What Dog Is the Easiest to Teach Tricks?

Teaching your dog tricks is a rewarding activity for both you and your dog. You get the pride and joy of having a well-trained dog, and your furry friend basks in the attention and approval of his human guardian. However, when it comes to learning, all dogs are not created equal. What qualifies as a difficult trick for one dog may be learned easily as part of basic obedience training by another.

  1. Best Dogs for Basic Obedience Training Only

    • Some dogs are, well, slow. For example, basset hounds and bulldogs can make wonderful family dogs but don't exactly have reputations as the Einsteins of the canine world. For these sweet but slow dogs, basic obedience training can be as difficult as a challenging trick is for a smarter dog. Teaching may take a great deal of repetition for both of you, but don't despair: Having a dog with a pleasant personality that can sit, lie down and stay on command is an achievement you both can be proud of.

    Best Dogs for Work Training

    • Some of the most intelligent breeds have been bred for working alongside people. These breeds include border collies, cattle dogs, and German shepherds. According to Kay Jordan, a dog owner, training enthusiast and foster parent for a Tucson, Arizona-area dog rescue organization since 2008, these breeds easily learn obedience skills and entertaining tricks but require constant novelty and stimulation to avoid succumbing to boredom and engaging in destructive behavior. In other words, tricks are great but they're not enough: These dogs need jobs. If you live with a cattle or sheep dog, consider training it for herding competitions, which is what it was born to do.

    Best Dogs for Agility Training

    • Some breeds, such as terriers, present a great deal of stubbornness and energy. They're like the ADHD kids of the canine world, and this can make training an arduous task. Jordan says that terriers, especially, often are high-energy dynamos that simply don't have the patience for staying in one place and practicing the same action over and over. However, she says that terriers perform well at certain types of obedience activities, such as agility training, flyball and other high-energy tasks.

    Best Overall Dog

    • The canine enthusiasts at the breeder retriever website claim that the Labrador retriever, with its intelligence and eagerness to please, is the easiest dog to teach. However, you can teach just about any dog so long as it has energy, moderate intelligence and a desire to please its owner. Jordan points out that for any meaningful training to occur, a dog needs "consistent positive reinforcement and security" from its human guardian. Ultimately, if you are a responsible, caring pet owner who is willing to devote the time and energy to training your dog, your best choice just might be the dog you already have.