Dog breeds for first-time owners
Your first dog doesn't have to be the easiest in the world, but it should forgive rookie mistakes. These 28 breeds combine trainability, adaptability and openness with strangers.
The rule
What they have in common
- Trainability ≥ 4/5
- Adaptability ≥ 4/5
- Mental stimulation it needs ≤ 4/5
28 of 78 directory breeds qualify · 50 don't · 0 have no data for a field in the rule (left out, named below)
The numbers come from each breed's page. Sources (in Spanish)
No breed replaces an obedience class or the willingness to read about dogs. And a mutt from the shelter can be the best first dog: what matters is the individual.
With their bars
The 28 breeds that qualify
Golden Retriever
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingnearly silent
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Miniature Schnauzer Schnauzer Miniatura
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Shetland Sheepdog Pastor de Shetland
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Labrador Retriever
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Leonberger
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Doberman Pinscher Dóberman
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Dogo Argentino
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
French Bulldog Bulldog Francés
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingnearly silent
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
Pug
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingnearly silent
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
Shih Tzu
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
Yorkshire Terrier
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Dachshund
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
Dogue de Bordeaux Dogo de Burdeos
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Old English Sheepdog Pastor Inglés (Bobtail)
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Italian Greyhound Galgo Italiano
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
Collie
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingnearly silent
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
English Cocker Spaniel Cocker Spaniel Inglés
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Cocker Spaniel
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
Xoloitzcuintli Xoloitzcuintle
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Dalmatian Dálmata
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Corgi Galés de Pembroke
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Bichon Frise Bichón Frisé
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
Samoyed Samoyedo
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Bernese Mountain Dog Boyero de Berna
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
Wire Fox Terrier Fox Terrier de Pelo Duro
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingreports everything
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
Irish Setter Setter Irlandés
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
And for your life, which one?
A list narrows things down; the recommender crosses your home, your energy, your kids and your neighbors with these same data, in seven questions.
Other collections
More breeds for…
- Small 28
- Medium 18
- Large 35
- Fluffy 19
- Herding 9
- Giant 9
- for kids 39
- Hunting 18
- Calm 27
- Flat-faced (brachycephalic) 10
- Smart 18
- Affectionate 53
- for apartments 12
- that (almost) don't shed 24
- Guard 29
- Large calm 15
- The most common in Mexico 11
- that bark little 18
- Small calm 9
- Easy-to-train 47
- for older people 7
- for running 16
- that get along with cats 11
- for a house with a yard 31
- for hot climates 28
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