Dog trainer shares surprising answer to what 'hardest breed to train' is
An expert dog trainer has shared what he answers when people ask for the hardest breed to train - and many are surprised by his answer.
If you're mulling over the idea of adding a new four-legged companion to your household, you might be searching for dog breeds that are easy to train, aiming to simplify your life down the line. Let's be honest, training a pooch is no walk in the park; it requires time, patience, and unwavering dedication.
Each pet is distinct, with its own requirements, leading you to ponder whether certain breeds might be more amenable to training. Adam Spivey, the founder of Southend Dog Training, was asked on his TikTok about the "hardest breed to train" – and his answer may surprise you.
Adam, an experienced dog trainer who has been sharing advice online since 2012, disclosed: "For me, without a shadow of a doubt, the ones that are the hardest, the ones that are the most unpredictable, the ones that are the least likely to listen, the ones that are going to have the biggest fears, phobias, bad habits - humans. Any dog trainer worth their salt should be able to remove the handler and get that dog to behave very, very quickly.
"The hard part is getting the owner to understand why the dog is doing what it's doing and how to change their behaviour to influence the dog's behaviour for the better. That is the key to a decent dog trainer. The dog is easy. People quickly realise when they come to the training centre that I'm training them more than I'm training the dog. Hardest breed to train? Humans."
Meanwhile, Yorkshire Canine Academy has ranked the top three toughest dog breeds to train, in their opinion. Beagles have fetched third place because "all they want to do is sniff, they don't want to engage with you, they don't want to listen, they want to get their nose down and sniff".
Huskies took the second spot as the dog trainer mentioned on YouTube that "all they want to do is pull" – highlighting their natural instinct to tug on the lead. This can make it challenging to have them walking nicely on a loose leash.
At the last of this list sits the Chow, painted as "very aloof" and "stoic".
The trainer further specified: "They do not like to be trained. They don't want to work with people. They want to chill out. Very independent. They want to do their own thing."
Following Adam's video, many viewers agreed that Beagles are indeed tough biscuits to discipline. Another said: "What about the Chow Chow?"
However, others agreed with him about humans being the hardest to train. A comment read: "This is so true! My reactive dog training has been my trainer watching us and giving me tips on what I need to do. I do it and the dog is improving so quickly!" Another piped up stressing the human factor: "It's us!!! WE (collectively) don't spend the time and effort needed to understand a dog's behaviour."
It's important to do your own research when it comes to dog breeds, as this is only based on opinion. Speak to a professional if you need specific advice.
