12 Easiest Dogs to Train — our top picks
Vizsla
Vizsla: very high trainability, very high friendliness and very low independence — eager to work with you rather than around you. Elegant Hungarian pointer known as the "Velcro dog" for their close bond with owners. Athletic and affectionate. Worth knowing before you commit: the Vizsla needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever: very high trainability, very high friendliness and low independence — eager to work with you rather than around you. Most popular family dog worldwide. Excellent retriever with gentle mouth, high intelligence, and outstanding temperament. Worth knowing before you commit: the Labrador Retriever sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever: very high trainability, very high friendliness and low independence — eager to work with you rather than around you. Beautiful, gentle retriever with flowing coat. Outstanding family companion with high intelligence and eagerness to please. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Golden Retriever needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Brittany
Brittany: very high trainability, very high friendliness and low independence. Compact, athletic gundog with boundless energy. Eager to please and excellent family companion when properly exercised. Worth knowing before you commit: the Brittany needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
English Springer Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel: very high trainability, very high friendliness and low independence. Athletic, medium-sized spaniel with excellent flushing ability. Energetic and devoted family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the English Springer Spaniel needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodle: very high trainability, very high friendliness and low independence. Golden Retriever and Poodle cross combining best traits of both breeds. Popular family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Goldendoodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Labradoodle
Labradoodle: very high trainability, very high friendliness and low independence. Labrador Retriever and Poodle cross bred for service work. Intelligent and friendly with variable coat. Worth knowing before you commit: the Labradoodle needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodle: very high trainability, high friendliness and low independence. Medium-sized Poodle with all the intelligence and athleticism in a more manageable size. Excellent family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Miniature Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Toy Poodle
Toy Poodle: very high trainability, high friendliness and low independence. Smallest variety of Poodle with intelligence and athleticism in a tiny package. Hypoallergenic and highly trainable. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Toy Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Standard Poodle
Standard Poodle: very high trainability, high friendliness and medium independence. Intelligent, athletic, and hypoallergenic. The original Poodle size, bred for water retrieval with exceptional trainability. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Standard Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointer: very high trainability, high friendliness and medium independence. Versatile, athletic hunting dog that excels at pointing, retrieving, and tracking. Known for boundless energy and strong work ethic. Worth knowing before you commit: the German Shorthaired Pointer needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinscher: very high trainability, medium friendliness and low independence. Elegant German guardian with athletic build. Intelligent, loyal, and fearless protector when properly trained. Worth knowing before you commit: the Doberman Pinscher needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or take the free quiz for a ranking based on your own answers.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for owners who want easy training
Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a popular choice, but low trainability and low friendliness put it at odds with owners who want easy training. On top of that, the Shiba Inu sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a popular choice, but low trainability and high independence put it at odds with owners who want easy training. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Siberian Husky needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a popular choice, but low trainability put it at odds with owners who want easy training. On top of that, the Basset Hound is stubborn enough that first-time owners often struggle.
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Find your perfect matchFrequently asked questions
- What is the easiest dog to train?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Vizsla ranks as the top choice for owners who want easy training, followed by the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever.
- How was this list of dogs for owners who want easy training chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for owners who want easy training — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. For a recommendation tailored to your exact situation, take the free quiz.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for owners who want easy training?
- The Shiba Inu, The Siberian Husky, The Basset Hound all rank near the bottom for owners who want easy training despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.