Though food really works as a training reward, some dogs do their best just for your happiness, and can ignore the treat bags! Some breeds believe in being praised, enjoy their playtime, and enjoy feeling loved by their owners.
These affectionate dogs are not only good at following your orders, but they also care more about spending time with you than with food. Dog breeds ranging from Border Collies to German Shepherds show that the greatest motivation to train comes from working with their owners.
With an emotionally stronger bond with their humans, they increase their mental and physical stimulation. We will show you the dog breeds that excel at training without treats, why their nature is different from other dogs, and how to use their instincts smartly.
Meet the dogs that take praise to be the best possible prize.
Dog Breeds That Can Be Trained Without Treats
If you do not use treats, then you develop a relationship that is based on loyalty and respect rather than trading food. For this reason, service and military organizations use these dogs that put their lives at risk, so they must love what they do beyond the basic food motivation.
1. Belgian Malinois
Training a Belgian Malinois is easy, as they learn by instinct rather than through treats or food-based rewards. Malinois are known to be very alert and intelligent dogs. Since they are mainly trained as service dogs to protect and assist, these dogs can give a really good response in tough situations.
The Malinois is best suited for police and law enforcement agencies, as they react very quickly to soft commands to cope with the situation.
PetMD reports that this Belgian dog breed was originally bred to herd, but their trainability and drive led them into several other careers, including police work, search and rescue, and bomb and drug detection.
This means that Belgian Malinois do best in a house where they have a job to perform, such as agility, tracking, or obedience.
2. Boxer
While Boxers are known for their gentle nature and affectionate behavior, they are also easily influenced by the feelings of their owner and family members. Even though Boxers appreciate good meals, they usually prefer being praised and spending time near their human companions.
Boxers want to make their family happy and strive to make strong bonds with them. They are among the easiest dogs to train and make a great dog for first-time pet parents. Since Boxers are smart and feel things deeply, using consistent training methods is often better than making them food motivated.
3. Doberman Pinscher
Training helps Dobies to stay well-behaved; they learn quickly and show empathy and intelligence. You should do consistent training and stick to the routine with affectionate praise. These gentle giants have a sleek, muscular build and stay loyal to their owners.
Doberman Pinschers are popular as service dogs that can be trained to protect the property and obey orders instantly, and do not need rewards. With early training and positive reinforcement, they pay attention to their handlers’ voices and actions, not only to their food.
They are the easiest dogs to train that need mental stimulation. Dobies thrive when you use firm and proper training and make your rules clear to them. They are intelligent dogs, which makes training fun when you keep it upbeat and rewarding for them.
4. Standard Poodle
According to the American Kennel Club, Poodles are extremely intelligent and are easily trained. They are agile and graceful as well as smart, and they enjoy and excel in a variety of dog sports, including agility, obedience, and tracking.
They are excellent water retrievers and also compete in dock diving and retriever hunt tests.
Poodles like to be challenged; they often react better to some new task or a compliment than to a snack. Their eagerness to please and quick learning ability make these canines excellent students when provided with the right, structured, interactive dog training sessions.
5. Papillon
Do not forget that these small dogs are a high-energy and intelligent breed. They are regarded as one of the smartest toy breeds that like to try mental stimulation tasks.
PetMD suggests that pet parents also need to dedicate themselves to training, with consistency and positive reinforcement, a Papillon puppy can grow to be the ideal companion.
They love to connect with their people and are happy, outgoing, and intelligent, making them among the easiest dog breeds to train.
6. Border Collie
Border collies are renowned for their intelligence, energy, and strong work ethic. This makes them a great choice if you’re wanting to do agility or advanced tricks with your pet.
These dogs make great herding dogs, and they usually ace “the cylinder test,” a common animal cognition studies task that requires memory and impulse control. The breed also scored well with recognizing human gestures and was less likely than other breeds to abandon difficult tasks.
7. German Shepherd
German Shepherds are commonly regarded as service and military dogs, and this is partly because they are incredibly intelligent and are good at training and following commands, without being food-motivated.
Contrary to popular belief, German shepherds are actually quite affectionate family members, good around other dogs, and have high energy. Like border collies, German shepherds require daily mental stimulation and activity, and their “eager to please” personality makes them a great choice.
8. Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a highly intelligent and versatile herding dog, a good option for active people looking for a medium-sized dog. They use their body to communicate well. And they are quick learners who like interactive activities.
According to WebMD, if you’re looking to train a dog to protect you in the face of danger, Rottweilers are a great choice, as they have a natural watchdog instinct.
Apart from being good watchdogs, Rottweilers are relatively easy to train. As with any breed, it’s important to socialize your Rottweiler as a puppy.
9. Vizsla
This breed is gentle and likes to spend time with human companions. They are quick learners who need positive reinforcement. The energetic dog breed is well-suited for being a family dog.
Vizslas are known for their ability to grasp commands quickly, making them excellent family pets. Vizslas are super trainable and don’t need treats to stay motivated. They thrive on praise, petting, and just being around you. These dogs are all about bonding—if you’re happy, they’re happy.
Use toys or brain games to keep them engaged during training. They’re smart, eager to please, and pick up on cues fast. Perfect for anyone looking for a loyal, low-maintenance training buddy.
10. English Springer Spaniel
English Springer Spaniels are active and dedicated partners. They are wonderful working dogs and an easy-to-train dog breed. They follow the command of their owners instead of focusing on just getting treats.
Dogs that can maintain focus are generally easier to train than dogs that are easily distracted by food.
Eager to please their owners, they will typically be eager to carry out commands successfully and receive praise. They love to connect with their people and are happy, outgoing, and intelligent, making them relatively easy to train.
Conclusion
Working with dog breeds that were originally bred with the instinct to stay active and guard you in difficult times. Unlike other dogs, they go beyond obedience and become your partner.
What is their reward? Your genuine enthusiasm once they accomplish something.
Choosing a Vizsla or English Springer Spaniel means you will find a partner that is a smart, loyal, and obedient dog. To put things simply, some dogs consider their jobs done when they see you smile, not just when you give them food.
