PICKING the right dog is no easy task, especially when you add children to the mix.
Thankfully, dog trainer Will Atherton has given his advice on which breeds to avoid in a familyhome.
The expert said: “If you've got kids, these are the three breeds that I think you should absolutely avoid.”
Will knew there were exceptions to the rule and added: “Now I know these videos sometimes upset the owners of these breeds.
“I also know that there are always exceptions to the rule, but as someone who’s trying to help people at the scale of millions of people I have to look at probability over single cases and there’s a reason that these breeds come to my facility over and over again and many other breeds don’t.
“So if you have an exception case, awesome, you got lucky or you’re a great high-level canine leader and you should be happy with that.
“I own dogs that are great that I would never tell other people to get because I know the odds might not be in their favour to achieve the same thing and I truly want to help people and their dogs be happy.”
That being said, the first breed the dog trainer said families should avoid was the Border Collie.
While these pets are very intelligent and can be well trained, they have a lot of energy.
“If you don't know how to give them all of the energy output that they require, you are going to have a huge challenge on your hands,” he explained.
The next dog was the Boerboel, a South African Mastiff dog, while Will loved the dog, he said you need to be one of the best dog trainers to keep them in check.
He added: “They are guarding breeds, yes, they are protective of their families, but you need to be able to manage them with strong, assertive leadership for that to be a safe dog in your home.”
Last but not least was the Working Cocker Spaniel, which Will admitted was an ‘adorable' pooch.
But because they are herding dogs, they need lots of training and exercise or they'll become a ‘disaster in the home'.'
One person wrote: “Always had cockers and they have never been nightmares apart from when they were pups. Energetic, yes nightmares, no.”
The clip posted on his TikTok account @iamwillathertonwent viral with over 157k views and 7,000 likes.
Britain’s favourite dog breeds
HERE are the top ten dog breeds in the UK....
- Labrador Retriever
- Renowned for their friendly and outgoing nature.
- Popular as both family pets and working dogs.
- French Bulldog
- Known for their distinctive bat-like ears and affectionate temperament.
- Ideal for city living due to their small size.
- Cocker Spaniel
- Beloved for their playful and loyal disposition.
- Excellent companions for active families.
- Pug
- Recognised for their charming wrinkled faces and sociable nature.
- Adaptable to various living environments.
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Valued for their courageous and loving character.
- Strong and muscular build, yet gentle with children.
- Dachshund
- Adored for their distinctive long bodies and lively personality.
- Comes in a variety of coat types: smooth, wire, and long-haired.
- Border Collie
- Celebrated for their intelligence and energy.
- Excellent working dogs, especially in herding.
- Golden Retriever
- Known for their friendly and tolerant attitude.
- Great family pets and skilled in various service roles.
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Cherished for their gentle and affectionate nature.
- Small size makes them perfect for lap dogs.
- German Shepherd
- Admired for their loyalty and versatility.
- Commonly used in police and military roles due to their trainability.
People were quick to share their thoughts in the comments.
Another commented: “We made the mistake of having a working cocker, we ended up having to re-home him because even with 2 hour walks a day and hunting treats he still was constantly dragging the kids around by their feet.”
“My Border Collie must be broken bc she likes chasing our sheep and stuff but she is the biggest couch potato,” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “My Border Collie rescue was sooo much smarter than me! I wasn’t prepared for THAT level of energy and intelligence- combined they create a dog that will drive you CRAZY till you figure it out!”
“My spaniel is a sprocker, more springer than cocker. He had 3-4 walks a day and is so chill when he is at home,”; claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “What breeds do you recommend for a family with kids? Can you talk about the King Charles Cavalier?”
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