Finding the perfect dog breed can be a challenge. You’re looking for a pooch that will blend into your family life, be trainable, and bring joy to your home.
Dog behaviour expert Will Atherton has offered a tip on his TikTok account, revealing that if he doesn’t “see a breed very often” at his facility for “advanced behaviour modification”. This is likely a positive indicator they might be an ideal choice.
“These are the three breeds that, as a canine behaviourist, I just rarely see have any bad behaviour problems,” he divulged, kicking off with a breed he personally deems “the best in the world“. So, which breed tops Will’s list?
It’s the Labrador retriever. He admits seeing quite a few at his training and behaviour centre, but usually for “often very minor behaviours, and it stems from them just being so loving and wanting to meet people, go see other dogs, and play with them that they might be pulling a little bit or jumping a little bit”.
He mentioned it was “dead easy” to “dial those things in,” making them a breed he’d wholeheartedly recommend.
According to the PDSA, labrador retrievers are “devoted, affectionate, loving dogs that will happily get along with everyone. They’re obedient, quick to learn and eager to please, so training should be fairly easy”.
They also note that these dogs require a minimum of two hours of exercise daily, so potential owners should be ready to commit to this level of activity.
Next on the list of favoured breeds is the English mastiff, with Will expressing his desire to work with more of these dogs. He remarked: “I think that they’re one of the best breeds on the planet. However, they seem to come out of the womb just wanting to be a chill, laid-back, perfect canine companion”.
The PDSA notes that English mastiffs are “gentle giants, calm, good-natured dogs that tend to get on well with everyone. As with all breeds, early socialisation is important to ensure they grow up into confident, sociable dogs”.
They require at least an hour of exercise daily but should not be over-exercised as puppies due to their developing joints, which can lead to issues.
Will’s final recommendation was for the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. He enthused: “I think they’re one of the best small breeds on the planet,” and added: “If more people chose them instead of breeds that are working like cocker spaniels or jack Russells, they’d save themselves a massive headache”.
According to the PDSA, “Cavaliers are great little dogs that suit family environments. They’re known to be good around children because they’re so keen to please their owners and love the company of people.”
These dogs need between 45 minutes and an hour of exercise each day, making them ideal for individuals with hectic lifestyles.