German Shepherd is one of the smartest dog breeds. They are highly intelligent and eager to please their owners. They can be trained very quickly, and they learn new things very easily. This makes them excellent candidates for a variety of different jobs. But, what makes them so smart?
German Shepherds were bred for herding livestock, which demands intelligence, agility, work ethic, and loyalty. They need to be smart enough to pick up commands from their owners and sometimes think for themselves. They get their brains from generations of selective breeding and their original job.
In this article, you’ll take a closer look at how smart German Shepherds are and what makes them so intelligent. Plus, you’ll learn how to test your German Shepherd’s smarts and some ways to train them to be smarter!
How Smart Is A German Shepherd?
German Shepherds are ranked as the third most intelligent dog breed in the world, right behind Border Collies and Poodles. They’re actually perceived to be as smart as a human toddler.
Here are some examples of just how smart your German Shepherd can be:
- They can understand over 100 words.
- Some German Shepherds can even count up to 4 or 5.
- They can sense your emotions and read body language.
- A German Shepherd can sense hormones like cortisol, dopamine, and progesterone. They can also sense hormonal changes.
- German Shepherds can sense illnesses like cancer.
Also read: 7 Things You Didn’t Know Your Dog Can Sense
German Shepherds are also easy to train with the right methods, and they love to work. They are so smart that they may be a bit stubborn and will try to outsmart you. But, this is always manageable with good training.
Why Are German Shepherds So Smart?
German Shepherd intelligence comes from breed-specific factors like higher senses, speed, and agility that reflect their ancestry and generations of selective breeding to get the perfect working dog. This, of course, is combined with an individual dog’s environment and enrichment.
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Working Versatility
Working versatility is the number of jobs a certain breed can perform. Compared to others, German Shepherds have the most versatility as working dogs. German Shepherds can handle several jobs from tracking to protection and as service dogs.
Tracking Abilities
German Shepherds have an extra-precise sense of smell like hounds and other hunting breeds, giving them innate tracking abilities. While not too many German Shepherds are used for hunting, their tracking abilities are employed by law enforcement and even Homeland Security.
Not only do they have a more sensitive sense of smell and hearing, they can also read human body language and take cues from it. This trait is part of what makes German Shepherds perfect for security and law enforcement work.
Obedience & Trainability
German Shepherds are open-minded dogs with a great love of learning. The will to please their owners makes them easily trainable. Some German Shepherds can learn a new command with little repetition.
However, they can be crafty and try to outsmart you for praise or treats. This situation is where experience with either the breed or training is necessary. Depending on what job they’ll be performing, you may want to look into professional training.
Communication
German Shepherds have a creative way of communicating with their owners. They may not be able to speak, but that doesn’t mean they can’t understand and communicate with their owners.
Not only can German Shepherds understand from 150-200 words, which is a lot of commands or cues. They’re also masters of body language and can learn to understand human body language and communicate with their owners using it.
Other dog breeds, like the English Bulldog, have the same intuition but do not have the intelligence to be trained to actually read it.
The German Shepherd Brain
A German Shepherd’s brain is about a tenth of the size of a human brain. Around the size of a tangerine. But don’t let the size fool you, a German Shepherd’s brain is packed full of intelligence.
German Shepherds were selectively bred to be more intelligent and to be good working partners. Because of their ancestry, these dogs are hard-wired to be extra agile and eager to perform any job.
A German Shepherd’s brain does not do well when bored. These pups are so smart that they depend on mental stimulation and activity to prevent destructive behavior. They love to solve puzzles and can even undergo brain training to boost their brainpower.
Common Jobs For German Shepherds
Again, German Shepherds do a lot more than the average dog. Belgian Malinois are the only other dogs that come close to this level of versatility. Here are some of the most common jobs that you’ll find a German Shepherd doing:
- Security/Guard Dog for homes and businesses.
- Bomb detection for Homeland Security and the Armed Forces.
- K-9 Law Enforcement for tracking criminals, cadavers, missing people, etc.
- Drug detection for law enforcement.
- Guide/Service Dog for a wide range of disabilities.
Related post: Why Are German Shepherds Used as Police Dogs?
How Canine Intelligence Is Studied & Measured
Over the years, canine experts have conducted many studies on dog behavior and psychology. Not only did they find that dogs are much more intelligent than we thought, but researchers also found that it goes way beyond instinct.
3 Types Of Canine Intelligence
It’s not a matter of “some dogs are just smarter than others.” According to renowned canine researcher Dr. Stanley Coren, there are three types of canine intelligence:
- Instinctive Intelligence: The ability of a dog breed to perform the task it was bred for.
- Adaptive Intelligence: Your home/training environment and enrichment you’ve given your dog to use its brain.
- Working Intelligence: A dog’s ability to be to learn and perform a certain command.
Does Breeding Affect German Shepherd Intelligence?
First things first: no evidence suggests purebred dogs are any smarter than mixed breeds. So, if your German Shepherd doesn’t have a pure pedigree, there’s no reason why it can’t be just as smart as a dog with the highest pedigree.
However, when dealing with purebred and pedigree dogs, there may be a chance of inbreeding, which can affect how smart your German Shepherd is or will be. Inbred dogs aren’t only less intelligent, but they’re also much more prone to aggressive behavior.
Inbreeding is malpractice, and should never occur with a reputable breeder. So, if you’re looking for a puppy, research the breeder first.
How To Tell If Your German Shepherd Is Smart
You can tell if you’re German Shepherd is smart through a series of puzzles and canine IQ tests. Then, you’ll be able to measure and rank their performance and calculate just how smart your German Shepherd is.
Test Their Smarts With A Puzzle
They’re no engineers, but German Shepherds have a mind that loves to figure things out. These pups love to decipher puzzles. So, if you want to figure out how smart your German Shepherd is, get them a puzzle toy like the Outward Hound puzzle toy collection, and time how long it takes to figure it out.
Create A Maze
For the next puzzle test, set up an escape-room type situation by creating a maze or obstacle course in your backyard. Time how long it takes your dog to make it out. You can do it alongside your German Shepherd, just make sure that they’re figuring it out.
Stash Treats For Your GSD To Hunt For
Next up is a fun and yummy scavenger hunt for your dog to test his sense of smell and tracking abilities. Stash treats around the room (or in your backyard for a more advanced test with more distractions) and time how long it takes for your dog to find them all.
Shell Game With Dog Treats
The last test is a focus and memory test. Just like the normal type of shell game, you place a treat under one of three bowls. Shuffle the bowls around and note how many tries it takes for your dog to pick the right bowl.
After each test, rate your dog’s performance on a scale of 1-3. Make sure you make a note to keep track of your dog’s points.
Here’s how to rank your dog’s performance for each test:
Toys To Train A German Shepherd’s Brain
If your dog isn’t scoring high, it’s not the end of the world. The good news is that you can train your German Shepherd to be smarter. Through brain training, actual training, and proper enrichment, there’s no reason why your German Shepherd can’t become brilliant!
Here are some recommended puzzle toys to help you with German Shepherd brain training:
Final Thought: Can A German Shepherd Be Too Smart?
Yes, a German Shepherd can sometimes be too smart, meaning they can be stubborn and testy. They’re also known to try to outsmart or deceive their owners for treats. However, with proper training by distracting them with something productive, this can be easily avoided.
For stubborn German Shepherds, remain firm and consistent with your training methods. Never reward bad behavior and always use positive reinforcement. And if it comes to it, hire a professional trainer to help you.
Also read: Why Are German Shepherds So Stubborn? And What to Do About It?
