10 Top Trainable Dog Breeds
What classifies a dog breed as
trainable? It all depends on what you want to teach him to do. If you want a
dog that follows a cold trail to find a lost child, then a Bloodhound is your
ideal dog. However, he doesn't want to herd sheep or jump through hoops. The
main difference between a smart dog and a trainable dog is that it wants to
please you. A smart dog simply doesn't care much.
Physical agility is also part of the mix. Even if a bulldog is an intellectual
giant at herding and can map out in his head exactly what moves are best, he
can't really get the job done. The following list features dogs that have
proven capable of performing a variety of tasks.
#1: German Shepherd Dog
This extraordinary dog is number one on our list. While perhaps lacking the sheer brilliance and problem-solving ability of the Border Collie or cleverness of the Poodle, the German Shepherd Dog has no peer in versatility. No other breed is a herding dog, drug dog, attack dog, guide dog for the blind, and movie star. Where is the Poodle or Border Collie equivalent of Rin Tin Tin? You don't see Poodles herding sheep or Border Collies guarding military installations. The German Shepherd is a shining star, combining steadiness of temper, firmness of purpose, and unswerving loyalty.
#2: Poodle
While Poodles seem to hide their brains behind a mass of curls, this charming overachiever regularly walks off with ribbons in agility and obedience. (The Border Collie can't match him in obedience, and the Golden Retriever falls way behind in agility.) In addition, he's a true family dog who is at home wherever he goes. Poodles may not be renowned for chasing bad guys or running after sheep, but he's very much at home right by your side.
#3: Border Collie
No list of hotshot dogs can omit the Border Collie. It takes a massive amount of intelligence and training, as well as incredible agility, to herd sheep, and the Border is the world's premier sheepdog. Now that shepherds are in rather short supply, the Border Collie has turned his eye toward excelling at agility, obedience, and other all-around smart cookie activities.
#4: Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinschers were first developed as protection for tax collectors, and they retain their protective instincts and intuitive sense about who is a friend and who is not. This is a serious yet sensitive and intelligent dog who wants to please his owner. That makes them very trainable.
#5: Labrador Retriever
America's favorite breed is understandably one of the most trainable. Adept at obedience and anything to do with water, this friendly family member really excels at his ancestral duty: retrieving ducks. Retrieving is a complex job (it's more than fetch) that requires many weeks of training before a dog can even begin. At breed field trials the world over, it's the Labrador who comes away with the top scores.
#6: Golden Retriever
The charming Golden is another retriever, and we've ranked him just below the Labrador. Although he's better at pure obedience work, the Golden lags a bit in real world field trialing and hunting events. But for everyday smarts and excellent social skills, we'd put the Golden on top.
#7: Papillon
This most brilliant of the toy dogs is superb at agility, general tricks, obedience, and all-around good social behaviors. He is also especially adept at training his owners. The Papillon is the perfect breed for people who are looking for a smart, easily trained dog in a small package.
#8: Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is another one of the German I-Can-Do-Anything-You-Need-Just-Ask! breeds. Perhaps less sensitive and more stolid than the Doberman Pinscher, the Rottweiler nonetheless has an additional skill: herding. This is such a powerful dog that he needs to be highly trainable, and he is.
#9: Shetland Sheepdog
All sheepdogs are smart and highly trainable. But Shelties seem more attached to their owners than to their jobs, and that gives them a big edge over most other herding breeds. Eager to please, the Sheltie can happily handle any job you give him.
#10: Australian Shepherd
Another herding breed rounds out our top ten. This shouldn't be surprising since herding requires a large number of problem-solving skills combined with the ability to listen to and obey the handler. Aussies consistently win at high levels in obedience, agility, and all kinds of games.
More Easily Trained Breeds: Australian Cattle Dog, Belgian Malinois, Border Terrier, Collie,
Flat-Coated Retriever, and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
Don't Hold Your Breath: These dogs are not unintelligent! They are simply independent breeds that were bred to form their own judgment over yours. The following are some dogs who are rather resistant to traditional training. In fact, you may have to get downright creative with them. And bring food. Affenpinscher, Afghan Hound, American Foxhound, Basenji, Basset Hound, Beagle, Black and Tan Coonhound, Bloodhound, Borzoi, Bulldog, Chow Chow, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, and Pekingese.
