10 Most Trainable Dog Breeds

2021-04-14T03:27:14+01:00

We humans tend to correlate trainability in dogs with intelligence. And while that is one factor, there are other things that affect whether your dog is going to listen to you or not, such as what the breed was developed for, the training methods you are using, and what you are asking your dog to.

All dogs are individuals, of course, so this list is a broad generalization of which breeds are usually fairly easy to train basic obedience and house manners. If you’re looking for a breed that’s easy to train for advanced and competition obedience, these might work for you also!
The following 10 breeds are generally thought of as being “highly trainable” when looking at all these factors. However, that does not mean they are easy to train. They still require work, patience, and intelligence on the human end of the leash.

№1 Poodle

All varieties of Poodle – Standard, Miniature and Toy – are incredibly intelligent dogs that are eager to please and pick up training very quickly. Don’t be fooled by their fancy hairdos, as the breed is eve-tempered, fairly easy to maintain and a lot of fun to train.

№2 Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers aren’t the smartest dogs, but they are dedicated to their owners and very eager to please. Because of this, they are one of the most easily trained dogs because they are forgiving of their owner’s mistakes (think inconsistency) and enjoy learning new behaviors.

№3 Labrador Retriever

America’s favorite dog, the Labrador Retriever certainly offers potential dog owners a lot to think about. They are sweet, fun-loving dogs that are easy to train and want nothing more than to keep their owner’s happy.

№4 Collie

Both the Smooth and Rough Collies are large herding dogs that were bred to be independent workers yet sensitive to their owner’s needs. They are intelligent dogs that are easy to train as they are not so energetic that the average owner will not have trouble keeping up.

№5 German Shepherd

The German Shepherd Dog is considered to be the Jack-of-all-trades in the dog world and their intelligence and easiness to train certainly helps them get there. This breed does need a job to stay happy but enjoys training and can succeed in a variety of dog sports.

№6 Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog appears to be a smaller version of the Rough Collie, but they are slightly more active and do well in various dog sports. They are intelligent and eager to please, making them easy to train.

№7 Swedish Vallhund

Similar to the Corgis, Swedish Vallhunds are a dwarfed herding breed that were bred to work independently but pay attention to their owner’s desires. They are active and intelligent dogs that need a consistent owner but are relatively easy to train.

№8 Border Terrier

The Border Terrier is a terrier and therefore has some stubbornness to its personality, but they are sweet and affectionate dogs that are relatively eager to please. Because of their desire to work, they are easy to train and do very well.

№9 Pumi

The Pumi is a Hungarian herding dog that is intelligent and active. The breed needs a job, but their desire to work make them fairly easy to train. They are affectionate dogs that do well in many different dog sports.

№10 Doberman Pinscher

An intense breed, the Doberman is known for his “ability to absorb and retain training,” which is one of the reasons he is popular for war and police work. But this also means he needs to be socialized and trained right from the beginning in order for him to be an appropriate citizen.