By Talker Staff
While all dogs are good dogs, some are better behaved than others.
Forbes Advisor decided to find the best and worst-behaved dog breeds to help educate prospective owners on their furry friends.
To do so, they surveyed 5,000 dog owners made up of 200 owners for each of the 25 most popular dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club.
The survey ranked dog behavior in two categories: following commands and temperament.
Under the “following commands” category, they asked dog owners if and how often their dog barks at others, jumps up on people, begs for food, and how well they follow commands when off-leash in public.
Under the “temperament” category, they asked dog owners to rate their dog’s overall behavior, if/how often their dog tries to escape, if their dog’s health has ever been threatened due to its own behavior, and if they whine, destroy things or ingest foreign objects
The most-behaved dog breed was found to be the Labrador retriever, with the worst-behaved dog breed being the Siberian husky.
When it comes to following commands, the cane corso ranked as the most behaved breed, while the dachshund ranked the worst.
The shih tzu ranked as the best-behaved breed in terms of temperament, with the beagle ranked the worst.
Of those dog owners who said their dog exhibits “not good” or “terrible” behavior, a quarter (25%) said it’s because they never attempted to train their dogs.
Meanwhile, of those dog owners who said their dog has “okay”, “not good” or “terrible” behavior, 19% said they’ve tried professional training to try and improve the behavior.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, six of the 10 breeds that most commonly bark at others fall under the small breed category (with a maximum weight of no more than 32 pounds). Those six breeds are: Havanese, miniature schnauzers, dachshunds, Pembroke Welsh corgis, Pomeranians and Yorkshire terriers.
The results found that roughly a third (31%) of the dog owners surveyed said their dogs “often” follow commands when off-leash in public, while 19% said “sometimes.”
Most dog owners ranked their dog's behavior as “pretty good” (44%), while only a quarter ranked it as “excellent” (27%).
When asked about the type of negative behaviors their dogs exhibit most frequently, dog owners reported “barking at others” (44%) was the most common, followed by “jumping up on others” (39%).
And while 38% said their dog has never attempted a daring escape, 16% reported their dog has tried to escape “often” and “always.”
Among dog owners who reported their dog’s behavior is less than ideal, the most common training methods they have tried are trying to train their dog at home (74%), crate training (33%) and socialization training (30%)
About a fifth (19%) of all dog owners report trying professional training to improve their dog's behavior, but 15% of dog owners who have tried professional training said their dog wasn’t receptive to it.
The majority of dog owners who report their dog’s behavior as “not good” or “terrible” said they believe their dog’s poor behavior is due to their dog not being receptive to training at home (31%), their dog being currently in training (27%) and never attempting to train their dog (25%).
Best-Behaved Dog Breeds
1. Labrador Retriever
Labrador retriever score: 100 out of 100
Easy to train and eager to please, Labrador retrievers have a great temperament and can be an easy addition to a variety of households.
- Labrador retrievers ranked in the top three in the following metrics:
- The dog breed most likely to have excellent and pretty good behavior (79%, tying with cane corsos)
- Second highest percentage of dogs whose health has never been threatened by their behavior (85%)
- Second-least likely breed to ingest foreign objects (7%, tying with Boston terriers, Yorkshire terriers and Pomeranians)
- Third-least likely dog breed to whine (21%)
2. Rottweiler
Rottweiler score: 92.49 out of 100
With a low propensity to destroy things or ingest foreign objects, the Rottweiler ranked as the second best behaved dog breed.
- Rottweilers ranked in the top five in the following metrics:
- The least likely dog breed to whine (18%)
- The second-least likely dog breed that rarely and never follow commands when off-leash in public (5.5%)
- 3 for the high percentage of dogs who always and often follow commands when off-leash in public (69.5%)
- 4 for the relatively low percentage of dogs who beg for food (32%, tying with Doberman Pinschers)
3. Shih Tzu
Shih tzu’s score: 91.08 out of 100
The shih tzu is one of only three small breed dogs included in the top most behaved dog breeds in the analysis.
- Shih tzus ranked No. 1 in the following metrics:
- The breed least likely to jump on people (27%)
- The breed least likely to destroy things (7%, tying with poodles and Yorkshire terriers).
- The breed least likely to ingest foreign objects (4%)
- Owners also reported a low percentage of shih tzus whose health has never been threatened by their behavior (87%)
- The following rankings for shih tzus kept the breed from scoring better overall:
- They ranked ninth worst for a high percentage of dogs who beg for food (41%, tying with boxers and Pomeranians)
- They also are ninth worst due to the lower percentage of dogs who always and often follow commands when off-leash in public (55%)
4. Cane Corso
Cane Corso’s score: 89.07 out of 100
The cane corso is a notably well-behaved dog that follows commands while off-leash.
- The cane corso ranked in the top 10 in the following metrics:
- The breed with the highest percentage of dogs with excellent and pretty good behavior (79%, tying with labrador retrievers)
- The breed with the highest percentage of dogs that always and often follow commands when off-leash in public (73%)
- The second-lowest percentage of dogs with not good and terrible behavior (2.5%, tying with golden retrievers and Doberman pinschers)
- The third lowest percentage of dogs who beg for food (31%)
- The eighth lowest percentage of dogs who bark at others (41%, tying with rottweilers and Boston terriers)
5. Golden Retriever
Golden retriever’s score: 88.77 out of 100
The analysis finds that the reputation of Golden retrievers as happy-go-lucky companions rings true; they ranked highly for having good behavior and not being disruptive with barking or whining.
- The golden retriever ranked in the top 10 in the following metrics:
- The breed with the second-highest percentage of dogs who rarely and never try to escape (79%)
- The breed with the second lowest percentage of dogs with not good and terrible behavior (2.5%, tying with Doberman pinschers and cane corsos)
- The breed with the third-lowest percentage of dogs who bark at others (37%)
- The breed with the fourth-lowest percentage of dogs who whine (23%)
6. German Shepherd
German shepherd’s score: 74.65 out of 100
German shepherds are known for being eager to please their owners, whether it’s through general good behavior or following commands.
- The German shepherd ranked in the top 10 in the following metrics:
- The breed least likely to beg for food (26%)
- The breed second-most likely to always and often follow commands when off-leash in public (70%)
- The third-highest ranking breed for excellent and pretty good behavior (78.5%)
- The sixth most-likely breed whose health has never been threatened by their own behavior (81%)
7. Boston Terrier
Boston terrier’s score: 62.90 out of 100
The Boston terrier is the second of three small breed dogs to land in the top 10 of well behaved dog breeds.
- Boston terriers ranked in the top 10 in the following metrics:
- The second-least likely breed to ingest foreign objects (7%, tying with Labrador retrievers, Yorkshire terriers and Pomeranians)
- The breed with the fifth-lowest percentage of dogs who always and often try to escape (10.5%)
- The breed with the seventh-lowest percentage of dogs who destroy things (12%)
- The breed with the eighth-lowest percentage of dogs who bark at others (41%, tying with rottweilers and cane corsos)
8. Poodle
Poodle’s score: 60.97 out of 100
The poodle is the dog breed least likely to destroy things, which can mean fewer headaches for owners than other dogs on the list.
- Poodles ranked in the top 10 in the following metrics:
- The breed with the lowest percentage of dogs that destroy things (7%, tying with shih tzus and Yorkshire terriers)
- The second-least likely breed that always and often tries to escape (8.5%)
- The breed with the fifth-lowest percentage of dogs who whine (24%)
- The breed with the sixth-lowest percentage of dogs whose health has been threatened by their own behavior (13%)
9. Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire terrier’s score: 56.58 out of 100
Despite being small and considered “lap dogs,” Yorkshire terriers aren’t likely to jump on others or whine.
- Yorkshire terriers ranked in the top 10 in the following metrics:
- The breed with the lowest percentage of dogs that destroy things (7%, tying with shih tzus and poodles)
- The breed with the third-lowest percentage of dogs who jump on others (35%, tying with Labrador retrievers)
- The breed with the seventh-lowest percentage of dogs who rarely and never try to escape (72.5%)
- The breed with the eight-lowest percentage of dogs who whine (26%)
10. American Bulldogs
American bulldog’s score: 55.32 out of 100
Rounding out the top 10 list of best behaved dog breeds, the American Bulldog landed at number 10.
- American bulldogs ranked in the top 15 in the following metrics:
- The breed with the second-lowest percentage of dogs who beg for food (28%)
- The breed with the sixth-lowest percentage of dogs who whine (25%, tying with Great Danes)
- The breed with the eighth-highest percentage of dogs who always and often follow commands when off-leash in public (64%)
- The breed with the eleventh-lowest percentage of dogs who always and often try to escape (15%, tying with boxers)
Least-Behaved Dog Breeds
1. Siberian Husky
Siberian husky’s score: 0 out of 100
The worst behaved dog on the list is the Siberian husky due to its inability to follow an owner’s commands.
- Siberian huskies ranked in the bottom five in the following metrics:
- The breed with the highest percentage of dogs with not good and terrible behavior (9.5%)
- The breed with the second-highest percentage of dogs who jump on people (46%)
- The breed with the third-highest percentage of dogs who destroy things (23%)
- The breed with the third lowest-percentage of dogs who rarely and never try to escape (60.5%)
2. Beagle
Beagle’s score: 1.34 out of 100
Watch your food around the beagle, which owners report as a breed that often begs for food and doesn’t listen to commands.
- Beagles ranked in the bottom five in the following metrics:
- The breed with the lowest percentage of dogs with excellent and pretty good behavior (58.5%)
- The breed with the second-highest percentage of dogs who rarely and never follow commands when off-leash in public (13%)
- The breed with the second-highest percentage of dogs who beg for food (49%)
- They have the second-lowest percentage of dogs who rarely and never try to escape (59%)
3. Havanese
Havanese’s score: 12.04 out of 100
If you’re sensitive to noise, the Havanese may not be the breed for you—dog owners report them frequently barking and whining.
- Havanese ranked in the bottom five in the following metrics:
- The breed with the highest percentage of dogs who bark at others (59%)
- The breed with the second-highest percentage of dogs who whine (38%, tying with the dachshund)
- The breed with the second-highest percentage of dogs who destroy things (25%)
- The second-highest percentage of dogs whose health has been threatened by their own behavior (32%)
4. French Bulldog
French bulldog’s score: 17.32 out of 100
The French bulldog is one of four small breed dogs to land in the top five worst behaved dog breeds, according to the survey.
- French Bulldogs ranked in the bottom 10 in the following metrics:
- The breed with the fourth-lowest percentage of dogs with excellent and pretty good behavior (64%)
- The breed with the sixth-highest percentage of dogs who rarely and never try to escape (63%, tying with Great Danes)
- The breed with the seventh-highest percentage of dogs whose health has been threatened by their own behavior (23%)
5. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles spaniel’s score: 20.89 out of 100
The fourth and final small breed to make it among the five worst behaved dog breeds is the Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
- Cavalier King Charles spaniels ranked in the bottom 10 in the following metrics:
- The breed with the third-highest percentages of dogs who beg for food (46%) and dogs who whine (35%)
- The breed with the fourth-highest percentage of dogs who rarely and never follow commands when off-leash in public (11%)
- The breed with the fifth-highest percentage of dogs who ingest foreign objects (13%)
Methodology
To uncover the most and least-behaved dog breeds, Forbes Advisor commissioned a survey conducted by Talker Research of 5,000 American dog owners (200 owners for each of the 25 most popular dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club).
The survey analyzed data for each dog breed across the following 14 metrics:
Following Commands - Total Points: 35
- The percentage of dogs who always and often follow commands when off-leash in public: 10% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs who jump on people: 7% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs who beg for food: 7% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs who bark at others: 6% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs who rarely and never follow commands when off-leash in public: 5% of the total score.
Temperament - Total Points: 65
- The percentage of dogs with excellent and pretty good behavior: 10% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs with not good and terrible behavior: 10% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs who always and often try to escape: 8% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs whose health has been threatened by their own behavior: 8% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs who destroy things: 7% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs who ingest foreign objects: 7% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs who rarely and never try to escape: 5% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs whose health has never been threatened by their own behavior: 5% of the total score.
- The percentage of dogs who whine: 5% of the total score.