Difficult Breeds: Dogs That Only The Best Dog Owners Can Train
Ah, dogs: man's best friend, but as every dog owner knows, not all best friends are created equal. We'd love to think that our canine companions respond like obedient angels at the slightest command, but let's be real- some breeds of dogs just aren't quite so easy to train!
Cue Basset Hounds lagging behind in their obedience studies and Old English Sheepdogs stubbornly refusing to take orders. If you've been considering these breeds or already have one in your home, then read on for advice on how they can become an A+ student!
Shih Tzus Have A Way Of Getting Their Way
Training Shih Tzus isn't an easy task. They have a way of getting away with bad behavior, charming their owner into forgetting everything naughty that just happened. Call it stubbornness or genius, Shih Tzus aren't the best when it comes to obedience, specifically house training.
This breed takes time to train, so enrolling a Shih Tzu in an early puppy class that focuses on positive reinforcement is key to a happy dog that listens.
Lakeland Terriers Are Smart But Get Bored Fast
Lakeland Terriers are too smart for their own good, and they know it. With their "big dog in a small package" swagger, this breed needs to be constantly challenged and will get very bored with repetitive training sessions.
But training is a must for this breed, or else they'll drive their owners a bit crazy with their constant barking. A firm yet fun and creative way to training is the only way to get through to Lakeland Terriers.
If It's Not Fun, A Bull Terrier Won't Bother
For Bull Terriers, if it's not fun, they won't really bother with training. According to the American Kennel Club, "This is an independent free-thinker with a higher commitment to "fun and games" than to a work ethic. Bull Terriers operate on the principle that if it is fun, they will do it. If not, why bother?"
A bit stubborn, this breed can be difficult to train if the owner isn't a creative, energetic thinker.
Bloodhounds Quickly Become Set In Their Ways
It's not that Bloodhounds are untrainable; it's just that they need to be trained right away, or they'll be set in their ways. And if an owner thinks they'll be able to un-train a Bloodhound, they're sadly mistaken. This is a case of a dog very unwilling to learn a new trick.
According to the American Kennel Club, their stubbornness won't be as big of an issue as long as they're put into obedience classes very early.
Rottweilers Need To Learn On A Day-To-Day Basis
Rottweilers might be people-pleasers, but they require a lot of time and energy to become well-trained and well-behaved dogs. While some consider the breed to be very trainable, they have a stubborn streak that might make some days trickier than others.
The key to a well-trained Rottie is daily activity and training sessions, starting when they are young puppies. For this breed, it's a matter of how much the owner puts into the dog.
Borzois Are Strong-Willed
Borzois are very strong-willed, a touch stubborn, and independent, making training a bit hard for owners. And the fact that their instincts scream at them to chase any small animal while out on a walk makes leash training nearly an impossible feat.
According to the American Kennel Club, when it comes to training this breed, "Patience and consistency are key. Overall they are usually gentle, well-mannered companions." Early training classes are the best for Borzois.
Siberian Huskies Need A Lot Of Attention
There is no denying Siberian Huskies are a fun breed. They're loyal and full of energy. But it's that energy that places them on this list of dog breeds that are a bit difficult to train.
They require a lot of attention and training to ensure they don't become anxious or try to find their owner when left alone. Not to mention they're outdoor dogs and need a lot of open space to run. So, if a prospective owner is thinking about a Huskie, leash training is going to be a not-so-nice treat!
Old English Sheepdogs Remember Their Bad Behavior
Old English Sheepdogs remember everything. While that might sound good on a training level, it can actually get this breed in a lot of trouble because everything includes all of their bad behavior. This makes them a bit tricky to train.
A stubborn breed, Old English Sheepdogs, like to test their owners in games of will, especially if training exercises become repetitive and robotic. Creative, puzzle-like training is the way to go with this intelligently stubborn breed.
Mastiffs Are Very Emotional
They're big; they're very emotional, and, if not trained properly, Mastiffs will lie down and start snoring in a very cute and unproductive manner. Owners must realize that training this giant breed is a delicate balance of having a firm hand and yet being very gentle and positive.
This breed will get emotional if their owner yells at them, i.e., their feelings will get hurt, and they'll be done training for the remainder of the day.
Australian Shepherds Will Test Their Owners
Australian Shepherds are widely considered to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds. And it's because of their smarts that they are a bit difficult to train. While they want to do nothing more than pleasing their human, they won't hesitate to begin a game of wills either.
They need constant mental stimulation and do best when training is a pseudo-puzzle and has some sort of end goal or reward.
Basenjis Thrives On Short Training Sessions
When it comes to training Basenjis, the shorter the training session, the better. This breed is too intelligent for its own good, and because of this, they need "mind game" training and reinforcement, something a bit more than the typical sit and stay commands.
This breed is also quick on its feet and isn't prone to enjoying time on a leash. So, off-leash training is a must if walks are to go smoothly and without pulling.
Lhasa Apso Will Please Their Owner If They Want To
A Lhasa Apso will please their owner when they feel like it and only if it's on their own terms. But that shouldn't deter prospective owners because this breed is trainable; it's just a matter of making sessions fun and interesting to keep their interest.
Highly intelligent, this breed really has a mind of its own, and if their owner ignores them, then it's game over. They'll walk all over their human and become the master of the house -- aka, they won't listen.
Greyhounds Need A Personalized Schedule
A breed typically trained to run around a track, Greyhounds benefit from short bursts of training sessions. Owners of this breed won't benefit from long periods of telling their Greyhound to sit, stay, or rollover; they'll get bored and most likely walk away without a second glance back.
The best way to train a Greyhound is to keep them on a specific and personalized schedule to let them know their owner is still in control.
Bullmastiffs Need To Start Training ASAP
They might be great family dogs, but a Bullmastiff is definitely a long-term project when it comes to training. A very strong-willed breed, owners need to set a schedule and set rules for their Bullmastiff right away if they plan on their dog being well-behaved and trained.
According to the American Kennel Club, many Bullmastiff owners recommend signing pooches up for puppy training classes as soon as possible to get them familiar with various commands and social interaction.
Pekingese Have A Lot To Say
Bred to live in palaces, Pekingese are almost as stubborn and independent-thinking as the emperors whose laps they used to sit on. An extremely opinionated breed, Pekingese can be very difficult to train in a timely manner, as they tend to do what they want when they want.
It will take a lot of work to get this breed housebroken and listening to commands. But once an owner accomplishes that, Pekes are considered great house pets.
Vizslas Need A "Job"
Ironically, Vizslas love training. It's just that they require it constantly to keep their mind and body stimulated with a "job," or else they tend to get into a bit of trouble around the house. According to the American Kennel Club, "They are highly intelligent, curious, and sometimes manipulative, so owners need to establish solid communication and teach good behavior."
One of the better ways to train this tricky breed is to play towards its strengths: soft toys that remind it of hunting and lots of outdoor play.
Beagles Need Your Patience
Unfortunately, Beagles have a bit of a habit of barking a lot. But breaking them of it isn't impossible; it just takes a bit of patience on the owner's part. According to the American Kennel Club, "Beagles do not respond well to harsh techniques, but patience, positive reinforcement, and even a little creativity will win out in the end."
It might be difficult to be patient when a Beagle is up and barking at nothing in the middle of the night, but good training always pays off in the end.
Whippets Are Stubborn And Need A Lot Of Exercise
If a prospective owner isn't the most energetic or exercise-prone person, then training a Whippet is out of the question. This breed needs daily doses of outdoor exercise, like running around in open spaces, preferably with other dogs.
It's the best way to get them to listen when command training begins. When that happens, it's best to go off a reward-based system, or else they'll get very stubborn and walk away in the middle of training.
Great Pyrenees' Find Training To Be a Bore
Used to being independent and out in a field watching over herds, Great Pyrenees don't see training as something useful. In fact, this breed finds training to be downright boring. Extremely intelligent, Great Pyrenees' will sit and stay, but they will let their owner know that they think the commands are a waste of time.
To prove their boredom, this breed will move very slowly to perform any command they deem "unimportant."
Shiba Inus Are Virtually Impossible To Leash Train
First things first, no amount of obedience training will ever make a Shiba Inu okay off-leash. This breed will book it the moment they're free. Even when it doesn't come to leash training, this breeds high intellect makes it difficult to train.
The trick to training this breed is creativity and making sure they're rewarded for a job well done. But the sessions better keep the Shiba Inus interest, or its stubborn nature will have it lying down and bored.
Pugs Can Be Stubborn
Agreeable one minute and asleep during a training session the next, pugs will let their owners know when and when it isn't an appropriate time to work. While this breed wants to please their humans, they have more than a little stubborn streak that makes training a little hard.
Positive reinforcement and a whole lot of treats are the way to a pug's heart. Any harsh words and this breed will call it quits before their owner realizes their mistake.
Afghan Hounds Have A Lot Of Bad Instincts
Afghan Hounds require a lot of work, as they have a lot of bad instincts that need to be broken. One being the instinct to chase small animals. This makes it a bit tricky to go on walks around the neighborhood.
This breed of hound requires constant work, positive reinforcement, and, if owners really want to win over their hound, treats aren't a horrible idea either. Even so, Afghan Hounds are a lot of work.
Scottish Terriers Will Test Their Owners
A "thinker" breed, Scottish Terriers, do best in short, 15-minute training sessions. Any longer and this breed will get very bored with the repetition since their instinct is to figure things out on their own.
They are known to test their owners' limits yet will be a bit emotional if snapped at for doing something wrong since they're very attuned to vocal tones. According to the American Kennel Club, "Just be persistent, and reward good behavior."
Chow Chows Think They're The Boss
They're cute, wrinkly, and think they own every room they walk into. Chow Chows are not exactly what one would call easy to train. This breed has a nasty habit of being very standoffish to people and animals they don't know, so early socialization is key.
An extremely stubborn breed, constant positive reinforcement, praise, regular practice, and patience is the only way to secure a trusting relationship with a Chow, according to the American Kennel Club.
Chihuahuas Will Fool You With Their Cuteness
Chihuahuas are eager to please their owners but at a cost. They're a very smart breed and use their cuteness to get away with bad behavior. Owners need to have a very firm hand in obedience training, making sure to let their pooch know who is in charge of the house.
Not great with strangers, it might take some time for owners to get their Chihuahuas to feel comfortable and not bark around people they've just met. With this breed, patience is key.
Saint Bernards Will Take Advantage Of Their Size
Saint Bernards are family dogs, but it takes some time for them to realize they're a bit bigger than the average house pet. This breed needs to be put into obedience training right out of the gate, so they learn not to take food off the table, knock children over, and otherwise take advantage of their size.
It might take some time, but Saint Bernards want nothing more than to please their humans.
Belgian Malinois Are Too Smart For Their Own Good
Belgian Malinois' are extremely smart animals. But that intelligence can get in the way of their training, as they tend to get distracted if sessions become boring and repetitive. They thrive off mind games, but if they see something moving out of the corner of their eye, owners best believe they're going after it.
The key to a well-behaved Mal is early training sessions that become routine. Owners have to make sure their Mal knows who's boss and that they're not going to get away with anything.
English Bulldogs Chew...A Lot
They might be adorable and great family pets, but the truth of the matter is English Bulldogs are one of the more difficult breeds to train. For most of the breed, chewing is a way of life.
So, getting them into the habit of chewing on nothing but their toys will be the number one hardest thing for owners, especially since they're not considered the smartest breed. Because of this, training can be a bit time-consuming.
Japanese Chin Are "Catlike" To Train
Originally bred to entertain, charm, and comfort Japanese royalty, not much has changed in the Japanese Chins' demeanor throughout the years. They're very "catlike" when it comes to training, only enjoying positive reinforcement.
They will shut down at the first harsh word from their owner, making training a bit tricky. Even so, keeping everything light, fun, and interesting will go a long way with this breed. Just keep in mind that they do have a stubborn streak and won't let their owner forget it!
Basset Hound's Are Very Independent
According to the American Kennel Club, "Basset Hounds are very independent, and training the breed can be a challenge." It's not that it's impossible to train this breed; it's just that it will take some time and patience on the owner's part, especially since this hound breed looks aloof more often than not.
This is because the breed's instinct is to work alone. But positive reinforcement and treats go a long way when it comes to training.
Let us know in the comments if we missed your own challenging dog breed!
