Dog Training Difficulty Ranking by Breed

In dog training, we feel that the difficulty level ought to reflect the training goals. Plenty of dogs are able to pick up little commands, while complicated activities demand special kinds of intellect and bodily strengths. Normally, small breeds have less options for training due to their physical constraints, and advanced training is rarely practiced because of the nature of their use.

Core Factors Influencing Dog Training Outcomes

There are three main factors without which dogs can’t be trained to a high degree of trainability:

1. High intelligence: It may support faster understanding of commands, thus the time of instruction will be reduced

2. Strong willingness to cooperate: In a situation when the owner’s directions are to be followed, the readiness to undertake them results in minimal resistance in the training process

3. Optimal physical condition: The height that is right for the given task, along with the body length and the available stamina to engage in actions such as running and jumping

Most dogs that are used in professional areas like field & service dogs, police dogs, or guide dogs are having these three advantages. The intelligence of these breeds, such as German Shepherds, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers (primarily medium to large breeds), goes hand in hand with their exceptionally high obedience and with their energy to cope with intense dog training. Border Collies—ranked highest in canine intelligence—are also quite talented if a scientific method of training is used. They can get so good at their multiple skills with the right method, but at the same time, they might not be quite as obedient as those of Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, or Labradors (the character of individual dogs varies).

One more aspect as to the repercussion of high intelligence on trainability remains that it is not the easiest task to conduct it. Though Border Collies and Poodles top the list in intelligence, they do not stand out in the measure of their obedience. It does not mean that they cannot be trained—it only indicates a need for more sophisticated methods and more patience during the process. The fact is, these two breeds can be brought to a high level of training with professional guidance.

The Relationship Between Dog Training Difficulty and Breed Selection

On the other hand, the issue of dog training difficulty should not be the main reason or the only deciding feature when choosing a pet. The observation of what is happening around us shows that there are owners of any type of breed, and thus, the difficulty of training is just one of the many conditions. As an example, some people may look at a dog’s outwardness and choose it if it is cute, has a cheerful character, or a calm temperament. Owners of breeds like Corgis, Siberian Huskies, or Alaskan Malamutes don’t choose these dogs that way; they are the ones that pick them based on such features or by considering only the factor of the difficulty of the training.

Differences in Dog Training Focus Based on Size

Small dogs are mainly indoor pets, have a short duration of energy, and are not able to go on long walks. They have short legs and are small in size, so owners often have to carry them outside, and it is almost impossible to go on a walk without a leash as it can hurt the other people or the dogs if they get attacked by a bigger breed. Thus, the first thing that training of small dogs should be done is to not forcibly train them to “heel” or walk on the side of the owner but most of their training ought to be about “indoor skills” such as training them how to do their nature’s call in specified areas and not to chew on the stuff you have at home.

Conclusion on Dog Training

Summary: To put it simply, dogs of medium to large breeds which possess higher intelligence and are more obedient are of the nature that are easier to train such as Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Labradors (because of their high potential of being adaptable to training, these three breeds are also used as working dogs and guide dogs in the most part). After them come the intelligent heads of the dog world, i.e., Border Collies (1), Pomeranians (2), Rottweilers (9), and Corgis (11) (Note: The number in the parentheses indicates the IQ ranking; not all the breeds are listed here).