The old saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks doesn’t apply to these seven dog breeds. Instead, each dog highlighted below is noted for its intelligence and accompanying ease of trainability. So what are the seven easiest dogs to train?
A dog’s intelligence is at least 50% attributable to both environmental factors and breeding. Some of the most trainable dogs include Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, Poodles, and Shiba Inu. Proper training will require finding what incentives and techniques work best for your pup.
There is much more to know about these breeds than what was touched on above. Without adequately understanding each dog’s pros and cons, one can get an easy-to-train dog that still doesn’t manage to match up with their family’s needs. This is easy enough to avoid.
Australian Shepherds
Our first dog is one of the most intelligent breeds around. Few would stand up to the Australian Shepherd in terms of trainability. These dogs were prized as working herders for years before becoming famous as humble family pets. However, the desire to herd is so strong that one Australian Shepherd lost in a car accident was found happily herding sheep.
Thanks to their desire to work, these dogs can be easily trained on simple commands when adequately motivated. Once the basics have been instilled in their Australian Shepherds, many owners enjoy more advanced training such as swimming, herding, or coursework.
The one thing to note about Australian Shepherds is that they need to be socialized early to ensure that they best get along with other dogs and people. This is why many families like to get their dogs young to ensure that they have a solid early connection with their pup.
Luckily, it isn’t hard to find Australian Shepherd puppies for sale, as they are one of the most popular breeds around. Just be sure that you are using a reputable breeder, as many common Australian Shepherd health issues can be attributed to inbreeding.
German Shepherds
German Shepherds are most famous as police dogs. But you don’t have to be looking for a new member for your K-9 unit to be able to appreciate the intelligence, dependability, and easy-to-train temperament of German Shepherds.
The one thing that should be mentioned about German Shepherds is that they will lose a noticeable amount of their drive if not left intact. No one knows precisely why neutering German Shepherds has a significant impact on them. Many posit that it has to do with changing hormone levels that may plateau naturally as the dogs leave puppyhood. In short, if you want to keep your dog as energetic and easy to train as possible, consider leaving it intact and pursuing other pet population control strategies.
Labrador Retrievers
Labs are well known for their sporting abilities and friendly demeanor like the beautiful flowers you have. However, their calm demeanor and eagerness to help make this breed easier to train. Labrador Retrievers will require more attention and activity than other dogs on this list. Most Labradors will be happy with a couple of long walks a day and plenty of activity to follow around a busy household.
Poodles
You’re unlikely to find a more intelligent canine on this list, a miniature poodle or a standard poodle. Poodles are known to be the Einsteins of the dog world, and this helps to make them a surprisingly easy to train dog breed. Once the proper motivational tools and techniques are found for instruction, poodles will respond well to both the regimentation and the clarity that training can provide for a human-dog relationship. Add this to their athletic nature, and you have a great dog for an agility course or structured physical activity.
Rottweilers
Seeing as how Rottweilers are commonly used as working dogs in various industries, it should come as little surprise that they are straightforward to train dogs. While they can be stubborn to pick up instruction if they don’t like it, this is more attributable to their greater intelligence than any deeper training-averse personality issues common to the species like you do for berries.
Shiba Inu
While not often thought of as intelligent dogs, Shiba Inus are incredibly obedient, which helps to make them easier to train. And while they won’t be able to solve many doggie puzzles, they are still an inventive breed that can come up with novel solutions to whatever problems they face. Mix this with a typical Shiba Inu’s activity level and sporting pedigree, and you have a dog that is perfect for agility training.
Not sure where to start when agility training your Shiba Inu? The American Kennel Club has an excellent general explainer on agility training that can help pet parents get the ball rolling. And you don’t even need to invest in fancy equipment and specialized gear before you know if your dog will enjoy it or not. Feel free to start with a modest DIY course that can be easily put together with items you have around the house. Or even create a course around furniture in your living room. Check out this video for more easy-to-accomplish DIY agility course ideas.
