Which are the Easiest Dogs to Train?
Does the idea of dog training feel daunting? We get it!
Dealing with an untrained dog when you lack the experience, time, or energy is enough to make you second guess being a dog parent. While we believe all dogs are excellent choices, an easy-to-train dog would be the perfect choice, in your case. But which are the easiest dogs to train?
We have your answer right here - and more! Not only will we tell you which dogs are the easiest, but we’ll also help you understand why, and what matters when selecting one.
Find the best dog to turn training sessions into an enjoyable experience, not a dreaded chore!
Top 10 Easiest Dogs to Train
In no particular order, here is our top selection of highly trainable dogs:
1. Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are known for being the best family pet thanks to their gentle temperament, and friendly, affectionate, and patient nature. Although they are intelligent, they’re also extremely obedient and eager to please, hence the easiest to train.
A golden retriever will also do anything for a good treat. So ensure you include lots of treats along with physical exercises and mental stimulation in training to keep them excited.
3. Labrador Retriever
Labrador retrievers are a lot like golden retrievers. They are friendly and affectionate and also make excellent family pets. Like Goldie's, labs are also easy to train because of their loyal and obedient nature. Since they’re also food-motivated, they’ll need the same training requirements as the Goldie.
3. Poodle
There’s a lot to love about poodles, from the hypoallergenic fur to being highly intelligent. You’ll find many of them in dog sports like agility and obedience trials. Poodles love to learn new tricks or commands just to impress you. So training will be a breeze as long as you keep things fun and challenging to keep them stimulated.
4. Bichon Frisé
This happy and cheerful breed is generally super easy to work with. Their intelligence and agreeability make it easier for them to receive commands and learn faster. Just use a lot of positive reinforcement because a Bichon Frisé thrives in an attentive and loving environment!
5. Papillon
Named after their butterfly-like ears, these adorable pups are known to be smart, friendly, energetic, alert, and curious. This makes them more receptive to training, unlike other small dog breeds.
Papillons also thrive from getting attention, so use a lot of praise along with treats for positive reinforcement. Plus, they only need moderate grooming and exercise, so they’re low maintenance, perfect for a first-time pet owner.
6. Shetland Sheepdog
Originally bred for herding purposes, Shelties are quite intelligent and maintain their attentiveness and obedient nature. They pick up on various commands very quickly, so training them is easy, especially in agility and obedience training. Just ensure they exercise regularly to get rid of excess energy so they’re more attentive during training.
7. Australian Shepherd
This is another group of herding dogs. But unlike their counterpart - the Australian cattle dog - this breed was mainly bred for herding sheep, hence the name. Still, like Shelties, they’re intelligent and obedient but also have high energy.
They’ll need regular exercise and thrive in mentally stimulating activities. For faster learning, though, ensure you use clear commands and stick to a consistent training routine.
8. Border Collie
Also dubbed workaholics by some, Border Collies are extremely intelligent and driven. They feel accomplished from having a task to accomplish. So, it’s no surprise why they’re considered the easiest dog breeds to train.
But because of their high intelligence, you need to keep them engaged through mental stimulation to avoid boredom. Otherwise, they would make a great addition to your family.
9. German Shepherd
Aside from their smarts, German Shepherds also stand out for their innate sense of loyalty and obedience. They’re very disciplined dogs by nature and are quick to follow commands, especially once they’ve bonded with you. It’s no wonder the police and army mainly use them in the K-9 teams.
But proper socialization is important from an early age, otherwise this protective dog can be very distrusting and aggressive towards strangers.
10. Doberman Pinscher
This is another breed of extremely smart, loyal, protective but obedient dogs. They were originally trained as guard dogs, so they are very quick to understand and execute a command. Like the German Shepherd, praise, treats, and consistent commands work best with a Doberman Pinscher. Properly socializing them is equally important to ensure they’re well-behaved even with others.
Does Breed Matter When Choosing the Easiest Dogs to Train?
Yes, it does, to a certain extent. You should be more focused on the dog's individual temperament.
For example, Border Collies are widely recognized as incredibly intelligent and energetic. However, the level of intelligence and energy may vary from one Border Collie to the next. But even with that said, certain dog breeds are generally known to have specific temperaments.
According to the American Kennel Club, the differences in breed characteristics we see among various dog breeds, including trainability, are a result of years of selective breeding for a specific purpose.
For example, herding breeds, like sheepdogs, were originally bred to help herd livestock. They had to pay attention to their handler’s directions to herd properly. Even now we still see this trait of attentiveness to human command in many herding dogs.
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All in all, even though there is no full guarantee of how your dog, in particular, may behave, it’s worth giving the breed type a thought. Each breed has distinct instincts, behavior traits, and genetic heritage that can affect trainability. A 2022 study even found that although dog breed wasn’t the best predictor of individual dog behavior, how well dogs responded to human command was the most inheritable trait by breed.
So, consider how certain breeds tend to behave or respond, especially when interacting with humans. It will give you a better idea of how easy or successful dog training will be.
What Other Factors Affect How Easy a Dog is to Train?
Dog breeds aside, there are other factors also worth considering that could affect how easily trainable a dog is, including:
Distractibility
If a dog is easily distracted, it’ll be hard to give them a command. Sight hounds, for example, are easily distracted by what they see. So, it’ll be harder to keep them interested in training. That’s why dogs with higher focus levels, like German Shepherds, are recommended if you want an easier training session.
They have a longer concentration span and won’t miss the commands you give them. Although, as a general rule, when training any dog, we recommend starting from a quiet place with no distractions.
Age
Older dogs have a longer attention span, so you may think they’re easier to train. However, training an adult dog is harder. You have to break their old habits to replace them with your new desired behavior. Hence, the saying ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’.
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Puppies, on the other hand, especially at the young age of initial socializing, present an easier training challenge in this regard. Because they’re like a blank canvas, younger dogs will be more receptive to learning and retaining what you teach them.
Energy Level
Highly energetic dogs may perform well in agility training, which normally requires a lot of energy. However, their hyperactive nature makes them impatient, and they’ll often miss commands. You may need to do a lot of obedience training to get them to focus and follow commands. Not to mention, they’ll be a handful for you if you’re a first-time pet owner.
On the other hand, dogs with low energy levels lack motivation and are slower to respond to commands. They also get tired pretty fast, so you have to be careful not to overwork them. This could also mean longer training time.
In the book, “Why Does My Dog Act That Way?” written by Dr. Stanley Coren, he interviewed numerous dog experts and looked at over 100 dog breeds. Part of his findings was that for an easy-to-train dog, you need one with a medium-to-high energy level. Such dogs have enough energy to be motivated to train but still be able to focus on commands.
Intelligence Level and Personality
Intelligent dogs often have better problem-solving skills and are quick learners, so training them may not be such a hassle. But the emphasis - may not be. Some intelligent dogs are also free thinkers. Hounds, for example, can be intelligent but also stubborn and easily distracted.
So, aside from intelligence, you also need a dog that’s even-tempered, easygoing, and eager to please. Such dogs are usually more cooperative and receptive to training, especially if you’re training them for various dog sports or other tricks. Great examples are a Labrador retriever or even some small dogs like a Shih Tzus.
Mental Health
Training an anxious or traumatized dog can be difficult and will require more patience, love, and possibly more training experience on your part. Otherwise, you may end up negatively impacting the dog through training and aggravating the problem. This can be a daunting task, especially as a first-time dog owner, or if you have a busy schedule. So, ensure you have a vet confirm that your dog is in a good mental state, especially for rescue dogs.
Tips To Help Make Training Even Easier!
Picking from trainable breeds is not the only answer to easy dog training. You also have to do your part as your dog’s handler. So, here are a few tips you can implement to ensure the training sessions are easier and more enjoyable for both you and your furry friend:
A happy dog is more cooperative and will give a more positive response to commands. You should also be happy and relaxed during training, since your dog can pick up on how you feel and that might affect them as well.
Starting with obedience training will teach your dog basic commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘come’, and so on. This foundation will make it much easier to teach them more complex desired behaviors.
Also, check out our insightful guide on mastering the correct dog training hand signals to go with those basic commands.
From leashes to clickers, having the right tools can help make training a lot easier. The tools you need will depend on the type of training you’re doing.
Our Comfort Control No-Pull Dog Harness Set, for example, comes complete with a harness, leash, and poop bag - perfect for successful leash training.
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Dogs love rewards! Using the right reward - treats, toys, or praise - will motivate your dog to repeat a desired behavior. Do it as soon as they’ve done a desired action, so they quickly learn to associate the behavior with something positive.
A structured routine and consistent training methods will limit confusion and help your dog learn commands faster and adapt to desired behaviors quicker.
If you try to teach your dog too much too fast, it will lose interest and become frustrated. Keep the sessions short and break them up regularly with playtime to keep them fun and positive.
Effortless Training is More Than Having the Right Dog
Even with the smartest, most eager-to-please dog, as dog owners, we still need to consider what we bring to the table. Easy-to-train dogs are indeed a lot easier to handle unlike other dogs, but they still need direction and training.
You should still put in time and effort to build that special bond with your pup. Showing your fur baby love and patience is the key ingredient to successful and easy training.
At Spark Paws, we have everything you need to make life with your dog fun and easier, from comfortable leash sets to cute matching hoodies. Step up your training game, by shopping our collections today! Turn every training session, playtime, and cuddle into effortless joy!