In 1994, professor and researcher Stanley Coren wrote one of his most interesting books — The Intelligence of Dogs. His method for determining intelligence was how well the dogs responded to commands. Then Newsweek added some additional details.
For example, Border Collies are one of the smartest breeds according to the research, obeying commands on the first try 95% of the time. Meanwhile, the number one breed on our list only obeys commands 25% of the time or less. It’s a number that makes dog owners shudder.
When it comes to obedience, these 40 breeds are the worst of the worst. It doesn’t matter how many times you tell them to sit, quit barking, or that begging isn’t allowed. Your commands mean absolutely nothing to them.
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jolly2017
40. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
The breed is also known as the fox terrier. They were originally used as Irish hunting dogs, but unfortunately, it’s going to take at least 25 to 40 repetitions to get them to respond to new commands that they haven’t heard before. They might run off with the catch from the hunt before you can ever get through to them.
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TeeFarm
39. Curly Coated Retriever
This English breed’s original job was retrieving waterfowl during hunts. It’s a dog that really likes fun. In order to get any proper training in, there has to be some sort of entertaining activity involved.
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Mattias Agar
38. Ibizan Hound
Ibiza is a Spanish island known for its massive electronic music parties and beautiful beaches. Things get crazy there. Even their dogs are wild and energetic!
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Wiki.awal
37. Welsh Terrier
Although the Welsh terrier is slightly calmer than some of the other terriers out there, it’s still true to the breed’s nature. In other words, it is a hunting dog still. Deep down in its heart, the pup knows it to be true.
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Rolaman
36. Irish Terrier
The Irish Terrier is also known as the “daredevil” of the Emerald Isle. If that doesn’t give you an idea about the difficulty of training them, we don’t know what will. A dog that is a daredevil is not an easy dog to get to behave.
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Andrew Clark
35. Boston Terrier
Because they are a pretty energetic breed, training a Boston terrier can be a challenge. It requires a lot of patience. However, it’s especially true when trying to correct any of their barking issues.
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Micha Lawry
34. Akita
Akitas obey a first command 50% of the time or better typically. It might sound like a somewhat reasonable number. However, that means that around half of the time, they are essentially ignoring you.
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Biser Yanev
33. Skye Terrier
Along with their intelligence, the Skye terrier has a very strong-willed nature. They are a force to be reckoned with. When it comes to training, they will pretty much only respond to positive reinforcement.
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Thrind
32. Norfolk Terrier
Norfolk terriers will need up to 80 repetitions to learn a new command. In addition, they aren’t the best around new people. They might take a while to warm up to strangers, barking way more than necessary in the meantime.
Source:
No-longer-here
31. Sealyham Terrier
Sealyhams have a bark like a big dog even though they are just a small terrier. Make of it what you will. They are generally affectionate, but when it comes to terriers, they are the bruisers of the bunch.
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Tuomas Palonen
30. Pug
Pugs were originally avid hunters, serving their masters in the ancient Han dynasty. As hunting dogs, they also often bolt off if they spot something they want to chase. Your words will fall on deaf ears.
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drandall316
29. French Bulldog
The French bulldog is essentially a miniature bulldog, although, with ears that are mysteriously big. They are like little bat ears. Frenchies are always alert. It makes them great watchdogs.
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Pixy
28. Griffon Bruxellois
The Griffon Bruxellois is a former street dog breed from Belgium. They require a lot of attention and can be very temperamental. If there are young children in the house, they probably aren’t the ideal dog choice for your family.
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kirillslov
27. Maltese
It’s a breed that has been around for a while. The Maltese even got a mention in the Bible as “Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta”. It’s set in its ways and can oftentimes be stubborn when it comes to training.
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Pezibear
26. Italian Greyhound
Greyhounds are a large breed. However, the Italian greyhound is a toy variety. They are just as active as their bigger cousins and don’t always remember that they are so tiny. It’s a combo that can get them into trouble.
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JeebyJeeby
25. Chinese Crested
The Chinese crested is a partially hairless breed. That means that they are somewhat high-maintenance. They will require doggie clothes or sunblock covering their skin when playing in the summer sun. Also, house training them is very difficult.
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Wiki.awal
24. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
They are very lovable with the people that they are familiar with. However, with strangers, not so much. Dandie Dinmont terriers are a dog that gets bored very quickly when you try and train them too.
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Pleple2000
23. Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
The name is quite a mouthful to say. It’s French! The Petit basset griffon Vendéen is accustomed to traversing rocky landscapes on the search for small game in the French countryside. Their incredible agility means that they can escape your grasp anytime they want.
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Pleple2000
22. Tibetan Terrier
Despite their name, they aren’t actually terriers. They were only really named that because of their terrier-like size. Their high-energy and independent nature makes them a handful to deal with sometimes.
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Antranias
21. Japanese Chin
This pup gets its name from its fascinating past — they used to be companions to Japanese royalty. It takes them 40 to 80 repetitions to begin to understand new commands. They can be trained eventually, but it does require a lot of work.
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GoranH
20. Lakeland Terrier
The Lakeland Terrier originates from the Lake Region in England. They are used to scaring off foxes that try and sneak onto the farm. Protecting sheep herds is their thing, not listening to humans.
19. Old English Sheepdog
Old English sheepdogs are big barkers. They aren’t afraid to let out a howl, that’s for sure. Their desire for exercise may have them barking and bugging you in the earliest morning hours, refusing to listen to reason.
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freddie10
18. Great Pyrenees
They are excellent at protecting their owners from danger. However, at that the same time, Great Pyrenees aren’t great at listening to commands. It’s sort of a trade-off.
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Pixabay
17. Scottish Terrier
Terriers are a pretty common breed on this list. The Scottish ones were popular in the 1930s as watchdogs on farms. They were used to patrolling the farm independently and doing their own thing without input from other people. It’s a trait that still lives on inside of them.
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Walescot
16. Saint Bernard
Saint Bernards can have volatile temperaments. In order to get them to behave, it is going to require a good amount of training. They only obey first commands 30% of the time or better.
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sean1006
15. Bull Terrier
It’s hard to believe based on looking at them, however, bull terriers were originally fighting dogs. They are little balls of energy. With proper discipline though, they can be managed effectively.
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I_Love_Bull_Terriers
14. Chihuahua
They have a bark that will pierce your eardrums. It’s a whole lot of noise for a breed that is so tiny. Chihuahuas often grow to just 8 inches of maximum height.
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pxhere
13. Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apsos are a breed that originates from Tibet where they were raised as protectors. Protecting their family is one of their highest priorities. We suppose that at least some people might find their goofy appearance intimidating!
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Yuna89bcn
12. Bullmastiff
Bullmastiffs are basically pure muscle. Their massive size can make controlling them quite difficult. Not to mention, their fierce loyalty might cause them to be overprotective.
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Fausto Moreno
11. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a dog that is used to being spoiled. They were originally bred as lapdogs for Chinese emperors. They aren’t just going to obey some random person not descended from royalty!
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Pexels
10. Basset Hound
They have great noses. It’s one of the Basset hound’s best features. Although, when out on the trail, their excitement about the various scents can often lead to loud barking and frustrating behaviors.
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AlbanyColley
9. Mastiff
Mastiffs are literal giants. They are one of the biggest dog breeds out there in terms of weight. While they are typically very nice pups, their big size may make controlling and training them challenging.
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Markita Amesquita
8. Beagle
They are one of the most lovable dog breeds. However, that also comes with a caveat. Beagles were once dogs that hunted in packs. When they are around other dogs, they can get totally absorbed in the moment.
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Nick115
7. Pekingese
Pekingese are basically little lions. They are both independent and surprisingly courageous for their size. It’s a combination that makes it very difficult to train them.
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No-longer-here
6. Bloodhound
The bloodhound is a breed that’s known for following its nose. They will go wherever it leads them, even if that means far away from their owners. There is no stopping them once they are on the scent.
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markfizzwig
5. Borzoi
This breed of dog really enjoys chasing animals. In fact, that’s what they were bred for from the very beginning. However, if trained from a young age, it is possible that they can learn to behave themselves around people and other pets.
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artbycharlotte
4. Chow Chow
They might be a loyal breed but that doesn’t mean that they are going to be obedient. Chow Chows have a mind of their own. If you want to make an impression on them with training, it is going to take a lot of reps.
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pxhere
3. Bulldog
If you’ve ever interacted with a bulldog before, then their position on this list won’t surprise you. It’s best if you start training and socializing them when they are very young. If you wait too long, training might end up being a lost cause.
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BLACK17BG
2. Basenji
This short-haired hunting dog stems from Africa. Because of their muscular and agile nature, they need a lot of exercise. When they are wound up, obeying your commands is likely the last thing that they are thinking about.
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copperfeesh
1. Afghan Hound
Despite their goofy appearance, Afghan hounds were originally bred to be predators, and that’s what they focus most of their thoughts on. They are the least intelligent dog when it comes to responding to new commands. It will take 80 to 100 repetitions before they will understand anything. Plus, they only obey first commands 25% of the time or less. They have a fiercely independent nature that makes them very difficult to train.
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825545
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