by Timmy Duncan

Created on: July 21, 2010

Many people engaging in the search for the perfect dog want to know which breeds are the easiest to train. The good news is that any dog can be trained given the right approach and a little bit of patience. And while some dogs may be a little easier to train than others, most dogs will do just about anything for a good treat and some praise.

Dogs who aim to please are usually the easiest to train. Dogs like Newfoundlands and Golden Retrievers fall into this category. They love their owners and live to make them happy. Similarly, highly intelligent breeds like the German Shepherd and the Poodle are extremely trainable due to their intelligence. Breeds like this need training for intellectual stimulation or they may become bored and potentially destructive.

If you know you want one of the specific breeds with a reputation for being easy to train, like the German Shepherd or the Poodle, you may want to do some research to make sure that your lifestyle and your activity level is a good fit for the breed. Once you decide on a breed you can contact the breed clubs both regionally and nationally and look for information about approved breeders or rescue efforts that you can become involved in.

Also keep in mind that well trained, smart dogs sometimes wind up in shelters through no fault of their own. Maybe their owners were unable to keep them due to a move or a new addition. Shelter dogs are not necessarily badly behaved dogs – they are just dogs who wound up without loving homes for one reason or another.

If you are specifically looking for a dog that will be easy to train, give your local shelter or Humane Society a call. Workers and volunteers usually do a pretty thorough intake on new dogs and will usually have a good sense of the dogs skill level and basic intelligence. A shelter dog may be just the diamond in the rough you are looking for – and shelter dogs seem to somehow “know” that you did them a favor.

Regardless of where you get your new addition, even the most trainable dog won’t train itself. You have to be ready and willing to do the work with your dog to make them the best dog they can be. You should plan to practice with your dog at least once a day even after they get the hang of things.  

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