You’re standing in the middle of your kitchen, holding a high-value piece of freeze-dried liver, and your dog is just... looking at you. Not with confusion, but with a sort of calculated indifference. You’ve said "sit" four times. Your neighbor’s Golden Retriever probably does backflips for a kibble, but your Afghan Hound has decided that sitting on cold tile is beneath their dignity today. Honestly, it’s frustrating. People often label dogs that are hard to train as "stubborn" or even "dumb," but after years of working with different breeds, I’ve realized it’s almost always the opposite. These aren't low-IQ animals. Usually, they’re just dogs that don’t see the point in working for free.
Training isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing. If you’re struggling with a pup that seems to have a permanent "do not disturb" sign on their brain, you’re likely dealing with a breed that was developed for independent work. Think about it. A Beagle wasn't bred to look at a human for instructions; they were bred to put their nose to the ground and find a rabbit. If they stopped to check in with you every five seconds, the rabbit would be three counties away.
The Reality of Independent Breeds
When we talk about dogs that are hard to train, we’re usually talking about the "What’s in it for me?" group. Stanley Coren’s famous book, The Intelligence of Dogs, ranks breeds based on how quickly they learn commands and how often they obey them on the first try. At the bottom of that list, you find breeds like the Basenji, the Bulldog, and the Afghan Hound. But here’s the kicker: Coren’s ranking is specifically measuring "working and obedience intelligence." It doesn't account for "adaptive intelligence" (solving problems on their own) or "instinctive intelligence" (doing what they were bred to do).
Take the Basenji. They are often called the "barkless dog" from Africa. They are incredibly smart, but they are also cat-like. If you tell a Basenji to "stay" and there’s a squirrel across the yard, that Basenji is going to do a quick cost-benefit analysis. Squirrel wins. Every time. It’s not that they don’t understand you. They just disagree with your priorities.
Then you have the Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) like the Great Pyrenees or the Anatolian Shepherd. These dogs were literally designed to stay alone with a flock of sheep for days or weeks. If a wolf shows up, the dog doesn't wait for a human to give a command. They act. When you bring that 120-pound fluff ball into a suburban living room and expect it to "heel" on a sidewalk, you’re fighting centuries of genetic programming. They think they know better than you. And in the mountains of Turkey, they probably would.
Why Some Dogs Just Won’t Listen
It’s easy to get mad. You see a Border Collie at the park doing weaves through its owner’s legs and you look at your Basset Hound, who is currently glued to a patch of grass smelling something from 1994.
Motivation is the wall most owners hit. Most dogs that are hard to train have a high "boredom factor." If you repeat the same drill ten times, a Lab will still be wagging its tail, thrilled to be involved. A Chow Chow will walk away after the second rep. They get it. You want them to sit. Why keep doing it?
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We also have to look at "environmental sensitivity." Some breeds are so tuned into the world around them that a human waving a treat is the least interesting thing happening. Sighthounds like Salukis or Greyhounds are a prime example. Their brains are hardwired to track movement. You can have the best ham in the world, but if a plastic bag blows across the street, their prehistoric "chase" instinct overrides the "sit for ham" instinct. It’s a chemical surge in their brain. You aren’t competing with their stubbornness; you’re competing with their biology.
The Problem With Traditional Methods
A lot of the "old school" training advice—the stuff involving dominance or physical corrections—actually backfires with these breeds. If you try to "boss" an Akita, you’re going to destroy your relationship with that dog. They value respect and partnership. If they don't trust you, they won't work for you.
I’ve seen people get really discouraged because they think they’re "bad owners."
They aren't.
They just have a dog that requires a different operating system.
Scent Hounds: The Nose Rules the Brain
Bloodhounds and Beagles are legendary for being "difficult." But call them difficult to a search-and-rescue professional, and they’ll laugh. A Bloodhound can follow a scent trail that is days old over miles of uneven terrain. That requires an incredible amount of focus and intelligence.
The "problem" is that this focus is exclusive. When the nose goes down, the ears go off. Literally. There is some evidence that when a scent hound is intensely trailing, their auditory processing takes a backseat. They aren't ignoring you; they actually might not "hear" you in the way you think.
Strategies for the "Untrainable" Dog
So, what do you actually do? You can’t just let a 100-pound Mastiff do whatever it wants. Training dogs that are hard to train requires a shift in your own psychology. You have to become a better negotiator than a corporate lawyer.
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- Find the Currency: Some dogs don't care about food. Maybe they want a specific toy, or maybe they just want to be allowed to go sniff a bush. This is called the Premack Principle. Basically, you use a high-probability behavior (sniffing) to reinforce a low-probability behavior (walking on a loose leash). "Walk nicely for ten feet, and I’ll let you sniff that fire hydrant."
- Keep it Short: Five minutes. That’s it. Stop before they get bored. You want them to finish the session wanting more, not sighing with relief that it’s over.
- Manage the Environment: Don't try to teach a Siberian Husky "stay" in a busy park for the first time. They are easily distracted. Start in a hallway with no toys, no other pets, and no noise.
- Be Consistent, Not Harsh: These dogs look for loopholes. If "off" means off the couch on Monday but you let them snuggle on Tuesday because you're tired, you’ve just taught them that your rules are actually just suggestions.
The Case of the Terrier
Terriers were bred to go into holes and fight things that bite back. That requires an insane amount of grit and tenacity. When you try to train a Jack Russell Terrier, you are dealing with a creature that has zero "quit." This makes them "hard to train" because they have their own agenda. They are busy. They have things to kill and dirt to dig.
With Terriers, you have to make the training feel like a game or a job. If it feels like a chore, they’re out. If it feels like a hunt, they’re all in.
Common Misconceptions About Dog IQ
People love to brag about their "smart" dog that knows 50 tricks. But often, that dog is just highly biddable. "Biddability" is the desire to please a human. A Golden Retriever is highly biddable. A Borzoi is not.
Does that make the Borzoi stupid?
No.
In fact, some trainers argue that dogs that are hard to train are actually the most intelligent because they require a reason to perform. They aren't "drones." They are independent thinkers. If you can convince a Shiba Inu to do something, you’ve actually accomplished a much higher level of training than someone who has a dog that would jump off a cliff just because you pointed.
Real World Examples: The Siberian Husky
Huskies are the poster children for "difficult" dogs. They are vocal, they have incredible endurance, and they have a "will to roam" that is unmatched. If you let a Husky off-leash in an unfenced area, there is a statistically high chance you are going to be spending the next four hours driving around the neighborhood.
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This isn't because they don't love you. It's because they were bred to run for 40 miles in a straight line. The horizon is their master, not you. Training a Husky requires accepting that some things—like a reliable off-leash recall—might never be 100% certain. And that’s okay. Knowing the limitations of your breed is part of being a responsible owner.
The Payoff
Why would anyone want a dog that is hard to train? Honestly, because when you finally crack the code, the bond is incredible. There is a specific kind of satisfaction that comes from earning the respect of a dog that doesn't give it away for free.
When a Great Pyrenees finally decides to come when called, it’s not because they’re a slave to your command. It’s because they’ve decided you’re worth listening to. That’s a real partnership.
Actionable Steps for Success
If you're currently struggling with a "stubborn" dog, stop the power struggle. It's a fight you won't win. Instead, try these specific tactics over the next two weeks to see if you can shift the dynamic.
- Audit your rewards. Put ten different things on the floor: cheese, chicken, a tennis ball, a squeaky toy, a piece of bread, etc. See what your dog goes for first, second, and third. Use the #1 item only for the hardest commands.
- Stop repeating yourself. If you say "sit" and the dog doesn't do it, don't say it again. Wait. If they don't do it after 10 seconds, end the session and walk away. You are teaching them that your words have meaning and you aren't a broken record they can ignore.
- Capture, don't just lure. Keep treats in your pocket. When your "hard to train" dog happens to sit or lie down on their own, mark it with a "Yes!" and give them a treat. You’re teaching them that being calm and attentive pays off, even when you haven't asked for it.
- Check for pain or discomfort. Especially with breeds like Bulldogs or Bassets, "stubbornness" is often actually physical discomfort. A dog with hip dysplasia isn't going to want to "sit" repeatedly. Always rule out the physical before blaming the mental.
- Lower your expectations for duration. If your dog can stay for two seconds, celebrate it. Don't push for ten. Build on small wins.
Training dogs that are hard to train isn't about "breaking" the dog or being the "alpha." It's about communication. It's about learning a second language where the grammar is body language and the vocabulary is motivation. Once you stop viewing their independence as a flaw and start seeing it as a personality trait, everything changes. You'll stop training at them and start training with them.