Dog expert reveals why not all pooches ‘are best’ pets and urges owners to avoid a common mistake
A DOG expert has revealed a common mistake he often sees when it comes to owners training their pets.
Will Atherton, a specialist in dog behaviour, is dedicated to informing the public about the critical need to select the appropriate breed.
His efforts have rescued countless dogs from shelters and spared them from euthanasia.
At 33, he advocates for thorough research by anyone considering dog ownership before choosing a breed.
He underscores the necessity of ensuring you can properly care for the dog you decide to adopt.
However, he has observed that many busy families in the UK often make a mistake when it comes to expectations of certain breeds.
He shared a video on his TikTok page @iamwillatherton, which has over 907,0000 followers, revealing his dog training advice.
Will says: “Not all dogs can be the most perfect dogs in the world and my two personal dogs are good examples.
“Uncle Sully, my labrador is my role model dog.
“I use him in all the extreme modification cases that I have because of his personality.
“His temperament, his characteristics and his genetics fit what I need from him perfectly.”
However, he explains that if he tried to “force” his other dog Puppy, a bred mastiff cross mix, her “genetics, temperament, characteristics, wouldn’t make her a good fit.”
Will continues: “Then I would be constantly frustrated with her.
“However, I honour who she is and what her genetics, characteristics are, which is that of a large powerful game, Bred Mastiff cross mix.
“That makes her the perfect fit for me in terms of a family guard dog.
“But if you can understand who your dog is, train them accordingly and then have realistic expectations of them.
Packed with action
“You’ll be happier and they will be happier for it.”
He continues to write in the caption of his video: “Honour your dog people.
“Don’t make excuses for bad behaviour, but understand what you have and work with it where possible, and always have realistic expectations of what they can achieve, and what you’re capable of teaching them.
“You’ll be surprised how much happier you’ll both be.”
People hear that Border Collies are the smartest and most trainable dogs in the world
Will Atherton, 33
Will also previously revealed to Fabulous one breed that busy families often regret getting. The Border Collie.
“Border Collies are incredibly capable and excel in tasks such as herding sheep,” Will shared. “They are a joy to watch in action.”
However, he pointed out a common misconception: “People hear that Border Collies are the smartest and most trainable dogs in the world.
“But they interpret ‘most trainable’ as ‘easy to train,’ which is not the case.”
Is it true dogs look like their owners?
According to research by Michael Roy at the University of California, San Diego, dog owners tend to go for dogs who have similar features to them.
The psychologist put his idea to the test by going to three nearby dog parks, he photographed the pooches and the owners separately, and then asked a group of participants to try to match them up. Despite no additional cues, he found that they were able to work out who lived with whom with reasonable accuracy.
And the test has been repeated many times since with the same results.
According to the research, owners with long hair tend to go for dogs with long, droopy ears and even go for similar eye shapes.
Border Collies have exceptionally high energy levels and require more physical and mental stimulation than the average family can provide.
Without adequate enrichment, they can become bored and develop behavioural issues such as excessive barking, digging, or destructive chewing.
“Families try to integrate a dog bred for hours of work each day into a busy family life,” Will explained.
“I’ve encountered many bored and destructive Border Collies. They often herd children, which is a behaviour I frequently address.”
Loving and loyal
Given their herding instincts, Border Collies can exhibit behaviours like chasing, nipping at heels, or herding family members when confined to a home environment.
Will has even dealt with cases where frustrated Border Collies have tugged at children’s clothing.
Border Collies need ample space to run and play, making them unsuitable for small homes without access to large outdoor areas.
While they can be loving and loyal companions for the right families, Will urged potential owners to carefully consider whether they can meet the breed’s unique needs in terms of time, attention, and resources.
Most popular dog breeds in the UK
Dog experts, Tug-E-Nuff, surveyed the UK to find out their favourite dog breeds, here's the top ten.
- Labrador Retriever
- Border Collie
- English Cocker Spaniel
- Cockapoo
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd Dog
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Springer Spaniel
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Labradoodle