Expert dog trainer Will Atherton (Image: Will Atherton Canine Training)
A renowned dog trainer has identified three breeds that he considers “perfect” for with children.
, who has more than 900,000 followers on , shares advice on which breeds are suitable for which people.
In a recent video, he recommended three breeds – one small, one medium, and one large – for families, emphasising the importance of choosing the right breed around kids.
Will warned in the caption: “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 the children in those homes!”
He said at the start of the clip: “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 (file) (Image: Getty)
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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
For small breeds Will suggested the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which weighs around 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
Discussing 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.”