The Best Trainable Dogs

You've decided to purchase a dog, but are uncertain which breed would be the most trainable. You may wish to train a dog for general obedience, security purposes, retrieving, assistance around your home, or as a guide and helper for the sight-impaired or physically handicapped. Intelligence is only one factor to consider, since the smartest dogs aren't necessarily the most obedient. The best trainable dogs are those with not only intelligence, but a willingness to please, adaptability and loyalty in their breed's lineage.

  1. Border Collie

    • The border collie is a highly intelligent dog with great stamina that is known for its ability to round-up sheep and herd cattle. The border collie makes a loyal companion, helper dog, guide dog for the blind and and is one of the easiest breeds to train, according to the American Kennel Club. A frequent winner of obedience and agility competitions, the border collie is happiest when presented with a task.

    Poodle

    • Poodles originated in Germany where they were bred for hunting. Today, the standard poodle is intelligent, affectionate and easy to train. Poodles excel in obedience, tracking and working as guard dogs. Walk your poodle daily and allow it to run freely in fenced-in areas, since they have a high amount of energy and require exercise. Poodles come in a wide range of colors, such as white, black, cream, brown, red, apricot and blue.

    German Shepherd

    • German shepherds are used worldwide as police dogs, search and rescue dogs, detection dogs, and to alert the military of enemies, hidden bombs and traps. They have even been trained to parachute out of military aircraft. Despite their large size, German shepherds are loyal, gentle and an ideal family dog. German shepherds are naturally protective of their families and one of the best dogs to train for home security. Since German shepherds are extremely agile and energetic, they need daily walks and exercise in order to thrive and be happy.

    Golden Retriever

    • Golden retrievers are frequently used as guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, detector dogs and water retrievers. Golden retrievers are great with children, extremely loyal companions and love to please their masters, which makes them one of the easiest breeds to train. The golden retriever's high intelligence helps them achieve tasks such as opening cupboards, putting on socks and other assistance for sight-impaired or physically-handicapped owners. According to the American Kennel Club, golden retrievers are one of the more useful dogs for hunting.

    Doberman Pinscher

    • Doberman pinschers are considered one of the most trainable dogs for obedience and guarding the home, since they are intelligent, alert and loyal to their owners. Originally doberman pinschers were trained to be personal protection dogs, and behaved very aggressively. Today, through selective breeding, they have developed a much more friendly personality.