One of the many questions new owners have before getting a puppy is how easy is to train the dog. For new owners, and sometimes, even experienced ones, training can be hard.
Not all dogs pick up commands easily.
Some are more stubborn and are not eager to follow your lead. These easiest dogs to train are highly recommended for people who are new in the canine world.
The list of easiest dogs to train can be lengthy, but we want to keep it short. There are a lot of smart dogs, but dog intelligence is different than humans.
Some dogs, which are highly intelligent, can be also stubborn and will use their wit and intelligence to play with you.
With that in mind, here is a list of 10 dogs that are easy to train.
What makes a dog easy to train?
Intelligence is only one factor that contributes to how easy is to train a dog. There are other factors as well.
Here is a quick breakdown.
- Age – puppies between 10 and 12 weeks are harder to train, as they are still learning the world around them
- Length of obedience training sessions – keep it short, as puppies learn easily when the training session is short and detailed, rather than a long session. Keep in mind, puppies have a short attention span
- Dog’s physical and mental health can affect how easy are they to train. A dog that is hurt, scared, under stress, or anything similar, can be more challenging to train
With that in mind, even if you take all these factors into consideration, here are the 10 dog breeds easily to train.
10 Easiest Dogs To Train
Poodle
On the list of most intelligent dog breeds, the Poodle ranks second. Only the Border Collie is more intelligent.
The highly intelligent Poodle comes in three different sizes. But no matter the size, they all learn easily and quickly.
Most people think of the Poodle as a “girly-girl” dog. But despite their refined look, these dogs are highly intelligent. Fun fact: the Poodle is actually a hunting dog and a water retriever.
Do not be fooled by her fancy hairdo, the Poodle is easy to train. And even better, they aim to please their owners.
However, if you are arrogant, they will ignore you. Remember, you are dealing with a highly intelligent dog.
Border Collie
Speaking of the most intelligent dog breed, the Border Collie is another breed that can be trained easily.
Some dog experts and trainers will tell you that the Border Collie can learn more than 100 commands. And even that is an understatement of the intelligence of this dog breed.
Originally a herding dog, the Border Collie easily learns and adapts to any situation. The only downside is that because the Border is very smart, he requires constant mental stimulation.
You have to keep his mind sharp by dog training. You might find yourself learning more as you try and find new tricks and commands for your puppy. Agility training and dog sport training will help as well.
Combine their willingness to work and high intelligence, and you get probably the easiest dog to train.
Golden Retriever
If there is one dog that is absolutely eager to please his master, that is the Golden Retriever. Voted as one of the most popular dog breeds by the American Kennel Club for several years in a row, the Golden Retriever is a puppy that can learn absolutely anything.
Fetch and similar games are tailor-made for retrievers, as it is their natural instinct to bring back things to their owner. They love food, so positive reinforcement and some dog treats can make it the easiest breed for training.
Smart, friendly, kind, and trainable, what more can you ask for in a dog?
German shepherd
Many movies have praised the German shepherd as a perfect police dog. In reality, the German shepherd is exactly that. Not only they are loyal, but they are also very easy to train and listen to their masters no matter what.
Tell a German shepherd to jump off a bridge, and he will listen to you if you are his master.
That is how obedient they are. As a workaholic dog, the German shepherd requires a lot of exercises and mental stimulation. But if you are willing to train him, he will love to learn. Match made in heaven.
Labrador Retriever
The Lab is very similar to the Golden Retriever, in a way both love to please their owner. There are small differences between these two, and that includes their coat and some behaviors. But in general, both dogs are highly intelligent.
There is a reason why they are at the top of the most popular dog breeds.
The Labrador is a sweet, and fun-loving dog that loves spending time with his family and owner. He wants nothing more than to keep you happy, and that includes the following commands and performing tricks.
Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is very similar to the Border Collie. Both are herding group dogs, and both are highly intelligent.
The Aussie can learn a wide variety of tricks, and he is a great breed for active owners. You can teach the Aussie every trick you like, and he will pick things up rather quickly.
Everything that is good about the Aussie, is also bad about the breed. In other words, because he is intelligent and active, he requires plenty of time to play and learn. If not, the Aussie can become destructive.
The Aussie is very affectionate with people he knows, but not much around strangers. Be careful, like other herding dogs, he has a high prey drive and can chase little animals, and even cars if not controlled.
Papillon
When it comes to toy breeds, they are usually difficult to work with. Toy breeds are usually stubborn, and not willing to learn. But the Papillon is an exception.
Think of this breed as a hidden gem among toy dog breeds. Eager to please, the Papillon is small but very active. He enjoys learning new behaviors and can do well in dog sports.
Known also like the Continental Toy Spaniel, the Papillon is one of the oldest spaniel type dogs.
Their characteristic butterfly-like look makes them even more unique. When they are young, they are quite inquisitive and require a lot of active play time.
Doberman pinscher
When you look at the Doberman, you can feel scared. Their looks are scary, which is a reason why some people avoid this breed. But do not let the looks fool you.
The Doberman is a highly loving and affectionate puppy. They are loyal to their owner and very intelligent.
You might not know it, but the Doberman is at the top of the obedience class. You will have a hard time finding a puppy that is easier to train.
Rottweiler
Another scary dog on the list of easiest dogs to train, the Rottweiler is actually a highly energetic guard dog. As a working dog breed, he requires a lot of work. Back in the days, the Rottweiler was used for pulling cargo.
Nowadays, they are more of a family dog pet. You will be surprised, but the Rottweiler is amazing with children, allowing them to do whatever they like. But you have to train the Rottweiler from an early age, as he can be stubborn and own-minded.
If you start the dog training session early on, you will get a fantastic dog for your family.
Corgi
No matter if you go for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi or the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, you get a highly intelligent dog. The latter is the more popular breed, but both are active breeds that require a lot of work.
They can be stubborn and strong-willed, but that is all because of their intelligence. If you are willing to work with the Corgi, you will get one of the smartest dog breeds.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi requires a job and enjoys learning new behaviors. But if you do not work with them, they can be very independent. If you instill house manners and be persistent in the training, the Corgi will pick up basic obedience training tricks in a breeze.
2 Responses
I love German shepherd.. Have one name Lance
Thoroughly enjoyed reading about these intelligent breeds.Ive owned two of these breeds, the Corgi and the Papillon. They’ve
Given me so much joy and love that one cannot imagine. They’ve owned me.
My Corgis and the Papillon understand commands both in English and in Spanish.
They’ve been the loves of my life.