Most people looking for a dog want a breed that’s easy to live with. Easily trained breeds typically fall under this description. While all dogs can be trained, there are some that are easier than others. 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 for advanced and competition obedience, these are some of the easiest dog breeds to train! If not, you’ll have a well-behaved dog that probably knows a fancy trick or two!
We’ve omitted some of the most common competition breeds such as the Border Collie and Belgian Malinois. Because these dogs are primarily bred for work, they’re “easy” to train for the experienced trainer, but are usually far too much dog for the novice owner.
#1 – Poodle
All varieties of Poodle – Standard, Miniature and Toy – are incredibly intelligent dogs that are some of the easiest dog breeds to train. Don’t be fooled by their fancy hairdos, as the breed is even-tempered, fairly easy to maintain, and a lot of fun to train.
#2 – Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are dedicated and very eager to please. They are one of the easiest dog breeds to train because they are forgiving of 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 Dog
People consider the German Shepherd Dog the Jack-of-all-trades in the dog world. 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 – Papillon
Most toy breeds are stubborn and difficult to work with, but the Papillon is a hidden gem in the group. These dogs are very intelligent, eager to please and active dogs that enjoy learning new behaviors and do very well in various dog sports.
#7 – Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The older and larger of the Corgis, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a strong-willed, independent herding dog but is intelligent and sensitive to their owners. They need a job and enjoy learning new behaviors, so basic obedience and house manners should be a breeze.
#8 – Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is the more popular of the Corgis. He is an active, stubborn dog that needs a consistent owner to instill house manners. That said, they are sensitive to their owners and enjoy having a job and learning new tricks.
#9 – Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog appears to be a smaller version of the Rough Collie. However, they are slightly more active and do well in various dog sports. They are intelligent and eager to please, making them easy to train.
#10 – Swedish Vallhund
Similar to the Corgis, Swedish Vallhunds are a dwarfed herding breed. They 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.
#11 – 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.
#12 – 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 one of the easiest dog breeds to train. They are affectionate dogs that do well in many different dog sports. Photo Credit: Schenda via Wikimedia Commons
Looking for a real training challenge? Check out this list of 10 Of The Least Obedient Dog Breeds!
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