Quote Originally Posted by lute View Post
Some dogs may seen not too bright because they are hard headed and stubborn. BUT they are in fact smarter than you think. I have yet to meet a dumb Ridgeback. Chloe, my ridgeback mix has to have a reason to do something before she will do it. You can tell she is thinking before she acts. If I give her a command sometimes she looks at me as if to say "Why? This won't accomplish anything." The dogs are more or less out smarting YOU. I feel the same about Siberian Huskies. After owning Gracie she showed me that sibe's are not "crazy" as some people say. They simply need a very good reason to do something. I think there are some dogs that don't have it all put together. I believe there is mentally handicapped dogs. I don't think a whole breed is dumb though. You just have to look at things from the dog's point of view.
Hi lute

I understand and agree with almost all your comments. the problem (for Me) is that I don't like independent dogs that need a very good reason to do something. I like devoted, obedient and smart dogs that have pleasure just for pleasing their owners. I also understand that we normally use expressions like "he's not dumb, he only likes to do what he wants" to justify our hard headed friends - that's normal, no one likes to admit their dog is dumb. I'm almost 50 years old, I've been also a breeder and trainer of several breeds, and Iīve had dogs all my life, I think I can now after all these years know some genetic characteristics of the breeds ( at least the ones I've worked with). Apart from this, Ridgebacks are beautiful dogs.