I’m a dog behavior expert and these are the 5 easiest breeds to train

Want your pup to high-five guests or sit and turn on command? As it turns out, whether you and your four-tailed friend can pull off these tricks depends on where they’re from.

But with over 350 different breeds, choosing the right one for your lifestyle can be a challenge – especially since you want to provide your pet with the best possible home.

Here, dog expert Lorna Winter has shared her top five breeds when it comes to ease of training — especially since new owners probably don’t want to deal with a lack of sleep and torn pads forever.

The co-founder of Zigzag, the number one puppy training app in the UK and a director of the UK Dog Behavior and Training Charter, says Border Collies, German Shepherds and Labrador retrievers are among the breeds that top the list.

Also included are Poodles – known for their history as circus stars – and cuddly Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

“Whichever puppy you choose, there’s no time to lose training,” Lorna said.

‘You want to get started from daybreak. My one piece of advice for puppy owners starting training is to learn what reward your pup likes best.

“Believe me, this will make the training process much smoother and keep your pup motivated.”

BORDER COLLIE: THE EINSTEIN OF THE DOG WORLD

It will surprise few people that this excited, energetic breed is at the top of the list.

“They’re one of the smartest breeds (if not the smartest), which means they love to learn and are quick to pick up new tricks,” says Lorna.

‘However, the energetic nature of Collies means that owners should have plenty of time to train them as they are not for the faint hearted.’

Since Border Collies were bred to be the “original herding dog,” they possess impressive problem-solving skills that come from generations of working alongside humans.

“They are very good at following instructions and waiting for clues,” the expert added. Not to mention their strong work ethic.

“If you want to be the envy of your fellow park visitors with your showstopper agility skills and complex tricks, a Border Collie could be the dog for you if you have enough time to spare for training time.”

GERMAN SHEPHERD: THE WORKHOLIC

These gentle giants are also known for working alongside humans, especially in emergency services such as the police or military.

“They are easy to train because they like to work with you and hate to get into trouble,” says Lorna. “The perfect student!”

Moreover, she explained that they genuinely enjoy new tricks.

“They enjoy mind-stimulating activities and have an incredible work ethic,” she added. “No wonder they’re often seen in dog spots like Obedience or Working Trials.”

LABRADOR RETRIVER: THE LOYAL PUPPY

“One thing that makes Labrador Retrievers easy to train is the fact that they are extremely motivated to eat,” said Lorna. “Just make sure you don’t overfeed them when you’re learning new tricks!”

The canine expert also praised their “bucket of energy,” which makes them both responsive and focused while learning.

“Importantly, these outgoing pups are incredibly social and eager to please their owners,” she added.

“This means they respond well to positive reinforcement training methods and can learn new commands quickly.

“While all dogs are smart, Labradors are particularly forgiving in their training and don’t need massive amounts of stimulation, unlike the German Shepherd or Border Collie!”

POODLE: THE CIRCUS STAR

Lorna says that poodles’ past as circus dogs may explain their agility in training.

“However, before this life of sequins and glitter, poodles worked as hunting dogs, which means they are highly intelligent,” she explained.

“To this day, they still enjoy the challenge of complex tasks, such as trick training routines, and cognitive tasks such as match to sample, where they can identify objects by name.”

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER: THE FAMILY FAVORITE

“Two of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s favorite things are cuddling and training,” said Lorna.

“Despite their tough looks, they are a sensitive breed that crave attention and affection, which means they love to train and learn new tricks – because they just want to be included in family life.”

These community-oriented pups are also known for their loyalty, which means they will form a close bond with their owner, which is sure to make them “a brilliant training partner.”