easy-to-train-dog-breeds

Easy to train dog breeds

There is a multitude of breeds, more than 300 listed by the Société Centrale Canine to be precise. But are some breeds easier to train than others?

You want to adopt a dog and you don't know which breed to choose? Are you afraid to choose a breed that does not really correspond to you, a breed that is difficult to train?

Let me guide you and enlighten you on the easiest breeds to train, if they exist.

 

The different breeds of dogs

As previously mentioned, the Société Centrale Canine (SCC) lists exactly 355 breeds which are then divided into 10 distinct groups by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI):

• Group 1: Shepherd and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
• Group 2 : Pinscher and Schnauzer type dogs - Molossoids - Mountain and Swiss Cattle Dogs to Other Breeds
• Group 3: Terriers
• Group 4: Dachshunds
• Group 5: Spitz and Primitive type dogs
• Group 6: Hounds, Bloodhounds and Related Breeds
• Group 7: Pointing Dogs
• Group 8 : Retrievers - Game Retrievers - Water Dogs
• Group 9: Toy and Companion Dogs
• Group 10: Sighthounds

There are also two distinct categories following the law of January 6, 1999 on dangerous and stray animals, also called the "dangerous dog law".

These so-called "dangerous" dogs are thus classified in two categories:

1st category which concerns :
Dogs commonly known as "Pit Bulls" and which are associated by their physical characteristics with the American Staffordshire Terrier and which are not registered in a recognized herd book.
Dogs commonly known as "Boerbulls", associated by their physical characteristics with the Mastiff and which are not registered in a recognized herd book.
Tosa type dogs that are not registered in a recognized herd book.

2nd category which concerns :
All dogs of the American Staffordshire Terrier breed.
All dogs of the Rottweiler breed as well as all dogs associated by their physical characteristics with the Rottweiler and not registered in a recognized herd book.
All dogs of the Tosa breed.

 

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Choosing your dog's breed

Each breed will have its specificities but beyond that, each dog will have its own character. Of course we can find similarities and we can make generalizations about instincts and temperaments according to each breed, but above all we must integrate the fact that each dog is an individual in his own right!

The danger to be avoided when choosing the breed of your future dog is to base yourself only on physical criteria and not on behavioral ones.

Of course, you will instinctively turn to this or that type of dog because it is not in our nature to go against our desires and wishes, but this should not be your only selection criterion nor the only reason that pushes you to adopt a dog.

Choosing the breed of your future dog also means taking into account the natural instincts of each breed group, which may be more or less developed and marked depending on the individual.

Some examples: The Cane Corso is known to be a great guardian, the German Shepherd also. The Border Collie is known for wanting to control as much as possible the movements of people/animals/objects. The Jack Russel is known for its tenacity and obstinacy when it comes to following a trail, etc.

So choosing a breed means being aware of the different problems you may encounter if you don't use the dog for its primary purpose (herding, sledding, hunting, guarding, etc.) and above all knowing how to control its specific instincts and how to shape them so that they can be livable in everyday life.

In my opinion, as soon as you accept the different character traits of your dog, that you don't want to totally suppress them but rather take them into account in your training techniques and methods, you've won!

 

train-dog-breeds

 

The easiest breed to train will be the one that suits you best

In my opinion, there are certainly breeds and dogs that are "easier" to train, but this will depend a lot on the relationship established between the master and his dog as well as the answers given to the dog's needs by the mast

For example, a Border Collie may be very easy to train for a shepherd, but will not be at all easy to train for a person who does not use it for work. We'll talk later about adopting an "intelligent" breed of dog and the mistakes you should not make.

In my opinion, there are no breeds that are easier to train than others, but rather there are more marked compatibilities between a master and a dog than others.

A dog that is easy to train will be a dog that is respected in its true nature, to which we offer an adapted environment and for which we meet its fundamental needs of expenditure regularly or even daily.

 

What is an easy education?

Moreover, in my opinion, an easy education is a rather subjective notion since a dog may seem "easy" to educate for one person and absolutely not for another.

It depends on your level of knowledge of dogs, your experience as a master and as an "educator" but also on the means you wish to invest for the education of your dog (whether they are material, physical or financial).

Each master will have his own expectations and requirements, so they will sometimes be very different. For example, for me, having a strict heel walking is not one of my requirements when I walk my dogs, in that the education was not very difficult since I "just" had to teach them not to pull.

But for someone who sees a particular requirement in strict heel walking, the learning process may be longer and therefore considered more "complicated" depending on your point of view.

If you want to go further and use an efficient and recognized method to educate your dog at a lower cost, I advise you to take a look at the "Brain Training For Dogs".

 

Are intelligent dogs so easy to train?

As mentioned before, I think it is important to make a point about the so-called "intelligent" dogs and therefore potentially easier to train than the others.

In my opinion, all dogs are intelligent, only the breeds initially selected for work (herding, guarding, hunting, etc.) will be breeds more apt to work and therefore to collaborate with their master. But beware, an intelligent dog means a dog that is able to quickly understand and observe the weaknesses of its master and take advantage of them.

There is no such thing as a perfect dog, and even within the working breeds, which are therefore potentially intelligent, you may encounter obstacles in certain learning processes if they are not taught with respect to the dog's true nature.

 

The-most-popular-races

 

The most popular races

Without wanting to make generalizations, let's see all the same, by "popular" groups of breeds, the different temperaments that may emerge.

Companion dogs: which are especially dedicated to the company of Man, hence the name. But be careful, the dogs of pleasure and company remain above all dogs.

They are not only cuddly toys that we leave on the sofa all day long! They will also need motivation to listen, expenses to express themselves and attention to be fully developed.

Sheepdogs: originally used to accompany shepherds, hence the name again. These are dogs that will be eager to cooperate with their master and therefore their education may be "easy". However, if their needs (very important) of expenditure (physical but especially mental) are not fulfilled, they can quickly become the worst companions in the daily life.

Hunting dogs: which are specially designed for hunting, chasing, etc. They may not be suitable for all dogs. They may not be suitable for everyone because of their instincts which can be very restrictive on a daily basis.

Often very independent, these dogs are not "easy" to train despite their great intelligence: the instinct to pursue often takes over everything else. And just like sheepdogs, without a maximum of expenditure, these dogs can easily develop behavioral problems.

Terriers: Like some hunting dogs, terriers are often very stubborn dogs with a very strong character (because that's what they are asked to do in their initial work). It can be very frustrating for a master who wants a very close relationship to have a terrier because once the nose is out, not much else matters except the scent to track.

Primitive breeds: which are often very independent and do not necessarily excel in obedience either. There are always exceptions of course, but many dogs such as Husky, Malamute, etc. are found in shelters because their owners had seen in them only beautiful balls of hair pretty to look at.

These very primitive breeds therefore, need all the more that we consider them as they really are and that we take into account their highly developed primary instincts and therefore may not be compatible with certain "classic" lifestyles.

 

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