The 10 Least Obedient Dog Breeds

Dogs are just like children and not all do as they are told.

How many times do you have to ask Fido to sit or come before he actually listens?

It turns out that training, breed, and environment all play a role in how well your dog follows commands.

Stanley Coren, neuropsychological researcher and professor, wrote a book called The Intelligence of Dogs, which determines a dog’s intelligence by their ability to understand and follow commands.

Photo: Pixabay/Pezibear

The dog expert ranked over 100 different dog breeds based on working and obedience intelligence.

“51% of a dog’s intelligence stems from its genes while 49% is based on environmental circumstances,” states Coren.

Photo: Pixabay/ Ray Shrewsberry

The most obedient dogs, like border collies and poodles, understand a new command with less than 5 repetitions and obey it on the first command 95% of the time.

The least obedient dogs (listed below) need 80 to 100 repetitions to understand a new command and will only perform it on the first command 25% of the time or less.

Which really means that no matter how many times you ask these dogs to sit, shake, or stay, they won’t listen.

Check out the 10 least obedient dog breeds below and see if your dog made the list.

10. Shih Tzu

Photo: Pixabay/12122

Their name “Shih Tzu” means lion, but they are really loving dogs. The outspoken and highly intelligent lapdogs are on this list because they often train their owners instead of the other way around. Well played, little “lions”.

9. Basset Hound

Photo: Pixabay/Jo1394

Bassets are scent hounds, enough said. They follow their nose but not your commands. But who can resist those floppy ears?!

8. TIE: Mastiff & Beagle

Photos: Pixabay

Mastiff and beagles have one thing in common – both are stubborn.

The giant Mastiffs may appear interested but rarely follow commands. Beagles on the other hand are hunting hounds and follow their nose over their humans.

7. Pekingese

Photo: Pixabay/No-longer-here

These little dogs see themselves as the leaders. They are stubborn and don’t see why they should have to listen to their owner’s commands.

6. Bloodhound

Photo: Pixabay/markfizzwig

Bloodhounds like to take charge, are stubborn, and their sense of smell is 1,000 times stronger than a human’s. Like other breeds on this list, they follow their nose over voice commands.

5. Borzoi

Photo: Pixabay/Jeannette1980

These affectionate dogs are independent thinkers and stubborn, which can make them hard to train.

4. Chow Chow

Photo: Pixabay/Marius Kristensen

Chows are easily house-trained but would rather do as they please than please their owners.

3. Bulldog

Photo: Pixabay/Corrie Miracle

While their wrinkly faces are absolutely adorable, they are extremely stubborn and hard to train.

2. Basenji

Photo: Pixabay/John-Michael Ekeblad

Basenjis are clever dogs that are independent and mischievous. They outsmart their owners or put their own spin on commands.

1. Afghan Hound

Photo: Pixabay/Katrin B.

Afghans are the least obedient dog breed because they simply choose not to respond to your command. They are intelligent dogs who have discovered selective hearing. While highly sensitive, they are also extremely stubborn.

None of these dogs are untrainable but you will need to spend more time and think outside the box to keep their attention. All dogs are intelligent, but some are just more stubborn than others.

Additional Resources

  • 10 Best Emotional Support Dog Breeds
  • 10 Velcro Dog Breeds That Will Never Leave Your Side
  • 10 Dog Breeds Commonly Found In Shelters
  • 10 Dog Breeds That Live The Longest
  • 10 Tips For First Time Dog Owners
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