quote:

Originally posted by Anarion:
For my money, Irish Setters are the mud dumbest dogs ever. They are beautiful, and incredibly loyal but my God are they stupid...

When I was a kid, they were the boutique dog to have. Great hunting dogs then the social elite got involved and it was all about best in show and appearances. Truly an awful end to a great hunting breed. They are still around but the genetic damage is done.

quote:

Originally posted by Citadel:

quote:

Originally posted by Anarion:
For my money, Irish Setters are the mud dumbest dogs ever. They are beautiful, and incredibly loyal but my God are they stupid...

When I was a kid, they were the boutique dog to have. Great hunting dogs then the social elite got involved and it was all about best in show and appearances. Truly an awful end to a great hunting breed. They are still around but the genetic damage is done.

Hunting lines are still around although they are requiring much dedication to rehabilitate. I was even considering the breed just recently. BTW, if you are referring to a field bred Irish Setter, they are better known as Red Setters or sometimes Irish Red Setters. Which is more appropriate since “Irish Setters” themselves were long ago derived from the Irish Red & White Setter, a breed that was, ironically, nearly destroyed by the social elite of the day who wanted a solid red dog. Today’s Red Setters are smaller than the Irish Setters you may know (as is typical of most field bred lines) and are described as many things but STUPID isn’t one of them.

I know a lady that worked in a vet clinic,
She didn't say that they were dumb,
But
Number one on her whacky assed,scatter brained dog list was Irish Setters.

Hard to say what the number one should be. Most dogs were bred for a purpose that we no longer let them do all the time. This creates a dog that is driven by nature to do one thing and asked to do another. Hunting dogs are this way. The Setter mentioned is one of the best bird dogs out there with a nose for feathers a mile away. Some of them do ok around the house but others are just waiting time to get back out in the field and get those birds. I have a wirehaired dachshund that is very much typical to the breed. We have worked and worked with him to do stupid human things which he does some reluctantly. Dachshunds are stubborn not stupid. He does what the breed is supposed to do. He hunts and tracks plus protects our home and hoomans. All dogs are smart in their own way. It just not might be what YOU want them to be smart about.

We had an adopted black lab for a while. Dumb as a stone. We kept her in the garage at times with everything a dog could want. When I came out and found her sitting on the hood of my car. She was put in the free ads. The first couple that re-adopted her brought her back in 24 hours. The next re-adoption took. No more labs.

Weimaraner, dumb as a box of rocks would be a stretch, more like a box of sand.

Was the dog of the uncle of the girl I was dating in 1973, northern Alabama. Went there for Christmas. Her uncle’s grandsons had a shitload of real tiny firecrackers. Little turds would light and toss them, dog would catch them just as they would pop. Shake it’s head, spit out the paper. Kids would toss another, rinse, repeat. I put a quick halt to that.

Late 90’s we had a black Lab. Actually two, one was a retired Leader Dog, she was great. Younger one, our “special needs” dog. Caught him gnawing on a drywall corner once. Came home for lunch one day to see him standing on the back of the couch, living room floor covered with foam, jute padding and upholstery. As I opened the door he turned his head to look at me, mouth full of couch.

Another time, Leader Dog Lab was relieving herself in the yard, young Lab decided it was a good time to head butt her. She got “pissed”,gets up off the ground and starts chasing his dumb ass and tackles him to the ground. He was about 80#, Lacey was 110#, big girl! Lays down on him, shows him who’s the boss.

Abbott was “different” to say the least. If you met him outside the house then you could come inside with no problem. If you came to the door as a stranger you weren’t coming inside. One of my late friends was a 1%er and ex-tunnel rat in Vietnam. Afraid of nothing except the first time he came over, Abbott was trying to get to my friend through the 5’X 6’ living room window. He did have some apprehension about coming inside, took Abbott outside to meet and greet, all was good then.

It's gotta be Sheltie's. Ex-GF family raised them. I love dogs and can't find a single good aspect of their personality.

I’d say Chihuahas based on my in-laws’ two examples over the years. With dachshunds in second place. Dogs will yip and yap at me like crazy when I walk in, then eventually settle down. I’d sit on the couch and the dog hops up next to me or even sits on my lap. Petting it, snuggled on my lap, all is good. Until I stand up and the yapping starts all over, like it has no idea that I’m the guy he was just sitting on.