Easiest dogs to train, listed

Training is part of the fun when you become a pet parent, but it's okay if you'd like a dog that responds well to it.

Here, we list the ten easiest dogs to train, what makes them trainable and the qualities they all share.

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What makes a dog easy to train?

Easy-to-train dogs usually have a mix of intelligence, responsiveness to positive reinforcement training and eagerness to please.

Typically, they can quickly learn the relationship between commands, actions and rewards. Dogs more prone to boredom tend to respond best to training due to novelty.

Easiest dogs to train

Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds have the perfect mix of intelligence, eagerness to please and a working drive that makes training easy. They love learning new tricks, enjoy recall and respond very well to positive reinforcement training.

The main attribute that makes Australian Shepherds a joy to train is their natural working instincts: they stay on task and learn quickly. Like most high-energy breeds, they need a lot of physical and mental stimulation, but this translates to productive training sessions.

Border Collie

This placement is probably no shock to you given a Border Collie's ability to herd animals and work on farms, but they're one of the easiest dogs to train.

Given their intelligence and need for mental enrichment, they respond very well to positive reinforcement, and love learning games, tricks and new commands throughout their life.

Doberman Pinscher

As a very food-motivated breed with high intelligence, it's easy to set up productive positive reinforcement sessions with a Doberman Pinscher. Owners find they're an outgoing, eager breed that uses their working instincts to learn.

But be aware: this intelligence can sometimes show as stubbornness, so it isn't always plain sailing.

German Shepherd

German Shepherds are known for loyalty and ingenuity, but they're so easy to train thanks to their love of mental stimulation; training is a good way to improve your dog's mental enrichment.

Alongside their strong attitude towards training, German Shepherds have the intelligence to grasp complex commands and positive reinforcement.

Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are perhaps the easiest dogs to train full-stop. Their reputation for wanting to please their owners, their positive attitude and their high intelligence are the right mix for quick, responsive training.

Known as one of the best family dogs, Goldens have high adaptability and patience, meaning they quickly pick up new things.

Labrador Retriever

Similar to their Golden Retriever cousins, Labradors are eager to please, intelligent and genuinely enjoy training, making them one of the easiest dog breeds to train.

Thanks to their natural working instincts, high intelligence, food motivation and social nature, Labradors are always an ideal student.

Papillons

Papillons are probably one of the easiest small dogs to train and are known as one of the smartest dogs in the world. They match this intelligence with an eagerness to please and good patience. But like other smart pups, they can get stubborn at times.

The way to break this stubbornness is with varied positive reinforcement training, which is a good thing since you'll need to keep your keen-eyed Papillon mentally stimulated.

Poodle

Thanks to their intelligence, Poodles are very adaptable to training and respond well to positive reinforcement.

Remember: intelligence can be a double-edged sword, so don't expect the same training methods to work forever with Poodles - they'll respond well to training, but you will need to keep things varied.

Shetland Sheepdog

Like Australian Shepherds and Border Collies, the Sheltie's herding instincts mean they love training. Their working background makes them responsive to commands, and they thrive with difficult tasks like dog sports and advanced tricks.

It's the usual mix of traits that feature in the easiest-to-train dogs: intelligence, eagerness to please and a need for mental stimulation.

Welsh Corgi

The beloved Welsh Corgi is popular for lots of reasons: a chirpy personality, a cute demeanour and a sharp intelligence.

This intelligence makes them quick learners who are very responsive to commands, recall and tricks. They need a lot of mental stimulation, meaning they enjoy training and naturally respond well to positive reinforcement.

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