10 Adorable Small Dog Breeds That Are Easy to Train

When you first get a small dog, it can be challenging to train them. However, there are small breeds that are great for beginners and easy to work with. In this blog post, we will look at 10 small dog breeds that are perfect for training!

Do you have a specific question about small dog breeds that are easy to train? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page. 

Yorkshire Terrier

According to Cohen, Yorkies learn new tricks after 15-25 repetitions and obey at least 70% of the time. These dogs were bred to catch rats in mills in Yorkshire. Sometimes this strong prey drive can override their listening skills.

Toy Poodles


According to the AKC, Poodles may appear aloof, but they are “wickedly smart”, eager to work, and please. Toy and Miniature Poodles can learn simple instructions. These adorably tiny furballs were developed for hunting; however, they were frequently used by gypsies in circuses due to their

Papillion

This breed is named for its butterfly-like ears, and it is bright, clever, and eager to please its owners, just like Poodles. On top of it these tiny, energetic canines are continuously want to learn new things.

Cardigan Welsh Corgis

The Cardigan Welsh Corgis are beloved for their loyalty and friendliness. Still, they can be smart and eager to listen to their masters if trained appropriately. These dogs were developed to work on farms with short legs for them to nip obstinate cattle and make them move before getting out of the way.

Pomeranians

These tiny fluff balls are descended from huge, working sled dogs. Poms tend to learn skills readily, but owners must be consistent and forceful when training them to avoid becoming bossy.

Bichon Frise

Working breeds are known for their obedience, such as the border collie. Terriers and hounds, for example, were developed to be independent. Thus they are less likely to obey instructions. The Bichon Frise is described by the AKC as a “personality dog” that enjoys learning new abilities quickly. They respond better to kind.

Dachshund

The Dachshund is a scent hound bred to search for badgers and other tunneling creatures such as rabbits and foxes. These tiny dogs were even used to track wild boar in their native Germany.

Affenpinscher


Affenpinschers are one of the most popular toy breeds. They’re courageous, bold, and aggressive, weighing only 7-10 pounds.

Even though this dog breed’s typically independent and stubborn nature suggests otherwise, Gina DiNardo, AKC’s executive secretary, claims they are very bright and eager to please their people.

Havanese


Tiny, fluffy dogs make wonderful watchdogs and take their job seriously. Still, if trained correctly, they will generally keep the barking to a minimum. And they can be trained pretty easily too.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel


The history of the Spaniel may be traced back to at least the 16th century in the United Kingdom. And later on, it grew in popularity and can be even found on some prominent pieces of artworks of the 17th and 18th centuries. These dogs are kind, loving, intelligent, quick to learn, and eager to please their people.

Credits: thanks for the cover photo to Canva.