When we talk about a smart dog breed, we usually want to know how trainable the dog is. Trainability is an important factor in determining a dog’s intelligence. Dog breeds that learn quickly and respond well to training cues are usually highly trainable.
Like large dogs, some small dog breeds are also loved for their instinctive drive and distinctive personality. Despite their small size, they are blessed with high trainability and excellent problem-solving skills.
Many pet owners may fall for the common misconception that small dog breeds are easy to train. However, training a small dog is not always a piece of cake. Some little doggos like Shiba Inu and Jack Russell Terriers tend to have a mind of their own and may be hard to teach.
Have a look at these 7 highly trainable dog breeds for small-sized enthusiasts.
Highly Trainable Dog Breeds for Small-Size Enthusiasts
1. Havanese
Outgoing and fun-loving, the Havanese is an intelligent dog breed that can be trained easily. These smart dogs have comic instincts of a born clown. Havanese are naturally alert to their surroundings and make excellent watchdogs.
PetMD mentions that these playful dogs learn best when training games and positive reinforcement methods are used. Havanese are quick learners. They bond instantly with their owners and do not like being left alone for extended periods.
Havanese dogs have moderate exercise needs. They benefit from brisk daily walks and play sessions with their humans. Havanese are exceptionally affectionate and behave well with children and other dogs. They are the happiest when they get to spend time with their owners.
Like other breeds, they also need proper training and socialization starting from puppyhood to turn into well-behaved pets.
2. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise are curious, playful, and peppy pups originally bred as companion dogs. They are loved for their adaptable nature, hypoallergenic coat, and high brainpower. This intelligent dog breed has an alert demeanor and makes a great watchdog.
Bichons are highly trainable dogs who learn new commands easily. These quick learners love to perform tricks and respond best to positive reinforcement techniques. Bichon Frise is difficult to housebreak, but is easy to train in every other aspect.
The American Kennel Club describes Bichons as ‘somewhat active dogs.’ Long stretches of calm are interspersed with short bursts of high activity. These smart canines also excel in a variety of dog sports, including obedience, agility, and rally.
Bichon Frise love their people and are happy to entertain them with their playful antics. They can develop separation anxiety when left alone for extended periods.
3. Papillon
Papillon is a small dog breed with sharp minds and big personalities. These curious dogs are very responsive and excel in dog sports like agility training and obedience. Paps are quick learners, so they pick up on new tricks easily.
Also known as ‘butterfly dogs,’ Papillons are one of the most intelligent breeds. This, combined with their eagerness to please, makes them highly trainable. Training sessions need to be consistent, fun, and positive for your pup.
Papillons are enthusiastic dogs who love to be surrounded by people, explains Omlet. They have high social intelligence as well. That is why they get along nicely with kids, other dogs, and even cats. Sometimes, they may think they are much larger than they actually are.
Puppy classes can help you teach them how to behave. This energetic breed needs moderate exercise for physical and mental stimulation.
4. Boston Terrier
Recognizable by their tuxedo-like coats, Boston Terriers are often referred to as ‘the American Gentlemen.’ These full of energy canines love playing with their owners and entertaining people around them.
These smart dogs respond well to positive reinforcement-based training methods. Boston Terriers are intelligent, friendly, and adaptable dogs who enjoy brisk walks as much as they like resting on the couch. Without adequate stimulation, they can become destructive.
Like all breeds, Boston Terriers need proper training and early socialization to turn into well-behaved pups. They enjoy activities like agility, flyball, frisbee, and games of fetch. Their happy-go-lucky demeanor makes them well-suited for multi-pet households.
Boston Terriers also like participating in various dog sports despite being a small dog breed. However, they are brachycephalic, so avoid overexercising them.
5. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are gentle, affectionate, and graceful little dogs. They are quite adaptable and get along nicely with couch potatoes as well as active owners. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a highly intelligent breed.
They were originally bred as companion dogs and have an eager-to-please nature. Due to these traits, this smart dog breed can be trained easily. Cavaliers are also very athletic. They excel at a variety of dog sports, including obedience, rally, and agility.
They are very sensitive and can easily understand the changes in their owner’s moods and emotions. That is why they make wonderful therapy dogs. Early socialization and puppy training methods are a good way to turn your Cavalier into a well-mannered pup.
Cavaliers have descended from Sporting dogs, so they need moderate daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation.
6. Miniature Schnauzer
Mini Schnauzers are smart and intelligent dogs who love people. These spunky fellows are quite energetic and have an eager-to-please nature. They easily follow their owners’ commands and cues. Mini Schnauzers do well with other pets and kids.
They make fun playmates and sometimes think they are much bigger than they actually are. These highly trainable companions are small enough to adapt to apartment life and tireless enough to patrol acres of farmland.
The smallest of all three Schnauzer breeds, Miniature Schnauzers were originally bred as ratters, so they end up chasing every moving object. Proper training sessions can help overcome this behavior. Mini Schnauzers excel in a variety of dog sports, including agility and obedience.
These small dogs can easily master basic obedience training and commands like ‘sit’ and ‘stay.’ Their medium-length coat needs plenty of grooming to stay in top-notch condition.
7. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are friendly and energetic dogs with a big dog mentality packed in small to medium-sized bodies. They are eager to please everybody around them and enjoy training sessions. Pembroke Welsh Corgi also loves learning new things.
Pembrokes were originally bred as herding dogs. They require a significant amount of activity every day for physical and mental enrichment. Exercise can help reduce the tendency to destructive behaviors like excessive barking and chewing.
Thanks to their herding background, Pembroke Welsh Corgis have an instinct to herd everything and everyone, including little kids. These highly trainable canines excel at herding and obedience competitions.
Conclusion
Many small dog breeds are loved for their eager-to-please nature and high brainpower. These intelligent canines respond quickly to cues and commands given by their owners. Such small dog breeds are highly trainable.
They are quick learners and excel at a variety of canine sports like agility, obedience, and rally. These canines also have high social intelligence and get along nicely with everyone. Thanks to their sensitive nature, many of them also make excellent therapy dogs.
