When it comes to owning a dog or adopting a new puppy, obedience training is probably one the first few steps that you need to consider once they’re old enough.
Not only does training make sure that you and your pet are on the same page, but it also helps them mingle with other dogs and people without any difficulties.
If you’re planning on starting training, know that the earliest time that you can begin is at about 2 months of age, so you get a head start and you can still hone your pet’s personality and behavior.
Now, if you’re only planning on adopting a puppy right now, you might be wondering which breeds are easiest to train - depending on their intelligence, ability to adapt and even their overall personalities.
To help you with this pretty complicated decision, we’ve compiled some of the best breeds when it comes to ease of training:
- Border Collie
Border collies are generally considered the smartest dog breed out there, with a knack for learning new tricks and exerting incredible effort in training tasks. This breed is not only athletic and extremely smart, but they are also cuddly and affectionate - making them one of the best breeds that you can ever own.
- Golden Retriever
One of the most well-loved breeds because of their affectionate, family-friendly personalities, the Golden Retriever is actually one of the best breeds to train. They are patient and happy-go-lucky, making training a positive experience for them and the trainer. However, if you’re planning on training them as a guard dog, they probably wouldn’t be too keen since they enjoy human company too much.
- Poodle
An intelligent and cuddly breed, the poodle is a great human companion and is extremely trainable. Whether you’re aiming for a miniature poodle or the standard one, you’ll still get the same level of enthusiasm, intelligence and loyalty. They are also great family dogs and can mix well with children and other pets.
- Labrador Retriever
A popular breed for service and guide dogs, the Labrador retriever is a smart breed with the ability to remember a wide range of commands and tricks. They also have great temperaments that make them patient and extremely easy to train. In addition, they’re affectionate and eager to please their humans, which may make training a breeze for them.
- Doberman Pinscher
While Doberman Pinschers have an image of being headstrong and aggressive, they are actually one of the best breeds to train because of their extreme loyalty and drive. They are intuitive and highly trainable, making them a good choice for people who want loyal companions. However, you might need to socialize them while they’re growing up to tamp down on their territorial tendencies.
- German Shepherd
German Shepherds are brave, confident and stubborn. While these characteristics might seem to point to a breed that’s hard to train, German Shepherds are quite the contrary. Their stubbornness is typically canceled out by this breed’s loyalty and obedience. They are highly driven to please their owners or trainers, which is also why they make good service and guard dogs.
- Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Cattle Dogs are naturally trained as herders, which means that they are a high-energy breed. They are also highly obedient and extremely intelligent. They have great recall for tricks and commands, which may make training them easier than with other breeds. But note that if you’re looking for a laid-back family companion, Australian Cattle Dogs probably won’t fit in that category since they are alert and they thrive in active environments.
- Shetland Sheepdog
Known as the smaller cousins of the Collie, Shetland Sheepdogs are an affectionate and obedient breed. They are sweet and eager to please, which may translate to their high drive to make their owners happy by following commands and doing tricks. Just make sure that you train them with a lot of patience since they wouldn’t appreciate any strongly-worded and impatient orders.
Adopt From Registered Dog Breeders for Healthy Puppies
After deciding what breed you want to adopt or buy, the next thing you should do is to look for a reputable breeder, ideally an Australia-registered dog breeder, to make sure that the puppy you’ll be taking home is healthy and has been raised in a safe, pest-free, humane and caring environment. With the recent high demand for pet adoption, some puppy mills have gone under authorities’ noses. This is why due diligence is highly recommended if you’re planning on buying a puppy.
One way that you can do this is by conducting visits to your breeder’s headquarters where you can request that you meet your puppy’s parents or mother. You can also check their veterinary records to know whether the mom has been fully vaccinated and is in peak health. This will not only ensure that you’re getting the best puppies, but you can also rest knowing that you did not source your pet from an inhumane practice.