Picture this: You’ve just brought home a puppy with big eyes and an even bigger personality.
You imagine peaceful walks, playful evenings, and a dog that follows every command. But reality soon sets in—your new furry friend ignores “sit,” refuses to come when called, and looks at you like you’re the one who should be listening.
It’s funny at first, but after weeks of chewed shoes and stubborn standoffs, frustration starts to creep in.
You’re not alone. Most dog owners discover that some breeds are more headstrong than others. The American Kennel Club notes that some breeds are often described as stubborn or independent, which makes training more challenging, and strict rules should be followed with them.
These dogs aren’t “bad”—they’re simply wired to think for themselves, which can make even simple commands a test of patience.
That’s why today, we’re looking into the worst-mannered dog breeds that need strict training. These pups may test your limits, but with the right mix of positive reinforcement, structure, and love, they can transform from rebellious rascals into loyal companions.
Worst Manners Dog Breeds That Need Strict Training
Let’s take a closer look at the breeds that march to the beat of their own drum—and how to guide them in the right direction.
1. English Bulldog
Think you’ve met a stubborn friend? Wait until you try training an English Bulldog—they’ve practically mastered the art of saying “no.”
The English Bulldog has a powerful history, originally bred for bull-baiting. Today, they’re better known as loving companions with a calm demeanor and strong loyalty toward their family members. But don’t let their sweet, wrinkly faces fool you—this is a stubborn dog through and through.
When it comes to obedience, Bulldogs often make their own rules. They can ignore commands, resist training sessions, and show little interest in following instructions. To guide this tough dog, owners need dedicated training, plenty of reward-based training, and loads of patience.
With the right training approach, though, these pups can go from couch potatoes with bad manners to affectionate family pets with surprisingly good behavior.
Despite their stubborn nature, Bulldogs rank among the most popular dog breeds worldwide because of their affectionate bond with humans.
Their charm lies in being both a loyal dog and one of the hardest dogs to train—few breeds balance love and stubbornness quite like the Bulldog.
2. Chow Chow
If you think stubborn means lazy, wait until you meet a Chow Chow—they’re proud, aloof, and rarely follow someone else’s rules.
The Chow Chow is an independent breed with a long history, originally bred in Northern China for hunting, herding, and protecting the home. They carry a strong sense of dignity and don’t bend easily to commands.
Their temperament is marked by aloofness and loyalty—they may not greet every stranger with joy, and other dogs often find them hard to warm up to unless properly socialized.
Because of this, they’re not always ideal for first-time pet owners. Training a Chow demands patience. These dogs often ignore commands they don’t feel like obeying.
Simple obedience drills may become power struggles unless the owner uses consistent training. As an intelligent breed, they need both mental stimulation and clear leadership.
Without structure, they can become entrenched in bad habits and show aggressive behavior or dominance. This is one particular breed where early socialization makes all the difference.
Chow Chows rank very low on ease of training—they are ranked 1/5 in “Ease of Training” due to their strong-willed nature.
Unlike many breeds, the Chow Chow combines a plush double coat and regal appearance with quiet assertiveness—this “royal aloofness” makes them seem distant until they decide you belong.
3. Jack Russell Terrier
Tiny body. Giant attitude. Try telling a Jack Russell Terrier what to do—that often ends in a showdown.
The Jack Russell is a lively, highly driven working dog, originally bred in England for fox hunting. Because of that history, these pups have tons of energy and a strong prey instinct.
They were designed to work independently, which means they often prefer doing things on their own terms—in other words, a stubborn breed territory.
They love learning new tricks, but only if it feels like a game to them. Training a Jack Russell isn’t for the faint of heart. These active dogs are prone to getting bored quickly. If you leave them without activity or mental tasks, they’ll make their own fun—and maybe destructive behavior will follow.
They do best when they get stimulation mentally, firm rules, and plenty of training that are consistent and exciting. Use reward-based training techniques rather than harsh corrections to keep motivation high.
According to Britannica, Jack Russells learn quickly but have a reputation for being independent and stubborn; they often become destructive diggers if not monitored and trained.
What makes a Jack Russell stand out is their ability to be puny in size yet as fearless as a big dog. Tight spaces? No problem. Boredom? They’ll invent mischief until you give them something to do.
4. Beagle
You think training’s easy? Try commanding a Beagle—they’ll sniff, wander, and ignore until you earn their attention.
Beagles are famous for being among the worst-mannered dog breeds that need strict training. They were originally bred for tracking small game with an excellent nose, which means they follow scents over commands.
Their strong sense of smell often wins out, making them notorious for ignoring training when a juicy trail calls. Because of this, they’re considered difficult dogs in the dog world, especially when it comes to recall and obedience.
Training a Beagle takes patience, consistency, and creativity. These are energetic dogs, and they quickly get bored with simple drills.
Mental and physical stimulation through games, tracking tasks, and a varied training process helps. Positive reinforcement works best—rewarding excellent behavior rather than punishing disobedience. Without structure, Beagles may show weird behavior or give you that look when you call them for dinner.
Beagles are often listed among the hardest dog breeds to train due to their scent-driven focus and tendency to ignore commands.
Beagles combine a friendly, loving personality with stubborn independence—they’ll gladly follow a scent instead of obeying your voice, making distraction their favorite challenge.
5. Dalmatian
They look like movie stars, but inside every Dalmatian is a sassy streak that’ll test your training resolve. Dalmatians are energetic, smart, and full of personality.
They were originally bred as carriage dogs and guard dogs, roles that demanded independence and endurance. Because of that background, Dalmatians often have an independent nature, which can clash with leash training or commands unless handled firmly.
Their tolerance for boredom is low—when left without enough activity, they may develop destructive behavior or test boundaries in response.
To train a Dalmatian well, you’ll need plenty of training, strong structure, patience, and lots of mental activities. These dogs do best when owners use positive reinforcement rather than force.
Early obedience training and socializing with other dogs and other animals helps curb their stubborn side. Without consistent guidance, even highly intelligent dogs like Dalmatians can behave like they have “their own rules.”
According to Dalmatian Breed Characteristics, they “learn quickly—but may choose not to obey” until they trust their person.
Unlike many breeds, a Dalmatian often balances charm and trouble—they can be affectionate and loyal, yet still stubborn enough to ignore commands if not motivated.
6. Siberian Husky
With icy blue eyes and boundless energy, the Husky often acts like it wrote the rules and expects you to read them wrong.
The Husky is a high-energy breed, originally bred to pull sleds over Arctic terrain. Because of that history, they have great endurance, but also a strong independent streak. They were not bred to follow orders—they were bred to think for themselves and make decisions in harsh conditions.
This leads them to test boundaries, ignore commands, and sometimes act aloof. They thrive on human interaction and can struggle with separation anxiety.
Training a Husky is not for the faint-hearted. They thrive on movement, variety, and mental engagement. These energetic dogs require consistent training and a training program that includes both mental stimulation and enough exercise.
If you skip out on that, you’ll face their worst manners: pulling on the leash, escaping fences, and refusing commands unless they want to obey. Despite being one of the intelligent dogs, Huskies often choose to ignore you until they believe it’s worth listening.
Crate training and socialization as early as 8 weeks are key because Huskies are notorious escape artists and benefit when owners plan for their instincts.
What sets the Husky apart is its sheer love for freedom—these breeds will test boundaries, look for weak fence posts, open gates, or slip leads—because their instincts demand autonomy like few other breeds.
7. Afghan Hound
Regal coat, royal attitude—meet the Afghan Hound, a dog whose manners are as fancy as its fur, but training? That’s another story.
The Afghan is an elegant, striking breed originally bred for hunting in the mountains of Afghanistan. Its long, silky coat and high strides made it perfect for chasing prey over rough terrain. But beauty and grace aside, they are famous in the dog world for having an independent instinct.
They often move at their own pace, ignoring commands they don’t feel like following. This can frustrate owners who expect obedience from the start, especially first-time dog owners.
Because they prize freedom and dignity, these Hounds can show stubbornness during training sessions, especially routines like potty training, recall, or leash work.
They respond best to reward-based training that respects their pride—harsh corrections backfire. Mental stimulation matters: without variety, these dogs tend to drift into bad habits or aloof behavior.
They are highly elegant, sensitive, but also need structure and firm leadership to bring out good behavior.
According to Wikipedia, Afghans are ranked among the least obedient dog breeds because they often require many repetitions of commands before they decide it’s worth listening.
Their elegance and autonomy: unlike many dominant breed dogs who follow due to structure, these Hounds often obey out of respect—or not at all—making them one of the few stubborn breeds that train out of admiration rather than fear.
Conclusion
Having one of these stubborn dog breeds in your life can feel like a test of patience—but also a source of endless laughs and love.
Sure, they’ll ignore commands, push boundaries, and sometimes act like they know better than you (and maybe they think they do). But with regular training, plenty of mental stimulation, and a big dose of love, they can turn into the most loyal and entertaining companions.
At the end of the day, their quirks are part of their charm—and that’s what makes them unforgettable.
