriever
America's top dog, literally. It's a member of more U.S. households than any other breed. Pros: Loving, obedient, patient, focused, kid-friendly. As if that's not enough, Labradors have been known to "self train" by observing the behaviors of its owners or fellow pets. Cons: Doesn't come with a built-in guarding instinct (although that's a pro when it comes to exposing the dog to public settings).
#6 Shetland Sheepdog
Like the Australian Cattle Dog, they're herders by nature and, with the right owner, big-time lovebugs by nurture. Pros: Small and agile enough to do duty as a garden guarder. (Squirrels and rabbits, beware!) Cons: Sometimes wary of strangers, including children.
#5 Doberman Pinscher
Providing companionship to esteemed gentleman since 1801. Pros: Known for their fearlessness and stamina, Dobermans are everything you can want in a guard dog -- including a gentle regard for their owners. Cons: Much like the Rottweiler, this breed's temperament depends on its upbringing.
#4 Golden Retriever
A companion who lives to hunt, catch and fetch. Pros: Inherent patience makes this breed easy to train -- and it's been said the Golden Retriever can learn more than 200 commands! Cons: Besides the long coat, not much.
#3 German Shepherd
A brainiac and a workaholic like none other. Pros: When it comes to command training, gets it right the first time; a very fast learner. Can be trained to do most anything. So much so, some German Shepherds go on parachute jumps for the military. Cons: Needs to be kept occupied, or its unhappiness will show.
#2 Poodle
Nothing standard about the standard Poodle. It's smart as a whip and loves people. Pros: Perfect for active, quirky types: Loves the water, loves learning out-of-the-ordinary tricks and commands. (That's what makes them such great circus performers.) Cons: Notorious for causing destruction when bored. Hates to be left alone. Can be too sensitive for owners who like playing rough.
#1 Border Collie
Winner of the teacher's pet award for its exhaustive smarts, drive and devotion. Pros: A shoo-in for any sort of dog-sport competition. Loves nothing more than working side by side with its owner. Cons: Not a city dog! Can be a true terror if left unoccupied. Might get frustrated with small children who don't "fall in line."
Learn more about your favorite breeds at Meet the Breeds in New York City on October 16–17. Paw Nation is the official blog for the event, so be sure to check back here for more news and stories.
With so many puppy videos and so little time, we've gone the extra mile and begun cataloging some of the finest YouTube offerings, separating each collection by breed in a feature called Puppy Party!
Today's round-up features the lovable Labrador Retriever!
In a small Iowa town, a pet dog and a pet duck have -- through fate's unknowable machinations -- become platonic lifemates. Not exactly apocalyptic in its implications, but eyebrow-raising nonetheless. After all, the only thing we've ever known about a dog's relationship with ducks is from a certain 8-bit computer pooch who mocked us for failing to shoot the agile waterfowl and lifted their carcasses in triumph when we managed to light-zap them. So why have these two animals suddenly become Pals4Life?
According to Des Moines's KCCI news, the duck had an of-species ladyfriend, but she unfortunately died. Growing lonely without his beloved, the duck took to the Labrador for company, and a bond was formed. That's very sweet. We, however, think there's more going on than what we're being told.
Notice at 1:15, in the below video, when a couple of cats show up to torment the bird, as cats are wont to do. Where can a lonely, put-upon duck run, or waddle, to for protection? Why, it seeks help from cat's eternal enemy of course. We prefer to read this tale as an animal version of My Bodyguard. Judge for yourself.