These stubborn dog breeds could drive you insane!
The minute you bring a cute puppy home, you’re in for a world of enthusiastic tail wagging, happy licking, and a deep bond that only grows as time goes on. And we all know that dog training, offering love and affection, and tasty treats are essential.
But in some cases, especially with some stubborn dog breeds, the training process requires more patience than a person could possess! Some dogs do take longer to train, while others are more motivated to please and learn new tricks that result in rewards. And then there are those that can be a bit more indifferent.
Genetics and learning history come into play here, though. For instance, if your pup has a history of poor reinforcement, it can become difficult to teach them new commands or change their behaviors. And canines with low food motivation will be trickier to train than those very motivated by delicious dog treats.
Other issues, like unique personalities, separation anxiety, and even age, can influence training ease. So I decided to reach out to some experts.
And what I found out is that it’s not that these dogs are simply untrainable, but rather that they may require some extra attention or training tricks compared with easier dogs to train. Here are 9 stubborn dog breeds you’ll need LOTS of patience for!
Saint Bernard
A stubborn dog breed that several studies confirmed is challenging to train is the Saint Bernard. While the roots of this breed are rather vague, we know that the Saint Bernard’s Pass monks used them as rescue and guard dogs.
For many centuries, the Saint was bred to perform many roles, such as those mentioned, and farmhand duties. They can accomplish these tasks with little to no supervision. But it requires a lot of independent thought and intelligence.
Well, it’s that very independent thought and their disposition that makes the Saint Bernard one of the toughest to train dogs. They always believe that their way of doing things is best.
Blood Hound
These gentle and sweet dogs are friendly to everyone. In this stubborn dog breed, aggression isn’t the problem. But you have to keep in mind that they’re VERY independent. And sadly, that’s what landed them on this list. These fur babies can easily hurt another pet or a child by playing too rough.
They need a person by their side who’s willing to put in the time, look past that sad face, and teach them proper obedience and manners. If these canines catch a scent, they’ll want to follow it at all costs. So you have to teach them as pups that you’re the boss.
Basset Hound
Basset hounds are not as well-researched as many other breeds regarding their trainability, but several studies discovered that this stubborn dog breed expresses fear, which impacts their openness to training. Even though Basset hounds have short legs, they’re still heavy and have strong muscles and bones.
Initially bred to be scent hounds, these hunting canines still love to be dogs. They like to dig, bark, howl, and stroll around the neighborhood.
The owner of one of these pups needs to be consistent with training to turn one of these fur babies into a pet. The “Saint Hubert’s Hound” is also pretty sluggish. They would rather lie around when not tracking a scent, which is part of what makes them one of the most challenging dogs to train.
Chow Chow
Several studies discovered that Chow Chows are difficult to train because they’re very headstrong. There are several reasons that this stubborn dog breed is like this. First and foremost, they’re all beautiful but less clever than many others. Even though they’re regal and lion-like, they don’t learn at a very fast pace.
Second, they’re more cat-like in their personality and are even more aggressive. They don’t like children, and most of the time, they would rather just be left alone.
Anyone who wants to have one of these dogs as a pet needs to be a patient, experienced trainer with enough time to spend working with this pooch. Aloof and severe, these head-turners should never be allowed to roam free on their own.
Greyhound
A famous racing breed, this docile, intelligent, stubborn dog breed is becoming a favorite as a family pet, but it’s almost one of the most complicated dogs to train out there. Greyhounds are sighthounds, and even though the racing industry has bred out all the aggression and other unwanted traits, their prey drive remains rather high.
This, combined with their ability to jump over most fences under 6 feet, means that they have to be properly trained not to chase squirrels, cars, and other pets. They’re also rather sensitive and need a soft hand in training. If you try to train them too harshly, they can become timid, skittish, and fearful.
Doodles
Goldendoodles, bernedoodles, and any other doodle varieties are incredibly precious curly-haired dogs that remain popular in many households around the US.
And there’s actually a misconception that these canines are easy to train, but unfortunately, overbreeding has contributed to them being more fearful and anxious than other stubborn dog breeds. In fact, experts have told me that many of the doodles they’ve personally worked with tend to be needy and struggle with separation anxiety and other fear-related behavior issues.
So, if you wish to get a doodle, begin training when they’re young with positive socialization. And be sure to include problem-solving and enrichment activities for confidence and ensure the pup has as much mental exercise as physical exercise.
Bullmastiff
There are actually quite a few reasons why this adorable pup is hard to train. First, they have average intellect. While that’s not bad, they won’t pick things up as quickly as smarter breeds. Second, they’re stubborn and independent beyond belief.
Brave and confident, this stubborn dog breed doesn’t take orders from just any average Joe. And let’s not forget that Bullmastiffs are enormous. Initially bred to be guard dogs, these creatures need an experienced trainer to be a pack leader for obedience and socialization training. No matter what you might think, experts say that this breed can easily hurt or kill a human or another animal.
English Bulldog
It’s probably not that shocking that the English Bulldog landed on this list of the most stubborn dog breeds to train. These canines were initially bred for a bloody sport dubbed bullbaiting. Surprisingly, they also served as herding dogs.
And even though they’ve come a long way from having feisty qualities to being loving creatures, they’re still headstrong and independent. If you’re looking for a sluggish couch potato, this is THE dog for you.
Although they’re loving towards people, they must be well socialized with animals if you want them to accept other animals. Sadly, this stubborn dog breed is also not very smart. This means they need a patient, consistent trainer to instruct them in obedience.
Malamute
Just like huskies, malamutes are a cold-weather, stubborn dog breed known for their heightened sense of independence. They aren’t all that motivated by toys, food, or pleasing their humans. On top of that, this type of canine has a very high prey drive and will go after chickens, cats, and other small pups.
Rewiring this dog’s behavior is vital, even if it’s tough. If you get a malamute, make sure it has a lot of activities meant for their breed, like pulling a person on sleds. This gives the dog an outlet for some of those things they were initially bred to do.
Do you own any of these stubborn dog breeds? If so, please feel free to share any pro tips and tricks you may have with our readers in the comments section.
And if you with to read more like this, check out: Is Your Dog Acting Aggressive All of a Sudden? Here Are 7 Reasons Why
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