Every single dog on this Earth can be trained – no exceptions! That being said, there are certain dogs that are harder to train than others and, as a result, are often labeled as “stubborn.” As a dog trainer, I don’t actually like this word. Why? Because usually the dog is not stubborn, it’s just you as his owner/trainer haven’t figured out what motivates him yet or you haven’t learned how to communicate to him what you want. Many dogs that are confused or don’t understand what you want, will just not do anything, thus appearing stubborn. That said, there are certain breeds that seem to have “selective hearing” or, in reality, are just harder to find what motivates them or how to communicate to them. If you are looking for a dog training challenge, one of these breeds may be just what you want. On the other hand, if you are looking for an easy to train dog, you may want to think twice about these breeds.
#1 – Akita
One of my favorite dogs in terms of looks, the Akita is a training challenge. I worked with an 8-month old female that would literally walk to the end of the leash and sit down facing away from you, as if to say “I am soo done with you.” Once I figured out her motivation though (toys and being allowed the opportunity to ignore you), she became one of my favorite dogs to train.
#2 – Beagle
With the Beagle, it’s not so much selective hearing, it’s just that their noise is working so hard, they forget to use those ears! Beagles are known for being hard to train because if you let them off leash, they will follow that nose and completely tune you out. However, learn how to use that nose for rewards in training, and you will have a great partner.
#3 – Jack Russell Terrier
Do you rule your house, or does your Jack? This breed is crazy intelligent, and being a terrier means he will use that brain to get what he wants. Not listening to you? That’s because he is weighing what he wants to do against what you want to do and your reason (reinforcement) for doing your bidding better be greater than the reinforcement he would get for doing his own thing. Otherwise, you won’t win. So, knowing what your dog really likes and how to communicate that what you want is fun for you dog, are keys to successfully training a Jack (and possibly any terrier).
#4 – Dachshund
Doxies are tenacious little dogs that think they are Rottweilers. With this ego comes a mind of their own. As long as you have proper reinforcement – be it toys, food, or freedom – you can get this strong-willed dog to do as you ask. But, don’t be surprised if it takes you longer to get there than your neighbor with the Lab puppy.
#5 – Welsh Terrier
The Welsh is similar to the Jack, he knows what you want, he just isn’t sure he wants to do it. Why should he? Many terriers are more toy motivated than food, so if you are stuck in your training, try a flirt pole with a rat-type toy at the end. Many terrier will do anything for the chance at chasing and shaking that toy.
#6 – Siberian Husky
This breed is “known” by urban owners to be pretty obstinate about not wanting to do things – going in crates seems to be a big one on Youtube. Oftentimes, however, this is a created selective hearing – owners find their huskies so cute and their “back talk” so adorable, that they don’t follow through with cues. This teaches the dog that doing these things get him what he wants and that he doesn’t really have to listen to you, your cues are just “suggestions” or “options” not “must dos.” So, yes, the Husky is smart and strong-willed, which means you have to be smarter and not be “sucked” into that cuteness in order to have a husky that listens.
#7 – Chinese Shar-Pei
The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes this breed as “intelligent and often stubborn.” However, they are also known for being extremely loyal, so once you figure out what motivates your Shar-Pei and how to speak their language, they are amazing dogs.
#8 – Shiba Inu
I often hear people say to their Shibas, “You’re lucky you’re cute!” This breed has a strong personality and will. A breed that needs a lot of positive training to be social and well-behaved, they are often “selective” when it comes to obeying. Many like toys over treats and shorter sessions work best as they get bored easily.
#9 – Basenji
This fun breed is a handful for sure! Full of energy and a hunting breed, if you let him off leash without lots of pre-training, he will be gone in a flash. And that’s when that “selective hearing” kicks in – a basenji on the hunt has “switched off” his thinking brain and he won’t even register your voice. Using moving toys as a reward will help keep this smart breed engaged in training and you.
#10 – Chow Chow
The poor Chow Chow is often deems as “unintelligent” by many. However, this is not true – they are actually quite smart, but are more like a cat than a dog. This means, he will become “master” of the house if you let him. However, with the right motivation and partnership, you can easily have a well-trained Chow Chow that acts appropriately and does your bidding. It just may take a bit more time and dedication that it would with a Golden Retriever!
