Which Dog Breeds Show the Most Affection and Sociability? A Comprehensive Owner Study

When searching for the friendliest dog in the world, the answer isn’t as simple as pointing to a single breed. However, personality traits like friendliness are significantly shaped by breed characteristics, developmental stage, and critically, early socialization experiences. Every dog thrives with consistent positive reinforcement and social exposure from puppyhood, fostering sociable and eager-to-please behaviors. To guide prospective dog parents toward the ideal companion, a major survey examined 5,000 dog owners—200 owners for each of the 25 most popular breeds according to the American Kennel Club—to determine which breeds consistently demonstrate the warmest social interactions.

The Most Affectionate and Sociable Breeds: Top Performers

Bernese Mountain Dogs Lead in Warmth and Acceptance

Pet parents report that Bernese Mountain Dogs represent the gold standard for canine friendliness, scoring a perfect 100 out of 100. These large, gentle companions demonstrate remarkable acceptance across all measured social metrics. The data reveals compelling patterns: only 6% of owners describe their Bernese as hesitant around new people, and merely 7.3% report resistance to physical affection. Strikingly, these dogs earned top marks for consistent playfulness with other canines—80.5% of owners report their Bernese Mountain Dogs get along famously with other dogs. The breed rarely exhibits what owners classify as unfriendly behavior, with just 0.5% describing any significant social hesitation.

What makes these mountain-dwelling dogs so exceptional is their natural predisposition toward emotional connection. Unlike some breeds that require extensive training to become sociable, Bernese Mountain Dogs appear hard-wired for companionship and warmth toward both their families and strangers alike.

Golden Retrievers: The Consistently Friendly Companion

Golden Retrievers earned a score of 94.94, positioning them as among the world’s most sociable dogs. Their reputation isn’t manufactured—the data confirms it. Pet owners consistently rate their Golden Retrievers as very or somewhat friendly (94%), with the lowest rates of behavioral unfriendliness across breeds studied (0.5%, tied with Bernese Mountain Dogs).

What distinguishes Golden Retrievers further is their proactive enthusiasm: 43.5% of owners report their retriever actively greets newcomers with visible warmth. Additionally, these dogs demonstrate remarkable openness to strangers, with 93.2% happily accepting treats and affection from people beyond their immediate family circle.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis: Small Size, Big Heart

Despite their diminutive stature, Pembroke Welsh Corgis scored 94.94—matching Golden Retrievers—revealing that friendliness transcends size categories. These spirited dogs earned the lowest rate of defensiveness when encountering new people, with only 6.5% of owners reporting guardedness. Corgi parents emphasize their dogs’ eagerness for social interaction: 93% rate their Corgis as demonstrating clear friendly behaviors, while 93.5% report their pets happily accept overtures from strangers, treats included.

What’s particularly notable is how these small-breed companions perform in multi-dog households: 72% get along well with other dogs, suggesting their friendliness extends beyond human relationships.

Additional Standout Breeds for Social Confidence

Labrador Retrievers (94.38/100) represent another remarkably consistent performer. These popular family dogs excel particularly in cuddling enthusiasm—75.8% of owners report their Labs seek and enjoy physical affection constantly or frequently. They’re equally likely to welcome newcomers with obvious joy: 47% of owners describe warm greetings to visitors. Notably, 75.3% readily accept treats and attention from anyone, indicating genuine openness rather than reserved politeness.

Boxers (76.4/100) bring athletic energy to friendliness. Pet parents report these intelligent companions rank among the top breeds for accepting treats and petting from strangers (73.5% do so regularly). Only 8.5% resist physical affection, and just 9% display defensive reactions to new acquaintances.

Great Danes (74.16/100) counter their imposing size with consistent social ease. Remarkably, 80.5% of owners report their Great Dane plays well with other dogs—matching Bernese Mountain Dogs. However, they score lower on cuddling enthusiasm compared to some breeds, with 73% enjoying regular physical affection.

Temperament Variations: The Less Socially Oriented Breeds

American Bulldogs: Reserved Nature

American Bulldogs scored 0.00 out of 100, emerging as the least socially oriented breed studied. This designation surprises some, given that American Bulldogs rank among the most well-behaved breeds overall. However, behavioral compliance differs markedly from social warmth. Data reveals 16.3% of owners report their bulldog resists cuddling, while 44% actively accept treats and affection from strangers—notably lower than top-ranked breeds. Only 18% display visible resistance to new people, yet the cumulative picture suggests reserved rather than effusive sociability.

Doberman Pinschers: Protective Over Gregarious

Doberman Pinschers scored just 2.25, reflecting their documented protective nature. Owners report these elegant guardians are most likely among all studied breeds to display defensive responses to newcomers—23.5% show such hesitation. Additionally, only 40% readily accept treats from strangers, and 18.5% don’t integrate well with unfamiliar dogs. Yet it’s crucial to understand this reflects selective loyalty rather than inherent aggression: with trusted family members, Dobermans demonstrate intense devotion.

Rottweilers, Cane Corsos, and Shih Tzus: Selective Sociability

Rottweilers (8.43/100) earn a similar pattern to Dobermans—they’re selective rather than universally friendly. Pet parents report 20.5% of rottweilers hesitate accepting treats from non-family members, and 16% don’t particularly enjoy casual cuddling beyond their immediate circle. Yet 81% show behavioral friendliness, suggesting their lower score reflects gatekeeping tendencies rather than aggressive dispositions.

Cane Corsos (8.43/100) demonstrate comparable selective engagement. These commanding dogs score lowest for owners rating them “very or somewhat friendly” at 77%—below the study average of 87.1%. Only 26% greet newcomers warmly compared to top performers above 40%.

Shih Tzus (8.99/100) present an interesting exception as the sole small breed among the least socially oriented group. Only 49.5% of owners report their Shih Tzu readily plays with unfamiliar dogs—substantially lower than other breeds. This suggests smaller size doesn’t automatically confer social confidence.

Understanding Friendliness Beyond Rankings

Breed tendencies emerge clearly from data, yet individual variation remains substantial. Early socialization proves crucial—puppies exposed to diverse people, environments, and experiences develop markedly different social patterns than isolated counterparts. Positive reinforcement training consistently produces friendlier adult dogs regardless of breed predisposition.

Financial planning merits consideration too. Several high-ranking breeds appear on premium pet insurance lists—French Bulldogs, Cane Corsos, and Rottweilers face elevated insurance costs due to breed-specific health predispositions. The average pet insurance policy costs approximately $612 annually (based on $5,000 annual coverage with $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement).

When selecting a canine companion, evaluate not only friendliness metrics but also your lifestyle, living situation, and financial preparedness for veterinary care. The “friendliest dog in the world” may simply be the breed whose nature aligns most compatibly with your specific circumstances.

Study Methodology

This analysis examined 5,000 American dog owners (200 per breed) across the 25 most popular American Kennel Club breeds. Researchers evaluated ten equally-weighted metrics (10% each):

• Consistent inter-dog playfulness frequencies
• Infrequent inter-dog playfulness
• Regular cuddling enjoyment
• Resistance to cuddling
• Frequent treat/petting acceptance
• Resistance to stranger affection
• Newcomer greeting warmth
• Defensive reactions to new people
• Owner-reported friendly behavior
• Owner-reported unfriendly behavior

Data-driven scores emerged by aggregating owner responses across these standardized categories, producing the comprehensive rankings presented above.