Top 5 Least Aggressive Dog Breeds

Though most dogs are not aggressive, some breeds are the friendliest. If you want to stack the odds in your favor of having a dog that is almost guaranteed to be pleasant and safe around everyone they meet, then you might want to consider one of the breeds on this list of Least Aggressive Dog Breeds.

5 of the Least Aggressive Dog Breeds

We’ve rounded up the top five least aggressive dog breeds for you and provided some information about each breed. Check it out!

1. Labrador Retriever

Labrador retrievers have long been considered one of the friendliest dog breeds. If you’ve ever met (or owned) one, you’ll have witnessed how much they love people. Being as people-oriented (and food-motivated) as they are, training this breed is easy.

Labrador retrievers make fantastic family dogs. They are incredibly tolerant of children and can participate in many types of activities, such as hiking, playing catch, or going for a swim. A study by the University of Helsinki ranked the Labrador retriever as the least aggressive dog breed, rivaled only by golden retrievers.

2. Golden Retriever

Much like the Labrador, golden retrievers are people pleasers. They adore people and are excellent with children. They don’t know what a stranger is: everyone is immediately their best friend. The golden retriever is a wonderful pick if you want a dog that is likely to love everyone who walks through your door.

3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Though small breeds are often considered more aggressive, that doesn’t apply to the cavalier King Charles spaniel. This breed is well-known for being sweet, gentle, and friendly toward family and strangers. They’re good with children and prefer to go with the flow – if you’re having a lazy day, they’ll lounge on the couch with you, but if you’re up for some activity, so are they!

4. Whippet

Whippets topped the list of least aggressive dogs in a study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2008. Originally bred to chase rabbits, whippets need speed and love racing around in the yard (a fenced-in yard is best due to this prey drive).

However, once indoors, they tend to be calm and affectionate family members. They are happy to snuggle up on the couch and laze around. They don’t bark often, are great with children and dogs, and are friendly toward strangers.

5. Bernese Mountain Dog

Though their large size may seem intimidating, the Bernese mountain dog is known for being gentle and placid. In the 2008 study, this breed also ranked among the least aggressive.

Their affectionate demeanor and willingness to learn have even earned Bernese mountain dogs some favor in the service dog world, with organizations such as the Mira Foundation training Berners and Berner mix to be guide dogs.

Other Non-Aggressive Breeds

Though these breeds didn’t make our top five, they are also known to be friendly and non-aggressive.

• Basset Hound
• Bichon Frise
• Boxer
• Brittany (Spaniel)
• Bulldog
• Greyhound
• Newfoundland
• Pug

Nature vs Nurture

Though the breeds on this list are well-known for their friendly dispositions, any dog could become aggressive under the right (or perhaps wrong) circumstances. Though it is in most dogs’ natures to love humans, poor training and socialization could lead to wary, suspicious, or even fearful dogs. These traits can lead to aggression.

That is why it is so vital that we nurture our dogs with positive interactions so that they learn being around people is safe, fun, and exciting. Providing these positive experiences while a dog is still a puppy will set them up to become the friendly pet we always expected them to be.

Training is also essential, as it helps teach dogs acceptable ways of interacting with humans. Whether your dog is on the list of the least aggressive dog breeds, training, and socialization are key to preventing aggression and creating friendly, happy dogs.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any dog breed can become a service dog regardless of reputation. What matters more is whether or not the dog can be trained to perform tasks for a disabled individual. With a good service dog training program, any dog could become a great service dog.