‘I asked 4 vets which dog they’d never own and 3 said same breed’

If you’re thinking of getting a dog but aren’t sure which breed is right for you, then you might want to listen to what four vets have to say about the breeds they’d “never” own themselves.

Vets spend a lot of time with a whole host of animals, but as dogs are by far the most popular pet in the UK, they’re used to dealing with all sorts of breeds of dog. Most vets will be animal lovers themselves and may even have pets of their own at home, and the dog breeds they choose can tell you a lot about what they’re like to live with.

Not all dogs are suitable for all homes. If you live in a flat or a small property, getting a large dog or a breed that requires lots of time outside may not be feasible for you. Similarly, if you work long hours and don’t have much time to walk your dog, then getting an energetic breed isn’t a good idea, as you’ll be making life miserable for both yourself and your pet.

But when it comes to breeds that are never recommended by vets, there is one in particular that stands out.

In a video shared on Instagram, Bryce Francois, co-CEO of The BK Pets, asked four seperate vets which dog breed they wouldn’t own themselves – and three of them gave the same answer.

What breed did the vets say they would never own?

Three of the four vets said they would never own a French Bulldog, as, despite them being hugely popular breeds that people find “cute” because of their small stature and short noses, they are burdened with health problems that make life miserable for the dog and can make vet bills astronomical for their owners.

Doctor Rachel Siu, a vet at Carrollton West Pet Hospital in Dallas, Texas, said: “They can be extremely cute, fun, and good-natured pets, but they are notorious for being one of the most unhealthy dog breeds. Due to their short snouts, they have one of the highest rates of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, or BOAS.

“Although their snorts and wheezes may sound cute on the surface, it’s a sign that they’re unable to breathe comfortably, and this even leads to a high risk of heat stroke. They’re now one of the most common breeds with spinal and joint deformities.”

The other vets in the video agreed with Rachel, too. Doctor Juan Sebastion Orujela, an emergency vet at the London Regional Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital in Ontario, Canada, said that he would “pretty much own any breed”, but said he would never recommend “intentionally purchasing” a brachycephalic breed – including French Bulldogs.

Doctor Cat Henstridge, a UK-based small animal vet, admitted there are often “loads” of breeds that vets wouldn’t consider owning, as they have seen it all when it comes to health problems. However, she said there are a couple of dog breeds she would “never really choose to own”, including “anything with a flat face”.

She said: “Unless it was a significant rescue situation, I couldn’t possibly deliberately go out and buy one of those dogs because of the suffering of the breeds, and I don’t want to contribute to that in any way.

“The second is a Malinois, because they are insane. I like having a life as well as a dog, and I think if you own a breed like that, you have a dog that is your life.”

Doctor Brianna Tobin, however, named a different breed. The emergency vet, who works at the Alta Vista Speciality & Emergency Veterinary Centre in Ontario, Canada, said she would never own any kind of hound.

She explained: “They have the best energy, and they’re so sweet, but I cannot deal with the howling. I’m sorry to all the Beagle parents out there and other hounds, but I just can’t deal with the howling. I’m a Golden Retriever kind of person.

When it comes to getting a dog, always make sure you’ve done plenty of research into the breed you want, taking care to ensure that your living situation is suitable for the breed you want. Where possible, always consider adopting a dog rather than buying.