I’m a dog trainer – two popular breeds are so problematic, think again before getting one
A DOG trainer has revealed that two popular breeds that can be extremely problematic.
Finding the right pooch for you can be an extremely difficult task, as you want to make sure that they suit your lifestyle as well as being cute.
Will Atherton, a canine behavioural expert with over 900,000 TikTok followers, often shares advice on which breeds are the best for first time owners.
And in a recent video, he shared the two popular breeds that prospective dog owners need to look out for.
Dachshund
Daschunds, also known as sausage dogs, are extremely cute, and are a very popular breeds in the UK.
However, Will said that in his experience, these pooches have been causing him a lot of behavioural issues lately.
He said: “The question is, is this just because they are booming in popularity right now and they’re not prone to additional behaviour, or is it that they are prone to additional behaviour?
“My personal belief is that it’s a combination of both situations.”
Cocker Spaniel
Will revealed that another popular breed, the Cocker Spaniel, has also been causing him trouble in his job lately.
He said that he’s seeing “extreme barking, extreme reactivity and extreme pulling” every single day.
He added that “extreme fear” and “anxiety” are major issues with the breed.
He said: “And I believe this is because people are getting working line Cocker Spaniels, and they are not even coming close to being able to provide them with the output that they need.”
Will said that he often speaks to other trainers about why they encounter the same breeds so often.
He said: “[Is it] because the breed is inherently prone to problem behaviours or simply the probability from their popularity makes it more likely to see those specific breeds?
“My thoughts are that it’s a combination of both things.
“Although all dogs with the right genetics, socialisation, training and most importantly leadership in their life can thrive, my years of experience and thousands and thousands of dogs I’ve helped make me strongly believe that choosing the right breed from a good breeder, or taking your time to rescue a dog that’s a great fit, is the most important decision you can make.”
Will’s (@iamwillatherton) video has likely left many people intrigued, as it has racked up over 240,000 views on the video sharing platform.
TikTok users raced to the video’s comments section to share their thoughts.
One person said: “It’s people buying the wrong dogs for their lifestyle and not training them properly.
“I have a Cocker Spaniel and I’ve not had any problems.”
A second person said: “Dachshunds are amazing but they are not little sweet lapdogs.
“People don’t research them first and are shocked at how hard they are to train.”
A third person said: “So true, working Cocker Spaniels can become huge problems in the wrong hands.”