Which Dog Breeds Show the Most Friendly Personalities? Latest Owner Survey Reveals the Answer

When it comes to choosing a canine companion, understanding breed temperament is crucial. What makes a dog truly friendly? Is it their eagerness to greet strangers, their playfulness with other dogs, or their love of physical affection? To answer these questions, a comprehensive survey of 5,000 American dog owners provides fascinating insights into which dog breeds consistently demonstrate the most friendly behaviors and which ones tend to be more reserved.

The research, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Forbes Advisor, examined the 25 most popular breeds according to the American Kennel Club. By gathering feedback from 200 owners per breed, the study evaluated canine friendliness across multiple dimensions including sociability with newcomers, comfort with other dogs, cuddling preferences, and willingness to accept treats and affection from strangers. The resulting data paints a detailed picture of how different breeds naturally express warmth and openness to people and animals around them.

The Science Behind Dog Friendliness and What It Really Means

Dog friendliness extends far beyond simple personality traits—it reflects a complex interplay of breed genetics, individual temperament, and environmental factors. Early socialization and positive reinforcement training from a young age play critical roles in shaping how dogs interact with the world around them. Every dog benefits from consistent social exposure and rewards-based training that encourages trust and openness.

The survey measured friendliness through ten specific behavioral indicators, with each metric contributing equally to an overall friendliness score. These metrics examined both positive friendliness indicators—such as enthusiasm for meeting newcomers and comfort during physical contact—and negative indicators like defensive behavior or reluctance to accept affection. By combining these measurements, researchers created a comprehensive picture of how genuinely open and affectionate different breeds tend to be.

Discovering the Most Friendly Dog Breeds: Top Performers

Bernese Mountain Dogs Lead the Pack with Perfect Scores

Bernese mountain dogs emerged as the clear champions of friendliness, achieving a perfect 100 out of 100 score. These large, gentle dogs consistently demonstrated their well-earned reputation for being naturally affectionate and welcoming. Among Bernese mountain dogs surveyed, an impressive 80.5% of owners reported their dogs always or often play well with other dogs. The breed also topped the list for non-defensive behavior, with just 6% of owners describing their dogs as reluctant around newcomers.

What makes Bernese mountain dogs particularly remarkable is their love of physical contact—only 7.3% of owners noted their dogs rarely or never enjoy cuddling. Despite their substantial size, these sweet-natured animals consistently prioritize bonding with both family members and new acquaintances. Their calm demeanor combined with genuine affection makes them one of the most reliably friendly most friendly dog breeds available today.

Golden Retrievers and Pembroke Welsh Corgis: Dynamic Duo at 94.94

Tied for the second position, both golden retrievers and Pembroke Welsh corgis achieved scores of 94.94 out of 100. Golden retrievers lived up to their well-established reputation as intelligent, playful companions, with 94% of owners rating their behavior as very friendly or somewhat friendly. These dogs demonstrated remarkable openness to meeting strangers, with 43.5% of owners reporting their golden retrievers warmly greet newcomers.

Pembroke Welsh corgis, despite their small stature, demonstrated outsized personalities and friendliness. These spirited dogs showed an exceptional willingness to accept treats and affection from unfamiliar people, with only 6.5% of owners noting their corgis ever refused such interactions. This combination of small-dog charm and big-dog friendliness made them standout performers in the survey.

Labrador Retrievers: Consistently Excellent All-Rounders

Labrador retrievers achieved a score of 94.38 out of 100, cementing their position among the most friendly dog breeds in the study. Their dominance in the survey reflects their legendary status as America’s favorite breed for nine consecutive years according to AKC rankings. Labs demonstrated exceptional scores across multiple dimensions: 75.8% enjoyed cuddling regularly, matching Boston terriers for top placement; 75.3% happily accepted treats from strangers; and 47% of owners reported their labs warmly welcome newcomers into their homes.

The breed’s only minor performance dip appeared in willingness to accept treats (with 9.8% occasionally refusing), and socialization with other dogs (70% always or often played well), but these represented top-tier performance in these areas as well.

Boxers, Great Danes, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Round Out the Elite Five

The next tier of most affectionate and sociable dog breeds included boxers (76.4), great Danes (74.16), and Cavalier King Charles spaniels (68.54). Boxers distinguished themselves as highly affectionate athletes, with 73.5% of owners reporting their dogs happily accept treats and physical affection. Great Danes surprised many observers by achieving high friendliness scores despite their intimidating size—80.5% played well with other dogs, tying with Bernese mountain dogs.

Cavalier King Charles spaniels showcased their royal heritage through graceful socialization patterns, with 73.5% of owners reporting they love regular cuddling. However, the breed ranked lower in treat-acceptance behaviors, suggesting they reserve their warmth more selectively than other top contenders.

Understanding the Least Friendly Dog Breeds: Guardian Breeds Take Lower Rankings

American Bulldogs and Doberman Pinschers Score Low

The survey revealed interesting contrasts when examining breeds scoring lowest in friendliness measures. American bulldogs achieved a score of 0.00, ranking as the least friendly breed despite their inclusion on separate lists of well-behaved dogs. A striking 16.3% of American bulldog owners reported their dogs rarely or never enjoyed cuddling, and only 56% happily accepted treats from unfamiliar people. The breed’s more independent nature and selective socialization preferences explain their bottom-ranked position.

Doberman pinschers followed closely with a score of just 2.25 out of 100. Known for fierce loyalty and protective instincts, these elegant and powerful dogs naturally reserve their warmth for trusted family members. A notable 23.5% of owners described their Dobermans as defensive or slow to warm up to newcomers—the highest rate of any breed studied.

Rottweilers, Cane Corsos, and Shih Tzus: The Reserved Contingent

Guardian-bred rottweilers and cane corsos both scored 8.43 out of 100. While these commanding dogs may appear fierce, owners frequently noted they become playful and silly once they accept someone into their inner circle. Cane corsos particularly distinguished themselves at the bottom of the friendliness scale, with just 77% of owners rating their behavior as friendly—below the study average of 87.1%.

The shih tzu represented an anomaly as the only small breed among the least friendly rankings, scoring 8.99 out of 100. These toy dogs demonstrated a particular reluctance to engage well with other dogs in play situations, with just 49.5% of owners reporting consistent positive interactions.

Key Differences: What Separates the Most Friendly from the Reserved

The data reveals distinct behavioral patterns separating the most friendly dog breeds from their reserved counterparts. The friendliest breeds typically demonstrated willingness to accept physical affection from strangers, enthusiasm for meeting newcomers, and strong play compatibility with other dogs. In contrast, less friendly breeds (while still capable of deep bonds with owners) tend to exhibit selective socialization, preferring family connections over stranger interactions.

It’s important to note that breed tendencies don’t predetermine individual personality. Environmental factors, training quality, socialization experiences, and individual temperament all significantly influence how any dog interacts with the world. The most friendly dog breeds simply show stronger statistical tendencies toward openness and warmth.

Practical Considerations: Pet Insurance and Breed-Specific Costs

When selecting a dog breed, budget implications deserve careful consideration. Pet insurance costs average $55 monthly for dogs with unlimited annual coverage (at 90% reimbursement with a $500 deductible), or approximately $612 annually on standard plans with $5,000 coverage, $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement rates.

Several breeds appearing on both the friendliest and least-friendly lists carry higher insurance premiums due to breed-specific health predispositions. Large breeds like cane corsos, rottweilers, and French bulldogs face elevated costs partly due to susceptibility to heart and hip conditions. The average veterinary visit costs roughly $61, but comprehensive medical care can quickly escalate bills beyond initial expectations.

Comprehensive pet insurance typically covers accidents, injuries, chronic and hereditary conditions, behavioral therapy, diagnostic testing, wellness procedures, medications, and alternative treatments. Comparing multiple quotes remains essential, as coverage types, deductibles, and reimbursement levels vary significantly among providers.

Choosing Your Perfect Companion: A Final Guide

Selecting the most friendly dog breeds depends on matching breed tendencies with your lifestyle, living situation, and personal preferences. While Bernese mountain dogs and golden retrievers represent statistically outstanding choices for those seeking highly sociable, affectionate companions, individual dogs within any breed display unique personalities shaped by their experiences.

Whether you’re drawn to the top-ranked friendliness performers or prefer more reserved guardian-type dogs that show selective loyalty, understanding these behavioral trends helps set realistic expectations. Combining breed knowledge with proper training, early socialization, and consistent positive reinforcement creates the foundation for fostering genuine friendliness in any dog, regardless of their natural predispositions.