What is the Hardest Dog to Potty Train? 8 Breeds

What is the hardest dog to potty train? Topping our list is Bichon Frise, followed by the Afghan Hound, Pug, Dalmatian, Pekingese, and more. Each dog is different from the other – especially when it comes to trainability. While dogs are generally lauded for their intelligence, some canine breeds are harder to potty train than others. Still, patience and consistency will surely see results.

Below, I discussed each breed and why it is challenging to housebreak them:

1. Bichon Frise

This toy breed is known for its independence and headstrong personality, making it one of the hardest dogs to potty train. Bichon Frises are sassy, and they will always try to get their way. Unfortunately, many dog owners give up this breed for adoption because of their challenging personalities.

To potty train a Bichon Frise, you need to introduce crated training early. Also, consistency and patience are required if you want to succeed in training this pooch.

Take note that since this breed is small, it can easily hide in a corner and eliminate it. Worse, you may not find out about their bomb until it has fully attached to your carpet or flooring.

2. Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound is yet another dog that’s hard to potty train. Despite its majestic coat and elegant look, the price you have to pay is rigorous training. Afghan Hounds tend to have a cat’s personality, which means they love ignoring commands and cues. please read here how to teach a dog to growl on command

First-time dog owners should steer clear of this breed because it takes a lot of effort and patience to keep. Take note that this doggo isn’t motivated by food, and they are not people-pleasers. If you plan to potty train an Afghan Hound, it’s best to consult a dog trainer for a higher success rate.

3. Pug

Pugs are affectionate and cute dogs, but they are also the hardest to potty train. This pooch is stubborn, and they will often defy your commands. Also, Pugs aren’t one of the most brilliant breeds, so this is quite understandable.

This pooch, crate training is necessary. Also, you must practice restraint when rewarding with food because Pugs are highly prone to obesity.

4. Dalmatian

Dalmatians are popular due to their unique spots, but aspiring owners should also know that this breed is also the hardest to potty train. This spotty breed belongs to the intelligent bunch, but they also love to wander around. It’s the reason why potty training can be such a pain with Dalmatians.

Also, the Dally, as they are fondly called, are athletic dogs. They are energetic and loves to play around the yard. With this, your potty training session may turn into a game of chase. If you want to house train this doggo, you must start it young.

5. Pekingese

The Pekingese breed has a self-important and self-assured personality, so they will always defy orders. Despite their intelligence, Pekingese dogs have an intense prey drive, which will distract them easily during training. Also, they have an affinity for barking and howling.

Pekingese dogs think that they are in charge of the situation, so it can be challenging to get them to follow your commands. If you want to potty train a Pekingese, you must establish that you are the leader of the pack. Otherwise, they will reign over and leave a lot of accident spots.

6. Dachshund

As scent hounds, Dachshunds are easily overcome by their intense sniffers. They love exploring the world with their mouths, and they tend to have a neurotic prey drive. If that’s not enough of a challenge, this breed is also a wanderer and a notorious “singer”.

You need to crate train a Dachshund first before introducing potty training. Take note that some Dachshunds that are not well-socialized can be snappy and mischievous. You have to be patient because, just like any dog, Dachshunds don’t respond well to harsh training methods.

7. Beagle

Like Dachshunds, Beagles are hounded with a strong sense of smell. They are also energetic and stubborn dogs that require an experienced and firm owner. Beagles are notorious for being the hardest dog to potty train, among other training drills.

Beagles are always in the run, chasing after a squirrel or barking over a moving object. They are balls of energy that you just can’t pin down for proper potty training. Some Beagle owners say that it takes an entire year to housebreak this breed fully.

Still, a Beagle will yield to consistency and patience. Also, they are very food motivated, but you have to watch out since this doggo can get obese quickly.

8. Basset Hound

Basset Hounds are cousins of Beagles, and they have the same patchy color and droopy ears. However, they have a stronger sense of smell, so their noses are always pinned to the ground. They are also couch potatoes who loathes physical exertion, much so due to their low gait and stocky body.

Moreover, Basset Hounds are howlers and natural wanderers. During potty training, you must use creative methods to keep this pooch hooked. Also, you should know that Basset Hounds are emotionally sensitive, so you should use gentle techniques without shouting at them. This doggo will shut down and lose interest if mistreated.

Why are little dogs hard to potty train?

One theory that tries to explain this is that little dogs can easily escape from their owners. Aside from that, many pet owners blame the ‘small dog syndrome‘ wherein toy breeds are treated like babies at home. That means they are allowed to get away with negative behavior because they are too cute for training.

Also, many pet owners use a crate that’s way too large for their little pets. This defeats the ‘denning’ instincts, which is the primary goal of crate training. The concept here is that dogs will not go potty on areas where they sleep. And if the crate has extra space, the little pooch will have a spot to eliminate without soiling its bed.

The key here is training your small dog as if it’s a large dog. Don’t overlook accidents because it will only make your pet think that it’s acceptable. Clean it up and train your dog consistently.

Are male dogs harder to house train?

Many dog owners reported that it’s harder to potty train a male dog than a female one. Still, factors like breed, upbringing, and environment will affect your dog’s potty training abilities.

Also, each dog has a unique personality, which is why some take longer to potty train than other canines of the same breed. If you’re being consistent and being advised by a dog trainer, just give your dog some time to absorb a command.

Remember that puppies are a lot like children. Some kids learn faster than others, and it’s quite reasonable.

At what age should you potty train a dog?

Potty training must be started as early as possible for high success rates. In general, vets advise that you potty train your pup as soon as it reaches 12 to 16 weeks old. By this time, your doggo has considerable control over its bowel movements and bladder. please read here how long can a small dog hold its bladder overnight.

Remember that dogs younger than that are impossible to potty train because they need to eliminate every two hours. Also, forcing your adolescent pup to hold it in for long will only result in more accidents and potential health consequences.

Conclusion

So what is the hardest dog to potty train? The likes of Bichon Frises, Afghan Hounds, Pugs, and Pekingese are just some of the breeds that take more patience to housebreak. Still, you should always remember that each dog is different from the other. Yours may just need a little more time to learn, so stay patient and use only positive methods to train your pooch.