Canine intelligence is a tricky subject, and we often confuse a “smart” dog with a trainable one. The truth is that plenty of extremely intelligent dogs aren’t easy to train, because there are a number of different ways that dogs can be “smart.”
But, Dr. Stanley Coren explains that "people are using the word intelligence to mean trainability, and their assessments have to do with working or obedience intelligence."
Because of Dr. Coren, we actually have a lot of research on which dog breeds are easy and which dogs are hard to train. So, let’s look at the five most and least trainable dog breeds.
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5 Easiest Dogs to Train
When it comes to the most trainable dog breeds, five breeds consistently show up in the top 10. These breeds, according to Dr. Coren’s research, learn new commands in fewer than five repetitions and obey the first command 95% of the time or better.
Border Collie
The Border Collie is universally recognized for being the easiest dog to train with outstanding intelligence. However, with this intelligence comes a lot of energy and a strong need to work, so Border Collie owners need to spend a lot of time exercising those athletic bodies and those smart minds.
Poodle
Poodles are often considered doggy Einsteins and definitely give Border Collies a run for their money when it comes to trainability. However, they are known for being extremely sensitive and perfectionists. So, they do best with experienced trainers who know how to work with their sensitive personalities.
As one Reddit user says, "I've trained Goldens, Labs, Standard Poodles, and Poodle mixes for Service Dog work. Poodles are amazing to work with. They just get things so quickly and ask what's next".
German Shepherd
Working German Shepherds are bred to be both courageous and highly trainable. This combination is what makes them excel as protection and police dogs.
Golden Retriever
Like most retrievers, the Golden is extremely trainable, not just because of their history as working dogs, but because they are extremely eager to please with a high food drive. This makes them ideal family dogs for active families.
Doberman Pinscher
Like the German Shepherd, the original Doberman was bred to be a bold protector and working dog that is easy to train.
If you want to test your dog’s intelligence and how many repetitions it takes to learn a new trick or how often the obey, using the Petcube Cam can help you monitor your dog’s training progress.
5 Hardest Dogs to Train
Unlike the top five breeds mentioned above, some breeds require more patience and consistency to train. These dogs typically need 80 to 100 repetitions to understand new commands and obey the first command only 25% of the time or worse, but keep in mind that there are countless examples of these dogs becoming highly trained when they get a very committed owner.
Borzoi
As sighthounds, Borzoi are independent dogs that usually don’t see much of a point in obeying instructions. Because of their laid-back nature, this is rarely a problem. However, they do tend to chase anything that moves and ignore their owners calling. So, it’s sometimes best to keep them on leash in the park most of the time.
Chow Chow
The chow is one of the oldest breeds in the world, and like many “primitive” breeds, they never quite see the point in listening to humans. They are notoriously stubborn, independent, and just don’t get the same thrill out of pleasing their owners that Golden Retriever does. But don’t let them fool you, they are smart. They just tend to use their smarts to escape the yard.
Bulldog
Bulldogs don’t have a good reputation for being smart or trainable. But this simply isn’t true. They are very smart, it’s just that they learned how to get their humans to do things for them while they take a nap. No, really. Studies show that brachycephalic breeds like Bulldogs are more likely to look to their owners for help when problem solving, while dogs with longer noses try to figure it out on their own.
Basenji
Another ancient breed, the Basenji doesn’t like bothering with training. It’s not that these dogs aren’t smart, it’s just that unlike breeds like the German Shepherd who are quite modern and bred to be trainable, the Basenji have spent thousands of years thinking for themselves. Why stop now?
Afghan Hound
Though they are one of the most elegant breeds, the Afghan Hound is also known for being one of the hardest dog breeds in the world to train. The reason for this is two-fold. Firstly, sighthounds like the Borzoi or the Afghan are never the most trainable dogs because they’ve always been bred to run fast after prey, not to obey commands.
Secondly, the Afghan is a basal breed. This means they are so ancient, they are actually the ancestors to many other modern breeds. Ancient dog breeds are almost always harder to train than newer breeds. This is because they evolved to think and work independently from humans in order to survive for as long as they have.
Training a difficult breed can sometimes lead to unexpected health issues, so remember that the Petcube Emergency Fund offers peace of mind by covering up to $3000 in emergency vet bills and 24/7 access to online vets.
FAQs
Are Corgis easy to train?
Pembroke Welsh Corgis rank 11th in Dr. Coren's list, meaning they are excellent working dogs and very easy to train with the right trainer. Corgis typically understand new commands in 5 to 15 repetitions and obey the first command 85% of the time or better. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is also very intelligent but known for being a little more independent and less easy to train than the Pembroke.
What is the hardest dog to potty train?
Teacup or toy dogs are usually the hardest to potty train because of their tiny bladders. It’s much harder to get them on a regular schedule to teach them to potty outside, and it’s common for them to become accustomed to peeing inside, even as adults.
Are German Shepherds hard to train?
No, German Shepherds are among the top three easiest breeds to train. They are highly intelligent and respond well, but keep in mind that every dog is an individual, and how easy a dog may be to train often depends on the trainer’s skills.
Conclusion
Remember trainability is just one kind of intelligence. Even the hardest to train dogs can often be one of the smartest when it comes to solving problems on their own, doing what they were bred to do, or thinking independently. Dogs even vary in their emotional intelligence and social skills. It’s fun to know if your dog is one of the most trainable dogs, or least, but every pup is an individual with their own unique qualities that makes them the best boy or girl.