Hard to train Dog breeds
Before choosing any dog to suit your lifestyle requirements you should read our Guide to Choosing a Pet Dog to get an overall view of the many areas you should consider before making your final decision to get the right pet dog for you.

Difficult dog breeds to train:-

Any guide to "Hard to train dogs" will be suggestions only.
Some generalisations will be made about dog breeds, but dogs like people will have individual personalities. There will be stubborn individual dogs in a breed that supposedly includes easy to train dogs, and wonderful, easy to train dogs in a breed that is generally thought of as difficult to train.
Our list below includes dogs in generally accepted hard to train breeds
Remember identifying difficult to train dog breed is not an exact science, and hard to train dogs may come from any breed.

There are some basic areas that anyone, whatever their lifestyle requirements, should consider before making the choice of what type of dog would be most suitable.
These start with details about your lifestyle:- (Previous dog owners will probably have assessed these points already but their lifestyle and requirements may have changed).

Our Guide to Choosing a Pet Dog contains a further, broader, range of information that you should consider before choosing any new pet dog.

How active are you, what are your energy levels? The activity levels of dog breeds will vary, many dogs require long walks and outside exercise (boredom and bad behaviour often result from lack of exercise}
What size of dog would suit your lifestyle:- (dogs fall into three size groupings- small, medium and large),
Is your accommodation and outside space sufficient for a large dog?
Are you able to handle a larger dog on walks?
Could you lift or carry a larger dog if necessary?
Small dogs can also be full of energy and busy dogs at home can cause all sorts of problems
How much time can you give to your pet dog. Apart from exercise, dogs could make other demands on your time.
Easy to train dogs obviously require less time spent on training.
Little or no grooming may be a factor.
Do you require a dog that likes playing or a more docile “lapdog”?
Noise levels…many dogs react to unfamiliar noises, some by barking or growling and others who may be more shy or reserved can become frightened. Extreme barking can obviously cause problems for you or your neighbours.
Will you need to leave your dog alone for short periods? (Doctor or hospital visits even social visits to “dog free” zones). Some dogs can cope with this, others, unless trained, find it difficult and can get bored.
Will the added cost of keeping a dog fit in with your lifestyle and circumstances?

Some suggestions for Dog Breeds you might find stubborn and hard to train.

Dog Breed

Afghan Hound
Afghans are elegant, independent, keen, sensitive, loyal, loving companions, calm and patient they are tolerant of children and most other pets. They can often appear unintelligent and this combined with their independent nature can make them difficult to train.

Airedale Terrier
Feisty and independent, can be affectionate and good with children and other animals if socialised with them from an early age. Good temperament with a possessive nature towards owner, which makes them good all-round family dogs

Bloodhound
Affectionate, affable, sensitive and sometimes reserved dogs. Good with children but can often knock them over.Generally good with strangers, other pets and unfamiliar dogs.
Enjoys company making them ideal family dogs.

Borzoi
Large sleek, elegant dogs, agile and strong with a great liking for the chase.
Generally very quiet dogs at home only barking occasionally but have a tendency to chase smaller animals if off the leash.. Good with children and other household pets.

Schnauzer (Giant)
Intellgent, alert dogs, bold and brave but calm and reliable. Loyal and affectionate
Reasonably easy to train good with children and other pets

Greyhound
Loyal, affectionate, calm dogs with a wonderful even temper. Loves human company and belonging to a family, despite appearances loves to relax at home.after walks. Loves children and are generally very affectionate.

Mastiff
A true gentle giant, while they are powerful and courageous they are also calm, gentle and protective.
Very loyal and enjoying the company of humans especially families they make great family pets. \Good with children especially if socialised early.

Rottweiler
Bold, courageous and confident dogs they are calm ,affectionate and protective but often not very demonstrative even with their owners.Very intelligent and one of the easiest dogs to train, however this should be done from early age. Good with kids and other pets but can be very protective.

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How active are you, what are your energy levels? The activity levels of dog breeds will vary, many dogs require long walks and outside exercise (boredom and bad behaviour often result from lack of exercise}

How much time can you give to your pet dog. Apart from exercise, dogs could make other demands on your time. Easy to train dogs obviously require less time spent on training. Little or no grooming may be a factor. Do you require a dog that likes playing or a more docile “lapdog”?

Noise levels…many dogs react to unfamiliar noises, some by barking or growling and others who may be more shy or reserved can become frightened. Extreme barking can obviously cause problems for you or your neighbours.

Will you need to leave your dog alone for short periods? (Doctor or hospital visits even social visits to “dog free” zones). Some dogs can cope with this, others, unless trained, find it difficult and can get bored.

Will the added cost of keeping a dog fit in with your lifestyle and circumstances?

Some suggestions for Dog Breeds you might find stubborn and hard to train.

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How much time can you give to your pet dog. Apart from exercise, dogs could make other demands on your time.
Easy to train dogs obviously require less time spent on training.
Little or no grooming may be a factor.
Do you require a dog that likes playing or a more docile “lapdog”?