We all love our dogs — whether they are well-behaved or mischievous. But if you are considering adopting a new best friend, it might help to know which is which.
Recently, financial website Forbes Advisor surveyed 5,000 dog owners — 200 each for the 25 most popular dog breeds — and asked them to rank their pooches in two categories: following commands and temperament.
Based on those criteria, here are the breeds with the best and worst behavior. We start with the most well-behaved dogs first.
1. Labrador retriever
This breed’s overall score: 100%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 79%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 4%
The Labrador retriever is a popular family dog because of its sweet disposition. It is known for being friendly and outgoing. Labrador retrievers are considered great family dogs.
They also have webbed toes that help make them excellent swimmers.
2. Rottweiler
This breed’s overall score: 92%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 77%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 4%
For millennia, few people have been brave — or foolish — enough to mess with a Rottweiler. The dogs are powerful and protective, which is why cattle herders used to put their money in a bag and tie it around their dog’s neck.
3. Shih Tzu
This breed’s overall score: 91%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 75%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 3%
This breed has been around for at least 1,000 years. Shih Tzus originate from Tibet in Asia, and it’s believed they were sent to Chinese royalty as gifts.
Shih Tzus are known to be playful, outgoing and affectionate.
4. Cane corso (tie)
This breed’s overall score: 89%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 79%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 3%
A cane corso is a very protective companion. While they aren’t immediately open with others, cane corsi are loyal to and affectionate with their owners.
This breed is exceptionally old. They were used as warrior dogs in ancient Greece, and their name translates from Latin to “bodyguard dog.” Throughout the years, they were then trained as farm dogs and used for hunting and guarding property.
4. Golden retriever (tie)
This breed’s overall score: 89%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 75%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 3%
Golden retrievers have a keen sense of smell and are good trackers. That has made them a favorite of search-and-rescue teams.
They ranked highly for not being disruptive with barking or whining. Two presidents — Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan — kept golden retrievers while in office.
6. German shepherd
This breed’s overall score: 75%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 79%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 5%
One of the most famous dogs in history — Rin Tin Tin — was a German shepherd. An American soldier fighting in World War I discovered the famous pooch in France and brought him home.
Eager to please their owners, these dogs are among the smartest and fastest of them all.
7. Boston terrier
This breed’s overall score: 63%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 73%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 5%
True to its name, the Boston terrier was developed in 19th-century Boston. The breed is a combination of the English bulldog and a white English terrier.
The Boston terrier is one of the few breeds that originate from the U.S. and is described as affectionate and gentle.
8. Poodle
This breed’s overall score: 61%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 69%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 7%
Poodles have a major claim to fame: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy owned a poodle named Gaullie as a youth. An ardent Francophile from her teen years, she named the pup after French President Charles de Gaulle — whom she admired for his resolve as a general during World War II — because the poodle “was straight and proud and had a prominent nose,” she said.
They tie with Shih Tzus and Yorkshire terriers as a breed least likely to destroy things. Poodles can be fashioned with various hairstyles, with strict rules regarding their puffs and pompoms.
9. Yorkshire terrier
This breed’s overall score: 57%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 65%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 9%
Typically measuring between 7 and 10 inches tall, the Yorkshire terrier — or “Yorkie” — is one of the smallest dog breeds. That makes them ideal dogs for those who live in apartments and other small homes.
10. Bulldog
This breed’s overall score: 55%
Owners who say it has “excellent” or “pretty good” behavior: 73%
Owners who say it has “not good” or “terrible” behavior: 4%
Bulldogs are a top choice for those seeking mascots. Institutions from the U.S. Marine Corps to the University of Georgia have chosen the bulldog as an emblem.
Because they don’t require much exercise, bulldogs also are a top choice for people who live in the city.
The worst-behaved dog breeds
Some dog breeds tend to lean to the naughty side and have difficulty following commands. Here are the worst-behaved dog breeds and their overall score, according to their owners:
- Siberian husky: 0%
- Beagle: 1%
- Havanese: 12%
- French bulldog: 17%
- Cavalier King Charles spaniel: 21%
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