The 25 Dog Breeds That are Hardest to Potty Train

Welcoming a puppy into your home is a wonderful experience, but any pet parent will know that it can be hard work too. The first few months of having a puppy are not just playtime and cuddles—responsible owners will take this time to patiently train their puppies, and that includes housebreaking.

Potty training will never be the easiest process to go through—even dogs that take easier to housebreaking will still need to be trained with care. The difficulty of housebreaking a puppy will depend on many factors, and breed can definitely play into how well a dog responds to potty training, as some breeds are more obedient than others.

According to Pets WebMD: "It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year.

"Size can be a predictor. For instance, smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside.

"Your puppy's previous living conditions are another predictor. You may find that you need to help your puppy break old habits in order to establish more desirable ones."

Using information from The American Kennel Club, DogTime, Pets4Homes, and MedNet Direct, Newsweek has rounded up 25 dog breeds that are difficult to potty train.

American Foxhound

American Foxhounds are not the easiest breed to potty train. According to the AKC, "training and housebreaking these independent souls can be a steep challenge for novice owners."

Beagle

Beagles can be difficult to housetrain because according to Pets4Homes, the breed doesn't rank very highly on the canine intelligence spectrum for working ability.

Pets4Homes, says: "they also tend to be excitable dogs with a short attention span that tend to get easily distracted and have a rather selective memory!"

Bichon Frise

The AKC says that Bichon Frises "have a reputation for being difficult to housebreak," while MedNet Direct says that the breed is "fiercely independent" and "tends to be picky about going outside when it's rainy or cold out."

Biewer Terrier

The AKC says that Biewer terrier dogs have a "fun-loving, childlike attitude [that] makes them a great companion for people of all ages and able to make friends with animals of any origin.

"Being extremely intelligent, they are easy to train, although potty training may take a little longer."

Brussels Griffon

The AKC says that Brussels Griffons "have a high degree of intelligence and bond strongly with their owners, which makes them easy to train," however, as with many toy breeds, "housebreaking may take some extra time and effort."

Chihuahua

MedNet Direct says that Chihuahuas are: "known for urinating whenever and wherever they feel like it because they know that they'll get away with it.

Chihuahuas can also be challenging to potty train because "they hate going outside when it's too cold or wet out." Chihuahuas could benefit from having a safe place inside to go to the potty.

Chinese Crested

According to DogTime, crate training is helpful for housetraining, which "can be one difficult area of training for the Chinese Crested (as a group, toy breeds can be tough to housetrain)—but it will all click into place eventually."

Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels are "sweet-natured, playful, and incredibly gentle dogs", says MedNet Direct, "but they can also have a temperamental and unpredictably defensive attitude that can make potty training a challenge."

When housebreaking their dog, owners should "avoid being too harsh, yelling or physically punishing a Cocker Spaniel when potty training, as they'll likely either become defensive or urinate in submission."

Coton du Tulear

"Some people find the Coton difficult to housetrain," according to DogTime, "but given a regular schedule, frequent outings to do his business, and praise when he potties in the right place, a Coton can pick it up very quickly."

Dachshund

Dachshunds can be a stubborn breed, and although they are clever, "they tend to get defensive when they are pushed to do something they don't want to do," says MedNet Direct, "Plus, these dogs need major convincing to go outside when it's rainy or cold out."

English Bulldog

According to Pets4Homes, the English bulldog is "the second-from-last breed in the canine intelligence stakes", they can "generally only pick up a very limited and low-level range of commands in general training."

Pets4Homes also says that this breed takes "longer than most to make the mental connections involved in picking up toilet training," however, "consistency, vigilance, and positive reinforcement will pay off in the end!"

Italian Greyhound

Italian Greyhounds "don't do well" at housetraining, according to DogTime, which says: "Like many small breeds, the IG can be difficult to housetrain, and some dogs are never completely trustworthy in the house."

However, "Aside from the occasional cleanup, life with an IG is both restful and zestful."

Jack Russell Terrier

"Of all of the terrier breeds, the Jack Russell is, hands down, the most difficult to housetrain," according to MedNet Direct, who says, "Jack Russells can be some of the most stubborn dogs out there."

Lakeland Terrier

DogTime says that like many terriers, Lakelands "can be difficult to housetrain, and they have their own thoughts about what constitutes proper behavior, which may not be the same as yours."

Lhasa Apso

"The Lhasa matures slowly and remains puppyish until he's three years old," says DogTime.

"New owners need to keep this in mind when training Lhasa puppies, or they can become frustrated with the Lhasa's refusal to take lessons too seriously," adding "Housetraining can be difficult; crate training is recommended."

Lowchen

DogTime says that Lowchen dogs "are intelligent and take to training very quickly," but like many toy breeds, "they can have issues with housetraining, but this can be overcome with patience and consistency."

Norfolk Terrier

The Norfolk Terrier can "be stubborn and difficult to housetrain," according to DogTime, which recommends crate training.

Norwich Terrier

Norwich Terriers can also be difficult to housetrain, according to DogTime, which says, "although they're eager to please, training can be difficult when not properly motivated."

Pekingese

"It can take a while for a Pekingese to get to grips with where to toilet," says Pets4Homes, "and as a very petite breed too, they may need to go more frequently than larger breeds, which means plenty of reinforcement and giving them the chance to go out regularly."

Pomeranian

MedNet Direct says that although Pomeranians love pleasing their owners, "their personalities can make them hard to train. When you combine that with extra small bladders that can't hold it for long, it makes training even harder."

The AKC says: "Housebreaking can be a challenge, so consistency and patience are key."

Pug

According to Dog Time, Pugs "can be stubborn and difficult to housebreak," but "although these pups have a stubborn side, especially when it comes to house training, they're playful, affectionate dogs who will get along well even with novice pet parents."

Sealyham Terrier

Sealyham terriers are "independent and can be stubborn" when it comes to housetraining, and will need "firm and consistent training, especially when it comes to housetraining," according to DogTime.

Shih Tzu

"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 chubby, less-than-completely-housebroken pet who is difficult to groom."

West Highland Terrier

MedNet Direct says that The West Highland Terrier is "a demanding, yet brilliant breed, which is a recipe for frustration when it comes to potty training."

Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire terriers can be tough to potty train, according to MedNet Direct, who says: "These guys can also be stubborn. They are especially difficult to convince to go outside to do their business when it's wet or cold out."

Additionally, "these teeny tiny dogs also have teeny tiny bladders, and they can't hold it for long, making frequent potty breaks a must."