Dog trainer shares the one breed they’d never own

A dog trainer has revealed the breeds he would never own himself. Will Atherton, a canine behaviourist, took to TikTok to explain which dog breeds he would personally opt to steer clear of, and what makes them a poor choice for many UK households.

His first pick was the Caucasian Shepherd, a large livestock guardian dog native to the Caucasus region and known for being extremely independent and intelligent. Explaining his reasons for avoiding this breed, Will said: “They are absolutely beautiful, regal, powerful creatures, but they belong out in the wilderness protecting flocks from extreme predators such as bears and wolves.

“They very rarely make good pets and that is not the kind of energy that I would bring into my family with young children.”

Moving on to his second pick, he highlighted cocker and springer spaniels as breeds he would never personally choose to own.

He said: “I absolutely love watching them work out in the field when I’m with my Labrador out hunting, however bringing that energy into the home is not a good fit for me, because I want a dog that can settle down and switch off as well as being able to go out and work.

“I rarely find that spaniels can do that.”

Will’s final pick was the Siberian Husky, he said: “I’ve had one before and I’ll leave it with I’ll never have one again.”

According to the PDSA, Siberian Huskies are active, intelligent dogs that are “always on the go”.

They explained: “They’re very intelligent but are also known for being a bit naughty so definitely suit experienced owners who can take on their demanding training and exercise needs.”

Going into further detail about what owners could expect, they highlighted their tendency towards being destructive in the home when left alone, as well as their reputation for howling.

Husky owners should be prepared for boundaries to be tested, with the PDSA recommending first-time Husky owners see a dog trainer.

Separation anxiety is another common issue faced by many Huskies, with the charity explaining: “Huskies really don’t cope well on their own and ideally need a home where someone is around all the time to keep them company.”