‘I’m a dog trainer and there are 3 dog breeds I’d never own’

A canine behaviourist has revealed the three breeds he adores but would never personally own.

When selecting a dog, there are numerous factors to weigh up. From disposition to activity requirements, you must ensure that your chosen companion will genuinely suit your lifestyle. If you’re unprepared to exercise a dog for a minimum of two hours daily, for instance, you might want to avoid getting a Border Collie.

Will Atherton, a dog trainer, discussed dog breeds he admires, but which wouldn’t suit his life as a behaviourist, though it’s not because they’re problematic animals.

They simply wouldn’t integrate into his lifestyle, and consequently, the dog wouldn’t fulfil his requirements, and vice versa.

The Kangal Shepherd Dog

Will stated this is likely one of his “favourite breeds in the world”. He remarked he values their “stoic intensity”. They possess an “incredible presence,” they’re “calm” and “powerful,” and also “bred to guard livestock independently”.

Nevertheless, they have requirements that Will believes can be a struggle to satisfy, and would be acquiring one for “purely ego” reasons.

Will explained: “They need space, purpose, and a very specific lifestyle, and realistically, that’s not my day-to-day life.”

Cane Corso

Once more, Will revealed the Cane Corso features in his top three dogs, saying he “absolutely loves” them. He mentioned he previously owned one, but tragically “died very young from a hereditary heart issue”.

He revealed he had contemplated getting another, as he considers them “the best of the mastiff breeds”. However, he explained he tends to “never have the same dog breed twice” as doesn’t wish to feel as though he’s “replacing” one dog for another.

Will also noted this breed poses “difficulties and challenges,” and he could own a German Shepherd again without encountering the complications that come with the Cane Corso.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged they’re “amazing dogs, loyal, serious, and incredibly capable,” but concluded they’re simply not the right fit for him again.

Jack Russell Terrier

Will revealed he grew up alongside Jack Russell Terriers, with some of his earliest childhood memories featuring his family’s Jack Russells, making them “incredibly close” to his heart.

He expressed he “loves and adores their tenacious, cheeky, feisty characteristics”. Yet the reality remains that “they’re just really hard work”.

While Will “appreciates” their personalities, they simply don’t suit his “day-to-day” life at present, so prospective owners need to be prepared to handle their sass.

He stated that labradors, golden retrievers and German shepherds are far better suited to his lifestyle as he can train them “to much higher standards”.

Will said: “Choosing a breed isn’t about what looks coolest. It’s about what fits your lifestyle. The right dog for you is way better than your ‘dream breed’.”

He further advised that owners “think with your head and not with your heart”.