10 OF THE EASIEST DOG BREEDS TO TRAIN

Whether you’re considering getting a friendly family dog, a high-drive working dog for your farm or ranch, or a sensitive and attentive service dog, all these canine pals have one thing in common: they require training and discipline in addition to oodles and oodles of love.

An untrained dog can lead to destruction of property, a poor quality of life for the animal, and they may even act out towards humans in a way that results in injury—whether intentional or not. As such, there is nothing more important when you take on the task of dog ownership than putting in the time to connect with and guide your dog towards desirable behaviors.

But if you’re shopping breeds, what are the easiest dogs to train? From gentle giants like Irish Wolfhounds to lively miniature Poodles, we’ve gathered together everything you need to know about picking the right dog for your circumstances!

Can I Train a Dog Without Hiring a Trainer?

Especially for first-time dog owners, the idea of taking a curious and energetic puppy and teaching it to “sit” and “lie down” let alone tackling potty training can feel daunting. This can cause a dip in confidence for some dog owners, leading them to wonder if they can even train their dog without hiring a professional trainer.

However, the success you will have with training your dog can come down to a few key factors: the number of hours you are able to devote to consistent training with your dog each week, giving them consistent, reliable signals and reinforcement, and setting them up for success in learning each new command by breaking the motions down into bite-sized pieces. If you are able to do these things, you may be surprised at how quickly Fido can pick up new tricks!

The American Kennel Club has some advice when it comes time to train dog and puppy companions. Keep in mind that your puppy is a baby, with a developing brain. It may take them some repetition to understand a command, but they are in a constant state of learning—both about who you are and how to fit in with your pack, but what the “rules” are.

One of the best things you can do for your pup is not only to call them out on bad behavior and give them clear signals that it is undesirable, but to keep a watchful eye out when they do good things too, such as settling on their bed during dinner time, waiting patiently until you release them from a sit, etc. Dogs thrive off our praise, and most breeds will happily learn new things if it means pleasing their owner.

If you feel you have a special case or a hard time connecting or communicating with your dog, another great option is to call a trainer—specifically if you have a demanding career and aren’t able to dedicate as much time as you would like in your time off to your pooch. A dog is a significant investment—but you will always get out what you put in. 

What Is a “Working Dog”?

You may have heard of a working dog and wondered if that was the type of dog corporate employees bring to their 9-5 desk jobs. However, this is usually not at all the case. Working dogs are breeds that have been genetically bred to specialize in a particular task, temperament, or skillset that makes them uniquely excellent pairs for certain families or individuals.

An example of this might be a single woman who lives alone and wants a guard dog to protect her in the event of a break-in. Another example might be a sheep farmer using—much like a human employee—a herding dog to round up his sheep. 

You can think of working dogs as the “special forces” or “first responders” of canines. While common breeds that come to mind when we envision working dogs include hunting dogs like retrievers or hounds, Great Pyrenees for protecting flocks of grazing animals, and German Shepherds, Cane Corsos, or Dobermans for guarding the household, even mixed breed dogs can become excellent working dogs if they are well trained and conditions are right. Some of the post popular applications of working dogs include:

1. Farm and ranching activity
2. Policework
3. Search and rescue
4. Therapy or emotional support animals
5. Service dogs
6. Military scouts
7. Or tracking dogs, used to uncover everything from drugs, human bodies, or explosives—and some even claim that these extra sensitive dogs can detect cancer and other illnesses well before their owner is aware of a problem!

Top 10 Easiest Dog Breeds to Train

There is a well-known saying that happiness is a well-trained dog. Whether or not you agree, there is a certain joy that comes from connecting deeply with an animal, gaining their trust, and them winning yours as well by understanding the boundaries of your house and when a little mischief is warranted.

Deciding what dog breed to go with for your needs can seem overwhelming with so many different options—but in this section, we will tackle the top 10 easiest dog breeds to train!

1. German Shepherd Dog: While German Shepherds can sometimes come across as a little high strung, this is due to their highly sensitive, high-drive nature that has landed them a spot working alongside modern law enforcement. Beyond their instincts for following commands and protecting their people, they are loving and loyal companions—and generally a great addition for a capable owner willing to get them the exercise and stimulation they need. 
2. Border Collies: While this breed is very intelligent, work-oriented, and quite keen to take on new endeavors, they are not for everyone—this breed needs places to run, “jobs” to do every day, and plenty of mental stimulation. With proper training from a young age, this high-energy dog can become great family members.They are not ideal for a one-bedroom apartment lifestyle. 
3. Poodles and Poodle mixes: One of the most emotionally intelligent dogs today known for their “freakish human eyes,” Poodles are extremely tuned in to their owner’s wishes and tend to be easy to please. They are also quite intelligent which makes them both markedly obedient…but also sometimes very good at getting away with mischief. Particularly Goldendoodles tend to make great family dogs—and they are also low-shed and low-allergen. 
4. Labrador Retriever: This classic pup has a long history of serving hunters in all manner of sport. Known for their happy-go-lucky disposition as well as a genuine desire to please, Labs are extremely social animals that crave positive reinforcement from their owner. This makes training them quite easy, and they make fantastic family or hunting companions. 
5. Golden Retrievers: It’s easy to look at a Golden Retriever and think there’s not much going on between their ears—but they are actually incredibly smart dogs that are loyal, family-oriented, and good natured. Goldens are emotionally intelligent and can make very loving and loyal companions as well. 
6. Doberman Pinschers: An indisputably beautiful (and some might say intimidating-looking) breed, Dobermans make for loyal, obedient companions that are willing to protect their owners. This makes them trainable dogs, fast learners and a great addition to any home’s security plan. 
7. Shetland Sheepdog: Known for their ability to participate in agility and other canine competitions, Shelties are easy to teach and generally eager to please their owners. They tend to make well-behaved companions for folks of all ages, including families. 
8. Pembroke Welsh Corgis: A playful and energetic dog, corgis were bred initially as a herding dog, but they make driven and loyal-yet-independent additions to any family. They are great learners and love to succeed at new tricks. 
9. Australian Cattle Dog: Highly sensitive to movement and the emotions of others, these dogs were originally bred to herd animals. Gaining their trust and helping them to feel safe with you can take some time in the beginning—but once they trust their owners, they make wonderful, smart, and trainable companions.
10. Miniature Schnauzer: Schnauzers might win the award for “biggest personality.” Feisty and sassy yet wonderful family companions, hopelessly lovey snugglers, rat and rabbit hunters, and protectors, this stylish breed can be a good choice for any household—provided they have space to roam, sniff, and maybe dig the occasional hole. 

Of course, there are a slew of other emotionally tuned-in, intelligent breeds out there—so if you’ve got your heart set on a Papillon, you are likely going to have a relatively easy time training this type of pup too. If you have any further questions about the easiest dogs to train, consult with the American Kennel Club.

If you’re looking to avoid an ongoing battle for training and establishing the status quo with your dog, you may want to avoid breeds like Rottweilers, Basset Hounds, Chow Chows, Bulldogs, Bullmastiffs, Siberian Huskies, American Pit Bull Terriers, and a few others. 

What Dog Breeds Make the Best Service Dogs?

As the name implies, a “service dog” provides some form of assistance with Activities of Daily Living for their owner—whether that’s leading the blind, aiding in mobility or fetching items, or even being tuned in to incoming seizures, allergens, or other health issues. Their primary role is to serve people with physical disabilities—unlike therapy or emotional support dogs, which provide a supporting role for those on a mental health journey. 

Generally speaking, the smartest dog breeds make the best service dogs—though those that are quick learners, up on their obedience training, and are patient and emotionally attentive guide dogs make the best matches for patients who rely on their help.

Some of the best breeds for service dogs include a lot of the breeds mentioned above—as their high intelligence tends to make obedience training a breeze. However, other breeds we might not have mentioned include the Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Danes, American Staffordshire Terriers, and even Pomeranians, believe it or not!

Clearly, larger dogs do not always make the best furry friend for a differently abled person; small breeds can be an excellent choice as well, depending on your needs. 

Perhaps the most popular of all the service dog breeds include German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers—although in theory, any emotionally intelligent working dogs trained through positive reinforcement can be great guide dogs or rescue dogs.

Well-Trained Dogs Make Great Family Dogs

Is there any greater joy than being a pet owner? It is hard to imagine anything as challenging, maddening, nourishing, rewarding, or touching than putting in the time to connect with your canine companion—perhaps just short of parenthood.

Dogs can be so much more than family entertainment however—they can be soul-mate level companions, spiritual teachers, valued assistants in practical everyday activities, and an emotionally supportive friend we can rely on when mental health threatens to get the better of us.

Regardless of what breed you choose—from a purebred Golden Retriever to a rescue a host of rescue dogs, investing the time to positively reinforce loving boundaries and expectations can result in once-in-a-lifetime great pets.