Ranking Dog Breeds from the Best to the Worst

 

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction

The dog descended from the wolf. Humans have worked hard over the years to make the dog into a pet that we can keep inside our homes.

However, some dog breeds still have wildness of some sort in them. Nevertheless, dogs have come a long way such that even the wildest of dogs is nowhere as wild as the wolf.

Also, some dog breeds retain their wild side more than some other dog breeds. This difference can be seen if you compare the temperament of breeds to each other.

The dog temperament measurement survey tool called The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015 for measuring a dog`s temperament.

This tool allows us to assign specific numbers to 14 different personality aspects of the dog breed`s temperament. The 14 different aspects of a dogs temperament that the C-BARQ tool allows us to measure are:

  1. Stranger Directed Aggression
  2. Owner Directed Aggression
  3. Dog Directed Aggression
  4. Stranger Directed Fear
  5. Dog Directed Fear
  6. Nonsocial Fear
  7. Dog Rivalry
  8. Trainability
  9. Chasing
  10. Attachment Attention Seeking
  11. Separation Related Behavior
  12. Touch Sensitivity
  13. Excitability
  14. Energy Level

Using the data from the C-BARQ tool, we obtained the `temperament score` of dog breeds, and we ranked these dog breeds based on their temperament from the `best` to the `worst`.

However, note that the fact that a dog rank as the `best` or the `worst` based on data does not mean that dog breed will not be a good pet for you.

The are some things about a dog breed that we cannot assign a number to. For example, we cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is or how well a breed will match the owner`s lifestyle (e.g. some dogs are hypoallergenic and good for allergy sufferers, some dogs are not good for first-time dog owners, etc).

 

Our ranking of dog breeds based on temperament should be just one of the many factors that you need to take into account when deciding on which dog breed to get.

See the list below. Click on a breed in the list to see its complete temperament profile.

Dog Breeds with the Best Temperaments

1. Eurasier

Eurasier

Weight of the Eurasier : 40 pounds to 71 pounds

Height of the Eurasier : 19 inches to 24 inches

See list of Reputable Eurasier Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Eurasier

2. Kuvasz

 

Kuvasz

Weight of the Kuvasz : 70 to 115 pounds

Height of the Kuvasz : 26 to 30 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Kuvasz : 10 to 12 years

 

Kuvasz Puppy Price : $2000 to $2000

See list of Reputable Kuvasz Puppy Breeders here

3. Collie

 

Collie

Weight of the Collie : 50 to 70 pounds

Height of the Collie : 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Collie : 10 to 14 years

Collie Puppy Price : $1000 to $1800

See list of Reputable Collie Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Collie

4. Irish Wolfhound

 

Irish Wolfhound

Weight of the Irish Wolfhound : 115 to 180 pounds

 

Height of the Irish Wolfhound : 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Irish Wolfhound : 6 to 8 years

Irish Wolfhound Puppy Price : $1000 to $2100

See list of Reputable Irish Wolfhound Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Irish Wolfhound

5. Norwegian Elkhound

 

Norwegian Elkhound

Lifespan of the Norwegian Elkhound : 12 to 15 years

Norwegian Elkhound Puppy Price : $700 to $1000

See list of Reputable Norwegian Elkhound Puppy Breeders here

6. Chinook


 

Chinook

Weight of the Chinook : 55 to 70 pounds

 

Height of the Chinook : 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Chinook : 12 to 15 years

See list of Reputable Chinook Puppy Breeders here

7. Black and Tan Coonhound

 

Black and Tan Coonhound

Weight of the Black and Tan Coonhound : 75 to 100 pounds

Height of the Black and Tan Coonhound : 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Black and Tan Coonhound : 10 to 12 years

Black and Tan Coonhound Puppy Price : $400 to $800

See list of Reputable Black and Tan Coonhound Puppy Breeders here

8. Bernese Mountain Dog

 

Bernese Mountain Dog

Weight of the Bernese Mountain Dog : 70 to 115 pounds

 

Height of the Bernese Mountain Dog : 23 to 28 inches

Lifespan of the Bernese Mountain Dog : 6 to 10 years

Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy Price : $1800 to $3438

See list of Reputable Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Bernese Mountain Dog

9. Borzoi

 

Borzoi

Weight of the Borzoi : 55 to 105 pounds

Height of the Borzoi : 26 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Borzoi : 10 to 12 years

Borzoi Puppy Price : $1500 to $1500

 

See list of Reputable Borzoi Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Borzoi

10. Scottish Terrier

 

Scottish Terrier

Weight of the Scottish Terrier : 18 to 22 pounds

Height of the Scottish Terrier : Up to 10 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Scottish Terrier : 11 to 13 years

Scottish Terrier Puppy Price : $1495 to $2000

See list of Reputable Scottish Terrier Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Scottish Terrier

Dog Breeds with the Worst Temperament

1. Australian Silky Terrier

 

Australian Silky Terrier

Weight of the Silky Terrier : 8 to 10 pounds

 

Height of the Silky Terrier : 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Silky Terrier : 12 to 15 years

Silky Terrier Puppy Price : $1800 to $2738

See list of Reputable Silky Terrier Puppy Breeders here

2. Miniature Pinscher

 

Miniature Pinscher

Weight of the Miniature Pinscher : 8 to 11 pounds

Height of the Miniature Pinscher : 10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Miniature Pinscher : 10 to 14 years

Miniature Pinscher Puppy Price : $825 to $1500

See list of Reputable Miniature Pinscher Puppy Breeders here

 

Guide on how much food to feed the Miniature Pinscher

3. American Eskimo Dog

 

American Eskimo Dog

Weight of the American Eskimo Dog : 18 to 35 pounds

Height of the American Eskimo Dog : 15 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the American Eskimo Dog : 12 to 15 years

American Eskimo Dog Puppy Price : $800 to $1500

See list of Reputable American Eskimo Dog Puppy Breeders here

4. Fox Terrier (Toy)

 

Fox Terrier (Toy)

Weight of the Toy Fox Terrier : 3 to 7 pounds

Height of the Toy Fox Terrier : 8 to 11 inches at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Toy Fox Terrier : 13 to 14 years

 

Toy Fox Terrier Puppy Price : $1000 to $1595

See list of Reputable Toy Fox Terrier Puppy Breeders here

5. Parson Russell Terrier

 

Parson Russell Terrier

Parson Russell Terrier Puppy Price : $1500 to $2000

See list of Reputable Parson Russell Terrier Puppy Breeders here

6. Dachshund (Miniature)

 

Dachshund (Miniature)

Miniature Dachshund Puppy Price : $1300 to $2500

7. Chihuahua

 

Chihuahua

Weight of the Chihuahua : 3 to 6 pounds

Height of the Chihuahua : 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Chihuahua : 10 to 18 years

Chihuahua Puppy Price : $900 to $2500

 

See list of Reputable Chihuahua Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Chihuahua

8. Basenji

 

Basenji

Weight of the Basenji : 22 to 24 pounds

Height of the Basenji : 16 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Basenji : 10 to 12 years

Basenji Puppy Price : $1450 to $1450

See list of Reputable Basenji Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Basenji

9. Dachshund

 

Dachshund

Weight of the Dachshund : 16 to 32 pounds

 

Height of the Dachshund : 8 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Dachshund : 12 to 15 years

Dachshund Puppy Price : $1000 to $2000

See list of Reputable Dachshund Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Dachshund

10. Chinese Crested

 

Chinese Crested

Weight of the Chinese Crested : 5 to 12 pounds

Height of the Chinese Crested : 11 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Chinese Crested : 10 to 14 years

Chinese Crested Puppy Price : $1000 to $1800

 

See list of Reputable Chinese Crested Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Chinese Crested

See the table below for our complete ranking of dogs based on their temperament from the best to the worst.

Breed Temperament Score Rank
Eurasier 81.9 percent 1
Kuvasz 81.5 percent 2
Collie 80.3 percent 3
Irish Wolfhound 79.0 percent 4
Norwegian Elkhound 78.9 percent 5
Chinook 78.1 percent 6
Black and Tan Coonhound 78.1 percent 7
Bernese Mountain Dog 77.7 percent 8
Borzoi 77.0 percent 9
Scottish Terrier 76.3 percent 10
English Setter 76.2 percent 11
Golden Retriever 75.1 percent 12
Rhodesian Ridgeback 75.0 percent 13
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 75.0 percent 14
Keeshond 74.0 percent 15
Siberian Husky 73.7 percent 16
Pointer 73.7 percent 17
Great Pyrenees 73.4 percent 18
Anatolian Shepherd 73.1 percent 19
Portuguese Water Dog 73.0 percent 20
Labrador Retriever 72.4 percent 21
Rottweiler 71.7 percent 22
Newfoundland 71.5 percent 23
Irish Setter 71.1 percent 24
Lagotto Romagnolo 70.5 percent 25
Bulldog 70.4 percent 26
Mastiff (English) 70.2 percent 27
Samoyed 70.2 percent 28
Irish Water Spaniel 69.6 percent 29
Great Dane 69.3 percent 30
Poodle (Standard) 69.2 percent 31
German Wirehaired Pointer 68.8 percent 32
Bouvier des Flandres 68.6 percent 33
Greyhound 68.6 percent 34
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 67.8 percent 35
Airedale Terrier 67.8 percent 36
Giant Schnauzer 67.4 percent 37
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 67.3 percent 38
Flat-Coated Retriever 67.3 percent 39
Akita 66.5 percent 40
Chow Chow 66.4 percent 41
Shetland Sheepdog 66.0 percent 42
Havanese 65.8 percent 43
Italian Greyhound 65.5 percent 44
Brittany 65.5 percent 45
Whippet 65.4 percent 46
Pug 65.3 percent 47
Basset Hound 65.2 percent 48
Belgian Sheepdog 65.1 percent 49
Bullmastiff 65.1 percent 50
Papillon 64.3 percent 51
Gordon Setter 63.9 percent 52
Border Terrier 63.4 percent 53
Vizsla 63.2 percent 54
Bearded Collie 63.0 percent 55
American Staffordshire Terrier 62.6 percent 56
Doberman Pinscher 62.4 percent 57
Belgian Tervuren 62.3 percent 58
Tibetan Terrier 62.0 percent 59
German Shepherd 61.9 percent 60
Border Collie 61.7 percent 61
Shih Tzu 61.7 percent 62
Pembroke Welsh Corgi 61.6 percent 63
Australian Shepherd 61.6 percent 64
German Shorthaired Pointer 61.4 percent 65
Boston Terrier 61.3 percent 66
Saint Bernard 60.7 percent 67
Weimaraner 60.7 percent 68
Ibizan Hound 60.2 percent 69
English Springer Spaniel 60.2 percent 70
Boxer 59.7 percent 71
Redbone Coonhound 59.6 percent 72
American Pit Bull Terrier 59.6 percent 73
Bull Terrier 59.5 percent 74
Alaskan Malamute 59.1 percent 75
Schipperke 58.5 percent 76
Staffordshire Bull Terrier 58.2 percent 77
Bichon Frise 57.8 percent 78
West Highland White Terrier 57.7 percent 79
Afghan Hound 57.0 percent 80
Pit Bull 56.9 percent 81
Shiba Inu 56.7 percent 82
French Bulldog 56.6 percent 83
Australian Kelpie 56.6 percent 84
Cocker Spaniel (American) 56.3 percent 85
Standard Schnauzer 55.7 percent 86
American Bulldog 55.5 percent 87
Cocker Spaniel (English) 55.5 percent 88
Cairn Terrier 55.4 percent 89
Dalmatian 54.9 percent 90
Pomeranian 54.8 percent 91
Chesapeake Bay Retriever 54.8 percent 92
Poodle (Miniature) 54.2 percent 93
English Bulldog 54.0 percent 94
Cardigan Welsh Corgi 53.3 percent 95
Dingo 53.2 percent 96
Beagle 52.5 percent 97
Belgian Malinois 52.2 percent 98
Chinese Shar-Pei 52.1 percent 99
Alaskan Husky 52.1 percent 100
Old English Sheepdog 51.6 percent 101
Australian Cattle Dog 51.5 percent 102
Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) 49.0 percent 103
Poodle (Toy) 48.5 percent 104
Jack Russell Terrier 48.3 percent 105
Rat Terrier 48.3 percent 106
Treeing Walker Coonhound 48.2 percent 107
Miniature Schnauzer 47.9 percent 108
Lhasa Apso 47.2 percent 109
Yorkshire Terrier 47.0 percent 110
Maltese 45.9 percent 111
Pit Bull mix 43.8 percent 112
Pekingese 41.2 percent 113
Fox Terrier (Smooth) 40.9 percent 114
Chinese Crested 40.3 percent 115
Dachshund 39.9 percent 116
Basenji 39.7 percent 117
Chihuahua 39.2 percent 118
Dachshund (Miniature) 37.7 percent 119
Parson Russell Terrier 36.9 percent 120
Fox Terrier (Toy) 36.1 percent 121
American Eskimo Dog 32.2 percent 122
Miniature Pinscher 30.5 percent 123
Australian Silky Terrier 25.0 percent 124