Most Well-Behaved Dog Breeds
Owning a dog is not without its difficulties, and behavioral issues frequently rank among the top reasons why owners surrender or abandon their pets. This is unfortunate because any dog can be trained to behave, and many behavior issues are actually caused by pet owners who are unable to properly socialize or train their pets.
Having said that, some dog breeds are more difficult to raise than others. Therefore, it may be wise to choose a breed that is relatively simple to raise and naturally inclined to good behavior if you’re looking for your first dog or if you simply lack confidence in your training skills.
Many of the breeds on this list are devoted, affectionate, calm, and unlikely to chew up your favorite shoes. Don’t be surprised if you recognize some of the dogs because they are some of the calmest dog breeds and some of the best dogs for children. The most well-behaved dog breeds will probably fit in with ease and make excellent lifelong companions. Every dog is good. It’s also true, though, that some breeds are more mischievous than others.
The Top 15 Most Well-Behaved Dog Breeds
The top 15 well-behaved dog breeds are listed below. We contrast the traits and give you a summary of them all. Therefore, let’s start the party.
1. Beagle
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 15 years
- Colors: Tri-colour, white & tan, lemon & white, white and chocolate
- Traits: Amiable, even tempered, intelligent, determined, excitable, and gentle
- Height: 36–41 cm
- Weight: 10 – 11 kg
Originally bred for hunting, the Beagle is a small dog that is now best known for its use by customs authorities at ports and airports as a sniffer dog. The earliest records of Beagle-type dogs date back more than 2,000 years to ancient Greece, making them a very old breed. Beagles are brave, intelligent, and even-tempered dogs that are calm and easy-going by nature. Even though they occasionally exhibit stubbornness, Beagles are excellent with kids and are a clear choice when looking for the best-behaved dog breeds.
2. Golden Retriever
Breed Overview:
- Age: 10 – 12 years
- Traits: Intelligent, reliable, kind, trustworthy, and confident
- Colors: Dark Golden, cream, lightly golden, and golden
- Weight: 25–32 kg
The fact that Golden Retrievers are generally very well-behaved is one of the reasons why they are so well-liked. They make wonderful family dogs because they are so loving and typically simple to train. It is a great choice if you’re looking for a running or cuddling companion.
3. Akita
Breed Overview
- Age: 10 – 14 years
- Traits: Faithful, composed, stubborn, intelligent, receptive, loyal, and courageous
- Colors: White, brindle, sesame, and Red Fawn
- Height: 58–66 cm
- Weight: 32–45 kg
Akitas are fiercely independent and insist that you earn their love. But once you do, they are one of the most devoted breeds. The Japanese Akita named Hachiko, who waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station in Tokyo for ten years before the man died, is considered the most famous example of a dog’s loyalty.
Since they obey commands and aim to please their owners, their loyalty frequently translates into good behavior. Akitas are renowned for their affectionate relationships with their families, but they can be wary of outsiders.
4. Boston Terrier
Breed Overview:
- Age: 13 – 15 years
- Weight: 4.5 – 11 kg
- Height: 38 – 43 cm
- Traits: Friendly, lively, and intelligent
- Colors: Brindle, white, seal & white, black and white
The Boston Terriers were created in Boston, Massachusetts, as suggested by their name. The breed was formally recognized and admitted to the American Kennel Club on February 20, 1893. Originally bred as a cross between an English bulldog and a White English Terrier. The Boston Terrier is a small dog breed with a short, smooth coat that is simple to maintain.
They are renowned for their calm demeanor, intelligence, and friendly, outgoing personalities. The Boston Terriers make wonderful family pets and companion animals. Another obvious choice for our list of the best-behaved dog breeds, they are typically quiet dogs who only bark when necessary.
5. Bull Terrier
Breed Overview:
- Age: 10–14 years
- Height: 45–55 cm
- Weight: 22–38 kg
- Traits: Stubborn, keen, sweet-tempered, active, protective, and trainable
- Colors: White, brindle & white, tri-color and fawn
The Bull Terrier is a robust, courageous, and strong dog that was developed in the United Kingdom. These Terriers are friendly, perceptive, and even-tempered dog in spite of its intimidating appearance. Bull Terriers make excellent family pets and wonderful companion dogs, despite their tendency to be a little stubborn.
They are simple to take care of and will enjoy living in a home with a yard just as much as they will in an apartment. Although they can be quite excitable as puppies, these dogs tend to calm down as they get older, so you are unlikely to encounter any serious behavioral problems with an adult Bull Terrier.
6. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Breed Overview:
- Age: 9 – 14 years
- Traits: Playful, affectionate, sociable, patient, fearless, adaptable, and graceful
- Colors: Blenheim, black & tan, tri-color, and ruby
- Weight: 5.9 – 8.2 kg
- Height: 30 – 33 cm
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, also known as the Royal Spaniel, is a small, sturdy dog with a long, flowing, silky coat. It is a direct ancestor of the small spaniels shown in numerous paintings of English royalty from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a noble little dog that is said to love all things great and small. They are known for their loving and affectionate temperaments. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a cheerful and generally healthy breed, but they prefer to live indoors with their families as members rather than outside.
7. Bernese Mountain Dog
Breed Overview:
- Age: 6 – 8 years
- Colour: Black tricolor
- Height: 64–70 cm
- Traits: Intelligent, affectionate, loyal, and faithful
- Weight: 38–50 kg
One of the most well-mannered dog breeds is the Bernese Mountain Dog. They are incredibly loving dogs who frequently act like little angels. They make excellent family pets because they are composed and patient. They’re also regarded as one of the least aggressive dog breeds, so they’ll be friendly and composed around most people. Despite their size, Bernese Mountain dogs are primarily just enormous cuddly toys that can also serve as pillows.
8. Papillon
Breed Overview:
- Age: 13 – 15 years
- Colors: White, sable, white & chocolate, black & white, fawn & white, red and white
- Traits: Friendly, intelligent, energetic, alert, and happy
- Weight: 3.6 – 4.5 kg
- Height: 20 – 28 cm
The name of this breed, papillon in French, refers to its distinctively large, fluttery ears that resemble butterfly wings. Small, happy, and playful, the dogs are relatively simple to take care of. Although shedding might be an issue, given their sweet personalities and adorable faces, we would gladly put up with hair maintenance for these sweethearts.
9. Havanese Dog
Breed Overview:
- Age: 13 – 15 years
- Weight: 4.5 – 7.3 kg
- Height: 23 – 27 cm
- Traits: Playful, affectionate, intelligent, responsive, companionable, and gentle
- Colors: Black, white, tobacco, Havana brown, fawn, and mahogany
Cuba’s national dog is of this extremely sociable breed. Large ears and distinctively soft, silky fur on Havanese dogs give them the appearance of having a mid-length haircut. The breed is popular with families with young children because it is typically friendly and gentle. They are suitable for small apartments or houses due to their diminutive size. They are renowned for being devoted to their owners and following them around the house.
10. Labrador Retriever
Breed Overview:
- Age: 10 – 12 years
- Height: 57–62 cm
- Colors: Black, chocolate, and yellow
- Weight: 29–36 kg
- Traits: Outgoing, even tempered, intelligent, kind, agile, trusting, and gentle
Like the Golden Retriever, the Labrador is a very well-liked family pet, recognized for its even temperament and calm demeanor. As one of the most adaptable dog breeds, Labrador retrievers are frequently employed as therapy dogs, drug and explosive detector dogs, and in a variety of other support roles.
The breed can easily adapt to almost any domestic living situation and has a high level of intelligence. It also responds exceptionally well to training. They are one of the most well-behaved dog breeds, and they are also incredibly loyal and typically not aggressive.
11. Newfoundland
Breed Overview:
- Age: 8 – 10 years
- Height: 69–71 cm
- Weight: 65–80 kg
- Traits: Sweet-tempered, gentle, and trainable
- Colors: Black, black & white, brown, and grey
The large and exceptionally intelligent Newfoundland dog breed was named for the Canadian province from which it descended. The Newfoundland is a gentle dog despite its enormous size and strength. They are renowned for their intelligence and their gentle, loving, and calm demeanor. The temperament of the breed is considered the most crucial quality in its official breed standard.
Of course, if not properly trained from a young age, any big, strong dog can be a handful, and Newfoundland is no exception in this regard. Due to their boisterous nature, Newfoundland puppies need obedience training starting at a young age, but they quickly pick it up. Once they’ve been trained, you probably won’t experience any behavioral issues.
12. Poodle
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 15 years
- Height: 24 – 28 cm
- Traits: Intelligent, alert, active, instinctual, faithful, and trainable
- Colors: Black, white, apricot, cream, sable, black & white, brown, blue, and grey
The Poodle is widely considered to be one of the smartest dog breeds, it was originally bred as a hunting dog and used as a water retriever throughout Germany and France from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Despite their delicate looks, the Poodle is a robust, active, and well-balanced dog that has a friendly and confident personality.
Today, the Poodle is best known for the vast array of stylish and, at times, eccentric haircuts that fanciers of the breed often give their pets. Poodles generally make excellent family pets and companion dogs. They respond exceptionally well to training and could be a good choice if you are looking for an intelligent, active, and well-behaved pet.
13. Pug
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 15 years
- Traits: Charming, clever, mischievous, docile, stubborn, and sociable
- Colors: Black, fawn, silver fawn, and apricot
- Height: 30–36 cm
The Pug is thought to be one of the oldest dog breeds still in existence today and is thought to have originated in China around 700 B.C. The breed was first introduced to the Netherlands in the 1500s, and royal households across Europe quickly adopted it.
The breed is now incredibly well-liked all over the world and is best known for its amiable and clownish personalities. With just a quick glance from their big, round eyes, these clever little dogs can win people over. Pugs are typically very friendly dogs who are not at all aggressive, despite the fact that they can be a little stubborn.
14. Vizsla
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 15 years
- Traits: Affectionate, energetic, loyal, quiet, and gentle
- Colors: Golden rust, golden, and red golden
- Height: 56-64 cm
- Weight: 20–29 kg
The Vizsla is a medium-sized hunting dog that was created in Hungary and used as a pointer and retriever, despite being comparatively unknown outside of Europe. The Vizsla is a wonderful family pet and companion dog, best known for their striking golden-red coats, which are referred to in their breed standard as being “Russet Gold.”
Vizslas are enthusiastic, intelligent, and rarely aggressive dogs who are always eager to learn new things. They make a great choice for competitive dog sports, agility, and flyball training because they are known as a breed to excel at obedience training. Vizslas are not dogs that enjoy lying around all day, so you will need to make sure they get enough exercise to prevent them from becoming sedentary.
15. German Shepherd
Breed Overview:
- Age: 9 – 13 years
- Traits: Stubborn, intelligent, curious, alert, loyal, confident
- Colors: Black, black & tan, sable, red & black, grey, black and silver
- Height: 60–65 cm
- Weight: 30–40 kg
German shepherds are among the most lovable large dog breeds in the world. They are highly intelligent, independent, and loyal. They can be found them working at police stations, airports, and in search-and-rescue operations, because they make excellent work dogs and thrive when they have a purpose. Their size and strength do make their bite potentially dangerous, so parents of young children should closely monitor interactions. As long as they have a way to release all of their energy.
Final Thoughts
Many of these are among the most intelligent and sociable dog breeds, so they strive to please their human parents and will do their best to win your approval. Obedient dogs are frequently calm, simple to train, and well-behaved around both humans and other dogs. They also don’t get overly excited, which helps prevent them from misbehaving.
Don’t be surprised if you recognize some of the dogs because they are some of the calmest dog breeds and some of the best dogs for children. The most well-behaved dog breeds will probably fit in with ease and make excellent lifelong companions. These dogs are good-natured, cheerful, and eager to please; you won’t need to use a firm hand to keep them from becoming destructive.
