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By
Jo Yurcaba,
Woman's Day
You don't want to be that person — the one with the hyper dog who jumps up on every single person who walks through the door. You don't want to have your beloved pup aggressively yelp and growl at your kind neighbors' dogs when you try to take them for a walk. You definitely don't want the dog who pees on a friend's carpet. Which is why training your dog is important, even if it's not always easy. Thankfully, there are a slew of dogs that are easy to train that can give you a leg (or a tail) up on the whole housebreaking endeavor.
Dogs receive important mental stimulation and purpose from training, according to Canidae, a pet food company. Training also helps your pet develop a stronger bond with you, their owner. Finally, taking the time to train your pup can help you understand their body language and personality, so that you know when they're happy, sick, lonely, or just in need of a few extra snuggles.
But training a dog can be intimidating, even for the most experienced pet owners. Luckily, some dog breeds are easier to train than others. Certain dogs are more food motivated, more eager to please, and really enjoy obedience training, which takes the pressure off any overwhelmed or first-time pet owner. That doesn't necessarily mean breeds that are easier to train are good for beginner dog owners — some of these breeds, in part because they're so intelligent, are high energy and require more exercise as a result. So if you're considering a dog that loves to learn, just be sure all the other parts of their personality match up with your lifestyle. With that in mind, here are 12 of the easiest dogs to train.
Golden Retriever
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Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dogs in the United States, in part because they're such great family dogs. But they're also because they're highly intelligent and, as a result, easy to train. Goldens are very food motivated and rated the most "eager to please," according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Border Collie
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The incredibly high energy Border Collie is very easy to train, according to Dog Time, but they're not always best for new dog owners due to their demanding exercise needs.
Labrador Retriever
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Labradors are known for being happy, devoted pups. Their stellar attitude and calm demeanor makes them pretty easy to train. They are also one of the world's smartest dogs, according to Canine Journal.
Australian Cattle Dog
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Australian Cattle Dogs are intelligent and watchful, according to Hill's Pet, making them devoted guard dogs. But they are also very high energy, so though they are very trainable they need consistent exercise so they don't become destructive, according to the AKC.
Poodle
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This roughly 400-year-old breed is the second smartest in the world, according to Canine Journal. As a result, Poodles are very easy to train, though they require training and socialization early on in life, otherwise they can develop persistent anxiety.
German Shepherd
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German Shepherds can be trained to do almost anything, according to Inside Dogs World. They especially excel at obedience work and agility courses.
Australian Shepherd
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Australian Shepherds were bred to be herding dogs, as their name suggests, so they love to work with their humans. Training them should be relatively easy, as long as you can exercise them for about 30-60 minutes of exercise every day, according to Canna-Pet.
Doberman Pinscher
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Dobermans are so smart that they are capable of working with first-responders, including police officers, according to Vet Street. They are trainable as early as 8 weeks old and should also start to be socialized with other people and dogs around 12 weeks old.
Papillon
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Papillons are widely considered "the most obedient and trainable of all toy dog breeds," according to Canna-Pet. They respond well to positive reinforcement and are naturally curious.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
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These Corgis are dedicated and loving, according to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America. They are also very eager to please, making them easy and fun to train.
Miniature Schnauzer
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Mini Schnauzers respond well to consistent training — with a positive, firm hand, according to the Dog Training Club. They have a strong independent streak, and if they don't feel like their owner is the alpha, they can be stubborn. But once well-trained and socialized, they are loyal and very playful. And who doesn't love their sweet little beards.
Shetland Sheepdog
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Shelties learn best with treats and lots of positive praise, according to Vet Street. These whip smart herding dogs can develop some bad habits like barking and nipping — all which can be prevented by early training and socialization.
