Understanding Canine Personalities: Which Dog Breeds Are Actually Social Butterflies?

When it comes to selecting your next furry family member, personality matters just as much as appearance. A comprehensive survey of 5,000 dog owners across the 25 most popular breeds revealed fascinating insights into which dogs genuinely thrive as social companions and which prefer their own company. The research shows that while genetics plays a significant role, early socialization and positive reinforcement training can help even naturally reserved breeds become more adaptable.

The Science Behind Dog Friendliness

Forbes Advisor partnered with researchers to examine what truly defines a friendly dog. Rather than relying on stereotypes, the study measured actual owner experiences across ten key behavioral metrics. These included how dogs interact with strangers, their comfort with physical affection, treat acceptance from others, and socialization skills with fellow canines. Each metric accounted for 10% of the overall friendliness score.

Interestingly, the research challenges some common assumptions about dog breeds—some of the most celebrated breeds aren’t always the most outgoing, while certain smaller breeds rank among the least social despite their size.

The Genuine Social Stars: Top Performers

Bernese Mountain Dogs Lead the Pack

Scoring a perfect 100 out of 100, the Bernese Mountain Dog emerged as the ultimate social butterfly. Only 6% of owners reported defensiveness toward newcomers, and a mere 0.3% described them as unfriendly. With 80.5% of owners noting their dogs play well with other dogs, these gentle giants truly live up to their reputation as community-oriented companions.

Golden Retrievers and Pembroke Welsh Corgis Tie for Second

Scoring 94.94 points, both breeds demonstrate exceptional sociability despite their size differences. Golden Retrievers showed the lowest unfriendliness ratings at 0.5%, while 94% of owners rated their pets as friendly. Corgis displayed similar patterns, with only 6.5% struggling with newcomer acceptance.

Labradors: America’s Most Popular Social Companion

The Labrador Retriever wasn’t the AKC’s top breed for nine years by accident. Scoring 94.38, Labs excel at cuddle acceptance (75.8% of owners report constant affection), treat-taking from strangers (75.3%), and welcoming newcomers warmly (47%). Their consistent warmth makes them ideal family dogs.

Athletic and Affectionate Mid-Tier Performers

Boxers, Great Danes, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs, and Australian Shepherds round out the top ten. While scoring lower than the elite tier (ranging from 76.4 down to 53.37), each demonstrates specific social strengths—from the Boxer’s willingness to accept treats (73.5% success rate) to the Australian Shepherd’s openness to newcomers (37.5%).

The Reserved Personalities: Understanding “Less Friendly” Breeds

American Bulldogs: The Misunderstood Guardian

Scoring 0.00, American Bulldogs ranked as the least friendly by this study’s metrics. However, this score reflects protective instincts rather than aggression—16.3% showed reluctance to cuddle, and only 56% readily accepted treats from strangers. Their reserved nature makes them excellent watchdogs but requires intentional socialization.

Protective By Design: Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers

Scoring 2.25 and 8.43 respectively, these powerful breeds rank low on casual friendliness. Dobermans showed the highest defensiveness rate at 23.5% toward newcomers—a trait rooted in their breeding as protection dogs. Rottweilers similarly demonstrated selective affection, with 20.5% hesitant about treats from unfamiliar people.

Cane Corsos: The Bodyguard Archetype

Sharing an 8.43 score with Rottweilers, Cane Corsos embody their Latin name’s meaning: “bodyguard dog.” Only 77% of owners rated them as friendly (versus the 87.1% study average), yet just 26% warmly greeted newcomers.

Shih Tzus: The Enigmatic Small Breed

As the only small breed in the least-friendly category (scoring 8.99), Shih Tzus revealed surprising social limitations. Only 49.5% played well with other dogs—the lowest inter-dog compatibility rate in the study—though they maintained 86.5% owner-rated friendliness.

Understanding the Full Spectrum

The data reveals that “friendliness” isn’t a binary trait. A dog might cuddle intensely with family while remaining aloof with strangers. Boxers exemplify this complexity: ranking in the top five for treat acceptance (73.5%) yet showing moderate newcomer warmth.

Several patterns emerged across breeds:

• Size doesn’t determine sociability: Small breeds like Corgis matched or exceeded larger breeds in multiple metrics
• Protective breeds show selective affection: Lower friendliness scores often correlated with guardian breeding purposes
• Cuddling preferences vary independently: Great Danes scored high on overall friendliness despite being “not huge cuddlers”
• Stranger acceptance ranges widely: From Labrador’s 47% newcomer welcome rate to American Bulldog’s implied lower threshold

Practical Considerations for Potential Owners

When selecting a breed, recognize that friendliness exists on a spectrum rather than as a fixed trait. Early socialization dramatically influences outcomes—even naturally reserved breeds respond well to positive reinforcement and controlled exposure.

The study also noted that breed directly impacts pet insurance costs. Larger protective breeds like Rottweilers and Cane Corsos—which rank among the least friendly—also appear on expensive-to-insure lists due to predisposition to hip and heart issues. Average pet insurance runs approximately $612 yearly for dogs, based on $5,000 annual coverage with $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement.

Most comprehensive policies cover accidents, injuries, chronic and hereditary conditions, behavioral therapy, microchipping, prescription medications, and diagnostic testing.

The Takeaway

Friendliness rankings shouldn’t be the sole factor in breed selection. Consider your lifestyle, living space, and ability to provide appropriate training and socialization. Some of the least friendly breeds according to this data make exceptional companions for experienced owners who understand their protective nature. Meanwhile, the friendliest breeds excel in family settings but require proper exercise and mental stimulation to thrive.

The key is honest self-assessment: Do you have the experience and commitment to work with a reserved breed’s natural temperament, or would a naturally social breed better match your lifestyle? Either path can lead to a rewarding canine partnership when expectations align with breed tendencies.