When choosing a dog, you’ll want to ensure that you pick a dog that suits your lifestyle, from its size to its energy and, most importantly, its trainability. Here are the 18 most obedient dog breeds that will gladly follow every one of your commands.
Labrador Retriever
Although a Forbes report suggests that Labrador Retrievers are only the second most popular dog breed in the US after the French bulldog, they are the most obedient and very easy to train. Labradors are eager to please their owners and take great pride in doing so as they are told.
German Shepherd
German Shepherds were initially bred for their obedience and attentiveness, which makes them excellent service dogs in the police force, search and rescue teams, and guide dogs. They may initially appear to be intimidating, but with a little training, they make perfect family pets.
Golden Retriever
Originally bred to fetch the stricken prey of hunters, hence their title ‘retriever’. Golden Retrievers are gentle, playful, and eager to learn. As is similar with all retriever breeds, Golden Retrievers are soft-centered, despite their hunting backgrounds, making them great with young children and older adults.
Springer Spaniel
Springer Spaniels are full of energy at all times, making them a bit of a handful for many inexperienced dog owners. They are perfectly willing to use up their unrelenting energy to perform tasks for their owners, with their natural intelligence being one of their best assets.
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels are natural people pleasers, desperate not to disappoint their owners during training sessions. This will lead to them picking up new skills at quite a speed, provided they’re not disciplined too harshly, as they are naturally sensitive dogs.
Greyhound
The sprinting talent of Greyhounds is far from a secret, but one of their lesser-known traits is their ability to pick up new skills in an instant. In addition to this, they don’t require a great deal of exercise, as they are bred for their speed rather than their endurance capabilities, making them ideal for seniors to own.
Poodle
As well as being undeniably beautiful, Poodles are a very obedient breed, much because of their history as working dogs. They respond well to positive reinforcement and consistent training sessions, where you will notice improvements in social skills and obedience levels in no time.
Border Collie
If you want a low-energy, mellow dog in your family home, you should probably steer clear of Border Collies. Described by the American Kennel Club as ‘remarkably bright workaholics,’ the breed’s intelligence makes them incredibly easy to train, even if they’ll keep you up on your feet for most of the day.
Havanese
Few dogs present such a look of innocence as the Havanese, a Cuban breed often resembling teddy bears. Unlike many smaller breeds, Havanese dogs aren’t overly stubborn and will be receptive to training sessions if they get a lot of praise and cuddles afterward.
Doberman Pinscher
Doberman pinschers are known for their aggression when trained poorly. When trained properly, they are one of the most loyal, intelligent, and obedient breeds. Business Insider also lists them as one of the most energetic, being active for 84.9 minutes per day.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Despite their physical presence, Bernese Mountain Dogs are extremely gentle, which, as the BBC points out, makes them good family dogs. Originally bred to herd cattle in the Swiss Alps, they are naturally obedient and easy to train.
German Shorthaired Pointer
If you’re looking for an outgoing, inquisitive breed with a penchant for learning, the German Shorthaired Pointer may be the dog for you. They do require a fair amount of exercise, otherwise they may become frustrated and destructive, but they are otherwise friendly.
Miniature Schnauzer
If left untrained, Miniature Schnauzers will come across as boisterous, overly energetic, and noisy, barking at any stranger that walks past. If you can channel their unlimited energy into productive training sessions, they will learn fast and become really lovely pets to own.
Shetland Sheepdog
As they have historically been bred as work dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs are naturally obedient and won’t require a great deal of training to stabilize their temperament. They also have a natural people-pleasing trait, which further helps them stay in line.
Rottweiler
Rottweilers require a certain level of training so they don’t start to feel above themselves. If left untrained, they will naturally try to take a more dominant role, and with their physical capabilities, that’s not something any owner will want in a hurry.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgis were long in the spotlight as Elizabeth II’s favored dog during her reign as queen of the United Kingdom. Corgis are notably easy to train and are very good with children, especially those under the age of nine.
Pomeranian
Often used as therapy dogs because of their gentle nature, Pomeranians are a delight to be around. They’re also receptive to learning new tricks and skills, providing you shower them with attention and love once you’ve finished the training session.
Belgian Tervuren
Although Belgian Tervurens are physically intimidating, they can be shy around strangers and become gentle giants if trained well. Their boundless energy means they require a lot of space to be trained, as well as harsh discipline to curb their herding tendencies.