You’ve fallen in love with those puppy eyes at first sight. You imagined long walks in the park, lazy cuddles on the couch, maybe teaching some adorable tricks. What you didn’t imagine was finding yet another puddle behind the sofa for the third time today. If you’re reading this because your sweet pup seems to think your living room is an acceptable bathroom, take a deep breath. You’re definitely not alone in this struggle.
Here’s something most people don’t realize until they’re knee deep in it: not all dogs are created equal when it comes to potty training. Some breeds pick it up within weeks, while others can test your patience for months or even longer. Trainers across the country consistently point to certain breeds as particularly challenging, and honestly, it’s not always about intelligence. Sometimes the smartest dogs are the most stubborn ones. Let’s dive into the six breeds that professional trainers agree are the toughest to housebreak, and more importantly, why they present such unique challenges.
Dachshund: The Stubborn Sausage
Dachshunds are often ranked the hardest breed to potty train, closely followed by Jack Russell Terriers and Basset Hounds. Those adorable little hot dog bodies and soulful eyes hide a willful personality that can drive even experienced dog owners to frustration. Their small bladders, stubborn streak, and dislike for cold or wet weather make accidents common.
What makes Dachshunds particularly tricky is their hunting heritage. These dogs were bred to chase badgers into underground burrows, which required independent thinking and determination. That same stubbornness translates into potty training challenges. Some Dachshund owners will tell you that potty training can take up to a year to be fully accomplished. The moment it gets chilly or damp outside, many Dachshunds simply refuse to venture out, deciding your carpet is a perfectly acceptable alternative.
Bichon Frise: The Picky Princess
The AKC says that Bichon Frises have a reputation for being difficult to housebreak while being fiercely independent and tending to be picky about going outside when it’s rainy or cold out. These fluffy little clouds might look like they’d cooperate with anything you ask, but they have opinions about weather conditions that would make a diva jealous.
Bichons are clever dogs with strong preferences. They’ll bond deeply with their families, which should theoretically make training easier. The problem is they’re also selective about when and where they want to do their business. These tiny dogs have tiny bladders, so they need more frequent potty breaks than bigger breeds, and they’re also clever and might try to outsmart you. The frequent bathroom needs combined with their weather sensitivity creates a perfect storm for indoor accidents.
Jack Russell Terrier: The Energetic Tornado
Jack Russell terriers are known to be a challenging breed, to say the least, from chewing up your shoes to running around the house at full speed, these pups are little balls of energy that can be difficult to potty train. These dogs have the attention span of a toddler according to trainers. Living with a Jack Russell is like living with a caffeinated acrobat who occasionally remembers they need bathroom breaks.
The challenge with Jack Russells isn’t lack of intelligence. They’re actually remarkably smart, which can work against you. Their minds move so quickly from one thing to the next that focusing on potty training feels impossible. They might be mid squat when a bird flies by the window, and suddenly they’re off chasing imaginary prey, completely forgetting why they were outside in the first place. Consistency is absolutely essential, though even then, expect this process to take considerably longer than with other breeds.
Shih Tzu: The Charming Manipulator
Training a Shih Tzu can be both an amusing and a frustrating experience, according to the AKC, who says the breed tends to charm his owner into letting him have his own way, which can result in a less than completely housebroken pet. These little companions are masters at giving you those irresistible puppy dog eyes right when you’re about to reinforce a boundary.
Shih Tzus were bred to be companion dogs for Chinese royalty, and they seem to remember their aristocratic heritage. They’re loving and affectionate, which makes it hard to stay firm when they make mistakes. The breed’s stubborn independence means they’ll often decide for themselves whether your rules apply to them today. Their small size also means they can sneak off to hidden corners of your home, making supervision challenging. Weather is another factor since these dogs detest getting their precious paws wet or cold.
Beagle: The Nose Knows Everything Except Potty Rules
Beagles can be difficult to housetrain because the breed doesn’t rank very highly on the canine intelligence spectrum for working ability, and they also tend to be excitable dogs with a short attention span that tend to get easily distracted and have a rather selective memory. If you’ve ever watched a Beagle on a walk, you know their nose runs the show. Everything else, including potty training, comes second.
Potty training has proven to be very difficult with Beagles, and some owners resort to crate training to stop accidents. The issue isn’t that Beagles can’t learn; it’s that they’re constantly distracted by their incredible sense of smell. They’ll start heading to their designated potty spot, catch a whiff of something fascinating, and completely forget why they went outside. Their hound heritage makes them independent thinkers who don’t necessarily care about pleasing you the way a Golden Retriever might. Patience and unwavering consistency are your best friends here.
Yorkshire Terrier: The Tiny Rebel
Yorkshire terriers can be tough to potty train, and these guys can also be stubborn, being especially difficult to convince to go outside to do their business when it’s wet or cold out. Don’t let their small size fool you into thinking they’ll be easy. Yorkies have personalities roughly ten times larger than their bodies.
The challenge with Yorkies is multifaceted. Smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside. This means they genuinely need to go more often, which increases opportunities for accidents. Their terrier temperament adds another layer of difficulty since terriers were bred to be independent hunters. They’re perfectly capable of understanding what you want; they just might decide they have better ideas. Many Yorkie owners find success with indoor potty solutions like pads or grass patches for particularly nasty weather days, though this can sometimes confuse the training process.
Final Thoughts
Listen, potty training any dog requires patience, but these six breeds will test every ounce of it you have. Potty training will never be the easiest process to go through even with dogs that take easier to housebreaking, and breed can definitely play into how well a dog responds to potty training, as some breeds are more obedient than others. The good news is that even the most stubborn breeds can eventually learn with consistency, positive reinforcement, and realistic expectations.
Remember that your pup isn’t having accidents to spite you. These breeds have genuine challenges whether it’s their small bladders, independent personalities, weather sensitivities, or easily distracted minds. Celebrate the small victories, invest in a really good enzymatic cleaner, and maybe keep your sense of humor handy. Eventually, most dogs do figure it out. What’s your experience been like with potty training? Did your breed make this list, and how long did it really take?