9 Dog Breeds That Learn Tricks From Watching Others Quickly

9 Dog Breeds That Learn Tricks From Watching: The Keen Observers

Some dogs are wiser than your imagination!

You’ll often observe that they are standing at the corner, watching you take out a loaf of bread from the fridge. After a few days of observing your behaviour, the dog would soon open the fridge itself and take out its favourite snack with utmost skill and precision.

An experiment named Selective Imitation in Domestic Dogs revealed that some pets tend to imitate behaviors and copy them.

These dogs are great observers. They see what you are doing and learn new behaviour, without you actively trying to teach them. They will mimic every action of yours. From replicating your workout poses to sitting calmly with you on the sofa while watching a Netflix season, these dogs will do it all.

Keen observation and intelligence are key factors that help them learn new actions from their owners. In this article, we shall talk about dog breeds that learn tricks from watching!

Dog Breeds That Learn Tricks From Watching

1. Border collie

Border collie

A Border Collie is not only a super-intelligent breed, but it also has a natural aptitude for observation.

It is also the easiest dog breed to train as it learns new tricks through watching and imitating. Dog owners don’t have to fret over spending extensive efforts on training them, as simple actions by them will help the dog learn new behaviors.

Generally speaking, these dogs are good at skills that different dogs learn in their lifetime. Border Collie alone is able to learn them all and display its intelligence by being brilliant in each one of them. Herding, obedience, dog sports, and agility are some tasks it is great at!

Border collie Profile

Also, as it is a super energetic dog, you need to give it enough physical and mental stimulation at home. For instance, go for trick training, puzzle toys, and hide-and-seek as they are mentally stimulating games and keep the dog sharp!

2. Golden retriever

Golden retriever

The Golden Retriever is yet another dog that is exceptional at social learning or observational learning.

This means that simply by observing the people around, they would be able to learn new tricks and replicate the actions of others.

Super adept at picking up new behaviours, these dogs are a good choice for first-time owners as they don’t have to spend a lot of time, energy, and effort on obedience training.

Golden retriever Profile

Oh, and if you have kids at home who are good friends of these dogs, you’ll see that the Goldens watch them perform actions and then mimic those actions shortly after. Naturally observant, puppies and even adult dogs can easily pick up behaviours from their environment.

This is also one reason why they are considered to be well-suited for various tasks as service dogs. Through observation and dog training, they easily learn activities like mobility assistance, retrieving objects, and offering balance support. They are also great at providing emotional support to those in need.

3. Papillon

Papillon

What makes Papillon so good at observation and learning skills, just by looking at someone doing it, is its alert and curious nature.

These dogs are always curious and want to know more!

They are easy to train, which is why they are a popular dog breed amongst first-time owners.

Papillon Profile

If you want to help the dog hone its observation skills and make them even better, give it opportunities for focused observation to explore and investigate the environment. The more it explores, the more it is able to learn.

For a professional dog trainer, this is one of the easiest dogs to train and teach. Positive reinforcement training that doesn’t involve any harsh reactions works best for them!

4. German Shepherd

If you have a German Shepherd Dog, you must have realized that it is constantly analyzing situations and people around it.

Be it your home or the outdoors, the dog always has its imaginary antennas up, looking at things and occurrences with great curiosity and interest.

It learns just by looking at actions.

One day, you’ll place your yoga mat on the floor and make some poses, the next day, you’ll see your German Shepherd spring into action, replicating you.

This alertness and intelligence make it one of the most popular dog breeds out there!

5. English Springer Spaniel

These dogs were originally bred to be hunting dogs, and they mostly learn through the actions of their hunter partners. PetPlan says they are super intelligent!

With their keen observation skills, they can learn new tricks just by eyeing others. In fact, this quality of theirs makes them phenomenal at agility and obedience training as well.

What’s even better?

These dogs are adept at anticipating the bird’s flush. They learn this behaviour through observation. This is why these dogs are still considered to be some of the best hunting dogs in the dog world.

When compared to most other breeds, they don’t even need consistent training. Rather, they will learn the skill and will retain it well, without you having to repeat it time and again.

6. Labrador Retriever

Do you have dogs in the house already and want to bring a Lab now?

Well, it would be a great decision as you won’t have to worry about training it!

You know why?

Because this dog would learn acceptable behaviours and skills just by observing other dogs in the house.

Yes, it’s as simple as that!

Labrador Basics-01

PetMD says Labrador Retrievers are rightfully some of the most trainable breeds out there, and they make great family dogs as they learn social behaviors fast. They imitate the actions of other humans and dogs, living with them, replicating their behaviors.

Dogs that are still young showcase better performance in agility training compared to older dogs.

7. Miniature Schnauzer

One of the most intelligent dog breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer, easily picks up on new behaviours simply by observing people around them,

They are easily trainable dogs that make an energetic breed.

At home, you have to give them enough opportunities for activity, or else they’ll act bored and destructive.

Being quick learners, they can readily grasp new skills, without you having to fret about their performance and behaviour.

Another reason why they are good at observing and replicating the behaviour of their owners is that they are eager to please them and find joy in their happiness. The happier or more joyful you are upon the dog’s ability to showcase a new skill, the more it will do that!

8. Rottweiler

Rottweilers are big dogs that learn by observation.

If you notice them observing you doing something, remember that you’ll soon see them performing the same action sometime later.

This makes training really easy. Alongside this, if the desired behaviour of the dog is rewarded, they are more likely to repeat it.

Simply stock up on their favourite snacks and give them treats when you see them behaving nicely, and it will make the training process faster and easier.

Warning: Be careful with the behaviour you show in the house, as this dog is great at observing! If a Rottweiler witnesses confrontational interactions or is exposed to threatening situations, it might start behaving violently as well.

9. Shetland sheepdog

Shetland sheepdog also picks up new skills and manners by watching their owners or other dogs.

These sheepdogs are very intelligent.

Being naturally observant, they’ll easily pick up clues from their surroundings and behave like that. In fact, if they watch other dogs perform agility actions, they’ll soon copy the moves.

As a pet owner, you need to give these dogs opportunities to learn. If you offer them an open environment where they are exposed to different situations and meet new people, they develop into well-adjusted and confident dogs.

Conclusion

Intelligence and an eagerness to please are just a deadly combo! Dogs that have them are not only highly trainable, they are also phenomenal at amazing you with their actions. Be it a small dog or a big one, if it observes you keenly, it will be able to replicate your actions accurately.

These highly intelligent dogs with sharp instincts are surely excellent companions for busy homeowners who don’t have a lot of time and energy to train the dog extensively.

Fenric Hale
Fenric Hale is a seasoned writer and a dedicated Animal Support Technician with years of experience caring for animals. Known for his calm, practical approach and steady patience, Fenric is always ready to lend a helping hand — whether he's giving medication, restocking supplies, or comforting a nervous pup during a vet visit. He has a natural connection with high-energy dogs and takes pride in turning tense, chaotic moments into calm and reassuring ones. At home, Fenric shares his days (and plenty of snacks) with his retired greyhound, Olive — his loyal shadow and favorite nap companion.