#8 Papillon

The Papillon is the tiniest of the smart dog breeds. This breed, one of several cute puppies with immense ears, has origins that date back approximately 700 years, which has a big impact on how intelligent it is. Given that it is one of the earliest dog breeds, the Papillon has had much more time than others to develop into one of the brightest canines, and its breeders have made good use of that time.

The papillon, so named because of its wing-like ears and the French term for “butterfly,” was first kept as a pet by nobles. They have European spaniel ancestry, based on the AKC, but were crossed with toy dogs to reduce their size. These little guys make great companions because of their upbeat, outgoing personalities, desire to please, and predisposition for learning and following instructions.

If you are curious, here are the most popular dog breeds in our country:10 Most Popular Dog Breeds in America. Is your pup on the list?