The most intelligent dogs are not necessarily the easiest to train. That’s because there is more to trainability than canine cleverness. A dog’s personality, genes, distractibility, and instinctual drives also influence his capacity to learn.
We have compiled a list of the dog breeds that are easiest to train.
1. Golden Retriever
Smart, eager to please, and versatile, he is hailed as one of the best dog breeds for families because of his friendly and sociable personality.
The Golden Retriever may act silly sometimes just to entertain his owners, but he is one of the most intelligent dog breeds. His versatility is such that he can work as a search-and-rescue canine, a guide dog, or a great companion dog.
2. German Shepherd Dog
Courage, loyalty, confidence, and keen intelligence make German Shepherds the canine assistant of choice in the police force and army. They can be also trained as personal protection dogs.
The German Shepherd is an adaptable canine companion and is suitable as a family dog. Despite his stern and imposing appearance, the German Shepherd is good with children.
You may also like: 5 Facts You Didn’t Know About the German Shepherd
3. Border Collie
Hailed as the smartest dog breed in Britain, the Border Collie can quickly learn new tricks and a variety of dog commands. He is also known for his complex agility skills.
As one of the most hardworking herding breeds, the Border Collie likes to be kept busy and has the athleticism to withstand the demands of driving livestock. However, he is also affectionate with his humans.
Due to his high energy and mental stimulation requirements, this breed is best suited to experienced dog owners.
4. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog breed in the UK for many years and with good reason.
Similar to the Golden Retriever, Labs are playful, energetic, happy, and gentle. When it comes to training, their eagerness to please their owners and love for food makes them highly trainable.
Labrador Retrievers have a high potential in dog sports as well as search and rescue. They can serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, sniffer dogs, guide dogs for the blind, and hunting dogs.
5. Australian Shepherd
Like the Border Collie, the Australian Shepherd is a herding dog (Pastoral Group), which is one of the easiest dogs to train. He can learn a wide array of skills quickly and loves to be busy working.
Australian Shepherds do well in dog sports and require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to be happy. However, they are also devoted and like to be in the company of their family.
Protective and eager to please their owners, these medium-size dogs are friendly with people they know and are good with children.
You may also like: Is an Australian Shepherd a Good Family Dog?
6. Poodle
The good-natured Poodle is remarkably easy to train as he is known to be the smartest dog breed in the world. He is even known to outsmart his owners. Considering he has been employed in circus work in the past, that is no surprise.
Dubbed “non-shedding dogs,” Poodles are not heavy shedders, making them good picks for people with dog allergies. Their friendly disposition allows them to thrive with children and other pets.
You may also like:
- Top 10 Most Popular Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
- Top Tips for Training a Toy Poodle
- Are Toy Poodles Good Family Dogs?
7. Rottweiler
Loving, loyal, and confident, the Rottweiler is protective of his family. He is known not to allow strangers in the home unless his owners welcome the visitors themselves. Socialising him at a young age is necessary so he stays vigilant but not indiscriminately aggressive.
With his imposing appearance, this breed makes a compelling watchdog when given consistent dog training. Like the German Shepherd, the Rottweiler is a working dog that does well as a service, police, therapy, or herding dog. His high energy and intelligence require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation.
You may also like: Are Rottweiler Dangerous?
8. Miniature Schnauzer
This terrier dog breed’s agility, energy, and intelligence are remarkable. His capacity for dog obedience makes him more trainable than other terrier breeds. He is also a good dog for families with older children since he is playful and eager to please his humans.
The Miniature Schnauzer tends to vocalise, but with early socialisation, regular exercise, and mental stimulation, his barking can be managed well.
9. Papillon
Do not let his small frame and pretty looks fool you—the Papillon is one smart cookie!
Friendly, alert, amusing, and a generally happy pooch, the Papillon gets his name from his butterfly-like ears. In French, the butterfly is called “papillon.” But unlike the butterfly, this small dog is not shy.
He is versatile, athletic, and capable of learning various tricks. He is known to do well at dog shows. Further, the Papillon is a fantastic companion dog and will follow his owners around.
FAQs About Easy-To-Train Dog Breeds
1. What Easy-To-Train Dog Breed Has the Highest IQ?
The Border Collie often ranks high on the list of dog breeds with the highest IQ. As mentioned above, Chaser the Border Collie impressively memorised 1,000 names of her stuffed animals.
Bred to be hardworking dogs, Border Collies have a strong drive to learn and perform tasks daily, hence the reason why they are known to be smart dogs.
2. What Easy-To-Train Dog Breed Requires the Least Maintenance?
Amongst the dog breeds on our list, the Rottweiler is the most trainable dog breed that requires the least maintenance.
As he is a short-coated canine, grooming him is not a time-consuming activity. Thus, you will have more time to spend time interacting and training him.
Just make sure to keep a handkerchief or towel with you always as Rotties tend to be droolers.
3. What Easy-To-Train Dog Breed Is the Friendliest?
One of the most trainable dog breeds with the friendliest personality is the Labrador Retriever. His close cousin, the Golden Retriever, fits the category as well. They are people-loving canine companions so, they get along well with most of the people they meet.
4. When Is the Best Time to Train a Dog?
Although you can start training puppies when they are about ten weeks old, the duration should be short. The sessions should also be based on their ability to concentrate.
Usually, dogs are easier to train once they are adults. This is especially true if they have undergone basic training early in their life.
Always base your training programme according to the dog’s health and breed. You should know as much as you can about your pet’s breed so you can avoid falling into training pitfalls.
Conclusion
Easily trained dog breeds come in a variety of sizes, personalities, and needs. If one of the pooches in our list caught your eye, do your research first before deciding to bring one home as a canine companion.
Remember to follow positive reinforcement methods and rewards-based training techniques when training your new dog.
