The 3 TOUGHEST Dog Breeds to train as dog trainer

[@tomdavisofficial]

What breeds do you guys find hard to train?

[@tomdavisofficial]

How did I forget the Boerboel? 🤨🤨🤨🤨😂

[@smiley19881999]

@@tomdavisofficial awesome video... Although we have a Caucasian shepherd who has turned out absolutely unbelievable (with help from your videos might i add), we knew he was never gonna be a German shepherd and have seen the guarding instincts first hand so i would personally consider any of the Livestock guardian dogs as inherently hard to train because of how powerful and strong their guarding instincts are...

[@andreimordovskoi9192]

My boerboel is the most stubborn puppy I've ever had (mine is 7 months now). But I do love his personality.

[@carolannworsham7152]

Really? Shiba Inu more so than a Basenji? That's interesting. I've been a Basenji breeder [have mostly African imports] for many, many years...and it sounded like a Basenji to me.

[@Jtheflufftwolf]

The yorkie

[@traceyallen8286]

Thanks for pointing out that sometimes the popularity of a breed can lead to not so good breeding practices by not so scrupulous breeders.

[@marilinpuig8562]

I had an Alakan Malamute for almost 17 years. I adored her....she trained me well!

[@annaluciaschmitz]

Hahaha yeah Alaskan Malamute’s are difficult to train and they are strong. 😂But when trained well, they are such good doggies.

[@1492tomato]

A Siberian was our first dog as a married couple. Like everybody else, we bought him because he was beautiful. What a paradox he was! Loving cuddler, crazy smart... and hands down the most stubborn, devious and crafty creature I've ever known. That was 52 years ago and we still tell stories about that character. God rest his beautiful soul.

[@brendasears9650]

Dane owner here. Thank you for mentioning these concerns. As a person whose career was animal control i concur with your pics with the addition of Chow chow.

[@BetsyRoberts-u8e]

Yes, Chow owner for past 40+ years. However, my last one was a Chow/Lab mix who was more like a human than a dog. I never had to train her to do anything; I just talked to her like a parent to a small child and believe it not, she did what I said. Except eating cat poop. That was her ONLY fault. 💩

[@kgrant3184]

@@BetsyRoberts-u8e Gorgeous all-black chow-lab-shepherd-? mix here. Knew lots before I even tried to teach him. Some issues because he'd been beaten with sticks as a puppy and then dumped/ abandoned, from which, every time he saw a male with a certain type of dog-hating/ violent energy, who was holding a stick-like implement (broom, rake, shovel, etc.), my guy would FREAK OUT, barking frantically, and back away, spraying in fear - NEVER going for the man with the "stick". (I deliberately sent him to doggie daycare with different dog-loving Chinese males, to help him get over his fear - I lived in Hong Kong at the time.) Other than that, loved children, friendly to people and other dogs (who usually wanted to challenge him as he had evolved into being the alpha male/ fight stopper, of a large group of dogs/ owners who got together frequently in a park. He was eager to learn and wanting to help, but as with most Chinese dogs, wouldn't play fetch. The most he EVER did was 3 throws/ returns, and then he'd look at me like I was stupid. Great around cats - as an adolescent male, he had helped me take care of an abandoned litter of newborns - they'd been thrown just after birth into one of those big metal dumpsters. When the rescue person I'd gotten him from asked me to help out, their eyes were opened, but they still needed to be bottle fed. He'd sit arrow-straight, watching, as I picked up one from the bath tub (to keep them corralled & safe), and then lick/ clean the kitten head to toe, and then sit back down & wait for the next one (there were 5 of the original surviving 7 when I cared for them). He let them crawl all over him, searching for teats, etc., keeping careful watch of them all... Love of my life. Even my vet thought that he was a very special dog. Nearly 8 years later, I haven't been able to get a new dog, as I'd want HIM.

[@christinetaylor6110]

I have six Siberian huskies, and I agree with all that was said here. We participate in dryland mushing, and the dogs are incredible-they love it! Obedience is not their jam, like they’ll do it, but they really want to be out running on a trail.

[@randifischer5749]

Husky owner here! 100% correct! Luckily, Toms videos have helped us A LOT!

[@saragruber1019]

In my personal experience as an owner, my Jack Russell is the only dog I haven't been able to teach to sit. Now she is bright and knows the difference between commands like front door, back door, garage. I swear she understands regular conversation, but she decides when she cares to participate.

[@IrynaSudarieva]

As someone, owned by a husky for 3 years, I confirm everything you said. I appreciate you mentioning them being emotional. This is oftentimes treated as a non-trained behavior by dog professionals, vets etc. that I have encountered. Many dog owners say my husky is obedient (for a husky), but I got "PTSD" (joking), because of the way he behaved in his puberty. I love his bursts of obedience - they may happen for a short period of time, and I really appreciate those moments. I spent sooo much time teaching him different sports - standard obedience, rally-obedience, agility, scent detection, canicross. He hates everything, except for agility.

[@joshuahoover]

Our home lives at the 2 extremes. A husky and Belgian Malinois. Recommended if you find life boring.

[@tomdavisofficial]

Hahah

[@lynnm6413]

Does the Husky get influenced by the Mali and his worth ethic? Like if he has so much fun, maybe it‘s not so bad working with my peeps?

[@Spr1ggan87]

@@lynnm6413 We had a Husky and a GSD, the GSD took on the Husky behaviour lol

[@lynnm6413]

@@Spr1ggan87 oh no…lol…😬🤣

[@joshuahoover]

The Mal never hesitates to keep the husky in line while the husky keeps hoping the Mal becomes a fun loving independent free spirit he can wreck havoc with.

[@donaldstogner9518]

I had a Husky. Very hard to train. I got his CD on him and his Agility Championship, but he taught me a lot of patience. Had to go from a flat collar to a long line to a remote collar to get him to recall, but it saved his life twice when he got out of the fence.

[@Majdar]

For years I wanted a husky and always knew it wasn't for me... Then, 1 year ago, a siberian/alaskan husky mix puppy choose me and now, I've been doing 2 to 3 hours of walks/dog park a day... What can I say, she really trained me properly loll. She is 13 months old and I really hope I'll be able to lower the exercise time when she gets to 3-4 years old, but lets be honest, I think I am stuck with that commitment until she dies. haha. And to be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way. She's been a bundle of joy, a stubborn joy, but a joy none the less.

[@Patty747]

My daughter has a Shiba Inu. She got him when he was already one year old. She has trained him to be a Therapy dog. He's very smart, but also gets very excited when we come to visit her. It doesn't surprise me that you say they are cat-like as my daughter is more of a cat person, owns two cats and last year took her dream trip to Japan.

[@LillyMarz777]

Japanese Bobtails are fun cats. Our Patti was great fun and so pretty.

[@EzebelaTiture]

I have a two years old Shiba, my first dog so I cant compare with other breeds, but she is lovely! Really fast learner, she is a small dog but she has no difficulty to fallow me when hiking. She loves to play with humans and other dogs, but don't care about balls or toys. She'll do anything for food. Her favourite game is when I hide bread crumbs in th woods and she has to seek it. Her training was a lot of time and effort, but the result of staying consistant is a Shiba who is off leash everyday and living her best life. I lovee my baby!

[@Charlesgraydogtraining]

As a trainer I always dreaded an appointment with a working line GSD with leash reactivity, then I went back to a few of your own and Larry K's videos and now I look forward to those appointments. Love your work Tom and LOVE your passion...it's a gift to have the passion, and you have to have it to be a stand-out trainer.

[@maryjacobson2372]

Ha! I have a working line GSD with leash reactivity towards other dogs. It was caused by him being attacked by two dogs. I will say, it’s much more manageable now and we’ve made tons of progress.

[@namidadrop]

I have a Husky and he’s my first dog ever 😄 it helped that I watched tons of videos on dog training before bringing him home, I’m talking years of reading and watching videos and I loved the breed since I was a kid so I kinda knew what to expect. I started training him as soon as he settled into my home and when he was around 6 months I contacted a dog trainer in town and he helped a lot, my Husky is food motivated so it’s quite easy working with him to the point that I get compliments on how good he is but it was and still is a lot of work. If I can offer any advice I think you should have very clear communication as Tom says often and establish boundaries at home and never change the rules, they’re extremely smart and they will try to challenge you and your guidance constantly, they’re bred to be independent thinkers and strong willed so you have to work around that.

[@itsnoterica]

Same with me but my husky is NOT food motivated at all. He’s not even really toy motivated either 😂 he’s only motivated by his own desires. I’ve managed to get him to a manageable place for me but that’s mostly because I’ve built up a relationship with him. He listens to me 80% of the time unless he deems it not worth his time. He would rarely listen to other people though unless they’re experienced with handling dogs, but even then it’s probably a 30% success rate. He just knows what he wants!

[@PhillipAllenShio]

I have had 2 Great Danes. And I was honestly surprised to hear you include them in this video. My 4-year-old Dane is the sweetest dog I have ever seen, and she was so easy to train. It only took a few days to potty train her when she was a puppy. We recently had to put our 11 year old dane down. She was a little more difficult to train when she was a puppy, but not by much.

[@lynnm6413]

11 year old Great Dane? Wow, that‘s amazing…you must‘ve really watched out when she was young..! I know a lot of them part after 6-8 years, way too early, sadly!

[@PhillipAllenShio]

​@@lynnm6413yes, the vet was always surprised by her health in her later years. Her joints weren't what they used to be, but she would still go on walks and play. Unfortunately, one day after dinner, her stomach suddenly flipped. Which can sometimes happen with larger breeds. Still one of the toughest things I've ever experienced.

[@brendasears9650]

In my experience Tom is spot on about the bad breeding. Most are gentle

[@lynnm6413]

@@brendasears9650 I live in Germany, and have never seen an aggressive Great Dane. We also have outlawed mutilating the ears so they look way prettier

[@ElisabethBaumgart]

@@lynnm6413 I agree. My theory is that there's some very very bad puppy mill breeding going on in the US. Great Danes are neither supposed to be fearful, nor aggressive. I've met many GD in my life (naturally, as they don't live very long compared to, say, Chihuahuas) and they were all very calm, gentle giants.

[@ViiviBear]

I have a well behaved/obedient Shiba Inu and I owe it to you and your training videos! I’ve been watching your videos for years and started training my shiba as a pup. Huge thank you for helping me train one of the most difficult dog breeds 😂

[@dianecomly6132]

I have had 4 Labs and 3 GSDs. All easily trained and super smart. Love them.

[@jamesmin1239]

As husky owner, I have a very similar story with Tom. My husky was a rehome and her owners actually did a fantastic job training her and was actually quite obedient, but definitely had that stubbornness. I enrolled her in a 2 week training bootcamp. Instead of me immediately going to see her, they had me see her in a viewing room where they can show the progress she made. However, similar to Tom's story, my husky knew that I was there because she was sniffing around near the door. They had me go in, quickly greet her and gave her a few minutes to chill out and then she was able to get back in training mode. I knew beforehand that it would be a long road of training and not letting up, but she's fantastic and does very well. That being said, whenever people get husky's because they're beautiful or because they saw Game of Thrones and then after a few weeks put them up for adoption, it boils my blood. Huskies are loving and loyal companions, not objects to show off on social media. Those people who treat their dogs, and especially huskies, as objects to boost their social media are absolutely shameful and should be banned to ever owning a dog again.

[@canopusstar5157]

I have an older black Belgian Shepherd (Gruendahl?) possibly crossed with Border Collie. He’s nearly 13 and I wanted a shepherd companion for him, also as an ‘apprentice’ so I would have a ‘trained’ dog around the house and land to bark at elk and cows who came by. I wanted a GSD but a woman in my community said she had a big GP cross she was ready to rehome ( she breeds GP puppies but a husky got to ‘Mom’ first). Oso ( he’s 1 1/2 years old so I saw no need to rename him and everybody in NM has at least one shaggy dog in their life they name OSO) is a funny dog: really smart, stubborn when he wants something, funny and cat-like since this giant dust mop gets on the windowsill, behind the curtains when he wants to go out, is a mad killer of pillows and pillow cases, but is really quite gentle and sweet in the main. I came to dogs ‘late’ as I was 37 when I got my first, a lab cross. Since then I have had a husky/chow/wolf (?); a long-haired Shepherd/Akita…one of the smartest dogs ever, and my Belgian Shepherd/Border collie (?) cross and now the GPO/Husky. With a lot of land and various predators out here…coyotes and wolves…I need a big dog if I want them to survive. So far the ‘puppy’ who weights at least 60 lbs. is doing a good job of learning from my older dog, who is much happier to have his young companion to play with. The Coyote Boys like the dogs too as they leave ‘presents’ for them: latest toy is an elk jaw! I am crippled and doubt I will ever go with the dogs where I need to leash them, but Lion, my older dog was much admired when I could take him out with me, and no doubt it would be the same with Oso, who is quite handsome with his heavy white coat and his husky-marked face and ruff. He also ‘gets on’ with the cat, although he wants to chase her around the house a bit too much! Still, in my old age, I can’t imagine a life without dogs.

[@zdoggizzle]

The Shiba Inu, felt that hard. I have one and she’s been the toughest dog to train . Everything took 900x longer and more and more patience than my previous other dogs and family members dogs I helped train. With the amount of training she’s received any other dog would be at expert level well.. everything. Hahaha but she’s a great girl, and I love her endlessly. 😅

[@susanabdallah8020]

Thank you, Tom. Appreciate your experiential knowledge. Excellent information to know. God bless & Merry Christmas !!!

[@Aprilme2]

As a dog trainer myself, I agree with you on your choices for difficult breeds to train. Have you ever worked with a German Indian Dog? I have and they are another very stubborn dog. They are that way because they are part Siberian Husky and Malamute. They also have German Shepherd and Chinook. My personal favorite dog is the Shetland Sheepdog. They are smart, energetic, and very loyal.

[@tomdavisofficial]

I have not

[@dhale3]

I would also put a hound (like a Beagle) in that group, especially if they get a whiff of something when you're trying to get them to do something.

[@tomdavisofficial]

1000000

[@choobooloo1]

We had a coonhound when I was a kid and my dad had some difficulty training her.

[@lynnm6413]

Our rich neighbors have one…by choice. He is loud, cannot go off leash, but very friendly and cuddly. Plays well with my Saluki rescue mix, too. However, if you don‘t own a hous within huge fenced in yard, better not get one.

[@jeanettenugent9377]

Beagles are the most amazing escapees . Ours can climb chain mail fences to escape and can not be let off the lead because he will just run (he comes back when he needs a drink).

[@dhale3]

@jeanettenugent9377 That's crazy. Tough to train a dog that just wants to do their own thing. They are great to hunt with, though, is yours?

[@cherylsmith8541]

We have a S. Husky / GSD mix who started life out as a street dog. By the time we adopted her, she was almost 2 and we brought her to you a few months ago (Maui :)). I agree with everything you said in this video and it is SO helpful to understand. Knowing these tendencies can really help you understand your dog and the world from their perspective. Training and expectations can't be a one size fits all for dogs. You have helped us to focus on trying to make sure we are getting her what she needs to be safe and happy in the world around her instead of trying to conform to her to the world (or what we see in other dogs). Thank you for everything you do!

[@MsGoddess4u]

Breed education and knowledge is so critical when choosing a furry friend. It's a 10-20 year commitment and should be taken very seriously when considering a dog that works with your lifestyle and willingness to invest time into it's enrichment

[@tomdavisofficial]

Yep

[@nadinabbott3991]

We did…though we have gone for rescues. And while both Dexter and Lobo are small, well, Dexter passed, lobo is a chi/ rottie mix…ok, rottie in a small body. He can be stubborn.

[@parkerbrown-nesbit1747]

​@@nadinabbott3991 Chihuahua and Rottie. Very interesting combination!

[@nadinabbott3991]

@@parkerbrown-nesbit1747 it is

[@plsdi111]

Beautiful list 😁 I think akitas also fit to these kind of dogs. I’m an akita owner. Yes, they’re very sensitive, yes it’s much harder to motivate them to work. My strange experience is: the more they trust and respect you, the more they want to work for you. It’s never easy to build up these solid foundations, it always takes time and a lot effort. But if you take that time, if you have patience, if you know what you do, they actually love to work for you, and you can teach a lot of things to them. They’re really smart, sometimes they too smart and overdo things (they think they know what you want before you even tell them), I think that’s also because of their independence. Even though they’re not that easy to train, you can build up an exceptional relationship with them. They are clearly not for most of the owners. They choose them because of their look, later they’re surprised what they got.

[@artistscastle]

As an Akita owner myself i would agree with that.

[@canopusstar5157]

I adopted a long-haired GS/Akita dog who was 7 months old. He lived most of his life, with occasional trips off my land, for 13 years. He was the most amazing dog, so smart. I learned a lot from him and he ‘trained’ my then puppy Belgian Shepherd/ Collie(?) cross. Now he’s ‘training’ my new GP/Husky cross puppy. Mostly they live a real ‘dog’s life’ on my land, barking at elk, coyotes or cows, sleeping in the shade or walking with me as I do my chores. They are such loving individuals; I have not been without a dog since 1984!

[@Artistkellywest]

Love the mix of opinion with a side of history/breed background. (And also, can we vote to have a drumroll in each of your future KZbin videos please?!🥁)

[@tomdavisofficial]

haha

[@gypsydal]

3rd time husky owner here. They are the BEST ! Every day is a plummet into the unknown, depending what mood they are in. Life is never dull😂 Your description is spot on, but I’ve found if you can tap into their ADHD brain and let them think everything is their idea, or FUN….they’ll do it. My current boy was the worst puppy I ever had - he was really hard work, especially during puberty. But providing the right mental stimulation and energy outlets for him, he’s grown into the most wonderful 3 year old. But I also know his limitations, and he knows he can trust me to not push them if he’s not in the mood. We have a great relationship now and he’s SO good but it’s been a lot of hard work to get here. 😊

[@MoltenFox28]

We had a Shiba when I was a kid. Back then, we didn't know what a Shiba was, only that it was a dog from Japan. I had a brief moment of PTSD when you said Shiba scream. She would literally scream every time something didn't go her way - bathing, at the vets, not giving her treats anymore cause she was getting fat. However, she was a pretty good hunter, and kept the mice and rat population down in our yard. Even brought some of her kill to us, very much like a cat. I never thought dogs could be fully off leashed until we got our second dog, who wasn't a Shiba.

[@michelleturner6865]

I had Afghan Hounds for most of my life. Same thing. Super smart but not necessarily interested in obedience or pleasing you. However once you figure out how to train them and how not to treat them like a slave dog, it’s actually a great thing. They are not tolerate of BS or harshess. They need to think it’s their idea and number one , you must have a sense of humour and not be a control freak. Happy Shiba ownership. I love them but hate the shedding.

[@philipbriney4430]

The hardest k9 of mine to train was Kali half east german working line GSD half Canadian timber wolf. We had 18 years before she passed away in my arms.

[@doit4matt]

I've only ever had Chocolate Labradors for waterfowl hunting and Boxers for general purpose / guard duty. Both are incredible breeds, but I can't seem to move away from the boxer. They are smart, silly, agile, trainable and have huge personality. Never a dull moment with a boxer. Expect shenanigans!

[@tonifonseca9178]

I had a boxer/ ridgeback he was my soul pup! 😢

[@vikingdogmanship]

Labs and Jacks❤

[@Akti0nn]

I have a Shiba Inu, he's definitely cat like and stubborn, but he was easy to train in my opinion, sits at the door and waits for the okay from me, goes to his place on command, goes to my left side with the "left" command, etc. BUT when he doesn't want to or doesn't feel like doing those commands he will bark and not obey me lol. But I love him to death

[@sherirottweilersforever7772]

Sounds like my mule. He was wonderful when he wanted to be good but if he started out refusing to do anything I told him to I would just put him back in the pasture because I knew it would be a horrible experience.

[@OlaBelmonte]

We have a GSD mix who ended up being a Shepsky. We are so glad that she turned out to have a GSD temperament. No creaming and so trainable.

[@JSY0524]

Believe it or not the Shiba Inu is the breed that got me REALLY into training. When my older sister was 27 she passed away from cancer and left behind an under socialized and anxious little shiba (2years old). This dog was unlike anything I’ve ever encountered before… didn’t really respond to food or toys but she LOVED affection and physical touch. I used that to my advantage and it took a LONG TIME (my sisters fiancé wouldn’t let me keep her bc of his emotional attachment to the dog but he allowed me to take her every weekend from Friday night to Monday afternoon and for entire summers) we taught her to be as confident as she could reasonably be (super loud noises still spooked her a bit but she wasn’t the same dog that would go into a barking frenzy when scared).I miss my sister Jenny and her Shiba, Kloe every single day but everything happens for a reason and they’re the reason I think I found my true calling and the reason I have the best pet/working dog combo I could ask for.

[@mialee7446]

Sheltie and BC owner here :) My sheltie has been a greater challenge than most BCs I worked with, just because he is so incredibly sensitive. I absolutely cannot recommend this breed to just anyone. You have to be a very stable, calm, non-correction oriented person to truly raise them right. And their reactivity is normalised even amongst breeders &watered down to them being "vocal"... Truly heartbreaking tbh

[@suannepinoniemi6524]

I have had 4 Shelties over time and only one came from a breeder. The 3 others were rescues. I personally have never encountered the extreme sensitivity you are experiencing. But as a professional dog trainer, I can tell you the extreme sensitivity can be seen in any breed. 9 times out of 10 it is genetic, or poor breeding selection. No one can dismiss the possibility of abuse or chaos in the breeders home. Fear in a dog can definitely increase and multiply. I would suggest getting professional counseling from a certified behaviorist b fore that happens.

[@mialee7446]

@suannepinoniemi6524 It's more of a problem in pure British lines :) But then again, I don't train professionally but rehabilitate and habituate shelter or rescue dogs so my view can be different.

[@suannepinoniemi6524]

@ thank you for what you do to help our furry buddies. I have heard that this affliction can be more prominent in some genetic lines, but I will also add that after 14 years of training, we are seeing a great number of fearful (some aggressive) dogs (all breeds) where owners are thankfully reaching out for help. I have witnessed a lot of very fearful dogs rehabilitated through gentle but well rounded training with their owners. I need to let everyone know a lot of dogs develop fear because of their isolation! If you want to prevent your dog from developing fearful behavior, walk them, take them, gently expose them to as many different places, stores, neighborhoods, open outdoor malls, use your imagination. So that new experiences won’t be so traumatic. They will eventually look forward to it and you will too. Let people greet your dog, pet them, give them a favorite treat to give to your dog.

[@parkerbrown-nesbit1747]

We had a Border Collie/Shetland Sheepdog cross who we adopted because she was just too much dog for the couple who rescued her (apparently, she'd been thrown out of the back of a moving car). We think that she had been abused. She was sensitive, but never t🎉the pont of falling apart when corrected (which was seldom, as she was very well behaved).

[@KateG-ei4se]

I have a German Shepherd/husky mix who has a splash of lab and bloodhound thrown in for good measure. He is crazy smart, definitely the smartest dog I've ever owned by far! But yeah he can be challenging for sure. He will never be the perfectly heeling dog I see on social media but I am okay with it now. With a lot of time and patience I've finally gotten him to at least loose leash walk nicely and our walks are much more enjoyable than they used to be. He really is such a good boy at home- potty trained super easily, not destructive, good with our cats, crate trained, etc. Love him to pieces and wouldn't trade him for anything in the world!

[@slavicar2337]

Thanks for the video, loved it. Parents of two huskies and you are right about everything you said 😂 love them to bits.

[@dinnyf]

Hi Tom. I just had to laugh when you listed Shibus as the hardest to train. The first Shibu i worked with was about 2 decades ago and i was excited to work with a new oriental breed! Oh my god! What an impossible dog. I just absolutely could never form a relationship with him. He just couldn’t care less! It was actually hilarious. He was the worst dog to train. I guess I helped the owner, but mostly by making her realistic about the nature of her dog! My second worse was an Afgan hound i rescued as a training challenge 30+ years ago. That dog had zero common sense. He laid under a standing horse and had his leg broken when the horse stepped on him. I was able to obedience train him, but he was never completely house broken, so weird! I’ve had great success with other sight hounds, as i love sensitive dogs, but Tony, the Afgan was memorably difficult. I agree about huskies. They are charming funny delinquents who normally are just in the absolutely wrong situation!

[@dertyjerz3]

Our Great Dane, Blu is 7 now. Wasn’t properly socialized in the his first year before we got him. Can relate to everything you said. Went through some true nightmares with his fear aggression of people. Your past videos have helped us tremendously with confidence in training him and I thank you. Unfortunately, direct contact with other people is cut off completely, breaks my heart.

[@fueledbyadventures]

Super funny, I have been watching your videos for a long time. I have a Shiba that's one year old. As soon as I started seeing this video I knew that you were going to say Shiba when you said number one. You really nailed the description of them.

[@adrijanaskorvaga7048]

Shar-peis are like cats; they are not trainable. I had them for 25 years, but I love you the most.

[@tomdavisofficial]

Yep

[@shaunmarais7698]

I have a Border Collie Blue Heeler cross. She is super smart learns quickly but as stubborn as a mule which kinda makes her perfect for her job. She moves and herds hogs all day, she amazes me on daily basis and especially the way she "handles" a 400lb boar (she's only 40lbs). Best dog I've had in all my years

[@julieb3996]

I have had two (male) dogs which were Heeler mixed with German Shepherd and they always amazed me with their resourcefulness. Tough as nails and unassuming in appearance, never tire out, but also always surprised me with things they instinctually knew how to do. It reminded me of discovering a secret level in a video game. Heelers are packed full of genetic goodness

[@anthonydolio8118]

Very interesting. I appreciate the honest assessment. People need to understand the commitment they are making. It is unfair to get a dog that you later will get rid of because the breed is not appropriate for you or your family.

[@PremGradeChris]

I have a wonderful 5 year old Shiba. I think everything Tom said is pretty much on point. Mine has had a high prey drive since she was little so I tried to improve her basic obedience and socialization early on. Ended up doing about a year with an ex-military dog trainer who towards the end told me “keep at it, she’s going to take years before you see real results.” I thought he was half joking, but 4 years later and I can tell you he was dead serious. I wish I could better understand what drives her from a behavioral point of view to improve her barking and other few bad habits, but she’s typically a sweetheart and selectively listens enough when it matters. 😅

[@toddhudy6112]

Love the critique! We have a 7yo golden that is so obedient and only wants to please…. And… a 7mo husky mix that has a mid of his own!! Just like kids, same home, different outcome! I do think he will be great, but it will take another year or so.

[@TheTwistedStory]

I have two Great Danes and they are polar opposites in terms of personality. My older male has always been very laid back, sweet, gentle with everyone. My younger male is higher energy, smart and obedient, but more anxious in nature, and has recently became more intolerant of other dogs and reactive on lead. Both however can be very stubborn at times.

[@nancymesek]

I have a Siberian Husky that I board. She was so aloof and terrible at recall when she first came. 2 years later she listens to me, better than the owner but she’s one of the only dogs that cannot be off the line while walking. All characteristics mentioned are spot on.

[@tomdavisofficial]

hzhs thanks!

[@TheMissphish]

Love this whole series & 100% agree on you with on pit bulls & rotties. I got lucky with my rottie though, biggest sweetest 125lb baby ever. Kept him in tact till about 18 months, he's 6 now and the only thing he gets aggressive with is the TV. But we also started training from day 1.

[@gevans2679]

I’ve had dogs my entire life. From a cattle farming family in Australia so dogs were always part of my life. I’ve never had the first two breeds, but I did rescue a Great Dane x bull Arab from the local pound (purely because he looked so sad & I knew at almost 70kg no one would adopt the poor guy). He had a beautiful nature & lovely around people, but an absolute nightmare around other dogs! I simply couldn’t walk him, but I did have a husband that was 120kg who could. This dog was hard to train purely because he was stubborn & lazy 😂 he wasn’t naughty really he was smart, & understood what I was asking, but he just didn’t want to do anything 😂 Now the husband has him & we’re divorced. He’s much happier with the husband so he can go out with someone who can physically control him. I’ve since adopted two working dogs. A kelpie x and a red cattle. Both really good girls, so eager to please & extremely easy to train. I don’t ask much of my dogs, they have a life of luxury really. There is only one rule & even the Great Dane knew this rule. I’m the boss! Even he wouldn’t push those boundaries 😂 if we all agree on that, we’re good 😊

[@canopusstar5157]

I have a Great Pyrenees/Husky cross. I only expect this new puppy ‘Oso’ to learn from my older Shepherd/border Collie (?) cross. I live on a a lot of acreage, so as long as Oso comes when called, I satisfied. He has to be kept from the bedroom where he goes straight for the pillows. Son far his ‘kill’ number is 4 pillow cases and one pillow. Puppy gates are a must!

[@jonferris6541]

Excellent and accurate info. I've raised, bred and trained Rottweilers, German Shorthair pointers, Labs and Working line German Shephards. The working line Shephards are very intelligent and have the highest drive of all the breeds I work with. They absolutely need constant training and a job to keep them from becoming problematic. That being said if trained and worked with you will never own a more intelligent loyal partner.

[@HappyDW]

Thank you for your helpful insights! Always appreciate you!

[@tomdavisofficial]

Thanks for watching!

[@reinventingmelissa2061]

LOL. When you were talking about the Shiba not wanting to work and not caring about what we care about, I expected Great Pyrs to be on your list. I adore my Pyrs, but they're challenging -- especially since my other dogs are curly coated retrievers.

[@lisathewhitewolf]

I have a pit/staffie/husky mix and it took me a while to do it, but I did eventually flip the switch and get her WANTING to work with me. Try a flirt pole for rewards. She ADORES it. Maybe the Shiba would too? Very short, very positive sessions helps. Little to no correction until they have some drive built to work and really understand the job. When Sasha gets confused or frustrated, she shuts down, and that happened very very easily. Correcting when she was confused would cause instant shutdown. I don't think they're stubborn as much as easily frustrated. We've since overcome all that. ❤

[@virginiareynolds6296]

I have a stubborn, dominant, leash reactive standard poodle that I’m surprised didn’t make your list (perhaps in top 5??). I formerly had golden retrievers and labs (or mutts) that were far easier (and have the desire to please) to train than my poodle. the 3 trainers I worked with on the poodle’s leash reactivity all indicated that he was one of the most leash reactive/aggressive dogs they’ve had to work with. Appreciate your insights!

[@lhmcd5538]

You are spot on. I’ve come into contact with badly socialised dogs from all three. May you have a Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year. 👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️🤩🤩🤩🎄🎄🎄

[@micheledietrick265]

You are so right. May you and your family have Avery Merry and blessed Christmas 🎄

[@lexibrown2148]

Husky owner here. What I’ve learned from my pup is that huskies only listen when they want to. Other dogs aim to please but huskies will fully understand what you’re asking and straight up not listen. That being said mine seems like listening to me and looks to me for direction because I’ve built that trust with him since puppyhood. They are very emotionally driven whether that’s nervousness or excitement so it’s hard to control them sometimes.

[@mtngrammy6953]

I raised Siberians for 20 years. Too bad you didn't learn from me how to train them! You really have to know how they think and how to NOT play their game. Yes, they CAN scream like a Shiba Inu, but when you just tell them to "knock it off" and that you aren't going to fall into their game, they will fall in line. I showed all my dogs in obedience with great success - one even won a High in Trial once, another was only the third Siberian to obtain a Utility Degree (highest degree in obedience) and one of the few to earn a degree in tracking. They are certainly not the breed for many people.and very difficult to keep at home - they dig, climb or even chew through a fence, tear up the inside of a car or unlock car doors, etc. They are actually VERY intelligent, but you have to be able to outsmart them, which means that you can't really use the usual techniques for training the average dog (they are also NOT very food driven). We had lots of fun and success together and ran as sled team as well. Think three times and get lots of information before you decide to get this dog because they are pretty and look like a wolf.

[@michikoyamamura4418]

I absolutely adore them where they are, every time I see one here (south Texas) I get sad. I think it’s unfair and cruel for them to live in this region.

[@CaptTragedy]

Wow, having a 3 year old great dane who sees me as a roommate really makes this video a lot more real.

[@carinknopfer4434]

My daughter has a Siberian Husky and the vet said that it's the best behaved husky that they've ever seen. He is well trained. She has made him have manners. I love big dogs and love dobies and Saints. My Saint back in the day was very well trained. My trainer said he was one of the best. I could have put him in traffic and he'd stay there. The Saint pup I have now is just 6 months. Let's pray he turns out the same. He does love to retrieve stuff so that's a plus!

[@Natural11001001]

Shiba owner here and I agree with you 100%. My girl is food motivated and loves to walk, play and hike, but without food in your hand good luck getting her to listen and respond to anything. She knows all the words... you've just got to have food in your hand and hope that it is of higher value than whatever else has her interest. Off leash is not an option, even in secluded woods due to lack of recall.

[@tomdavisofficial]

ding!

[@kerrypickens8594]

I have a Japanese Akita Inu I rescued at one year old. She fortunately had been with a trainer before I got her. The difference with Akitas is they form a very strong bond with their owners. She listens to me and is very playful. You can’t really force them to do stuff, you have to make a game of it and reward them.

[@californiadreamer2580]

Really enjoyed this post, filled with good information ❤. Glad you picked breeds that are currently popular. Of course there are others that may be just as difficult, several come to mind, but are relatively less popular and not commonly seen.

[@RiannaNicole]

My aunt and uncle had a husky that was “broken” and his temperament was a shy, awkward potato. Some may be the breeding of him, whilst he also had an older beagle and Chihuahua friend and several cats. But he did do the husky talks, howl and “screaming” from time to time. Surprised that St Bernard’s weren’t up there on the list, for their thick headedness. My friend has a shiba and can vouch for what you said about them. She says hers are nuts, and in a way, glad she has her pittie type dogs, to go with the shiba

[@aina3387]

In huskey's defense, all of their challanges make perfect sense for what they were bred for. They had to be stubborn to not run off cliffs when the human says so. And they had to be vocal so everyone knows what is up and can work together when they can't see eachother. Even their blue eyes make sense given where they are supposed to be. They are actually beautifully bred dogs, just not for normal people.

[@piper2040]

We own three shiba and every time someone coos over them and "I waaaant oooone!" We warn them what a challenging breed they can be. Our oldest is 15 now and she has just been the most wonderful dog. We heavily socialized her and trained her solidly when she was a young puppy and she's been great ever since. Her main scream point is bath time, other than she is pretty relaxed. Our new puppies (a brother and sister - 9 weeks) are already trained to let us know when to go out and go potty, sit, kennel, wait and take it. They're not bomb proof on the wait or take it yet, but they are getting there! I definitely think it is so important to keep their minds engaged. As soon as they're bored, they go looking for entertainment and they don't always find the entertainment you want them to! Chew toys and interactive feeders galore!

[@paigeschwartzenberger3965]

I have a Great Pyrenees mixed with German Shepard. He is dog aggressive but we manage. He has come a very long way since we adopted him 4 years ago. But we don’t off leash anywhere with him because of this behaviour. We love him to bits and we can control him now.

[@shanekeenan9173]

I have a 14 month male Great Dane he is a very obedient boy , I’m currently working on his off leash training and he is doing excellent, he has no aggression at all , i have been socializing him his whole life any chance I get I guess hard work pays off !!😊😊

[@giorfi-n7v]

There are many breeds that are hard to train as many dogs are not bred for obedience, but rather hunting, livestock guarding etc. such as beagles. Would love to see an extended version of this list.

[@belinda9696]

I adopted a (according to DNA) a Husky/Labrador/ Staffordshire/ Border collie mix as a puppy, She looks like a Lab, but has the personality of the husky and this was the only dog in my 50 years on this planet of having dogs that I had to hire a trainer because she was so stubborn I could not train her effectively to where it stuck. She had intensive training and still has her stubborn moments at 3 years old now. the hardest dog ever, but she is not at all aggressive and loves everyone, just wants to play all of the time. (even more than eating)

[@AutisticLee]

This is very helpful. It makes my struggles with our Pug and GSD seem minuscule. lol

[@daiyzanth]

My oldest daughter always wanted a Siberian Husky so when she begged me at 12 years old for a Husky puppy I told her if she could prove she did her research we would talk about it. Needless to say we did end up getting her a Husky, brought her (Prue) home at 8 weeks old, and she was a non stereotypical husky, she would do anything for my daughter and years later still will. When my daughter was 16 with my help she trained her Husky to become her Psychiatric Service Dog and she just retired her this past year at 11 years old. Everyone who ever met her dog (Prue) fell in love with her because she absolutely loves people and other animals. She was even best friends with my pet rabbit until my rabbit passed away.

[@cherylschaeffer7832]

I agree on the first two (husky also has wanderlust so they are like "see ya, I'm going out on my own to explore." As for GDs, I've seen severely aggressive GD (well, one actually) and I've worked with some really nice ones that just needed training. Any large breed, especially a guarding breed, should be owned by someone who is prepared to put in the training work. And to Tom's point, if you're going to get a dog from a breeder, make sure that person is a real breeder who cares about the breed, not just about the money.

[@tomdavisofficial]

That;s my ned video!

[@wendio5437]

My daughter-in-law has a Shiba and that dog is hilarious because she runs the WORLD. Nobody can tell that dog what to do. I babysat her for a week and she cracked me up the whole time. She is the polar opposite of every dog I have ever owned. Your cat reference is spot on. The Shiba scream is real too!!

[@VixOfAllTrades]

Great danes... On the points you make Tom... Completely correct. But I've found with structure and reps, all mine have been really easy to train. But then I trained my mum's lab, who just wanted to please me aswell 😅😅 and got it all 10x faster. Appreciate your work 👍

[@BrianHunter-ot2co]

Totally agree with your top three. My personal list would include Beagles edging out Danes.

[@tomdavisofficial]

I have seen 1 beagle in my career, most people who own them use them for the proper purpose.

[@BrianHunter-ot2co]

@@tomdavisofficial Beagles are wonderful dogs but when I am called in, it is because they are terrible walkers. Hence the difficulty in working with them is their keen sense of smell and high prey drive which interferes with getting and keeping their attention.

[@Fleshfeast]

I actually saw Will's videos 2 days ago and looked to see if you had similar ones. Looking forward to the next one.

[@tomdavisofficial]

Thanks!!

[@twiztedsynz]

I had two huskies - Seppala Siberian Huskies - so literal cousins (or founding fathers/mothers) to the typical Siberians most people get. My experience with Seppalas is that while yes they are typically husky (stubborn, escape artists, runners, will turn you out), my two were also outstanding dogs to work with. I was able to train my two not just mushing commands but other commands too like the basics sit, down, but also place, 'weave' and other commands that I used to help when harnessing them, and was able to direct them to untangle themselves if caught up on something when on leash. One I could even have off lead and she would come back (the other though, no way at all, and if he ever did take off, my female would run after and both would turn their brains off for recall). They were also not so vocal - unless they saw their harnesses and then they'd start wooing, or they got to go in the car - my boy did get frustrated (and when that happened he'd chew on leashes/leads/ganglines) and they had beautiful off switches and my female was the laziest husky you could ever imagine. But they both loved people and I'm sure if I could have, my female would have been an amazing therapy dog. While not all Seppala's are like this, many are. Both are gone now (put down this year; cancer truly sucks) but I hope to have Seppala's again someday (currently have Border Collies and they're a handful enough to deal with :D )

[@savannalilly6547]

Every time I see one of these videos, I can't believe how we lucked out with our Husky. He doesn't do any of the stuff Huskies are notorious for (like escaping or destroying stuff). He has a great off leash recall and off leash heel. The only issue is the second we put him on a leash he wants to pull, but as long as we have a prong on him, he's even good about that. Guess we just got lucky.

[@cynthiar7350]

Dachshunds! Mine have all learned to potty train very easily with all 3 I’ve had, mini & standard models. Even my blind 14 yo can still find her way to the potty paper. But not just obedience. One learned to spin a bit but not sit, stay, etc. They are so smart, but stubborn; will do what they want & do things you ask, but not as formal commands. RIP my girls, DAISY🌼 & COCO ❤

[@myheartiswriting]

I have a shiba mix and my brother who just started living with us has a Siberian husky. Both have arguments with me and use the "but... I'm adorable," as part of their argument. The shiba is definitely been more of a cat than a dog, though she's quite vocal and demanding when she does what attention. The husky tries to trick me into him being dumb and docile. He will "not beg" by putting his eyes to the floor, but then glance up at you and quietly bark at you if he thought he's "not begged" too long.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Gotta watch out for Land Shark ...they have really good disguises

[@emmacharliehth5011]

I would add to the Siberian husky is that they are escape artists and if they aren’t getting out, it’s because they can’t be bothered. Rather than they can’t. whether that’s climbing, destroying something or digging their way out. My huskys favourite thing is to try and bulldoze his way through.

[@Cosmicdust4]

I suggest Cash 2.0 great dane. Channel, woof bark growl. Cash was a Champion show dog and came from good genetics. When Steve adopted him he socialized him. This is a good example of a gentle giant.

[@the-fiddling-fox]

Not many people mentioning terriers in the comments. 😂 I adopted an 18 month old poorly socialised working line Lakeland terrier without knowing what the breed was (I only recently tracked down the breeder and got the full story) - the rescue centre described her breed totally wrong. She has a huge, lovely personality but feisty as hell! Only 17 inches high but has the strength of an ox and to date her shenanigans have treated me to two broken ribs, a torn shoulder muscle, and £££ of trips to the physio to get fixed. A breeder I spoke to just laughed and said you can train them till the cows come home but they’re basically little b*****ds and do what they want. 😂 The trainer I was working with gave up! After two and half years of having her, she has calmed down a lot but is still an ongoing challenge. Absolute sweetheart in the house though.

[@RicardoAvella_Loup_Garou]

I love working with Huskies and spitz in general.

[@amber_bloom]

Accurate. We had a super smart siberian husky. He was well behaved... for a husky. We ended up getting him e-collar trained for his safety (too many close calls with cars after being an escape artist). Only with the e-collar would be actually listen. He enjoyed being off leash after the e-collar training. He was happier as were we. HOWEVER, I don't think e-collar training is right for every dog, but it was right for him. Also, my Dad grew up with Great Danes. He wanted one as an adult. He didn't research breeders and just got a puppy from my mom's co-worker. He was a super aggressive dog. No matter how much we worked with him, he did not like strangers. We were told that he was more in touch with his roots.

[@ninacerda7983]

love you and everything you do 💕

[@tomdavisofficial]

Too kind

[@graceburford2398]

My half Shiba Inu, half Corgi I had growing up is laughing at me from heaven. SO STUBBORN. SO INDEPENDENT. And would run away after small game and return home the next day satisfied. And he could herd cows. Energetic til the very end of his life.

[@opticyclic]

Getting a Husky in Canada was a great idea! We are a month behind on the weather this year tho

[@jlee8268]

Off leash Siberian Husky owner here living in Portland, OR. Umei will never be 100% without use of remote collar. Even tho’ she, typical to Huskies, has low food drive, she’s crazy for a particular ball that we’ve been able to use to shape behaviors like heel, platz, out, place etc. But without balanced training methods (collar and pinch), we’d never be able to train her away from chasing cats and squirrels. On a flat or harness it’s pull pull pull. She’s amazing when hooked up to harness and bike; her genetic imperatives emerge instantly. Currently, working on acclimatizing her to be OK boarding with a neighbor’s dog (who’s a big buddy) and her cat (who was prey on day 1 &2, and is now … um … exciting, but I can hold place w/i 3 ft of said curious cat … getting there).

[@tomdavisofficial]

Nice! Thank goodness for the remote collar

[@Ssss23-b2b]

So my partner wanted an an e collar so our husky could go off leash but I’ve read it can go wrong if you dong know what your doing and some people I think just disagree with them.. any opinions?

[@jlee8268]

@@Ssss23-b2b First, the eCollar is not the best for sculpting behavior in the beginning. Lots of Upstate’s balanced practices used. For this low-food motivated Husky, it was a godsend to discover the soft moonball that she was crazy for and had such high value that we could keep her attention away from pretty much anything. Sculpted in private, then outside. Leash practiced heel, as well as pressuring sitting by the sidewalk just “calmly” watching squirrels or the occasional cat that was willing to hide under a car watching us back … then “heel” move along … rinse and repeat. When it came to eCollar, we had the help of a dog trainer to introduce it to us (as well as help us with general obedience etc) … she would not sell us the eCollar tech until we were trained in it to prevent possibility of incorrect usage. I was initially in the “I’m not gonna shock my dog” camp … quickly realized it’s not what most people think. Anyhoo … our key was BLENDING the eCollar into practices that we had already shaped. Funny enough, on the first day trying to find her “working level,” on the eCollar tech, it was a 70! … after much later research, we bought the long hair prongs for eCollar Tech to get better contact and found that her working level was a “6” which I can’t even feel on my own neck … and her “corrective” level boost is somewhere around a 12 setting which is like an eStim acupuncture pinch. NOW … as we are trying her to be aversive to chasing/preying upon neighbor cat in neighbor’s house, her “leave it” setting is still 12ish, but we also have a corrective “NO!” “OUT” level of between 20-30 which is super not comfortable for her (IE she might yelp a little) … Note, we only had to use the corrective level a couple of times on day 1 and 2 when she was super activated and hyper focused on I’m gonna chase and (possibly kill) that thing … Off Leash practice happened at dog parks (we don’t really have unpopulated fields to practice in here in Portland) … and involved ball, focus on us (not ANY other dogs during training), blending leave its, come, stay, down-sit-down, BALL!!!, break etc was well as off leash heel on the trail where instead of a flick of the pinch, if she got off heal she’d get a message on the eCollar … after much practice under much dog park distraction, we began to practice in our neighborhood outside with SOME distraction, but not city street like distraction. Rinse and repeat with increasing distraction and pressure and after a while we pretty much got there … like I said, still not 100% that she wouldn’t go after a squirrel, off leash, without remote collar, and me not paying attention … so the eCollar in 95% of the cases now, is just insurance. Sorry for the long winded answer.

[@meredith18352]

There is nothing my dog enjoys more than doing exactly what I tell him to, his favourite is come when called but training is completely his happy thing to do. He isn't the smartest border collie I have ever had but he is still a border collie. Can't imagine having a stubborn dog but what we all want in a dog is something different. He is also the laziest BC we have had and would spend the day snuggling beside me on the lounge if her could. My dog trainer also finds huskies the hardest dogs to work with and I have been doing dog training with the same husky for 8 years, he is really trained but only does things on his own terms and often spends more time peeing on the trees than training.

[@micheledreyer3658]

Dane owner here. I know a lot of Dane owners and we’ve had no problem with trading.

[@meagangray23]

I have a Siberian husky/aussie mix. The Aussie def makes training a bit easier, but my boy requires everything to be fun and exciting or he will definitely be difficult to manage. We are finally walking loose leash/heel without a prong after months of work!

[@marzipanstitcher8571]

Omg some of what you said is so true. I have a Siberian husky and a Weimaraner ( which I believe may originally had some great dane in their breeding) generally my girls are lovely but they rarely want to work for me. They don't even listen to each other. Luckily trying to get them to work tires them out so they are great sleepers

[@bornagain_cynic]

Shiba has been my dream breed since I was a kid. I hope when I get one I can do a good job with training

[@loyal_dogs]

I got my first dog ehrn I was 18. A Shiba Inu 😁 I had read hundrets of books about dogs but it was a challenge especially since it was a 5% personality dog (leader type). This dog had taught me more about dogs than any of the books combined and she turned out amazing. Very obedient and well socialized, I even got her prey drive under control so she was allowed to walk off leash (I train in a way that I don't rely on commands, I teach olenty but they are just tricks. I actually eduacte them to be great dogs without any commands, so they don't do anything they shouldn't do, don't leave the way, stay close, don't walk up to others, stop at end of a path etc). Currently I own an Akita and a white GSD, never had any issues and they're also properly raised and well behaved. Though I never recommend any of the breeds I own/owned to people who I feel are not knowledged as they are not for everyone. But if you put in the effort and raise difficult breeds properly, you'll end up with amazing dogs

[@tesslee100]

We have 2 rescues. A GSD and a Goldador. Our Goldador is so hard to train. She has one thought in her mind at all times and it is do anything to get love. Nothing we do can break through that level of excitement. Our shepherd, easiest dog to train.