Dog Breeds That Are Easy To Train for Everyone
Dog Breeds That Are Easy To Train for the Most Obedient Companions
We all want our pups to grow into well-behaved dogs that are a delight to have around. In contrast, an unruly pooch can cause you a big headache.
The key is training, training, training!
And, while all dogs can be taught to ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ ‘heel,’ or ‘hush,’ dog breeds that are easy to train, learn much faster — making great pets for first-time and experienced owners.
Remember, training isn’t just about obedience, but also fostering that bond between you and your pup.
What Makes Some Dog Breeds Easier to Train?
While every dog is an individual, your training success can depend on many factors — such as early socialization, consistency of training, and the methods used. Yet, certain breeds tend to have a predisposition for quick learning and can be a joy to train. For example:
Intelligence — How well does a dog understand or learn the commands you want them to refer to? Easy-to-train dogs are smart, which makes them fast learners.
Focus — How easy does the dog become distracted or how calm is the pooch?
Eagerness to Please — How strong is the dog's bond with their owner? Does the pup just want to please and be rewarded by their trainer — so they’ll do whatever you ask them, just to make you happy.
Working Dog Genetics — Dogs that have been bred as working dogs, such as herding, hunting, or police dogs, will have a stronger genetic predisposition to pick up training quickly.
Top Ten Easiest Dogs To Train
1. Poodle
Poodles were originally bred as water retrievers, so they have strong working dog genetics. You often see this breed running around an agility course at organized dog shows exhibiting the same athletic prowess and obedience they would have on hunting trips.
All three sizes — toy, miniature, and standard — are extremely intelligent canines who are eager to please their owners. With their athletic nature, Poodles are keen to play games and are fast learners of basic obedience and any new tricks you may try to teach them.
Not only are Poodles one of the most easily trained dogs, but they’re also known as one of the most hypoallergenic breeds. Despite their exquisite curls, this breed only sheds minimally. Hence, a good choice for dog lovers who may suffer from allergies. Poodles can be a loyal and obedient companion for the whole family.
2. Border Collie
Many dog trainers consider the Border Collie to be the most intelligent dog breed, which, when combined with their high energy levels, excel in obedience and agility training.
The fact Collies are herding dogs at heart means they have an exceptional grasp of understanding and responding to commands. Rumor has it that when Scottish farmers took their Border Collies to one of the first sheepdog trials in Wales in 1873, onlookers were amazed at the dog’s ability to respond to whistles and hand signals when herding sheep into pens.
3. Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are one of the friendliest breeds with super brain power too. They’re often used as therapy dogs for mental health. But as one of the easy trainable dog breeds, Goldens are employed in other roles too, such as search and rescue, guide dogs for the visually impaired, and of course as hunting dogs to retrieve any catch.
A close relation to a long-time favorite, the Labrador, the Golden is (excuse the pun) considered the gold standard of family dogs that are easy to train. They’re one of the most loyal breeds and are always keen to please their owners.
That strong urge to please makes training the Golden Retriever easy. And, with their natural retrieval skills, they’re particularly good at learning how to fetch. Like many pups, positive reinforcement training works best with this breed, who will lap up your praise — and any rewards too.
4. Labrador Retriever
The lovable Lab has been one of the nation’s favorites for many years, yet this breed has also placed highly in the AKC’s National Obedience Championships for the past several years. The Labrador Retriever is one of the world’s most beloved easy to train dog breeds due to their enthusiastic need for approval from almost everybody.
If you’re looking for one of the best family dogs with personality, the Lab has buckets loads — they’re friendly, playful, and sociable. However, be warned they’re very food-orientated, and younger pups who are more curious may need training to “leave it!” to avoid putting things in their mouth they shouldn’t!
Although it’s tempting to reward your dog with snacks when training, be careful with this breed, as weight gain and obesity are common, thanks to their love of food. Exercise shouldn’t be an issue though, as well as excelling in obedience training, they enjoy many outdoor pursuits, including water-based activities like swimming. The Lab’s adaptability makes them the ideal family pet.
5. German Shepherd
German Shepherds are renowned for their intelligence, loyalty, and versatility, which makes them one of the best dog breeds easy to train. Excelling in roles such as police, military, and search and rescue service dogs, this breed thrives when given a job to do.
It’s this strong work ethic and their willingness to learn that makes them simple to train for almost any job. You should start training a German Shepherd pup from a very early age. Puppies are like sponges and take everything in — their cute head tilts are a joy to see as they keenly listen to every word.
The GSD has an inherent ability to rapidly pick up on commands and retain many commands for more specialized tasks. They always enjoy training, but the attention span of a pup can often be short, so train in short bursts. Although they make great family pets, with poor training, German Shepherds can develop bad habits.
6. Papillon
7. Bichon Frise
Small, fluffy white dogs, Bichons are friendly and affectionate. They’re also highly smart and trainable. Combined with their cheerful disposition this makes them great therapy dogs.
With a consistent training program and plenty of positive reinforcement, the Bichon Frise will quickly learn new tricks and enjoy performing for their loved ones. With an alert nature, the Bichon can make a great little watchdog, although they aren’t a fighter — to this breed, strangers are just other people or animals they haven’t become friends with yet.
As with all dogs, the Bichon needs early socialization, and puppy training classes are beneficial. And, while they enjoy a reputation for being difficult to housebreak, in every other aspect they can be easy to train. But, best of all, despite their fluffy appearance, the Bichon Frise is another hypoallergenic lap dog that doesn’t shed.
8. Doberman Pinscher
When you’re looking for easy to train guard dog breeds, one stands out from the rest, the formidable Doberman Pinscher. Sleek and powerful, they possess a magnificent physique, matched by their high intelligence levels, which makes them highly trainable.
Renowned for being one of the easiest dogs to train, Dobermans are often encountered being used for military and police work. Yet despite their reputation as a fearsome guard dog, the Doberman makes a great pet for families, even with kids.
Due to their size, consistent training from an early age is essential — ensuring your pooch understands basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “walk,” will make time with your Doberman walking on-leash more manageable. Known for being loyal, brave, and protective, the Doberman is a guardian for the whole family but also loves to cuddle on the couch when invited.
9. American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog, with their striking appearance and friendly demeanor, is often considered one of the most easily trainable dog breeds. In the days of traveling circuses and vaudeville shows, Eskies would be a mainstay of the highly entertaining trained dog acts.
With a keen intelligence and a natural inclination to please, these dogs exhibit a remarkable ability to grasp commands swiftly, making them a favorite among dog enthusiasts. The Eskie will often learn new tricks or tasks just by watching other dogs.
As well as their intelligence, American Eskimos possess a sociable nature that facilitates training and bonding interactions. The American Eskimo dog genuinely enjoys human companionship and will often develop problem behaviors if left unattended for too long. As with other pups, early socialization and training is essential if your Eskie is to grow up to be a well-behaved pooch.
10. Rottweiler
Many would argue the Rottweiler is a controversial choice as the easiest dog to own and train. This is a breed with — an undeserved — reputation as a vicious and unruly canine, not the obedient dog that’s easy to train. However, many Rottweilers have been poorly trained, and it’s probably fairer to say they’re a breed who are easy to mistrain.
Rotties are famously natural protectors, and when trained properly from an early age, can swiftly become a loving member of the family. While their energy levels aren’t off the scale — like the Border Collie — they are playful and won’t turn down the opportunity for walkies.
Calm, smart but also very strong, a Rottweiler’s training should focus on basic obedience commands and social skills. Rottweilers are people dogs and make great pets, but they also have to learn they aren’t the only animals in the world.
Conclusion
Bringing a new dog into your family can be quite an adventure, especially for those who have never owned a pet.
Easy To Train Dog Breeds FAQs
What Is the Hardest Dog Breed To Train?
It's hard to say which dogs are most difficult when it comes to training as every dog has their own personality and individuality. Although most dog trainers would agree that Afghan Hounds and Basenjis are two of the breeds known to be more stubborn and independent. Likewise, the general breed temperament of Terriers can also be pretty headstrong.
Which Dog Is Best for Beginners?
Breeds that are generally more laid back, like the Golden or Labrador Retriever tend to be easier to train, and are more well-suited for owners with little or no previous training experience.
If it’s your first-ever pup, you could consider a low-maintenance breed, such as the Papillon, as one of the easiest dogs to own and train — don’t run before you can walk!
Which Is the Fastest Learning Dog Breed?
The Border Collie is generally accepted to be the smartest of dog breeds. As herding dogs, they have an impressive rate of learning commands, both physical and auditory gestures. This enables them to be more responsive when herding sheep.
What Are the Most Trainable Dog Breeds?
Although you can teach any dog manners, working dogs tend to be better at being trained for certain tasks. For example, Labradors as guide dogs, sheep dogs as herding dogs, and Dobermans as guard dogs. However, the German Shepherd is considered a jack-of-all-trades and is prolific in many working environments as a service dog — including police work, search and rescue, and with the military.
What Is a Very Obedient Dog Breed?
With their inherent smart and obedient nature, many dog owners find Golden Retrievers to be one of the most easily trainable dog breeds, and a great well-behaved family pet. Closely related, the Labrador also makes for an obedient companion when training — a reward often goes a long way!