When choosing a dog breed, one must look at trainability and intelligence. How will the dog be trained and what will be expected of this dog? Questions like these will enable people to choose which breed will work best for the environment and lifestyle that person lives in. Knowing what you expect from your dog and doing a little research on the breed of your choice may keep you from making a bad decision for your new pet. Take a second and read through today’s post, it is dedicated to informing prospective dog owners about the top 17 least intelligent and most stubborn breeds and what attributes gained them a place on this list.
17. Akita
At 100 pounds or more, the Akita starts off our list. A very powerful, yet affectionate breed. These dogs need a little extra time to be trained properly. Akitas do not respond well to any harsh training methods, and need to be respected. Stubborn willfulness is a part of this breed’s personality, which some may associate with a lack of intelligence.
This breed was originally bred in Japan for hunting large animals like wild boars, black bears, and deer. Also Akitas were used to guard royalty and nobility. These dogs are very loyal to their owners, and very affectionate with family members.
16. Saint Bernard
When you think Saint Bernard, you could think one or two things: Beethoven (the dog of course) or you think of them rescuing lost travelers buried in heaps of snow, with those cute little barrels around their necks. The Saint Bernard has come along way since the early 1800s where they almost became extinct due to the severe weather in Swiss Alps. Now they are living the family life in homes across the world.
It is important to begin training Saints at an early age, or else they will become unmanageable, and think they are the head of the house. Training takes a lot of patience, and if you’re planning on getting a Saint Bernard, make sure to have a lot of treats on hand to move things along. Saints are stubborn and independent animals who sometimes listen and other times do not. They test boundaries and like to see what they can get away with and have little regard for the rules you put in place.
15. Scottish Terrier
These Scottish Terriers are known to be independent and stubborn. Bred to hunt prey like foxes and badgers, these short-legged dogs developed into a self-directed and opinionated companion. This breed’s aloofness and independence will make you think there’s not a whole lot going on in his little noggin, but this is not the case. This breed will just take his own sweet time figuring out who to trust, and what rules to follow.
If you have a Scottie, you know that they enjoy digging holes in your backyard, and you also know they don’t quite grasp that you don’t like it. These dogs are also great exterminators, quick to chase any type of vermin of of his.. I mean your, property.
14. Bullmastiff
This breed is strong willed and has a mind of his own who needs a confident owner who can take charge. Bullmastiffs need extensive exposure to friendly people at a young age or else they may become suspicious or even fearful of strangers, which could lead to defensive biting. Training Bullmastiffs can be difficult, they are dominant and obstinate and will make you prove that you can make them do things.
Because some owners do not have the proper knowledge or skills to properly train their Bullmastiffs, some legal liabilities come into play. This breed of Mastiff are targeted for banning in certain areas, and refusal of homeowner insurance policies.
13. Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso dog hails from Tibet and were kept in only the wealthiest of homes. And with no surprise there, the ‘I’m better than you’ demeanor has carried over to the latest generation of Lhasa Apsos. With a stubborn and mischievous personality, this dog’s goal in life is not necessarily to please you.
Early socialization and training are crucial to the Lhasa’s success as a family member. Training them may come easy, but they are definitely not the most obedient breed.
12. Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is the smallest, and possibly the most ancient dog that originated from Japan who was primarily used as a hunting dog to rid of small game and birds for hunters. Because of how stubborn this breed is, it is important to work with a trainer who understands the Shiba Inu’s independence to avoid any frustration from the owner. Even though this breed can learn fairly quickly, the Shiba Inu will only listen to commands when he sees fit.
Even though this breed is described as stubborn and free thinking, they are good natured, affectionate with their family, and hella cute.
11. Alaskan Malamute
The Malamute has a very large stature and wolf-life facial markings. This breed was originally used to pull heavy sleds over long distances, and hunt seals, and even polar bears. Malamutes meet everyone as a friend, so if you’re looking for a watch dog, this isn’t the breed for you. Malamutes are infamous for raiding through trash for food, and digging holes in the backyard.
Malamutes are often labeled as stubborn and stupid because of their independent nature, and are not recommended for first time dog owners. If not properly trained or exercised, this breed can become destructive when bored.
10. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu This small, long haired dog is thought to be distinctly arrogant and hard to train. This breed is very head strong and yet can be perceived as dignified as well as unintelligent. Some say that this small dog, when offended or displeased, can carry a grudge for quite some time. When trying to train these dogs, consistency and vigilance works best for conquering this fellow’s strong will to disobey. The fact that this breed is intelligent is sorely overlooked when it will not be trained.
Playfulness also makes this breed appear stupid when in reality it just doesn’t want to please it’s owner. Start young and develop a bond and this pup will want to please you even if it takes effort from both the dog and owner.
9. Chihuahua
This small breed of dogs may be small in statue but it’s personality is anything but small. It can also pack a large temperamental attitude as well. Like many breeds, you should research the genetic make-up of this tiny companion. There is a wide variation of traits with this breed. They range from the gentle and timid to the aggressive and possessive. In this case, knowing the genetic make-up of the parent dogs would give you an insight as to the temperament of you pup.
With that said, these little powerhouse dogs can be hard to train, but with lots of attention and positive reinforcement instead of a strong handed approach, you can encourage obedience and loyalty from this breed.
8. Basset Hound
This peaceful, lovable clown can be deemed a considerable challenge to train. Bred for hunting, this trait can be considered the number one factor that makes training appear impossible. With a nose designed to detect smells, this can be a constant distractor when needing this breeds attention. Since this breed is more docile and laid back, not much excites this breed except hunting.
It sometimes appears these dogs are uninterested in anything, but make no mistake. These dogs have a loyal and loving personality. Performing tricks and such aren’t important to this breed. Gentleness and love drives this breed to obey and learn.
7. Beagle
This breed is a fun loving yet extremely stubborn and difficult to train. Highly excitable and sometimes unpredictable, getting this breed to concentrate on a task is virtually impossible. Taking into consideration the genetic make-up of this breed should enlighten anyone wishing to own and train this dog. Breeding dictates this dog to be independent lending it the characteristic of hard headedness and disobedient. Behavior issues are very common with beagles. Many experts say they are so stubborn that they need to be professionally trained.
This breed has a one track mind and it is usually on hunting and smells. This makes beagles very eager to please in the area of hunting and tracking, but easily distracted when it comes to anything else. Beagles are very independent and hard-headed. If you’re not the alpha and let your beagle be a pack leader, then he is going to walk all over you.
6. Pekingese
This small breed of dog behaves a lot like human toddlers. They are lively and unaware of anything else except themselves. They don’t even know rules apply to them which makes housetraining them seem impossible. Like raising children, rules must be strict and consequences consistent. They can be trained but it is not important to them.
They are super cute and sometimes this causes owners to let things slide. This breed will quickly pick up on your inconsistency and play you.
They want to please and be praised for accomplishments and can get sullen and mad when ignored.
5. Borzois
This breed appears determined and prideful. They are sometimes compared to felines since they are constantly grooming themselves. This behavior makes them appear self absorbed and egotistical. Breeding lends to this behavior since this breed appreciates respect and gentleness. To some, this makes the breed appear careless and unintelligent.
Training is not a complete loss for this breed, but patience and a gentle demeanor will go a long way in encouraging these dogs to comply with training. Remembering they long for compliments, encouragement, and treats will also make training a successful endeavor with this unusual breed of dogs.
4. Chow Chow
Yet another dog breed that has earned the reputation of “stupid” because of their stubbornness. Usually, the Chow Chow just goes off and does their own thing whenever they please, no matter what commands people are giving it. This breed has a strong sense of loyalty and can appear nonchalant about everything. When training this breed, they appear sluggish and uninterested, but they are really just thinking through the information given. Be patient and respectful of this breed.
Chow Chows are a bit difficult when it comes to personality. People who know this breed say they only really connect with one person, and that they’re like cats.. Just staring at you when you repeatedly call them over.
3. Bulldog
When it comes to training the Bull Dog, it requires more attention and extra patience than some people are willing to give them, which is why they sometimes come off as untrainable, disobedient or just plain dumb.
Bulldog need to know who’s boss or else the will put themselves in charge. This breed of dog has a reputation for being a slow learner. In reality, it really does not care to please or complete tasks. These dogs are comfortable just tying around and doing close to nothing all day long. Especially as they grow older. Don’t mistake this for stupidity. They are lovable and loyal. They just don’t have a strong desire to please or perform. Be loving and gentle with the cuddly pups.
2. Basenji
These dogs are very strong-willed and have a mind of their own. This breed is very active and very energetic. They tend to not slow down and process situations which makes them appear ignorant or stupid. They are excitable and very curious. They do not attend well when the time stretches out. Short assignments are better than longer ones. Be strict and consistent with these dogs and you will find a loyal partner for life.
They require an owner who is an obvious alpha who can take charge or else the Basenji can cause mass destruction when bored or left alone.
1. Afghan hound
Human, human, human. It’s absolutely adorable how you think i’m going to listen to you. These dogs are so laid back and content with life that they seem uninterested in anything. So easy to please, they can appear ignorant or unproductive. They are simply content with life as it is. They have no desire to perform. They just want to exist and be taken care of. They have earned the top spot on this list, but they are not the stupid mutt the have been named. They are just here for the ride.
They are independent thinkers who don’t particularly care about pleasing you. These hounds are infamous for their stubborn persona, slowness to learn and an independent “what’s in it for me?” attitude toward training.