10 Most Trustworthy Dog Breeds, Ranked

Which dog breeds are the most trustworthy of all?

Dogs are as close to family as some of us will ever get. Their good-humored personalities are exactly what we need at the end of a long day, and their gentle, loyal nature makes us trust them — sometimes, even with our lives.

But which dog breeds are the most trustworthy?

Protect My Paws sought to find the answer to this very question. By using the NRC Lexicon way of scoring a sentence for sentimental content, the pet care site analyzed 200,000 dog-themed tweets for “trustful” words.

The results? These 10 dog breeds came out on top when it comes to reliability and trustworthiness.

10. Belgian Malinois

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No. of trustful words (per 1,000 in tweets about the breed): 161

These alert herders are the full package. Not only are they smart and hard-working, but they’re also extremely loyal and do really well in obedience training.

Their only setback? Needing plenty of exercise if you want to avoid any rowdiness.

* Ranking comes from Protect My Paws’ 2023 analysis.

9. American Eskimo

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No. of trustful words: 163

These balls of fluff are eager to please, making them ideal for families (even ones with small children). Plus, they come in three sizes — standard, miniature and toy — so they can accommodate any lifestyle.

Fun fact: This breed became especially popular after playing the entertaining sidekick to clowns at the Barnum and Bailey Circus. An Eskie was even the first dog to ever walk across a tightrope.

8. Bernese Mountain Dog

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No. of trustful words: 166

These dogs are the definition of “gentle giants” with their calm demeanor. They’re great with children but are known to attach themselves to one lucky member of the family.

Built for hard work, this powerful breed is more likely to use that energy licking your face these days instead of climbing mountains.

6. Kuvasz (Tie)

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No. of trustful words: 181

This Hungarian dog breed is a working dog, originally bred to guard flocks and serve as a companion to kings.

The Kuvasz is a more challenging breed on this list, but its smarts and profound loyalty are likely what earned it trustworthiness points.

6. Puli (Tie)

Close up Portrait of Puli Dog isolated on Black

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No. of trustful words: 181

What’s not to love about the shaggy-haired face of a puli? Another Hungarian breed, the puli is a quick learner and is actually quite agile and light on its feet — earning it a reputation as an acrobat.

Its cord-like fur is weatherproof, which served it well in its herding days. But, now, it’s their loyalty that helps them earn trust from their owners.

5. American Staffordshire Terrier

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No. of trustful words: 201

American Staffordshire terriers are part of the pit bull terrier family, and they often get a bad rap from those who don’t understand the breed’s history. While their steadfast loyalty made them easy to train for dogfights, that loyalty also serves them well as the ultimate family dog with the right owners.

That’s why most people who truly know the AmStaff breed trust them unconditionally.

4. Australian Shepherd

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No. of trustful words: 177

Closely associated with the ranching life, the Australian shepherd is another herding dog that owners trust to work well alongside them.

Plus, who wouldn’t fall in love with those eyes?

3. Beauceron

Beauceron shepard bieg dog, Kauai, Hawaii

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No. of trustful words: 178

Beaucerons have a lot in common with the Belgian Malinois. They’re confident herders that are also graceful.

Despite their large and muscular look, these dogs make excellent companions and watchdogs. Just don’t let their domineering ways kick in, or they’ll soon be running the show!

2. Komondor

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No. of trustful words: 206

Like the puli, the komondor has cord-like fur that makes it instantly recognizable.

It is one of three working dog breeds that have been herding the sheep and cattle of Hungary for 10 centuries. And nothing says trust more than time.

1. Saint Bernard

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No. of trustful words: 208

The Chris Farley of dog breeds, this goofy pooch packs on the charm with its big smile and slobbery kisses.

If the “Beethoven” movie franchise taught us anything, it’s that Saint Bernards are the ultimate companion dog for families.