Animal teacher! The breeds of dogs that are easiest to train have been identified – so how does YOUR dog work?
With their adorable faces and wagging tails, it’s no surprise that dogs have been man’s best friend for thousands of years.
But not all breeds are the same when it comes to training, and if your pet misbehaves, it can be a serious source of stress.
In a new study, researchers from the University of Helsinki have identified breeds that are the easiest to train.
Their results show that Australian Cobberdogs, Australian Labradoodles and Golden Labrador Retrievers are the best for training.
On the contrary, according to the study, Bull Terriers, Sled Dogs and Parson Terriers are the most difficult to train.
In a new study, researchers from the University of Helsinki have identified breeds that are the easiest to train. Pictured: Australian Cobberdog
According to the study, Bull Terriers (pictured), sled dogs and Parson Terriers are the most difficult to train.
In the study, the team set out to explore differences in temperament between dog breeds.
“Dog breed is the most important determinant of personality differences,” said Dr. Milla Salonen, lead author of the study.
“All dogs are individuals and all breeds have different traits, but breeds differ in what kind of personality most dogs in each breed have.”
The team collected a huge behavioral survey dataset containing information on 11,000 dogs from 300 different breeds.
Then they were divided into 52 groups.
The data revealed a strong association between the breed and seven personality traits.
These were insecurity, focus on learning, aggressiveness/dominance, energy, canine sociability, human sociability, and persistence.”
In terms of training, the “other breeds” group topped the list as the easiest to train.
Parson Terriers have been found to be one of the most difficult breeds to train. Pictured: Parson Russell Terrier
This group included the Australian Cobberdog, Australian Labradoodle, Golden Labrador Retriever, Indian Pariah Dog, Large Peruvian Hairless Dog, Medium Size Peruvian Hairless Dog, Miniature Peruvian Hairless Dog, Sescar Sea Dog, Unknown Breed, Wolfdog, Xoloitzcuintle Intermediate and Standard Xoloitzcuintle .
This group was followed by a Labrador Retriever, a Border Collie and a Spanish Water Dog.
On the other hand, Bull Terriers, Sled Dogs, Parson Terriers, and Pinscher/Schnauzers were considered the most difficult to train.
In addition to breed, several other factors have been found to influence a dog’s trainability.
Female dogs were found to be easier to train, while training also became easier as the dogs got older.
Meanwhile, neutered dogs have proven more difficult to train than those who have not yet been neutered.
“Based on our research, personality traits are extremely complex and share striking similarities between dogs, humans, and other animals,” added Dr. Salonen.