What are the most mischievous dog breeds?

All dogs can be fun, silly, and apt to look for ways to get themselves into trouble from time to time, and many dog owners will tell you that the time they need to be most concerned about what their dog is up to is when they can’t hear them doing anything at all!

Some dog breeds tend to be more mischievous than others in this regard though, and whether the manifestation of "mischievous" you’re working with involves being fun and silly or if it tends to involve being a real pain and getting up to no good, dogs of this type need a lot of stimulus and entertainment to keep them happy, and they are certain to keep you on your toes.

Whether you’re hoping to choose an entertaining, fun-loving and mischievous dog breed as your next pet or if you want to avoid picking a potential canine troublemaker at all costs, knowing what types of dogs tend to be the most mischievous and which breeds tick all of those boxes is a good start.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the most mischievous dog breeds of all that you might want to consider – or rule out!

The Siberian husky

The Siberian husky is one of the most mischievous – or hard work, depending on your views – dog breeds of all to share a home with, and for a variety of reasons.

Just one look at these dog’s faces indicates their propensity for getting into mischief, and if ever a dog looked as if they were biding their time before getting up to no good, this would be it!

Siberian huskies are hugely energetic dogs that need to spend several hours exercising every day in order to thrive, and if they don’t get enough exercise, they’ll think nothing of escaping from their garden (and they’re really good at this) and taking off to walk themselves.

They are also highly personable and more than happy to wander off with strangers that encourage them, and they need a lot of mental stimulation as well as physical exercise.

Digging, climbing, chewing things and making a lot of noise howling are all common husky behaviours, although these traits can all be managed by owners who understand the breed well and are able to fulfil all of their needs.

The Jack Russell

The Jack Russell might fall at the opposite end of the size spectrum to the Siberian husky, but their personalities are just as large! A common joke amongst Jack Russell owners is that they don’t train their dogs so much as make suggestions and hope for the best, although this is a smart breed that thrives on having a job to do and whose metal energies can be channelled in positive directions with the right handling and management.

Jack Russells are hugely confident and plucky little dogs that will face up to much bigger opponents, and they also have a strong prey drive, love to dig, and need lots of exercise – all of which can result in dogs of the breed being destructive or problematic if poorly supervised or not provided with something to do.

They can also be really comical and entertaining too, and very rewarding to own – just not for everyone!

The Beagle

The Beagle is something of the class clown of the dog world, and many owners say that these dogs are possessed of high energy levels and not a lot of common sense. They tend to have fairly flighty attention spans and quite vivid imaginations, and will often wander around inadvertently causing chaos, such as by knocking things over with their tails or munching on your favourite flowers.

This is a breed that is very loving and gentle as well as playful, and which often makes for a great companion for families with children, who often find the perfect partner in crime in their new canine companion!

Beagles are kind, affectionate dogs that bear nobody any malice, but that don’t always think things through, nor look before they leap.

The Dalmatian

The Dalmatian is blessed with good looks, high energy levels and a short attention span, and dogs of the breed can be somewhat selective about their obedience and following the direction of their handlers.

They are also really comical dogs that often get away with bad behaviour simply because they’re so entertaining, and this is a breed that will think nothing of rolling in a muddy puddle or digging up a flowerbed if the urge takes them, only to face up to their owners with an innocent expression and a total denial of any wrongdoing!

Dalmatians need a lot of exercise and entertainment to keep them happy and chilled out, and they love to have company to provide some reassurance – and to keep them out of bother.

The Border terrier

Finally, the Border terrier is plucky, fun-loving and tenacious, and once they get an idea into their heads or a toy into their mouths, virtually nothing can part them from it.

Like most terriers, Border terriers have a high prey drive as well as a propensity to enjoy digging, and this is one dog breed who is most likely to be up to no good if they suddenly go quiet rather than if they’re playing noisily!

Border terriers need to have their energies channelled into positive directions to keep them occupied and under control, and without adequate supervision, such dogs are apt to dig, chew and cause all manner of mayhem, although they will probably have a great time doing it.