While all dogs are good boys and girls, some can be a bit more difficult than others to train. Whether it’s sneaking through the fence, barking at the postal carrier, or chewing your pillows, it’s no secret that training a dog is difficult. If you’re struggling with eradicating bad behavior, don’t worry; some breeds just take a little extra time to pick up the basics.

Shiba Inu

Shiba Inus are adorable, lovable, and clever. They’re also incredibly difficult to train, thanks to their stubbornness and intelligence. Some trainers emphasize the need for positive reinforcements as a way to give your pup incentive to follow your commands. Patience and creativity is key with such a smart breed. Socializing your Shiba Inu from puppyhood will help you train them to be well-adjusted with other dogs

Chow Chow

Few can resist falling for the Chow Chow’s cute, wrinkly little face, but an equally small number will know how to successfully train this willful and smart breed. Socialization is an important part of training since Chows can be slightly standoffish with strangers. Repetition and treats are two components of teaching your Chow Chow obedience. Learning to be firm and demand respect with body language and commands will also help teach your dog to respect you, an important part of training a Chow Chow puppy or older dog.

Afghan Hound

Besides the need to regularly care for your this breed’s appearance, you’ll also have to regularly work with your Afghan Hound to enforce good behaviors and eliminate the bad ones. Afghans can be a little aloof and have an incredibly strong instinct to chase small animals, which can lead to issues if you’re at a dog park or even around small children. Harsh techniques won’t work well with this breed, but innovative ideas and reward systems will help you tame your hound.

Beagles

Beagles are somewhat hard to train and have a reputation for barking. This habit may need to be curbed for the peace of mind of your neighbors and family members, but it’s not impossible. Using a structured routine with your Beagle and making sure they get plenty of exercise will help burn their excess energy and make them more receptive to your commands.

Whippet

Like some of the other dogs here, Whippets were bred to hunt without command and will thus often act impetuously and without your approval. They need generous amounts of exercise, especially in a closed-in space. Bringing your Whippet around other dogs when they are young is important, but they shouldn’t be around small animals due to the aforementioned hunting instinct. Crate-training Whippet puppies is one of the best ways to begin their obedience education, and using a reward-based system will ensure you achieve optimal results.

Vizslas

Vizslas are another lean, active breed of dog that needs plenty of exercise and might do well with obedience classes. Soft and chew toys are good training tools for Vizslas and cater to their desire to hunt. They’re smart and quite energetic, and training that combines play and teaching will play to their strengths and release any pent-up energy.

Australian Shepherd

Widely considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds, Australian Shepherds will use their intelligence to their advantage in a game of wills. Like other breeds, these shepherds respond well to treats and also enjoy tasks with end goals and rewards. Remember, this breed was originally purposed for herding a large number of animals over a large distance, so finding a game that will appeal to its intelligence and athletic prowess is crucial.

Huskies

Some dog owners say that Huskies have behavioral problems, but they actually just need a little attention and training to not be escapist, destructive, or anxious when separated from their owner. Training classes are important, but even with good training, many Huskies are simply not off-leash breeds and need a well-fenced yard.

Basenjis

Basenjis don’t do well with long training sessions, so short bursts of instruction with a focus on commands and reinforcement will be best for this breed. They’re clever and not prone to barking, but their intelligence means they will enjoy innovative ideas for play and training. Since this breed is agile and hard to catch when they’re off-leash, proper on-leash training is a must before an owner can even consider play off-leash in an open space.

Greyhounds

Like Basenjis and other sometimes-fickle breeds, Greyhounds will benefit from short bursts of training while both the owner and the dog are upbeat and alert. A daily schedule for walking or running is crucial, and a leash with adjustable lengths will help you gain and retain control over your Greyhound’s behavior. Training them as a puppy is important, but even adult Greyhounds and retired racers can be trained well with patience and a personalized method.