In the world of canines, every breed has its unique charm and personality. However, some dogs are renowned for their independent streaks and strong-willed nature, making them wonderfully challenging companions. As we look towards 2024, certain breeds stand out for their stubborn dispositions, captivating dog enthusiasts and prospective pet owners alike. This list of the 11 most stubborn dog breeds promises to enlighten and prepare you for the delightful yet demanding journey of understanding and training these tenacious pups, ensuring a rewarding relationship with your steadfast furry friend.
Does your dog ignore commands and practically laugh in your face when you say “sit” or “come?” Some stubborn dogs are easily distracted, not interested in pleasing their human, or just don’t like being bossed around. Can you blame them? They aren’t rambunctious; they just ignore commands because they are headstrong.
Most stubborn dog breeds respond to positive reinforcement but might need more training sessions than other pets. A lot of people get professional help with training in the form of obedience classes or a private training session at home. Patience and tasty treats are two of the necessary tools for success.
Let’s talk about stubborn dog breeds and the owners who try to train them.
Recognizing Stubborn Behavior
How do you know if you have a stubborn dog? Sometimes, it requires a little psychological sleuthing. Does your dog seem easily distracted? Perhaps your pooch doesn’t feel that you make it worth their while to obey.
Some canines become bored with training because they are very intelligent and don’t like the repetition. With a little ingenuity, you can make it more interesting.
They need their owners to use varied training exercises. Deliciously motivating treats and making training sessions exciting games are important. Lots of enthusiasm and praise help. Sometimes, a little guidance from a professional can help you train your pup.
Being stubborn is also inherited in the ability to learn, remember, and actually choosing to comply with commands are genetic. When you figure out the cause of your dog’s resistance, you can use techniques to get around it and train them. It’s all about cause and effect.
1. Akita
| HEIGHT | 24-28 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 70-130 pounds |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Their medium-length double coat needs weekly brushing. Twice a year fur tsunami when they blow coat. |
| LIFE SPAN | 10-14 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | Active |
One of the Japanese dog breeds, Akitas are known for being protective, “profoundly” loyal, dignified, brave, affectionate with family and friends, love human companions, and need to be socialized at a young age because they have a high prey drive from their hunting genes.
They are one of the stubborn dog breeds, but training with positive reinforcement at a young age should yield great results.
The dominant Akita, a Japanese hunting pup, is such a stubborn dog that they may just walk away mid-training session. Delicious snack rewards and fun yet firm training techniques are your only hope to give stubborn breeds proper training.
They think they can get away with things because of their good looks. Akita dog owners know that they are worth the extra training time and patience.
Akitas don’t tend to like other pets and children, but mine were great with my cats. My Akitas didn’t love children except for their human siblings. They were also wary of strangers.
2. Chihuahua
| HEIGHT | 5-8 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 6 pounds |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Smooth Chichis need occasional brushing. Rough-coated Chichis need weekly. |
| LIFE SPAN | 14-16 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | Active |
The Chihuahua is affectionate, playful, sassy, vigilant, loyal, charming, and likes barking. They need training or will think they are in charge. Perhaps being a lap dog makes the Chihuahua think that they are royalty and don’t need to listen to their owners.
There are seven types of Chihuahuas, and they are all probably stubborn dogs. Chichis can be aggressive and fierce, but they are also great pets.
With their cousins featured in prominent roles in films like “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” “Legally Blonde,” and the television show “Sex and the City,” why should your Chichi bother listening to your inane commands?
3. Shiba Inu
| HEIGHT | 13.5-16.5 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 17-23 pounds |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Only long-haired Shibas need regular brushing |
| LIFE SPAN | 13-16 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | Active |
The Shiba Inu is loving, friendly, independent, protective, alert, attentive, and needs mental stimulation. They are like smaller versions of the Akita. It seems that protective dog breeds are stubborn dog breeds.
Shibas need to be properly trained at an early age, or they can be aggressive. Shibas have been around since 300 BC. They are the most popular dogs in Japan. Why should they have to please us?
Elon Musk has a Shiba, and before he began using X as the Twitter symbol, he used an adorable drawing of a Shiba for a day or so.
4. Scottish Terrier
| HEIGHT | 10 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 18-22 pounds |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Their double wiry coat needs to be hand-stripped |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | Average |
The Scottish terrier has an independent streak and is affectionate, playful, a watchdog, fearless, determined, confident, loyal to their family, spirited (that sounds stubborn), needs mental stimulus, and loves barking.
Their prey drive is still intact after years of hunting vermin. We recently had an overnight Scottish terrier guest that terrorized my Chow mix despite being half my doggy’s size!
Watch out for those kooky Scotties! They think that being a handsome terrier allows them to do whatever they want.
There are 13 types of stubborn Scottish dog breeds.
5. English Bulldog
| HEIGHT | 4-15 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 40-50 pound |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | 2-3 quick brushings a week are ideal for their short coat |
| LIFE SPAN | 8-10 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | Not too high |
The English Bulldog is loving, friendly, playful, very trainable, courageous, and calm. You wouldn’t think that a calm dog like the bulldog is one of the stubborn dog breeds, but perhaps the English bulldog is too chill to perform tricks and obey commands. The English Bulldog likes to walk and play but isn’t as interested in being trained (it can be demeaning).
These canines are known for their lazy lifestyle, strong will, and super high intelligence — a triple threat to obedience training. Veterinarians call these dogs stubborn.
Some people think Bulldogs look fierce, but they are gentle dogs.
6. Dachshund
| HEIGHT | 8-9 inches tall (standard)5-6 inches tall (miniature) |
| WEIGHT | 16-32 pounds (standard)11 pounds and under (miniature) |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Come in short hair, long hair, and wire hair — long hair sheds the most |
| LIFE SPAN | 12-16 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | High |
The Dachshund comes in standard and miniature sizes. These little wiener dogs are loving, curious, spunky, friendly, playful, smart, independent, good with other dogs, and vigilant. The Dachshund makes a good watchdog.
They were originally bred to dig into badger dens and flush out the badgers, so make sure they exercise, or they will be digging holes, chewing shoes, or chasing your other pets.
I think that protective dogs want to focus on their sentry job and don’t feel they have time to obey orders (or any interest in doing so), and that’s what makes them stubborn dogs. Other than that, they are excellent family pets. There are six types of Dachshunds.
7. Chinese Shar-Pei
| HEIGHT | 18-20 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 45-60 pounds |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Short coat requires minimal grooming |
| LIFE SPAN | 8-12 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | High |
This dog breed is one of the most popular Chinese dog breeds. The Chinese Shar-Pei is protective, independent, loving, loyal, and calm. Despite being stubborn, the Shar Pei is intelligent and a guardian.
The key Shar Pei adjective here is independent because a dog (or person) with an independent mind doesn’t want to be bossed around (read, trained). They, like my Chow-mix, have a blue tongue.
Chinese Shar Peis were trained for hunting and herding, so they learned how to do their Shar Pei jobs efficiently and think for themselves. So, the intelligent Chinese Shar Pei can be difficult to train. They will spring into action if they feel their family is in danger.
8. Bull Terrier
| HEIGHT | 21-22 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 50-70 pounds |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Short coat just needs a weekly brushing |
| LIFE SPAN | 12-13 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | High |
Bull terriers are loving, charming, friendly, playful, mischievous, muscular, and need stimulus. They are also known to be comical, independent, entertaining, and one of the stubborn dog breeds. There’s that word “independent” again. A bit challenging for obedience training and stubbornness. Bull terriers are one of the types of bully dog breeds.
They have strong personalities and don’t tend to like other dogs. Bull terriers need exercise, attention, and early socialization and training.
Even stubborn dog breeds will respond if you have great snack rewards and patience, and make it fun for them.
9. Afghan Hound
| HEIGHT | 25-27 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 50-60 pounds |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Matting and tangling can be avoided with several hours of brushing a week |
| LIFE SPAN | 12-18 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | High |
Afghan Hounds are sweet, aloof, agile, powerful, silly, demonstrate profound loyalty, and have an independent mind. Their long, silky fur protected from the harsh cold in the Afghan mountains.
This elegant hound dog breed was used for hunting. Being aloof and having an independent streak are certainly qualities that make Afghans qualify as one of the stubborn dog breeds.
My husband wants to fulfill his childhood dream of having an Afghan, so I might experience their stubbornness first-hand someday.
10. Boston Terrier
| HEIGHT | 10-12 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 12-25 pounds |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Not much shedding, but a weekly brushing keeps them clean |
| LIFE SPAN | 11-13 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | High |
The Boston Terrier is friendly, playful, a good watchdog, intelligent, amusing, loving, alert, good with kids and dogs, and a fun breed. The Boston terrier makes a nice pet but requires extra effort for training, making them headstrong and one of the most stubborn dog breeds.
Maybe intelligence is a factor in stubbornness. They question our authority and see no reason to comply with our “suggestions.”
They are also prone to separation anxiety. Leave toys, food puzzles, bully sticks, and the TV on, or get them a companion animal if you are not home a lot.
11. Siberian Husky
| HEIGHT | 20-23.5 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 35-60 pounds |
| SHEDDING FACTOR | Double coat means weekly brushing and fur tsunami twice a year |
| LIFE SPAN | 12-14 years |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | High |
The Siberian Husky is playful, energetic, friendly, loving, loyal, mischievous, good with kids and other dogs, graceful, powerful, needs a mental stimulus, and likes barking. Huskies are too friendly to be guard dogs. Siberian Huskies are pack animals, so they enjoy family life and make nice pets. The Siberian husky does have a prey drive and may not be good with a family cat. There are 22 types of Huskies!
Siberian Huskies are one of the most popular breeds in the dog world, so people seem to be able to deal with their stubbornness. Don’t let a Husky trick you with their good looks. Also, first-time pet owners need to know that Husky dogs are escape artists and have short attention spans (me, too!).
They require tons of exercise and are unsuitable for first-time pet owners. An experienced dog owner can handle them better.
FAQs
What Dog Is the Hardest To Take Care Of?
There’s a lot of debate on this. Different sources say Akitas, Afghans, Malamutes, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Jack Russell Terrier dogs, etc. There are many stubborn breeds that actively choose not to follow commands.
What Is the Hardest Dog To Have?
Some say that Akitas are the most difficult to train and a stubborn breed. They aren’t for first-time dog owners, but my adopted Akita and Akita-Lab were very sweet and well-behaved.
What Are the Toughest Dogs?
A few sources report that Afghans are the most difficult to train because they are stubborn dogs.
Conclusion
That is our list of the most stubborn dog breeds. They can be trained, but you need very motivating snack rewards, patience, and perseverance. Imagine if someone walked up to you and started giving you commands. We wouldn’t like it, either.
Some canines are more eager to please the alpha of their pack than others. Pet owners need to consider the stubborn breed factor when choosing their dogs.
The most stubborn dog breeds above are popular, so they have qualities that people love, like being protective, loyal, intelligent — and, of course — loving companions. They are just a little difficult to train. Some people enjoy a challenge.
When you train your pooch, you should start in a quiet place, like your backyard, to minimize distractions. Once they master commands there, you can go to the park and try it. Small steps, consistency, and making training a game are good tools. You can take an obedience class or have professional help or a trainer visit your house.
In exploring the “11 Most Stubborn Dog Breeds of 2024,” it becomes clear that each breed’s perceived stubbornness often stems from their unique traits, intelligence, and independent nature. While training these breeds can present challenges, it also offers rewarding opportunities for patient and persistent owners. Understanding their distinct characteristics and catering to their specific needs can transform stubbornness into a display of loyalty and companionship. Embracing these breeds means committing to the journey of creative training and mutual respect, ultimately highlighting the importance of adaptability and understanding in building a harmonious relationship with these unique canine companions.