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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9. Beagle
Beagles look like butter wouldn't melt in their mouth, but this as a breed whose sheer naughtiness and independent spirit makes them difficult to train. They'll make you laugh with their antics, but even if they've obeyed a command 10 times in a row, there's every chance they will ignore it the next 10 times. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
10. Bulldog
The Bulldog is a breed that can be exactly as stubborn as it looks. Their two favourite things to do are to eat and to sleep - getting them to do anything else can be a real challenge. Photo: Canva/Getty Images