Professional dog trainer Will Atherton has disclosed the three dog breeds he considers the most challenging to train, drawing from his extensive experience working with thousands of dogs and owners. In a detailed account, he highlighted Siberian Huskies as the top of his list, followed by "Poo" crossbreeds like Cockapoos, and Caucasian Shepherds.
Siberian Huskies: The Independent Spirits
Will Atherton, of Canine Training, expressed that he always sighs when realizing he will be working with a Siberian Husky. He described their nature as "frustrating" and characterised training them as "challenging." According to Will, Siberian Huskies exhibit almost cat-like behavior, with very little desire to please their owners.
"They know what they want and all they care about is getting what they want, often without following orders," he explained. These dogs are ludicrously high-energy, originally bred to cover 30 miles a day in brutal conditions while pulling heavy sleds. Will pointed out the mismatch when they are brought into homes and expected to be content with a mere 20-minute walk around the block.
This lack of physical and mental stimulation leads to dissatisfaction, and given their tendency to be "drama queens," owners can anticipate squealing and howling. "They're incredibly dramatic," Will reiterated, making training more challenging, embarrassing, and difficult. He admitted he would never choose to own one himself in the future.
'Poo' Crossbreeds: The Humanised Dogs
The second category of breeds Will finds challenging includes anything with "Poo" in the name, such as Cockapoos and Cavapoos. He stated that people who gravitate towards these breeds often make the cardinal sin of humanising dogs, which can create huge problems in training.
This humanisation leads to owners instilling bad habits, making it difficult for trainers to correct behaviors effectively. Will emphasised that this approach undermines the training process and can result in persistent issues that are hard to resolve.
Caucasian Shepherds: The Rare Challenges
The third breed on Will's list is the Caucasian Shepherd, also known as the Central Asian Shepherd. He noted that these dogs are incredibly rare, so he has only had to work with a handful of them. Despite their rarity, he finds them particularly challenging to train due to their strong-willed and protective nature.
Will's insights underscore the importance of understanding breed-specific traits and energy needs when training dogs. His experience highlights how certain breeds require more patience, consistency, and tailored approaches to achieve successful training outcomes.
