Are some dog breeds harder to train than others?

Breeds differ in what they were bred to do, which affects the training approach needed, not the dog's ability to learn. High-drive working breeds can be challenging for owners who cannot provide daily mental work.

Why might a Border Collie be difficult for some owners?

Border Collies are herding dogs that learn quickly and need daily mental work. Without it, they may develop behaviors like barking or lead reactivity.

What training approach works best for Australian Kelpies?

Short, frequent training sessions with clear rules suit Australian Kelpies better than long, infrequent efforts. They need space and daily activity.

How can Australian Cattle Dogs be managed effectively?

Australian Cattle Dogs need confident, consistent handlers who commit to early socialization. Reactive dog classes can provide a structured plan for managing behavior.

What makes Jack Russell Terriers challenging to train?

Jack Russell Terriers are quick and easily distracted. They require high-value rewards and short training sessions, as forceful methods are ineffective.

How can Beagle owners improve recall training?

Beagles are scent hounds, and their nose often overrides commands. Using food rewards can be effective, as most Beagles are keen eaters.

Dave Metcalf — Owner and Dog Trainer at Agile Dogs

Are Some Dog Breeds Really Harder to Train Than Others?

Q: What does 'hard to train' actually mean?

Most dogs learn well when the reward is right. 'Hard to train' often refers to dogs whose instincts clash with household life, such as herding dogs nipping at heels or hounds following their nose.

Q: Which breed types demand the most from owners?

Breeds like Border Collies, Australian Kelpies, and Australian Cattle Dogs require owners who can provide daily structure and mental work. These breeds thrive with tasks and can be challenging without proper exercise and training.

Key Takeaways

•Breeds differ in what they were bred to do, and that changes the training job, not the dog's ability to learn.
•High-drive working breeds are the hardest on owners who cannot give daily mental work.
•Independent breeds like terriers and hounds need better rewards and more repetition, not more force.
•Individual temperament and your consistency matter more than the breed label on the paperwork.
•Adult and senior dogs of any breed can learn new skills throughout their lives.

You chose a breed because it looked right, and now your dog ignores recall, hauls on the lead or barks at every cyclist. The question is whether you picked a difficult breed or whether something in your training needs to change. Honest answer below.

What Does "Hard to Train" Actually Mean?

Most dogs learn fine. The difficulty is usually a mismatch with the owner.

Almost every dog learns quickly when the reward is right. What people call hard to train is usually a dog whose instincts clash with household life: herding dogs nipping at heels, terriers digging, hounds following their nose out the gate.

So yes, breeds differ. A dog bred for hours of independent work will not sit still just because you asked nicely. But the gap is in drive and motivation, and both can be channelled. Starting early helps, which is why puppy training is the easiest place to begin.

Breed tells you what your dog is likely to want. It does not tell you what your dog can learn. Mixed breeds and rescues often defy their labels entirely.

Which Breed Types Demand the Most From Owners?

Ranked by how much daily structure each asks of you, in my judgement.

1. Border Collie, best for owners who can supply daily mental work

Border Collies are herding dogs, and they learn fast, which is exactly the problem. A bored one invents its own jobs: barking, chasing movement, lead reactivity or destruction when left alone.

The drawback is plain. If you cannot give daily training and exercise, problems appear quickly. Give them tasks and they thrive, particularly in agility and skills work.

Best suited for: Active owners who want a dog to work with daily. A poor match for anyone hoping a walk around the block will be enough.

2. Australian Kelpie, best for owners with space and stamina

Kelpies are working sheepdogs with stamina to match. They are eager and intelligent, but they pair that with intensity, so under-exercised ones turn to barking and destructive behaviour.

Short, frequent training sessions with clear rules suit them better than one long weekend effort.

Best suited for: Energetic owners with a secure yard and time for daily activity. Families wanting a quiet house dog will struggle.

3. Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler), best for confident, consistent handlers

Cattle Dogs are bred to drive stock and are typically wary of strangers. Without early socialisation, that can show up as reactivity to other dogs and visitors.

If walks are already tense, reactive dog classes give you a structured plan rather than guesswork.

Best suited for: Confident, consistent handlers who will commit to socialisation. Inconsistent households tend to find them hard work.

4. Jack Russell Terrier, best for patient owners with a sense of humour

Jack Russells are quick, bold and easily distracted by anything that moves. Terriers were bred to work without waiting for instructions, so your cues compete with their own ideas.

Use high-value rewards and keep sessions short. Force backfires with this type.

Best suited for: Patient owners who enjoy a determined, cheeky dog. People who want instant obedience will be frustrated.

5. Beagle, best for owners who can out-reward a nose

Beagles are scent hounds. Their nose often wins over your voice, so recall off the lead is the usual sticking point, and food rewards work well because most are keen eaters.

This breed is the easiest to live with on this list, but it takes real repetition. If habits are already set, a behaviour consultation helps pin down what is driving them.

Best suited for: Owners who will practise recall patiently on a long line. A better first choice than the herding breeds above.

Other posts in this series cover breed groups and trainability, high-drive working breeds, terriers and hounds, small breeds, and mixed breeds and rescues in more depth.

How We Ranked These Breed Types

This ranking is a trainer's judgement, not a study. Each breed type earned its position on the criteria below, and no breed is ranked for how smart it is.

Original job

What the breed was developed to do (herding, hunting vermin, scent tracking). It sets the instincts you will be working with.

Daily outlet demand

How much structured exercise and mental work the dog needs each day. Unmet demand is where most behaviour problems start.

Main handler challenge

The single issue owners most often report for the type, such as reactivity or recall.

Suggested starting point

The Agile Dogs service that fits the typical first problem.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Option	Best for	Original job	Main handler challenge	Starting point
1. Border Collie	Active owners who want a dog to work with daily	Herding	Boredom behaviours	Agility or complex skills
2. Australian Kelpie	Energetic owners with a secure yard and time for daily activity	Working sheepdog	Under-exercise	Obedience classes
3. Australian Cattle Dog	Confident, consistent handlers who will commit to socialisation	Stock driving	Wariness and reactivity	Reactive dog classes
4. Jack Russell Terrier	Patient owners who enjoy a determined, cheeky dog	Vermin hunting	Distraction, independence	Puppy or obedience classes
5. Beagle	Owners who will practise recall patiently on a long line	Scent hunting	Recall	Obedience classes

Which Breed Type Fits Your Situation?

Match your lifestyle to the dog, not the photo. Here is how I would steer different owners.

If you are…	Look for	Best fit
You run daily, hike or want a sport partner	High stamina and a love of structured tasks	1. Border Collie
You have a big secure yard and plenty of energy	Stamina and a dog that thrives on varied activity	2. Australian Kelpie
You are experienced and willing to socialise early	A dog that bonds closely and needs firm, fair boundaries	3. Australian Cattle Dog
You like a feisty, funny dog and short training sessions	Motivation through high-value rewards	4. Jack Russell Terrier
You want a friendly dog and will practise recall patiently	Food-driven learning and a long line	5. Beagle

Common Questions About Breed and Trainability

Straight answers from the training field.

Can a first-time owner train a high-drive breed?

Yes, but only with a plan and daily time. If you cannot commit that, choose a lower-drive dog. Group classes are $30 per session, and you can come and go with no lock-in contracts.

At what age can my dog start classes?

Agile Dogs puppy classes are for puppies aged 8 to 20 weeks, held in Claremont and Yangebup. Adult and senior dogs can learn new skills throughout their lives, so start now whatever the age.

Does my dog need a behaviour consultation instead of a class?

If your dog is reactive, easily overwhelmed or working through a specific problem, a one-on-one consult suits better than a group. Behavioural consultations are $275 per consult.

Does breed matter for mixed-breed and rescue dogs?

Less than you would think. Judge the individual dog in front of you, its fears, energy and history, rather than the guessed breed mix.

Ready to Work With Your Dog's Breed Instead of Against It?

Tell us about your dog and we will point you to the right class or session. Call 0448 153 316 or send an enquiry.

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Dave Metcalf

Owner and Dog Trainer · Agile Dogs

Dave is a fully qualified dog trainer in Perth with 20 years of experience in dog training and behaviour, holding a Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training and a Cert IV in Training and Assessment. He owns and runs Agile Dogs, which he started in Melbourne in 2011 and has been operating in Perth for over 8 years.

Author of 6 articles on Agile Dogs