Ranking Dog Breeds from the Most Fearful of Strangers to the Least Fearful of Strangers

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Dog Breeds that are Very Fearful of Strangers
Dog Breeds that are least Fearful of Strangers

Introduction

It used to be very difficult to reliably measure the temperament of dogs.

However, in 2015, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania developed the Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) tool.

Many research studies have shown that the C-BARQ tool can reliably measure the behavior of dogs.

With data from the C-BARQ tool, you can calculate how bad or good the temperament of a dog breed is.

We analyzed data from the C-BARQ database to obtain the temperament score of dog breeds for Stranger Directed Fear. This allowed us to rank dogs based on Stranger Directed Fear.

Note that the fact that a dog breed ranks high for bad behavior does not mean all hope is lost for the dog breed. With proper early training, you can always mold a dog`s temperament into what you want.

Also, smaller dog breeds tend to have high aggression scores. However, aggression in small dog breeds is usually born out of insecurities or fear, and less from the meanness of their hearts.

Note that Stranger Directed Fear is one of the 14 temperament components that the C-BARQ test measures.

The complete 14 temperament components are:

Below is our ranking of dog breeds based on Stranger Directed Fear.

Click on the link for each breed to learn more about the complete temperament of the breed.

Click here to see our ranking of dog breeds from the ones with the overall `best` temperament to the ones with the `worst` temperament.

Dog Breeds that are Very Fearful of Strangers

1. Dachshund (Miniature)

Miniature Dachshund Puppy Price : $1300 to $2500

2. 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

3. 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. Italian Greyhound

Weight of the Italian Greyhound : 6 to 15 pounds

Height of the Italian Greyhound : 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Italian Greyhound : 14 to 15 years

Italian Greyhound Puppy Price : $1500 to $2250

See list of Reputable Italian Greyhound Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Italian Greyhound

5. 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

6. 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

7. Dingo

8. Rat Terrier

Rat Terrier Puppy Price : $500 to $1000

See list of Reputable Rat Terrier Puppy Breeders here

9. 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. American Bulldog

Weight of the American Bulldog : 60 to 120 pounds

Height of the American Bulldog : 20 to 28 inches

Lifespan of the American Bulldog : 10 to 16 years

American Bulldog Puppy Price : $912 to $1600

See list of Reputable American Bulldog Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the American Bulldog

Dog Breeds that are least Fearful of Strangers

1. Old English Sheepdog

Weight of the Old English Sheepdog : 60 pounds to 100 Pounds

Height of the Old English Sheepdog : 20 inches to 24 Inches

Lifespan of the Old English Sheepdog : 10 to 12 years

Old English Sheepdog Puppy Price : $1600 to $2500

See list of Reputable Old English Sheepdog Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Old English Sheepdog

2. 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

3. 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

4. Siberian Husky

Weight of the Siberian Husky : 35 to 60 pounds

Height of the Siberian Husky : 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Siberian Husky : 12 to 15 years

Siberian Husky Puppy Price : $700 to $1250

See list of Reputable Siberian Husky Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Siberian Husky

5. Giant Schnauzer

Weight of the Giant Schnauzer : 55 to 80 pounds

Height of the Giant Schnauzer : 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the Giant Schnauzer : 10 to 12 years

Giant Schnauzer Puppy Price : $2000 to $2500

See list of Reputable Giant Schnauzer Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Giant Schnauzer

6. Newfoundland

Weight of the Newfoundland : 100 to 150 pounds

Height of the Newfoundland : 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 5 inches tall at the sho

Lifespan of the Newfoundland : 8 to 10 years

Newfoundland Puppy Price : $1875 to $2500

See list of Reputable Newfoundland Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the Newfoundland

7. French Bulldog

Weight of the French Bulldog : 16 to 28 pounds

Height of the French Bulldog : 11 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder

Lifespan of the French Bulldog : 11 to 14 years

French Bulldog Puppy Price : $3100 to $5000

See list of Reputable French Bulldog Puppy Breeders here

Guide on how much food to feed the French Bulldog

8. 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

9. Keeshond

Weight of the Keeshond : 35 to 45 pounds

Height of the Keeshond : 1 foot, 4 inches to 1 foot, 7 inches tall at the s

Lifespan of the Keeshond : 12 to 15 years

Keeshond Puppy Price : $1800 to $2000

See list of Reputable Keeshond Puppy Breeders here

10. Portuguese Water Dog

Weight of the Portuguese Water Dog : 35 to 60 pounds

Height of the Portuguese Water Dog : 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 11 inches tall at the

Lifespan of the Portuguese Water Dog : 10 to 14 years

Portuguese Water Dog Puppy Price : $2500 to $3300

See list of Reputable Portuguese Water Dog Puppy Breeders here

See below the full ranking of dog breeds based on Stranger Directed Fear.

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank	Breed	Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
1	Dachshund (Miniature)	100.0 %
2	Chinese Crested	94.1 %
3	American Eskimo Dog	82.5 %
4	Italian Greyhound	80.9 %
5	Chihuahua	80.6 %
6	Miniature Pinscher	75.6 %
7	Dingo	68.9 %
8	Rat Terrier	64.5 %
9	Dachshund	62.5 %
10	American Bulldog	61.4 %
11	Parson Russell Terrier	61.3 %
12	Basenji	61.1 %
13	Australian Silky Terrier	59.0 %
14	Fox Terrier (Toy)	55.1 %
15	Chow Chow	53.6 %
16	Lhasa Apso	51.6 %
17	Chinese Shar-Pei	51.5 %
18	Yorkshire Terrier	48.4 %
19	Maltese	47.9 %
20	Ibizan Hound	46.7 %
21	Saint Bernard	44.7 %
22	Shetland Sheepdog	44.0 %
23	Afghan Hound	43.1 %
24	Pekingese	42.7 %
25	Alaskan Husky	42.6 %
26	Mastiff (English)	42.1 %
27	Cocker Spaniel (English)	42.1 %
28	Cocker Spaniel (American)	41.9 %
29	Papillon	40.9 %
30	Bichon Frise	40.7 %
31	Dalmatian	39.5 %
32	Treeing Walker Coonhound	39.5 %
33	Cardigan Welsh Corgi	38.3 %
34	Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired)	37.9 %
35	Poodle (Toy)	37.7 %
36	Miniature Schnauzer	37.6 %
37	Shiba Inu	37.5 %
38	Belgian Tervuren	37.4 %
39	Australian Cattle Dog	36.7 %
40	Pomeranian	35.9 %
41	Border Collie	35.3 %
42	Lagotto Romagnolo	34.8 %
43	English Springer Spaniel	34.6 %
44	Australian Shepherd	34.6 %
45	Great Dane	34.4 %
46	Bearded Collie	34.4 %
47	Border Terrier	34.2 %
48	Greyhound	33.7 %
49	Havanese	33.7 %
50	Poodle (Miniature)	33.4 %
51	Tibetan Terrier	32.6 %
52	Great Pyrenees	32.5 %
53	Cairn Terrier	32.2 %
54	Pit Bull mix	31.5 %
55	Belgian Malinois	31.0 %
56	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	30.6 %
57	Redbone Coonhound	30.0 %
58	Beagle	29.9 %
59	Chinook	29.5 %
60	Weimaraner	28.8 %
61	Australian Kelpie	28.3 %
62	Shih Tzu	27.9 %
63	Standard Schnauzer	27.6 %
64	Belgian Sheepdog	27.6 %
65	Irish Water Spaniel	27.6 %
66	Doberman Pinscher	27.3 %
67	German Shepherd	27.3 %
68	Boxer	27.1 %
69	Bernese Mountain Dog	25.3 %
70	Bullmastiff	24.8 %
71	Eurasier	24.2 %
72	Schipperke	23.0 %
73	American Pit Bull Terrier	22.9 %
74	West Highland White Terrier	22.7 %
75	Poodle (Standard)	22.2 %
76	Chesapeake Bay Retriever	21.8 %
77	Pug	21.2 %
78	Pit Bull	21.2 %
79	English Bulldog	21.1 %
80	Whippet	20.7 %
81	Vizsla	20.7 %
82	Boston Terrier	19.6 %
83	Jack Russell Terrier	19.5 %
84	Alaskan Malamute	19.0 %
85	Basset Hound	18.8 %
86	American Staffordshire Terrier	17.0 %
87	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever	16.7 %
88	German Shorthaired Pointer	16.6 %
89	Rhodesian Ridgeback	16.6 %
90	Bouvier des Flandres	16.4 %
91	Akita	15.8 %
92	Gordon Setter	15.7 %
93	Bulldog	15.3 %
94	Brittany	15.3 %
95	Pembroke Welsh Corgi	14.9 %
96	Kuvasz	14.5 %
97	Bull Terrier	14.0 %
98	Samoyed	13.6 %
99	Collie	13.0 %
100	Labrador Retriever	12.8 %
101	Irish Setter	11.7 %
102	Pointer	11.5 %
103	German Wirehaired Pointer	11.3 %
104	Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier	11.1 %
105	Borzoi	10.7 %
106	English Setter	10.5 %
107	Rottweiler	10.5 %
108	Black and Tan Coonhound	10.4 %
109	Anatolian Shepherd	10.2 %
110	Fox Terrier (Smooth)	9.8 %
111	Flat-Coated Retriever	9.5 %
112	Staffordshire Bull Terrier	9.2 %
113	Airedale Terrier	9.1 %
114	Golden Retriever	8.8 %
115	Portuguese Water Dog	8.2 %
116	Keeshond	7.7 %
117	Scottish Terrier	7.7 %
118	French Bulldog	7.7 %
119	Newfoundland	6.6 %
120	Giant Schnauzer	5.7 %
121	Siberian Husky	4.9 %
122	Norwegian Elkhound	4.0 %
123	Irish Wolfhound	3.5 %
124	Old English Sheepdog	0.0 %