Some breeds test every ounce of patience even the pros thought they had.
Ask any trainer and they’ll have a list. Not a list they say out loud, but the one they keep in their heads for when a client says, “My dog just won’t listen.” Some breeds are just difficult. They’re not bad dogs. They’re just wildly hard to work with, stubborn on purpose, and allergic to instruction. It’s not about being disobedient. It’s about acting like they’re smarter than you—and maybe they are.
1. Afghan Hounds act like your commands are beneath them.
Trainers say this breed teaches you patience, not the other way around. Afghan Hounds are beautiful, but that elegance comes with serious aloof energy. They hear what you’re asking. They just don’t care enough to do it unless it also benefits them personally.
Working with one feels like coaching a model who’s already famous. They expect praise just for showing up. If you’re hoping for eager obedience or an “anything for you” attitude, this is not the dog to count on. They’re distant, stubborn, and absolutely not here for a training session unless the lighting’s good.
2. Chow Chows pretend you don’t exist unless they need something.
This breed operates like a cat with a bodyguard complex. Trainers describe Chow Chows as defensive, strong-willed, and impossible to bribe. They’re loyal to their person but could not care less about impressing anyone else. That includes you, the trainer.
They also don’t take correction well. Raise your voice or try to assert control, and you’ll be met with the flattest stare on earth. It’s not aggression—it’s pure indifference. They tolerate training, at best. At worst, they actively avoid it. Every command is optional in their world.
3. Bloodhounds forget everything the second they catch a scent.
Training a Bloodhound is like trying to get someone to ignore their own phone ringing every five seconds. These dogs are scent-driven to a fault. You can teach them something one day, and the next day their nose drags them into the next county without a second thought.
It’s not that they’re dumb. They’re actually smart in a very specific way. But obedience is not high on their list of priorities. Once they’re on a trail, everything else shuts off. Trainers call them lovable disasters. If they’re working, they’re golden. If they’re distracted, they’re gone.
4. Weimaraners have endless energy and zero patience.
Ask a trainer about a Weimaraner and watch their face twitch. These dogs are intense. They’re high-drive, high-anxiety, and high-maintenance. You can’t wear them out. You can’t outsmart them. You can only try to stay one step ahead before they out-hyper your entire day.
They pick up commands quickly, but holding their focus is a full-time job. They get bored easily, and when they’re bored, they start inventing their own tasks. That usually involves destruction, chaos, or both. Training them takes consistency, creativity, and coffee. Lots of coffee.
5. Shiba Inus make you earn everything.
This breed will test you. Not once. Constantly. They’re not trying to please you. They’re trying to survive you. Trainers know the Shiba as the “I do what I want” dog. They’re independent, calculated, and unimpressed by treats or praise.
Commands have to be worth their time. Praise has to be earned. Even then, they may still pretend they didn’t hear you. They’re masters of the silent protest. And if you push too hard? They shut down entirely. You have to train them with respect, or not at all.
6. Dalmatians don’t like being told what to do, ever.
Trainers say Dalmatians have main character syndrome. They’re hyper-aware, sensitive, and always ready to react. They don’t respond well to repetition, correction, or structure unless it’s introduced in a way that feels fun. Otherwise, they turn into little chaos agents with spots.
They’re emotionally high-strung and can go from playful to overstimulated in seconds. Training one takes a soft touch and a ton of adaptability. Push too hard, and they tune out. Go too easy, and they walk all over you. It’s a balancing act most trainers are tired of performing.
7. Jack Russell Terriers try to outsmart the entire training session.
This breed comes in hot and stays there. Jack Russells are whip-smart, but not in a “let me follow your lead” kind of way. Trainers often describe them as the dog version of a kid who knows how to pick locks and reprogram the Wi-Fi. They don’t lack brains. They just weaponize them.
What makes them tricky isn’t their ability—it’s their stamina. You teach a command, and they’ll execute it once. Then they’ll improvise. If your reaction’s inconsistent, they’ll do the thing that gets the biggest result. They’re fast, sharp, and exhausting. Every training session is a chess match you weren’t ready for.
8. Akitas act like you’re speaking a different language on purpose.
Trainers say working with Akitas is like trying to win over an emotionally distant roommate. They’re not going to perform. They’re going to evaluate. Commands get processed, then judged, then maybe followed if the situation suits them. You never get a quick yes.
These dogs are calm but guarded. Praise doesn’t mean much unless they respect you, and that respect takes time. Push too fast, and you’re stonewalled. Move too slow, and they stop engaging altogether. It’s a quiet power struggle, and the dog almost always wins if you come in with weak energy.
9. Beagles would rather follow their nose than your voice.
Training a Beagle means accepting that you’re never the main character. Their nose is. You could be mid-command and they’ll pick up the scent of a sandwich wrapper two blocks away and forget you even exist. That’s not defiance. That’s instinct doing exactly what it was bred to do.
Trainers say the only real way to work with a Beagle is to make yourself more interesting than whatever they smell. That’s a tall order. They’re sweet, yes. Lovable, for sure. But obedient? Only if it aligns with their current sniff-based priorities.
10. Chinese Cresteds are clingy, picky, and sometimes a little dramatic.
This breed brings a whole personality to training. They want to please you but get overwhelmed fast. Trainers say Chinese Cresteds are like tiny actors who need motivation, direction, and positive feedback on everything—even if it’s just sitting.
They can be great learners, but they don’t thrive under pressure. If you’re too stern, they shut down. If you’re too vague, they get confused. You have to land somewhere between Broadway coach and gentle best friend. Training them is part psychology, part patience, part trying not to laugh when they sigh dramatically mid-session.
11. Bulldogs need ten times the motivation to do anything once.
They’re stubborn in the most immovable way. Bulldogs don’t resist because they hate training. They resist because they don’t see the point. Trainers describe them as lovable anchors. Once they stop, they stay stopped. Commands take time to sink in, and even more time to repeat.
You have to work harder for smaller progress. The praise better be worth it. The treat better be gourmet. And even then, they might do it just to remind you they can. Training a Bulldog is less about control and more about negotiation—slow, heavy, silent negotiation.
12. Lhasa Apsos challenge authority just by breathing.
Trainers often describe Lhasa Apsos as confident little bosses who don’t care about hierarchy. They were bred to guard palaces, not win popularity contests. That energy comes through in training. They question every command like they’re managing quality control.
You can’t force them. You can’t bribe them. You have to prove you’re worth their time. And once you do, they’ll cooperate—but only up to the point where they feel like it. These dogs treat training as a joint venture. You’re not in charge. You’re just working on their schedule.