The last few years have seen many of us welcome a new four-legged friend into our homes, as the Kennel Club has seen dog ownership soar to record levels.
But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your perfect pup – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or crossbreed. There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
One thing to bear in mind when looking for a new dog is that certain breeds are more challenging to train than others. This doesn’t mean that they don’t make great pets – just that you’ll have to work extra hard to get them to listen to, understand and obey commands.
It may be worth investing in obedience classes to get them to understand the basics of sitting, staying and walking to heel. Here are 10 of the breeds that are most difficult to train, according to the American Kennel Club.
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5. Borzoi
The long-nosed Borzoi will seem to be eager to please but won't necessarily manage to do so. The American Kennel Club's explanation for this is that "in their quiet, catlike way they can be stubborn, and training is best accomplished with patience, consistency, and good humor." Photo: Canva/Getty Images
6. Chow Chow
Chow Chows are a very mild-tempered dog, but are another dog described by the American Kennel Club as "aloof". So they'll always be very pleasant about ignoring every word you say. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
7. Irish Setter
The Irish Setter has such energy levels that it finds it difficult to concentrate on training for more than a short period of time. They also take longer than most breeds to mature, so will also retain their puppish naughtiness for longer. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
8. Bloodhound
Bloodhounds are adorable and good-natured dogs but their incredible sense of smell can distract them from whatewver you are asking them to do. They can also be lazy, lacking any real motivation to learn. Photo: Canva/Getty Images