In America, Labradors are viewed as smart because you can make them do whatever you want.
In France, there’s a saying “con comme un Labrador”, which can be translated to “stupid like a mf” because Labradors do whatever you want them to do. Which is, in a way, not a sign of intelligence.
I think about that cultural distinction a lot when I see one of those dogs (or his hairy cousin, the Golden Retriever) around.
Or people.