What 5,000 Dog Owners Reveal About Breed Friendliness: Which Dogs Are Least Likely to Turn on Owners

Based on a comprehensive survey of 5,000 dog owners across America, Forbes Advisor analyzed which dog breeds are genuinely friendly and which have reputations that don’t quite match their behavior. The research examined the 25 most popular breeds according to the American Kennel Club, breaking down friendliness through specific owner feedback about how their dogs interact with strangers, other pets, and family members.

How Dogs Were Ranked

The friendliness scoring system evaluated 10 key behaviors from dog owners, with each metric weighted equally. Researchers asked pet parents about:

• How often their dogs play well with other dogs versus rarely or never playing nicely
• Cuddling habits—both the frequency of affection and reluctance to snuggle
• Acceptance of treats and pets from strangers
• How dogs greet newcomers to the home
• Owner perceptions of their dog’s overall friendliness level

The Top Tier: Most Social and Affectionate Breeds

Bernese Mountain Dog (100/100) leads the pack by a significant margin. Despite their imposing size, owners report these gentle giants are among dogs least likely to turn on strangers. Only 6% of Bernese mountain dog owners described their pets as defensive or slow to warm up to new people. These dogs excelled across nearly every metric, with 80.5% of owners reporting their Bernese mountain dogs consistently play well with other canines.

Golden Retrievers and Pembroke Welsh Corgis tie for second place at 94.94 points. Golden retrievers maintain their well-earned reputation for warmth—94% of owners rated them as very or somewhat friendly. Corgis, despite their small stature, showed surprising confidence: only 6.5% of owners said their corgi was defensive around newcomers.

Labrador Retrievers score 94.38, ranking first in multiple categories. Labs topped the charts for enjoying cuddles (75.8% of owners) and readily accepting treats from anyone (75.3%). They also led in welcoming strangers warmly, with 47% of owners reporting their lab greets newcomers enthusiastically.

Boxers (76.4) and Great Danes (74.16) round out the friendliest group. Boxers ranked among the top three breeds most likely to accept treats from strangers. Great Danes, contrary to their intimidating appearance, play well with other dogs at the same rate as Bernese mountain dogs—80.5%.

The Middle Ground

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (68.54) show moderate friendliness with a quirk: while 73.5% enjoy cuddling with owners, they’re more selective about accepting treats from strangers (9.5% don’t readily accept them).

Boston Terriers (62.36) match labs for cuddle enthusiasm at 75.8% but score lower overall because they’re less likely to welcome strangers warmly (only 35.5% greet newcomers enthusiastically).

French Bulldogs (55.06) and Australian Shepherds (53.37) complete the moderately friendly tier, both showing strong affection toward family while maintaining some reserve around unfamiliar people.

The Less Friendly Breeds

American Bulldogs score 0/100, ranking as the least friendly breed surveyed. Despite reputation for good behavior, 16.3% of owners report their bulldogs rarely or never enjoy cuddling—the highest percentage among all breeds. Significantly, 56% said their American bulldog doesn’t readily accept treats or pets from strangers, suggesting these dogs least likely to turn on owners are actually quite selective about who they trust.

Doberman Pinschers (2.25) earned the second-lowest score, primarily because 23.5% of owners described them as defensive around strangers. This aligns with their reputation as protective family guardians.

Rottweilers (8.43) and Cane Corsos (8.43) tied for third place. Both guardian breeds showed reluctance toward physical affection from strangers—20.5% of rottweiler owners and 15.3% of cane corso owners reported their dogs don’t readily accept treats or pets from people outside their immediate circle.

Shih Tzus (8.99) surprisingly appeared on the least-friendly list as the only small breed. The primary factor: only 49.5% of owners reported their shih tzu plays well with other dogs, the lowest percentage in the entire study.

What These Rankings Really Mean

The survey reveals that “friendly” often depends on context. Some breeds like Bernese mountain dogs and Labs show consistent warmth across all scenarios. Others like Rottweilers and Dobermans are highly selective—protective with family but reserved with strangers. Dogs least likely to turn on owners aren’t always the breeds perceived as dangerous.

Early socialization matters significantly. All dogs benefit from positive reinforcement training and exposure to different people and environments from puppyhood, regardless of breed predisposition. A well-socialized American bulldog may outperform a neglected golden retriever in social situations.

Pet Insurance Considerations

Several breeds appearing on both friendliest and least-friendly lists carry higher pet insurance costs. French bulldogs, cane corsos, and rottweilers are among the 20 most expensive dog breeds to insure, often due to breed-specific health predispositions rather than behavioral factors.

The average pet insurance policy costs around $55 monthly for unlimited annual coverage with 90% reimbursement and a $500 deductible. Annual costs typically average $612 with standard policies offering $5,000 annual coverage.

Factors affecting pet insurance rates include breed, age, location, pre-existing conditions, and chosen coverage level. Larger breeds generally cost more to insure due to higher susceptibility to hip dysplasia and heart conditions.

Methodology

Forbes Advisor commissioned Talker Research to survey 5,000 American dog owners (200 per breed) covering the 25 most popular AKC breeds. Each breed received scores across 10 equally weighted metrics measuring play compatibility, cuddling frequency, treat acceptance, greeting behavior, and owner-rated friendliness on both positive and negative scales. The comprehensive analysis provides the most detailed friendliness ranking available to date.