Choosing a dog and want to know how hard it'll be to train? Already have one and want to know what you're in for? This page compares training difficulty, intelligence ranking, and timeline across all 50 breeds we cover. Click any breed to see the full training guide.
| Breed | Intelligence | Training Timeline | AKC Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Border Collie | #1 of 138 | 6–8 weeks | Herding |
| German Shepherd | #3 of 138 | 8 weeks | Herding |
| Golden Retriever | #4 of 138 | 6–8 weeks | Sporting |
| Beagle | #72 of 138 | Extremely High | Hound |
| Pitbull | 87.4% (ATTS) | Very High | Terrier |
| Husky | #77 of 138 | Very High | Working |
| Australian Shepherd | #42 of 138 | 8–12 weeks | Herding |
| Rottweiler | #9 of 138 | 8–12 weeks | Working |
| Labrador Retriever | #7 of 138 | 6–8 weeks | Sporting |
| French Bulldog | #58 of 138 | 10–12 weeks | Non-Sporting |
| Doberman Pinscher | #5 of 138 | 8–10 weeks | Working |
| Dachshund | #49 of 138 | 10–14 weeks | Hound |
| Shih Tzu | #70 of 138 | 10–12 weeks | Toy |
| Poodle | #2 of 138 | 6–8 weeks | Non-Sporting |
| Pug | #57 of 138 | 10–12 weeks | Toy |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | #11 of 138 | 6–8 weeks | Herding |
| Shetland Sheepdog | #6 of 138 | 6–8 weeks | Herding |
| Belgian Malinois | #26 of 138 | No | Herding |
| Australian Cattle Dog | #10 of 138 | High | Herding |
| Boxer | #48 of 138 | 10–14 weeks | Working |
| Great Dane | 110–175 lbs | 8–10 weeks | Working |
| Cane Corso | #30 of 138 | No | Working |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | #27 of 138 | 8–10 weeks | Working |
| Mastiff | #72 of 138 | 12–16 weeks | Working |
| Saint Bernard | #65 of 138 | 12–14 weeks | Working |
| Newfoundland | #34 of 138 | 8–10 weeks | Working |
| Akita | #54 of 138 | No | Working |
| Samoyed | #33 of 138 | 1.5+ hours | Working |
| Alaskan Malamute | #50 of 138 | 2+ hours | Working |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | #17 of 138 | 8–10 weeks | Sporting |
| Vizsla | #25 of 138 | Very High | Sporting |
| Weimaraner | #21 of 138 | 10–12 weeks | Sporting |
| Irish Setter | #35 of 138 | 12–16 weeks | Sporting |
| Cocker Spaniel | #20 of 138 | 6–8 weeks | Sporting |
| English Springer Spaniel | #13 of 138 | 6–8 weeks | Sporting |
| Brittany | #19 of 138 | 8–10 weeks | Sporting |
| Bloodhound | #74 of 138 | 10–14 weeks | Hound |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | #52 of 138 | 12–16 weeks | Hound |
| Jack Russell Terrier | #46 of 138 | 12–14 weeks | Terrier |
| Bull Terrier | #66 of 138 | 12–14 weeks | Terrier |
| Miniature Schnauzer | #12 of 138 | 8–10 weeks | Terrier |
| West Highland White Terrier | #47 of 138 | 10–12 weeks | Terrier |
| Yorkshire Terrier | #27 of 138 | 10–12 weeks | Terrier |
| Maltese | #59 of 138 | 10–14 weeks | Toy |
| Chihuahua | #67 of 138 | 10–14 weeks | Toy |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | #44 of 138 | 6–8 weeks | Toy |
| Havanese | #45 of 138 | 8–10 weeks | Toy |
| Bulldog | #77 of 138 | 12–16 weeks | Non-Sporting |
| Boston Terrier | #54 of 138 | 8–10 weeks | Non-Sporting |
| Bichon Frise | #45 of 138 | 10–12 weeks | Non-Sporting |
Training difficulty isn't the same as intelligence. The Husky ranks #77 in Stanley Coren's intelligence rankings — but that's because the rankings measure obedience, not problem-solving. Huskies were bred to ignore human commands and run independently for 1,000 years. They're not unintelligent; they're uninterested in following directions.
Our difficulty assessments combine: obedience intelligence (how fast a breed learns commands), biddability (how willing they are to comply), energy and exercise needs (a tired dog is a trainable dog), and breed-specific challenges (recall problems in scent hounds, herding instinct in collies, jumping in retrievers).
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