Dave Metcalf — Owner and Dog Trainer at Agile Dogs
Stubborn or Misunderstood? What Your Dog's Breed Group Really Tells You About Trainability
Key Takeaways
- •Breed group predicts what motivates your dog, not how smart it is.
- •Most 'stubborn' behaviour is a mismatch between the task and the dog's wiring.
- •Herding, terrier and hound groups each stall at a different, predictable point.
- •Mixed breeds and rescues need an individual read, not a label.
- •Adult and senior dogs keep learning throughout their lives, so it is never too late.
Your dog ignores you at the park, you call it stubborn, and you start wondering if you picked the wrong breed. Usually the dog is not refusing. It is doing what its breed group was built to do, and the training has not caught up.
This article is part of a series. For the full picture, read the hub guide, Are Some Dog Breeds Really Harder to Train Than Others? A Perth Trainer’s Honest Guide. Here I focus on what each breed group tells you, and what it does not.
What Does a Breed Group Actually Tell You About Training?
It points to motivation and likely sticking points, not to intelligence.
A breed group describes the job a dog was developed for: herding stock, chasing small animals, following scent. That job shapes what the dog finds rewarding and what it finds more interesting than you.
It does not tell you how your individual dog will behave. Two Beagles from the same litter can differ a lot. Treat the group as a starting hypothesis and test it in the first few weeks of training.
Calling a dog stubborn ends the conversation. Asking what the dog is being rewarded for instead gives you something to change.
1. Herding breeds (Border Collie, Kelpie, Cattle Dog), best for owners who can supply daily jobs
Herding breeds usually pick up commands quickly, which is why owners assume they are easy. The catch is that high energy, strong drive and assertive personalities turn into leash reactivity, barking and destructive behaviour when the dog lacks mental and physical stimulation.
The fix is structure. Short, clear obedience work, plus tasks that use the dog’s brain, gives the energy somewhere to go. Our complex skills training suits these dogs well once the basics are solid. For breed-specific detail, see Training High-Drive Working Breeds in Perth: Border Collies, Kelpies and Cattle Dogs.
Best suited for: Owners who can commit to daily exercise and mental work alongside training. Drawback: a bored herding dog invents its own jobs, and you will not like them.
2. Terriers (Jack Russell), best for owners who want to win focus against strong prey drive
Terriers tend to be quick, confident and easily pulled toward anything that moves. The sticking point is recall and impulse control, where prey drive competes with your voice and usually wins unless you build reliability slowly.
Short sessions, high-value rewards and gradual distraction work are the practical tools. A solid foundation in dog obedience training is the right first step. Our companion article, Why Terriers, Hounds and Independent Breeds Test Your Patience (and How to Win Them Over), goes deeper.
Best suited for: Patient owners who enjoy training in small, repeated steps. Drawback: expect to keep a lead on in open areas for longer than you would like.
3. Hounds (Beagle), best for owners who can work with the nose, not against it
A hound that walks away mid-command is following its nose, not insulting you. The sticking point is attention: scent beats almost everything, so you must make your reward more interesting than the ground.
Train in low-scent areas first, then add difficulty. Group classes help build social confidence around other dogs, while private sessions suit hounds that become overwhelmed.
Best suited for: Owners who will use food rewards and accept slower progress outdoors. Drawback: reliability off lead takes longer than in herding breeds.
4. Mixed breeds and rescue dogs, best for owners ready to assess the individual dog
With a mixed breed or rescue, the label is a guess and the history is often unknown. Fearfulness, unpredictable reactions or ingrained habits show up in the dog, not on the paperwork.
If your dog lunges, growls or struggles with strangers, a behaviour consultation ($275 per consult) gives you a plan for that specific dog. Read Mixed Breeds and Rescue Dogs: Why Individual Temperament Matters More Than Breed Labels for more.
Best suited for: Rescue adopters and owners of mixed breeds who want a plan built around observed behaviour. Drawback: there is no breed shortcut, so the first weeks are about assessment.
Be honest about reactivity. If walks have become stressful, a structured reactive dog class will do more than another round of generic obedience.
How Were These Breed Groups Ordered?
The order reflects how closely each group's natural drive matches a standard obedience class, judged on three practical criteria. It is a guide to where you will start, not a verdict on any dog.
Motivation source
What the group is bred to find rewarding, because it decides which rewards actually work in training.
Typical sticking point
Where owners most often stall, such as reactivity, recall or attention, because it tells you what to practise first.
Best starting format
Whether group classes or private sessions suit the group best, based on how the dog handles other dogs and distraction.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Option | Best for | Motivation source | Typical sticking point | Best starting format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Herding breeds | Owners who can commit to daily exercise and mental work | Having a job, movement and mental tasks | Leash reactivity, barking, boredom behaviours | Group class plus complex skills |
| 2. Terriers | Patient owners who enjoy training in small, repeated steps | Chasing and fast, active games | Recall and impulse control | Short group sessions, private if reactive |
| 3. Hounds | Owners who will use food rewards and accept slower progress outdoors | Scent and food | Attention around smells | Group class, low-scent venue first |
| 4. Mixed breeds and rescues | Rescue adopters who want a plan built around observed behaviour | Varies by individual dog | Unknown history, fearfulness | Private consultation first |
Which Option Fits Your Dog?
Match your situation below to the group that describes it best, then start there.
| If you are… | Look for | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Your dog is smart but barks and lunges on walks | Structure and outlets for high energy | 1. Herding breeds |
| Your dog ignores your recall when something moves | Gradual impulse control and high-value rewards | 2. Terriers |
| Your dog tunes you out the moment it hits grass | Attention training that beats scent | 3. Hounds |
| You adopted a dog with an unknown past | An individual assessment of triggers | 4. Mixed breeds and rescues |
Common Questions About Breed and Trainability
Straight answers for Perth owners weighing breed against behaviour.
Is my dog stubborn, or is the training wrong?
Check the training first. If the reward is weaker than the distraction, the dog is making a sensible choice. Raise the reward value or lower the distraction before blaming temperament.
Can an older dog still learn new skills?
Yes. Adult and senior dogs can learn new skills throughout their entire lives. Our classes cater to all ages and skill levels.
Should I choose group classes or private sessions?
Group classes build social confidence and suit most dogs. Private sessions work better for dogs that are reactive or easily overwhelmed.
What age can my puppy start training?
Our puppy classes are for puppies aged 8 to 20 weeks, and we run them in Claremont and Yangebup. Older dogs can join obedience classes at any stage.
Ready to Find Out What Your Dog Actually Needs?
Tell us about your dog and we will point you to the right class or session. Call 0448 153 316 or send an enquiry.
Part of our guide: Are Some Dog Breeds Really Harder to Train Than Others? A Perth Trainer's Honest Guide
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
More from Dave Metcalf: How Much Does Dog Training Cost in Perth? · Puppy Classes vs Private Lessons: First Six Months · Reactive Dog Classes vs One-on-One Training in Perth