Top 15 Best Behaved dog breeds (with Pictures)

Are some dog breeds better behaved than others? 

 

As we said in our intro there is no such thing as an inherently bad-behaved dog. There are only dogs that haven’t been trained properly. 

 

Any dog can perfectly behave if given the right training and handled by a calm and consistent leader. 

 

Behavioral problems usually stem from the owners' inexperience or lack of ability to train or socialize their pets. 

 

You can get incredibly badly behaved Golden Retrievers and excellently behaved Pitbulls. It all depends on the owner. 

 

Here’s an example for you; have you ever seen a highly trained Belgian Malinois? Here’s a video of what a well-trained Belgian Malinois is capable of in the right hands:

 

 

When given the proper training this dog can literally perform magic tricks, can walk tightropes, chase bad guys and be a great family dog.

 

However, as this is a working dog if someone got this dog who was inexperienced thinking they could get away with a short 30-minute walk each day, limited training, and mental stimulation they would have a destructive badly behaved dog on their hands.

 

I mention this example to highlight that if a breed is in the wrong hands it can be badly behaved and in the right hands will be great. 

 

Saying that it is definitely true that some dog breeds are more suitable for first-time dog owners, easier to raise, and have a more laid-back temperament compared to others.

 

On the other hand, there are definitely dog breeds that are easier to raise and are suitable for first time owners or just have a more laid-back temperament. 

 

Some dogs are generally friendlier than other breeds which makes them easier to train or keep within a family environment. 

 

You can see a full list of dogs suitable for first-time owners on the breed finder here. Just make sure to filter for ‘suitable for 1st-time owners’. 

 

Now with that out of the way here’s a list of 15 dogs that our community voted as some of the easiest breeds to raise and generally better behaved. 

 

Best-behaved dog breeds (Top 15)

 

Below are the top 15 best-behaved dog breeds as recommended by our community.

 

Caveat: I know this has been mentioned before but it needs to be continuously stressed that this only applies if they are given proper training and boundaries in the home. 

 

Important Note when choosing a dog breed: Make sure that you are getting a show line dog instead of a working line dog. You can find out the difference in more detail here. 

 

Working line dogs are dogs that have been hand-selected in breeding programs to display certain traits and characteristics. For example high prey drive, confidence, working intensity, and more. 

 

Whereas a dog that comes from show dogs or family dog breeders have completely different temperaments and energy levels. They might not be as energetic as a working line dog and have been bred to fit into the family home more readily than a working dog. 

 

The difference between a working line labrador compared to a show line Labrador can sometimes be night and day. 

 

If they are from working lines they will need far more training than a show line one so just be aware of that before getting one of the best-behaved dog breeds detailed below.

 

1. Pug

 

 

Pugs are small affectionate dogs and are great companion dogs. They are eager to play and super friendly. They are often described as childlike and goofy. They make excellent dogs for living in apartments. 

 

2. Labrador Retriever

 

 

The Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds for families for a reason. Giving adequate training and getting one from a show or family line will make this breed easy to train and behave in a family setting. They are a people pleasing breed whilst also being incredibly smart. Their calm demeanor

 

3. Golden Retriever 

 

 

Similar to the labrador, the Golden Retriever is known to be one of the best companion dogs available making them a great dog for first-time owners. They are an easy to train and affectionate breed (everyone is their best friend) and are generally not aggressive. Golden Retrievers are commonly used as service dogs or therapy dogs.

 

4. Border Collie 

 

 

Border collies are widely considered to be the most intelligent dog breed which makes training them to be well-behaved relatively easy compared to other dog breeds. They were traditionally bred to herd sheep and are working dogs. They do need more stimulation than others on this list so aren’t the best breed unless you have an active lifestyle! If given enough exercise and training they make a great pet.

 

5. Newfoundland 

 

 

Often referred to as a gentle giant, Newfoundland's natural disposition is gentle, friendly, and calm. They love children and don't have the highest energy levels compared to other breeds meaning that they are an easy breed to tire out. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog!

 

6. Irish Setter 

 

 

Irish Setters are friendly dogs with a carefree attitude. They were developed as gun dogs (to fetch birds on shoots). They form close bonds with families and pets and therefore don't like to be left alone for long periods of time. Being a smart dog they are easy to train.

 

7. Boston Terrier

 

 

They are nicknamed ‘the American gentlemen’. Boston Terriers are affectionate and are known for being silly and wanting to play. They are often used as therapy animals and as a small dog they are perfect for owners who live in apartments.

 

8. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels love cuddling on the sofa and are generally friendly to other dogs and pets. This breed truly loves people and gets along with most people. Owning a Cavalier king Charles Spaniel is especially recommended for seniors because of their adaptable nature.

 

9. Bernese Mountain Dog

 

 

The Bernese Mountain Dog is incredibly popular amongst families and are often used as therapy support dogs due to their gentle nature and calm temperament. Bernese Mountain dogs are a large dog breed so aren’t suitable for small apartments. They are generally quiet dogs and known for being calm, safe & docile.

 

10. Bull terrier 

 

 

The Bull terrier is often described as being the clown of the canine world and loves to have fun. They do need a bit of extra training as can get bored easily if not given a clear and consistent framework otherwise they will take the lead.

 

11. Poodle 

 

 

One of the smartest dog breeds and originally bred as a hunting dog. They are well balanced when bred properly and have a friendly temperament. As an incredibly smart breed, they respond excellently to training making it easier to train them to have good behavior

 

12. Springer Spaniel 

 

 

Springer Spaniels are full of energy and highly intelligent. If you have an active lifestyle they will fit in perfectly and are eager to please their owners. They are amazing companions and love their owners deeply. Make sure that if you do get one and don't live on a farm you don't get a working line Spaniel otherwise they need A LOT of exercise! 

 

13. Shih Tzu

 

 

As one of the most popular toy breeds the Shih Zhu was originally created to sit on the owner's lap in China. It’s almost like a dog hot water bottle!  Shih tzus are highly intelligent and extremely healthy which makes them easier to train to be well-behaved. 

 

14. Corgi

 

 

Corgis' most famous owner the Queen of England had these throughout her reign. They are small so easy to transport and have a friendly temperament. They are intelligent which makes them trainable for 1st time owners. 

 

15. Miniature Schnauzer. 

 

 

The Miniature Schnauzer is extremely intelligent meaning it’s easy to train them if you start from a young age. They can sometimes be protective of their owners causing them to be yappy but again with the proper training, they are excellently behaved. 

 

One common theme you might have noticed from reading this article is that they all share a common trait - high intelligence. Having an intelligent dog makes training MUCH easier when paired with other desirable characteristics like friendliness and being calm. 
 

How can I make my dog better behaved? 

 

As we have mentioned several times, there is no such thing as a best-behaved dog. There are breeds that might be easier to train and have characteristics that are more suitable for first-time owners and therefore less likely to have behavioral problems if not given the adequate care they need. 

 

Having a well-behaved dog starts with having clear boundaries for what is acceptable and what is not acceptable from the beginning. 

 

It is often easier said than done but the principles are simple.

 

• If you ask your dog to get off the sofa and they refuse do you give up? 

• If your dog doesn’t come back to you when you try to recall it do you go an fetch it? 

• Do you reinforce negative behavior like feeding them at the table or if they come over to you always giving them attention or playing with them?

 

All these points can cause bad behavior in later life and create a needy dog with no boundaries that have learned to ignore you. 

 

The answer to this question could be a 3 part article as there are a lot of steps that need to be followed to make sure your dog is better behaved. 

 

I recommend checking out one of the courses we have reviewed which provides in-depth video instructions on how to get a well-behaved dog.

 

If you are trying to solve something specific then there are a lot of free youtube videos however, the only downside is that a lot of the trainers on Youtube have mixed messages and techniques so personally, I prefer to use a trusted training resource. 

 

When I was training my dog I bought a course and got 1-2-1 lessons which were a game-changer for me!

 

Best Behaved Dog Breeds - Conclusion

 

As we have learned there is no such thing as a ‘best behaved dog breed’. There are only dogs that are well-trained and those that are not. 

 

Saying that we provided a list that, given some training, are more suitable to first-time owners and have calm, gentle, friendly temperaments making them less likely to develop behavioral problems. 

 

To get a better understanding of the dog breed you are thinking of getting, you can view all the dog breeds in our database and read real user reviews + pros & cons here.

 

It’s the most comprehensive dog breed resource on the internet and is powered by real community members giving you a deeper understanding of any potential breeds you are looking at!