'I've seen family dogs maul kids – choose one of these three breeds instead'
An expert dog trainer has revealed the three dog breeds that he believes are "perfect" for families with children.
Will Atherton, a canine behaviourist with more than 900,000 followers on TikTok, shares advice online about which breeds are suitable for which people. He also posts dog training tips.
One of his latest videos saw him recommend three breeds - one small, one medium, and one large - for people with families. He explained in the caption that you "CANNOT take risks with what dog breed you bring into your home" when you have kids.
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Will wrote: "They may all be cute at eight-weeks-old, but as someone who works with extreme behaviour problems I have had more than my fill of seeing family dogs bite or maul the children in those homes!"
And kicking off his video, Will said: "These are the three dog breeds that I think are perfect for people with families. And I'm going to give you a breed from each size category so that, depending on what size of dog you want, you know the perfect breed for you."
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Will's recommendation for a small breed was the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which grows to weigh around just 8kg. "I definitely don't mean the Cocker Spaniel, I think that they're usually a very poor choice for families," he clarified. "But the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a perfect choice."
Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever
Moving onto medium-sized dogs, Will said his decision was "easy". He explained: "It has to be one of the retrievers, either the Labrador Retriever or the Golden Retriever - [they] are hands down the king of family dogs in that size range."
English Mastiff
And if you're looking to get a large dog, Will said the English Mastiff is the obvious choice for families. He said: "The English Mastiff is the epitome of a gentle giant and they make wonderful family dogs, provided you know how to manage and live with the sheer mass of an English Mastiff."
