#3 German Shepherd

German shepherds are the second smartest herding dogs and the third smartest dogs overall. Per the AKC, the breed is known for its high intellect, ability to pick up new commands quickly, high degree of focus, ambition, and capacity for obedience, all of which make training simple. It was also bred for its protective instinct for its fellow “pack” members.

This breed excels at assessing challenging situations and selecting the right plan of action. This is one of the reasons why German shepherds are so frequently used in search and rescue operations, law enforcement, and as assistance dogs for the disabled. In fact, it was the very first breed of dog trained to be a Seeing Eye dog.