'I'm a dog behaviourist and these are three breeds you should avoid if you have kids'
When bringing a dog into a home with children, understanding how different breeds behave is crucial to ensuring a safe and happy environment for everyone.
While many dogs are great with kids, some types can be more unpredictable due to their temperament or energy levels, requiring extra attention and care.
In a recent TikTok video, expert dog trainer Will Atherton highlighted three breeds that might not be the best fit for families with children. His advice is based on years of experience training dogs and understanding their behaviours.
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In his TikTok video, dog trainer Will Atherton discussed the importance of focusing on breed tendencies, even though exceptions exist.
He said: "Now I know these videos sometimes upset the owners of these breeds, and 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."
He continued: "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."
Here are the three breeds to skip if you have little ones.
Three dog breeds to avoid if you have kids
1. Border Collie
Border collies are very intelligent and are capable of great feats of obedience but you will have a massive challenge in your hands if they don't have an adequate energy outlet.
2. Boerboel
Will started by saying that he "absolutely loves mastiff breeds and the boerboel" but added that in reality you need to be the among the best trainers in the world if you want to bring a boerboel into your home.
They are a guarding breed and are protective of their families but they need to be managed with a "strong, assertive leadership" for them to be a safe dog for your kids.
3. Working Line Cocker Spaniel
"Spaniels are adorable," Will mentioned, adding that like herding breeds, if a cocker spaniel doesn't get a output that it needs, they will be a disaster in the home.
Choosing the right dog breed for a family with children requires careful consideration of both the dog’s temperament and energy needs. Understanding these potential challenges ensures that both kids and pets can thrive in a safe home environment.
