Five breeds of dog that will keep you on your toes!

There is no such thing as a low maintenance dog, but it is certainly fair to say that some breeds are harder work than others! There is no one sole factor that makes any given dog more challenging than another, and such things generally come down to a combination of things, such as intelligence levels, energy levels, working background and general temperament, and of course even different dogs from within the same breed can vary considerably too!

With these caveats in mind, consider this list of five dog breeds that will be sure to keep you thinking and on your toes-and why! Read on to learn more.

The Border collie

The Border collie is ranked at the very top of the list of over 100 dog breeds when it comes to canine intelligence, and while it would be fair to assume that this should make them excellent to train and put to work, they are also high among the ranking of the most challenging of dog breeds!

As well as the collie’s high intelligence levels, they also have one of the highest energy levels of any breed of dog, which can make keeping them entertained and well exercised within a family home as opposed to an outdoors or working environment a real challenge, and these dogs will happily work and run flat out for the greater part of the day.

The Border collie’s quick mind means that they can learn a lot of things in a short space of time, but it also means that they are apt to get bored easily, and also, potentially pick up things that they are not supposed to!

Without enough mental and physical exercise, the Border collie will soon become a real handful, but when their energies are channelled into the appropriate outlets such as sport or working roles, they are usually to be found at the very top of their game.

The Siberian husky

The Siberian husky is an adept escape artist as well as being very personable and friendly, and keen to say hello to everyone that they meet! They are loving and affectionate, but also likely to go in search of company and entertainment if they get bored, and they are also bright and very lively, and have a strong prey drive and lots of endurance.

They require several hours of exercise and mental stimulation every day, as well as a lot of attention paid to keeping them contained and safe, all of which mean that the Siberian husky is sure to keep you on your toes!

The Jack Russell

The small, feisty Jack Russell is a dog from the terrier grouping, and these plucky, compact little dogs have huge personalities. They have a strong prey drive and can be difficult to train out of bad habits like digging and chasing smaller animals, and can also be very destructive within the home if they become bored. They are bright, alert and very clever, but they can also be prone to stubbornness and dominance without a switched-on handler or trainer, and they also need lots of exercise and entertainment in order to thrive. They can on occasion become aggressive or pushy with other, much larger dogs too, although good training and socialisation when young usually curbs these traits.

A smaller dog does not always mean less hassle, and the Jack Russell is an excellent example of this!

The Springer spaniel

The Springer spaniel is an attractive, bouncy and very loving working dog breed that is always looking for a game to play or something to do. They love games of catch and chase, enjoy swimming, and thrive on a varied, outdoors-y life, with lots of exercise and attention.

They are bright and quick to learn, and take well to canine sports and working roles, but if they do not get enough exercise and mental stimulation, they will soon get bored. The Springer spaniel can and often does live quite happily within the suburban home, but they need plenty of company, stimulation and long walks in order to do so!

The Rhodesian ridgeback

The Rhodesian ridgeback is a large, energetic and noble breed that was historically used as a hunting and guarding dog in Rhodesia. They are virtually fearless, very territorial and eminently loyal, and need an experienced, calm and well-organised owner.

They need lots of exercise as well as training and management to keep control of their territorial, guarding and hunting instincts, and can have a tendency to become dominant if allowed to do so. They are watchful, alert and defensive, and will become a loyal partner for life to the family that they love, but as they do not take well to rough handling or inconsistency, may not be a good pick for families with children, or first time dog owners.