13 Most Difficult Dogs to Train: Info, Facts, and Expert Training Strategies

If you have ever spent weeks trying to teach a puppy basic obedience commands—only to watch them look you dead in the eye, turn around, and trot off to chase a leaf—you already understand what it means to live with a hard-to-train dog.

Dog training advice on the internet often paints a rosy picture: grab a handful of tasty treats, use a clicker, repeat a command three times, and your dog will master the skill. While this positive reinforcement approach works wonders for eager, people-pleasing breeds like Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, it can hit a brick wall when applied to more independent, strong-willed, or primitive canine breeds.

Certain dogs were specifically engineered over centuries to think for themselves. Whether they were bred to hunt swift game across vast deserts without human direction, guard remote livestock flocks in isolation, or pull sleds through blinding Arctic blizzards, these breeds learned to trust their own instincts rather than wait for human instructions. Today, that fierce independence translates into what modern owners describe as "stubbornness" or "difficulty in training."

Understanding why certain dogs challenge traditional training methods is the first step toward transforming frustration into a rewarding partnership. Here is an in-depth, expert look at the 13 most difficult dogs to train, complete with behavioral facts, historical context, and proven strategies to help you succeed.

What Makes a Dog Breed "Difficult" to Train?

When professional dog trainers and behaviorists evaluate a breed's trainability, they look beyond simple intelligence. In fact, many hard-to-train breeds are remarkably smart! Instead, trainability relies heavily on three core behavioral factors:

1. Low Biddability: Biddability is a canine's willingness to follow human directions and seek approval. Highly biddable dogs live to please their owners; low-biddable dogs prioritize their own agenda.
2. High Independence and Prey Drive: Breeds developed to hunt or track independently over long distances do not naturally check back in with their handler. Their focus stays locked onto environmental stimuli.
3. Sensitivity vs. Stubbornness: Some independent breeds shut down or become defiant under harsh corrections or repetitive drills, requiring creative, highly motivating, and patient training techniques.

13 Most Difficult Dog Breeds to Train

1. Basenji

• Average Weight: 22 – 24 lbs
• Lifespan: 13 – 14 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Extreme independence and feline-like autonomy
• Overview: Often called Africa's "barkless dog," the Basenji is an ancient hunting breed that communicates with a unique yodel rather than a standard bark. Mentally and physically, they act more like cats than dogs. They are fiercely independent, fastidious groomers, and have zero intrinsic desire to please a human handler during obedience drills. Training a Basenji requires patience, creativity, and treating every session as a collaborative game rather than a command-and-control exercise.

2. Siberian Husky

• Average Weight: 35 – 60 lbs
• Lifespan: 12 – 14 years
• Primary Training Challenge: High roaming instinct and selective hearing
• Overview: Bred for centuries by the Chukchi people of Siberia to pull heavy sleds across frozen tundra over vast distances, the Husky is an endurance athlete with an independent mind. Huskies are notoriously difficult to off-leash train because their powerful predatory and roaming drives easily override verbal recall commands. If a Husky spots a squirrel or open trail, their instinct is to run, not listen.

3. Afghan Hound

• Average Weight: 50 – 60 lbs
• Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Aloof temperament and low biddability
• Overview: With their striking, flowing coats and aristocratic posture, Afghan Hounds are among the most visually stunning dogs in the world. However, they are also frequently ranked low on traditional obedience intelligence scales. Bred as independent desert coursing hounds that hunted by sight rather than human direction, Afghan Hounds prefer to make their own decisions. They require gentle, positive training and possess a sensitive soul that wilts under heavy-handed discipline.

4. Beagle

• Average Weight: 20 – 30 lbs
• Lifespan: 10 – 15 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Olfactory distraction and single-minded tracking
• Overview: Beagles are universally beloved for their merry, friendly dispositions, but training them can test the patience of any owner. A Beagle's nose is a superpower; once they lock onto an interesting scent trail outdoors, their brain effectively tunes out human voices, treats, and commands. Successful training requires high-value food rewards and secure, fenced-in training environments free of wildlife distractions.

5. Bloodhound

• Average Weight: 80 – 110 lbs
• Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Massive physical strength combined with obsessive scenting
• Overview: The Bloodhound possesses the most sensitive olfactory system in the canine kingdom, capable of tracking human scents across miles and days. When a Bloodhound catches a scent, their stubborn determination is legendary. Trying to pull a 100-pound Bloodhound away from a track once they have locked on is nearly impossible, making early leash manners and scent-redirection training essential.

6. Jack Russell Terrier

• Average Weight: 13 – 17 lbs
• Lifespan: 13 – 18 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Boundless energy, high prey drive, and stubborn willpower
• Overview: Pint-sized powerhouses, Jack Russell Terriers were bred in England to bolt foxes from underground dens. They possess iron willpower, lightning-fast reflexes, and a relentless desire to investigate. Without consistent, engaging mental challenges and high-energy outlets, Jack Russells will easily outsmart novice owners and invent their own mischievous entertainment.

7. Chow Chow

• Average Weight: 45 – 70 lbs
• Lifespan: 8 – 12 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Intense aloofness, stubbornness, and guarded independence
• Overview: Looking like a majestic lion, the Chow Chow is an ancient Chinese guard breed known for its dignified, cat-like independence. Chow Chows are notoriously difficult to train because they do not care about pleasing anyone outside their immediate inner circle. Early, intensive socialization is vital to prevent them from becoming overly suspicious or protective of strangers.

8. Bullmastiff

• Average Weight: 100 – 130 lbs
• Lifespan: 8 – 10 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Large physical size, independent guarding instincts, and willful nature
• Overview: Developed to guard large English estates against poachers, the Bullmastiff is a powerful, quiet giant. While they are deeply devoted to their families, they possess an independent streak and a stubborn mindset when asked to perform repetitive obedience drills. Training must begin during puppyhood before the dog outweighs their handler, relying on calm, assertive, and rewarding leadership.

9. Pekingese

• Average Weight: 7 – 14 lbs
• Lifespan: 12 – 14 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Royal stubbornness and resistance to housebreaking
• Overview: Bred for centuries inside ancient Chinese imperial palaces, the Pekingese was treated with god-like reverence—and they never forgot it! Pekingese carry a regal, self-important attitude that makes traditional obedience training a battle of wills. Housebreaking a Pekingese can also be notoriously frustrating, requiring unwavering consistency and positive reinforcement.

10. Borzoi

• Average Weight: 55 – 105 lbs
• Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Cat-like independence and extreme sensitivity
• Overview: The Borzoi (formerly known as the Russian Wolfhound) is a magnificent, slender sighthound built for breathtaking speed. Bred to hunt wolves across snowy steppes, Borzois are quiet, gentle, and extremely independent. They do not respond to repetitive commands or harsh corrections; if they find a training drill boring, they simply walk away.

11. Shiba Inu

• Average Weight: 17 – 23 lbs
• Lifespan: 13 – 16 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Strong-willed autonomy and disdain for repetitive drills
• Overview: Japan's most popular native spitz breed is famously cat-like. Shibas are fiercely independent, clean, and clever, but they view obedience training as a negotiation rather than a rule. If a Shiba does not see the logical value in performing a command, they will flat-out refuse. Patience, mutual respect, and high-value rewards are the only keys to unlocking a Shiba's cooperation.

12. Alaskan Malamute

• Average Weight: 75 – 85 lbs
• Lifespan: 10 – 14 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Dominant independence, high prey drive, and raw sled-dog strength
• Overview: Built to haul massive freight loads across Arctic ice, the Alaskan Malamute is an immensely powerful working dog with an independent pack mentality. Malamutes often challenge household hierarchy, testing their owners to see who is truly in charge. Training a Malamute requires firm, consistent boundary setting and plenty of heavy physical exercise.

13. Shar-Pei

• Average Weight: 40 – 60 lbs
• Lifespan: 8 – 12 years
• Primary Training Challenge: Suspicious guarding instincts and stubborn autonomy
• Overview: Easily recognized by their deep wrinkles and blue-black tongues, Chinese Shar-Peis were originally developed as all-around farm and guarding dogs. They are fiercely loyal to their owners but intensely suspicious of strangers and other animals. Without rigorous, early socialization and firm, calm leadership, a Shar-Pei's stubborn guarding instincts can make them exceptionally difficult to manage in public.

Channeling Stubborn and Independent Drive Through Enrichment

Even the most independent, hard-to-train dog breeds possess deep physical energy, stamina, and working instincts. When independent dogs lack adequate physical and mental outlets, their frustration can manifest as destructive chewing, escape artistry, or stubborn disobedience indoors.

Channeling their drive into structured, interactive outdoor play helps burn off excess steam, making them much more focused and receptive during training sessions.

Using durable outdoor exercise tools like the Warmmore Herding Ball for Australian Shepherds & Collies ( https://www.warmmore.com/products/warmmore-herding-ball-australian-shepherd-collie ) provides energetic, strong-willed dogs with a fantastic physical workout in the yard. Designed as a smooth, heavy-duty 18-inch hard ball, it allows athletic dogs to use their chest, legs, and body weight to push and steer the ball across the grass. This activity satisfies their instinct to chase and push, builds core strength, and delivers an engaging workout without placing high-impact stress on their joints.

5 Golden Rules for Training Stubborn Dog Breeds

Training a hard-to-train dog requires throwing away standard obedience playbooks and adopting strategies designed for independent minds:

1. Keep Training Sessions Short and Varied

Independent dogs get bored instantly. Limit formal obedience sessions to 5 to 10 minutes maximum. Change up your routines, introduce new locations, and stop before your dog shows signs of frustration.

2. Use High-Value Motivators

Dry kibble will not cut it for a stubborn hound or an independent spitz! Use irresistible rewards like tiny cubes of real cheese, cooked chicken liver, or high-value training treats that your dog only receives during training.

3. Tap Into Their Natural Working Drive

Instead of fighting your dog's instincts, incorporate them into training. If you have a tracking hound, use scent-work games. If you have an athletic working dog, reward successful obedience commands with a game of fetch or rolling the Warmmore Herding Ball for Australian Shepherds & Collies ( https://www.warmmore.com/products/warmmore-herding-ball-australian-shepherd-collie ) across the grass.

4. Never Use Harsh Physical Corrections

Independent, primitive, and hound breeds do not respond well to anger, yelling, or leash jerks. Harsh corrections damage trust, cause dogs to shut down completely, or trigger defensive aggression. Stay calm, patient, and consistent.

5. Focus on Mutual Respect over Blind Obedience

Remember that independent dogs will rarely become robotically obedient. Your goal is not perfection, but rather a strong, trusting partnership built on clear communication, mutual respect, and positive reinforcement.

Summary: Embracing the Challenge

Living with and training one of the most difficult dog breeds in the world is undeniably challenging, but it is also profoundly rewarding. When you finally earn the trust and cooperation of a strong-willed, independent dog, the bond you share is unbreakable. By understanding their unique historical heritage, ditching rigid expectations, and keeping them mentally and physically fulfilled, you can successfully guide even the most stubborn canine companion toward a happy, well-mannered life.