6 Dog Breeds That Are “Hard to Train”

Let’s be honest for a second: not all dogs are easy to train. Some will learn “sit” in five minutes flat… and some will look at you like you just asked them to solve algebra.

If you’ve got a dog who selectively forgets every command you’ve ever taught them, you’re not doing it wrong. You might just have a breed that’s more “figure it out myself” than “yes sir, right away.”

And here’s the kicker—it’s not their fault. These dogs weren’t bred to hang on your every word. They were built for jobs that require independence, strong instincts, and sometimes, a little stubborn flair.

So before you start doubting yourself (or Googling “why is my dog ignoring me”), take a look at these six breeds that are infamous for doing things their own way—and what actually works to train them.

1. Basenjis: Masters of the Silent Treatment

If you've never heard a Basenji bark, that’s because they don’t. Instead, they yodel. Seriously. And if you’ve never seen one blow off a training session, that’s probably because they’re already off doing something more interesting.

Basenjis were bred in Central Africa as hunters. They’re clever, agile, and extremely clean—but when it comes to following directions, they march to their own beat.

Why they’re tough to train:

• Extremely independent

• Get bored very quickly

• Not very food-motivated

What actually works:

• Super short training sessions (like, 3–5 minutes max)

• Switching things up constantly so they don’t zone out

• Using games instead of formal drills