Some dogs simply don’t care what you say. You can shout, repeat, or bribe, and they’ll continue doing exactly what they want. Training manuals promise results, but the truth is that the breed’s temperament often outweighs even the best methods.
Independent, headstrong dogs may love their families deeply, yet obedience is rarely high on their list of priorities. This is where many owners meet their biggest challenge: living with a dog that has no interest in following rules.
While most breeds can be guided with patience, some stand out for their defiance. They’re charming, they’re clever, and they’re stubborn enough to make daily life unpredictable. Anyone looking for an easy companion will struggle with these kinds of dogs.
In this guide, we’ll identify the worst-behaved dog breeds known for not listening well.
Worst Behaved Dog Breeds That Don’t Listen Well
1. Bulldog
Bulldogs are known for their independent nature, often responding slowly during training sessions. This deliberate behavior makes them one of the least obedient dog breeds. While loyal to families, they resist repetitive commands and demand patience.
Training Challenges
Consistency is key, but long training drills rarely work with this breed. Short, reward-based lessons capture their focus better. Many pet owners learn to adapt sessions by using food rewards and keeping the structure engaging.
Natural Tendencies
Their relaxed pace often appears as laziness, but it reflects a willful mindset more than fatigue. Bulldogs enjoy making their own decisions, which can frustrate new trainers. They listen best when the interaction feels more like play than work.
Temperament and Approach
Even with their stubborn habits, Bulldogs are affectionate and thrive in calm households. Their sensitivity means harsh methods can backfire quickly. Training success usually comes when owners combine firmness with positive reinforcement, including:
Treat-based rewards
Frequent breaks
Gentle but consistent cues
2. Dachshund
Dachshunds are famous for their stubborn streak, which often leaves new dog owners surprised at how difficult they are to train. Their sharp instincts make them listen more to their nose than to commands. A strong will, combined with high energy, keeps them focused on their own agenda.
Hunting Drive That Still Shows
Short and stout, the Dachshund was developed to flush out burrowing animals like badgers, a job that demanded persistence and toughness. That same drive often translates into ignoring household rules in favor of chasing scents. Even when redirected, they tend to return to whatever originally caught their attention.
Common Challenges for Families
Managing this breed requires patience because Dachshunds are quick to bark, slow to settle, and determined to explore places they shouldn’t.
They resist repetitive drills during training.
They often challenge authority more than other breeds.
They can become possessive of toys or food without boundaries.
Strong Personality in a Small Frame
Despite their size, they don’t back down from confrontation, whether it’s another dog or an unfamiliar visitor. Without firm guidance, they can test limits repeatedly, showing how selective hearing becomes part of their dog’s behavior. Their bold personality makes them a handful compared to calmer breeds.
3. Chow Chow
The Chow Chow is known for being headstrong and often reluctant to follow repeated commands. This is a dog that doesn’t respond well to pressure and prefers doing things on its own terms. Because of this, even experienced owners can find consistency a real challenge.
History Shapes Behavior
Dating back over 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty, Chow Chows were used for guarding livestock, possessions, and temples, as per Citizen Shipper. Those centuries of solitary work shaped them into independent thinkers who rarely look for guidance. The same qualities admired in history can make training frustrating today.
Aloof with Interaction
This breed doesn’t warm up quickly, even with familiar faces, and that aloofness extends to other dogs in many households. Their deep loyalty tends to be reserved for one or two people. When strangers or visitors arrive, Chow Chows often keep their distance or ignore commands altogether.
Natural Cleanliness and Control
Ironically, this is one of the cleanest breeds, often easy to potty train, and meticulous about grooming habits. Yet when it comes to listening, that discipline doesn’t carry over. The Chow Chow’s powerful sense of self means they respond selectively, testing their owner’s patience.
4. Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terriers rarely slow down, and this constant need for activity can overwhelm first-time owners. Without structured outlets, their restlessness often turns into destructive behavior around the house. Small size doesn’t reduce the amount of exercise they demand each day.
Independent Nature
Developed originally for fox hunting, the breed carries a strong prey drive that makes recall training difficult. Even the most attentive handler may struggle to redirect focus once a squirrel or bird appears. This independence often frustrates those expecting easy obedience.
Training Challenges
Although they are an intelligent breed, consistency is required to prevent them from testing boundaries. Owners quickly learn that rules must be reinforced daily, or the dog begins to push the limit. Here’s what will help with training:
Early socialization with other animals
Engaging tasks to satisfy hunting instincts
Firm routines to reduce impulsive actions
Confidence and Boldness
Jack Russells see themselves as equal partners rather than subordinates, which complicates obedience lessons. Their strong personality makes them best suited for experienced human guardians. Puppies already display this confident streak, which only grows as they mature.
5. Basenji
Basenjis are notorious for their selective hearing, often choosing curiosity over commands. Their independence comes from being bred as hunters that needed to think quickly without waiting for human direction. This makes them harder to manage in obedience-focused households.
Natural Hunting Instincts
A talented hunting breed of African origin, the Basenji combines feline grace with agile canine athleticism. They were used to flush prey into hunters’ nets and could solve problems on their own. That same problem-solving ability often leads them to ignore repetitive training drills.
Stubborn Training Challenges
Owners frequently find that regular routines don’t keep this breed’s attention for long. Training works better when activities are engaging, fast-paced, and varied. Without stimulation, their stubborn side shows through, and commands are easily disregarded.
Traits That Complicate Obedience
Here are some key characteristics that shape their behavior:
Keen intelligence that makes them analyze before responding.
A catlike grooming habit, adding to their self-reliant nature.
Unique yodel-like sounds, used instead of barking, can complicate recall training.
6. Beagle
Beagles often work with their own agenda, which can frustrate owners expecting immediate obedience. Their stubborn streak shows when commands interrupt their interests, especially during outdoor activities. This independence is one of the biggest challenges in training.
Nose-Driven Distractions
Bred to hunt rabbits and hares, Beagles carry a powerful sense of smell that overrides basic commands, as the AKC describes. Once they catch a scent, focus is lost as they follow the trail without hesitation. Owners often find themselves repeating cues that are otherwise ignored.
Vocal Expression
This breed has a trademark baying voice that grows louder when excitement peaks. Whether chasing a scent or signaling frustration, their volume can be disruptive in households. Training can reduce excessive barking, but many still respond loudly to small triggers.
Prey Drive Concerns
Households with cats or pocket pets may struggle with Beagles’ strong hunting instincts. Their athletic build allows quick pursuit, and redirection becomes difficult once the chase begins. Without consistent management, this instinct makes them unreliable around smaller animals.
7. Shiba Inu
Shiba Inus are known for making their own choices, which can frustrate owners expecting quick obedience. They often weigh a command before deciding if it suits their interests. This sense of self-direction is one reason they’re ranked among the more difficult breeds to train.
Hunting Heritage
Developed in Japan’s mountain regions, the Shiba Inu was bred to track and flush game through dense brush. Their name even translates to “brushwood dog,” pointing to this ability, as Greencross Vets claimed. This hunting background explains their sharp senses and the confidence to act without relying on people.
Training Obstacles
Even though they are highly intelligent, convincing a Shiba Inu to consistently follow instructions takes patience. They resist repetitive drills and respond poorly to forceful methods. Owners often need to adjust by keeping sessions short, varied, and reward-based.
They can be stubborn during recall.
Food rewards lose value quickly.
They often decide when training is over.
Daily Challenges
Shibas can appear aloof in family settings, ignoring calls or commands if they’re focused elsewhere. Their strong will and curiosity often lead them to test boundaries. This streak of independence requires firm structure, especially during early development.
Conclusion
Not every dog is eager to please, and the breeds highlighted here prove that obedience intelligence isn’t always a strength. The American Kennel Club often ranks dogs on working and obedience intelligence, but that doesn’t capture personality quirks or stubborn streaks.
Many of these breeds are clever in other ways, relying on canine intelligence to make their own choices. Some were bred as hunters or even sled dogs, shaping their independence.
Others are a high-energy breed that challenges beginners. While they may never be the easiest companions, their spirit and loyalty remind us that even difficult dogs bring joy.
