Top 5 Dog Breeds That are the Hardest to Train

The Afghan Hound

The Afghan hound is one of the top dog breeds that are the hardest to train. Bred in the Afghan mountains of Afghanistan, the Afghan was once a hunting dog. Staying true to the needed mindset for their original line of work, today’s Afghan hounds are known to be independent, mischievous, and unpredictable. This makes them less inclined to follow commands or pay attention during training lessons.

Beyond that, their eyesight is impeccable, which can also pose its own unique set of challenges. This is mainly because they get easily distracted, quickly shifting their focus and attention to whatever interests them the most. (And FYI, most times, that’s not going to be you trying to train them!) All in all, Afghan hounds are not the best breed for beginner dog owners. They require extra patience and consistent training techniques.

Basenji

The basenji is another notoriously hard-to-train dog breed. While it is true that they are highly intelligent and curious canines, those traits also contribute to their stubborn, independent demeanor. Dating back to the early 6000 BC, Egyptians revered basenjis by ancient Egyptians for their skillful hunting abilities. They were originally bred to hunt reed rats, but some were even a gift for the pharaohs! Basenjis can get difficult to train because many require creative, ever-evolving training methods; they need this to keep them physically and mentally engaged throughout their lessons. Besides that, their strong prey drive contributes to their unreliability, which gives yet another reason why basenjis are some of the hardest to train dogs!

Siberian Husky

Siberian huskies are highly intelligent dogs with a whole lot of energy. Because of this, they can be quite stubborn and rambunctious, especially when they are still developing. This often makes training them as puppies quite challenging. Siberian huskies require a lot of repetition and lots of reinforcement for basic obedience or trick training to actually stick with them. Beyond that, Siberian huskies also have a strong prey drive. This can be problematic when you try to enforce recall or obedience — especially in outdoor environments or other highly stimulating areas. 

Shiba Inu

Intended to hunt small game like birds and rabbits, Shiba Inus are an ancient Japanese breed. Today, they are one of the most popular canine companions in Japan! What contributes to them being one of the hardest to train is their high intelligence and strong sense of independence. They have the nickname “cat-dogs” because they exhibit a more feline-like demeanor when compared to other dogs. You can see this behavior in their hesitance to obey commands unless they see a clear benefit for themselves. Shiba Inus also experience boredom easily. They prefer to test the boundaries of what they can get away with. Because of this, it is very hard to train dogs that require a lot of patience and stern discipline from their owners.

Chow Chow

Bred in East China mainly as guard dogs, the easily identifiable chow chow is one of the hardest to train dogs. Beyond protection, early breeders also used this dog breed for hunting, herding, and even sled-pulling! Their personalities tend to lean more towards being independent, willful, and high-strung. They also have a history of where they dominate the humans they are around, making them less motivated to please their owners or listen during training lessons. When they think they are “above” their owners, this makes training a lot more challenging!

Again, you should understand that while all five of these dog breeds may be more challenging to train, it is still possible! While it will surely require patience, consistency, and plenty of positive reinforcement, any dog on this list has the ability to become a well-behaved and obedient companion. Just keep their individual needs in mind to better adapt your training techniques, and you will be off to a good start!