In this source, Tom Davis discusses five dog breeds that are notoriously difficult to train due to their history, independence, and specific instincts. Here are the key points for each breed:
English Bulldog: Originally bred for the brutal sport of bull-baiting, these dogs have retained a powerful independent streak. They are famously stubborn, often doing things on their own schedule and showing little motivation to follow standard commands unless they choose to.
Basset Hound: These scent dogs possess an incredible sense of smell, second only to the Bloodhound. This makes them single-minded; once they pick up a trail, they often tune out everything else, including their owner's voice and commands.
Great Dane: While known today as "gentle giants," they were originally bred in Germany to hunt wild boar. This background as independent working dogs can lead to "selective hearing," and their massive size makes their stubbornness particularly challenging to manage.
Dachshund: Translating to "badger dog," they were bred to hunt and corner prey underground. This requires immense courage and persistence, traits that manifest in a home setting as a very independent and sometimes defiant personality.
Beagle: As pack-oriented scent hounds, Beagles are driven by their noses. Their intense tracking instincts make them easily distracted during training sessions, as they are constantly looking to pursue interesting scents rather than focus on commands.