Worst dog breeds for new pet owners

CorvusCorax

CorvusCorax

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Just thieved this from Facebook, thought it was very interesting!


http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-ex...ts-choose-15-worst-breeds-for-new-pet-owners?

Many dog lovers believe there’s no such thing as a bad dog, just bad training. And while we don’t disagree that a good owner along with proper training and socialization can make a world of difference, we have to admit that some dog breeds are best suited to experienced owners.
Those very traits that make certain breeds so good at the jobs they were bred to do, like hunting big game and guarding their owners and property, can make them a challenge for someone who’s never trained a dog before.

For instance, a dog bred for hunting, birding, working, or running long distances will work until his job is done, regardless of weather or distractions. When that same breed is kept as a family pet, his circumstances change, but his drive and instinct to go, go, go? Not so much. Therefore, he needs an owner who’s prepared to work with that level of vitality to keep him from engaging in destructive behaviors.

And consider the traditional guard dog, bred to be on the alert for anything that’s out of the ordinary. In his original job, that might mean keeping an eye out for dangers and predators, but as a member of the family, it means he needs firm and entirely consistent training. While some dogs might understand a good deal of nuance — that it’s OK to get on the couch with the kids, but not with Mom and Dad — a dog bred for guarding duties thrives on a dependable environment since knowing what is regular and routine is absolutely necessary to determine what’s not.

We’ve already shared what dogs veterinary professionals deemed best for new owners, and now we’re sharing which breeds those same 218 experts thought were the worst choices for first-time dog owners.

Please note: We don’t mean to imply these are “bad” breeds, and in no case is any breed friendly or aggressive clear across the board. However, if you’re a first-time, inexperienced dog owner, these are dogs you might want to wait to bring home until you have a few years of training under your belt.
 
I think it's certianly something to consider. There are breeds I would never consider getting (mostly working types) as I know I would not have the time, energy levels or skill to give them the life they thrive in.

We struggle with Tia, and given my time again I'm not sure I would go for either breed/the same mix again. Luckily for me, brain training with a reasonable walk does for her during the week and she gets a much longer walk at weekends but as we still can't have her and Quila together in the house it is hard.

I think to an extent, as long as you are realistic then any breed can be a first dog, but you have to be totally honest with yourself about what you want and what you can provide.
 
Interesting article . . . I would also add border collies to that list . . . in the wrong hands they can become neurotic, fear aggressive or just plain nuisances . . . they need massive amounts of socialization and they need bags of intellectual stimulation. BCs are anything but couch potatoes . . . however, given enough to do and a firm but kind/patient hand they are wonderful, wonderful companions.

I know all this because I have two (BC crosses with a high percentage of BC) . . . one taught me a massive amount - the hard way . . . and the other is an absolute joy (because the first one "trained" me in the fine art of BC ownership). I love them both to pieces - but I would never recommend that dog novices own one as a first dog.

P
 
When I run puppy parties at work I always go round the group and discuss what each puppy is bred for and "problems" that might arise from this. I believe that a dog shouldn't be disciplined for a behaviour that has been sought after in the breed history. I am sometimes quite shocked that owners that have purchased a puppy do not know what they were originally bred for and how this might be implicated in their own puppies behaviour so I think this list is a good idea even if t just encourages would be owners to research breeds better.
 
I wouldn't say any breed is bad for first time owners. Responsible owners buy dogs suited to their lifestyle, they educate themselves and ask for help if needed. If they are prepared put the work in and use commonsense most dogs will be well rounded members of the family.
Match the dog to the owner and you're half way there. Numpties shouldn't have any dog, full stop.
 
I think it's got nothing to do with whether you've had dogs forever or your first dog and everything to do with common sense.....some people should never have any dog and some of those breeds should never be in a pet home. There is too much fashion now with owning a dog and too much status involved. So few people now seem to just want a family dog.
 
I think plenty of people want a 'family dog', but they want a 'family dog' that looks a certain way, fashion as you say...then find out when it is too late about square pegs and round holes!!
 
Glad that the one major attribute they missed off the breeds that make up my mongrel (gsd x rottie) is a vitally important one, being sleeps most of the time and especially enjoys a good snooze on the sofa. Some of those breeds it would never occur to me to get, whilst I think I have a reasonably active lifestyle, I know it's nowhere near active enough for some of the running breeds.
 
Not impressed with the article nor with the one on best breeds but they are based on vets in the USA. "218 experts"? How many could name fifty breeds off the top of their heads?
On my last trip to a vet school one of the later year students told me she was planning to buy a goldendoodle because they were such wonderful dogs - she had swallowed the sales pitch right down to the non shedding!


As above the right breed for a home is the one that fits in.

I grew up with Dobermanns, brilliant dogs with the family but would guard against visitors. For us they were fantastic but in a home without direct access to a garden they would have been difficult.
 
hayley.t said:
When I run puppy parties at work I always go round the group and discuss what each puppy is bred for and "problems" that might arise from this. I believe that a dog shouldn't be disciplined for a behaviour that has been sought after in the breed history. I am sometimes quite shocked that owners that have purchased a puppy do not know what they were originally bred for and how this might be implicated in their own puppies behaviour so I think this list is a good idea even if t just encourages would be owners to research breeds better.
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Absolutely agree!
 
I too would add Border Collies to that list and Dobermanns, having had 3 now about 18months old who the owners had ********d up they are not a dog for the novice. Having said that a first time owner who was prepared to put the work and training in and had thoroughly researched the breed and was happy to work with that should not be dismissed and that goes for any breed in that list.
 
I did a tonne of research before buying a dog of a breed I had lived with all my life, just a different strain.
I went to competitions and training classes and I stayed in houses with people who had the type of dog I was interested in. I knew both his parents and I met him before I bought him.
And I STILL made big mistakes with my management when the dog finally did arrive home :p
 
haha CC, I read up on Dobes for 10yrs before getting one lol, I was not ott but wanted my daughter to grow up first, not that I thought they were vicious but rather because she may not have had many friends back to play.

Whilst I waited I had Lancashire Heelers and they were challenging in their own way, they will nip the heels of people(its a breed trait) but we overcame that and I worked them. They were brilliant with our cattle, nothing however big fazed them and were great rat and rabbit catchers.

I would add them to that list along with Patterdales.
 
So, let's see now; We've discounted Sheepdogs, I'll add to that, most Spaniels, with showbred Cockers being kept clear of children, the guard breeds can, if they're allowed to, develop a mind of their own and the next step is 'phoning the local Police dog section and asking if they've a need for such an animal, all workbred terriers, without exception! Then we have, it seems, just about any dog which was bred for a purpose, but even now a century on, still shows a leaning, and amongst them would be the breeds which are bred as sled dogs, those breeds which where obedience and compliance was never a necessity, and to those we can add probably ALL of the hounds, including most of the coursing breeds. Amongst such breeds are probably most of those which are natural herders, check with HM if you don't believe me, her bloody corgis are a menace. We mustn't forget Dalmatians, EBTs can be a bit of a challenge, but only because they really are dim or deaf, or a mixture of both.

What do we have left? The toy and ornamental breeds can be snappy miserable little sods. What we need is for someone to breed the ideal dog for the idiot and the ill-informed, and then they can write a book, The Idiot's Guide to Dog Ownership.

Before anyone rears up and tells me that they've got a dog which is the complete opposite of the breed norm, good for you, most live with their mistakes.

All of the above's a bit tic, but as you say C_C, those breeds with, as you put it, a strong genetic compulsion, really aren't for the novice , or the first time dog owner, but I'm none to sure about the remainder, either!

Alec.
 
hayley.t said:
When I run puppy parties at work I always go round the group and discuss what each puppy is bred for and "problems" that might arise from this.
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I might have to steal this idea for our next puppy party if that's ok? Very good idea. At the last one I was flabbergasted to find that every single puppy in the room was being fed on Bakers and the script went a bit out of the window. :o

I have one of the listed breeds and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone, even an experienced dog owner. They're truly a crap pet dog and as a worker the training, kit, permits, travelling, camping in bloody February etc. is prohibitive.
 
Well I have to admit I would never have sold a GSD puppy to someone who had not owned a dog before, but I have also refused to sell pups to people who have owned dogs for several years, including GSDs, yet still hadn't the first idea of dog ownership imho. Not too impressed with their "best breeds" list, 4 designer crosses on there, although at least they make fleeting reference to the fact that as they are crosses they may not have the breed virtues aimed for.
 
blackcob said:
I might have to steal this idea for our next puppy party if that's ok? Very good idea. At the last one I was flabbergasted to find that every single puppy in the room was being fed on Bakers and the script went a bit out of the window. :o

I have one of the listed breeds and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone, even an experienced dog owner. They're truly a crap pet dog and as a worker the training, kit, permits, travelling, camping in bloody February etc. is prohibitive.
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ha ha, love the bakers chat, I've just had to have it with OH cousin, he changed the puppy to bakers and pedigree chum with no switch over and wondered why it had D+! yeah that is fine, I usually talk about what the dog was bred for, behaviours that this might lead to and then ways to encourage the behaviours in a positive way e.g. a terrier that wants to dig in the garden- provide a sand pit with toys buried in to look for.
 
Very difficult to have the food chat when you're surrounded by towering displays of Pro Plan as well, people think you're just trying to flog them expensive food! I wouldn't recommend anything we stock TBH which is a tad awkward. :o

As nice as the puppy parties are I'd much rather a pre-puppy-party to give advice before they go out and buy them, too many designer crosses and obviously puppy farmed dogs. A couple of the latter have been real heartache already. :(
 
I'm amazed how few people know what their dogs are "for" and what sort of considerations those inbred compulsions might necessitate. You would think people would at least be interested!!

I guess part of the problem is it can be as much about the individuals as a breed so people meet a few members - which may or may not be representative - and extrapolate. Look how many people on the horsey sections here go on about "what Dutch horses are like" or "cobs can/can't. . .). There are generalities - which must be considered - and then there are individual aspects. I have recently been taking a dog to hydrotherapy and on the basis of that experience I'd never have a Labrador! They are overrepresented in the broken dog pool (:)) and many of them are atrociously behaved, often with laughing/doting owners letting them run riot.
 
I've got saluki saturated lurchers and love them however the saluki is damn stubborn, can be aloof and aggressive. I hate it when people get a rescue lurcher of sighthound and try to train it not to chase and blame its chase instinct on gypsies who owned it before when 9/10 these dogs have come from families or strays and not from gypsies or travellers. Why get a highly prey driven dog and try to change nature, it's like getting an Arab and asking it not to float across the ground,or a cob and hoping it won't have a fat ass lol. People also confuse these lurchers and other sighthounds with greyhounds and assume they won't want to run or go on long walks anther myth, greys tend to live a run etc just don't get given the chance a lot
 
I never expect my lurcher not to want to chase but I certainly did expect him not to if I told him not to! Having a sight hound isn't an excuse for not training recall surely?!

Not to say he was perfect and he caught himself plenty of bunnies in his life and even a hare or two in his yoof the little sod but I think it is perfect acceptable to train them to stop chasing something if it means they are about to run out on to the road!
 
Jesstickle said:
I never expect my lurcher not to want to chase but I certainly did expect him not to if I told him not to! Having a sight hound isn't an excuse for not training recall surely?!

Not to say he was perfect and he caught himself plenty of bunnies in his life and even a hare or two in his yoof the little sod but I think it is perfect acceptable to train them to stop chasing something if it means they are about to run out on to the road!
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To expect them not to chase small flurries and quarry..... Mine both come back when called, but when having a run around the field I'd never expect them not to chase rabbits etc. mine both work and are both rescued , they are stock broken and never chase livestock. I lamp with them so they get to use what nature gave them. Don't ever think my dogs aren't trained they are some of the best behaved dogs I know, but I'd never ever expect them to stop having a high prey drive and chase instinct
 
TarrSteps said:
and many of them are atrociously behaved, often with laughing/doting owners letting them run riot.
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Gah! This. I can't tell you how many (predominantly black) labradors have had a pop at my friendly dog, whether he is on the lead, or off it (and he's only off if both all dogs are off the lead iykwim - I won't let him run up to a dog on the lead) Their owners stare at me likely its my fault, or give them a cuddle saying 'they're just protective of me' :mad3: Thing is now my dog is starting to get wary of black labs! :(
 
I've got a whippet and a whippety type lurcher. The lurcher would be fine in pretty much any home. The whippet is working bred and would not! He was my first dog as an adult, and I came from a background of spaniels/setters. By god did I get a shock! The people who told me wbippets need a 20min run once a day should be shot! I had 6 months where I despaired and we just didnt understand each other. Then I got some help from a behaviourist, started to understand his thinking and changed my entire life to suit him. I adore him beyond words, I just wish I'd known what I know now when I got him. He was on his 3rd home in 13 weeks so came with his fair share of baggage and I did soo many things wrong I'm surprised hes turned out as well as he has :D

If I hadnt been in a position to change my life to suit him, or if I hadnt wanted to I would have had no option other than to PTS as I'm pretty sure no one would have wanted a demented adolescent whippet who couldnt even be left in another room on his own for 30seconds and stole anything he could get to, including things inside cupboards!

I'm a classic example of someone who thinks they understand what they are getting, but really hasnt got a clue! If I'd stuck to my original plan of going to a good breeder then I think things might have been different, but no, I had to get a working bred, messed up 13 week old puppy off an ad on Facebook. Talk about setting yourself up to fail! I'm grateful every day that I did though!
 
What a very interesting thread! I am on my 4th and 5th labs and what a varied experience it has been - 3 have been puppies and 2 rescued as adults. My first was black and a dream of a dog rescued from the vets where he had been taken to be put down as he was an inconvenience, the second another adult rescue from the cat and dog shelter with some serious dog to dog aggression issues, the third a choccy pup who was the most loving but very worried dog ever and now we have 2 working strain lab pups of similar age, one of whom is blind. These two last ones are seriously intelligent and a joy to train. We love walking and are intending to do agility with the sighted dog.

I have met problem labs with the wrong owners, some have been dogs with strong personalities who properly trained and handled would have been wonderful. So I think my view would be matching of breed attribute to owner potential and experience is vital!
 
Stencilface said:
Gah! This. I can't tell you how many (predominantly black) labradors have had a pop at my friendly dog, whether he is on the lead, or off it (and he's only off if both all dogs are off the lead iykwim - I won't let him run up to a dog on the lead) Their owners stare at me likely its my fault, or give them a cuddle saying 'they're just protective of me' :mad3: Thing is now my dog is starting to get wary of black labs! :(
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Especially if they still have their nuts! If one more person tells me they don't want to neuter their crippled Labrador I will scream. If you don't want to neuter your dog, fine. Personal choice. But then stop letting it hump every other dog it meets!!!!!

Sigh. I feel better now.

I did watch a Lab pull its large male owner over on pea gravel the other day, that gave me a laugh.

If you've ever been to Labrador and seen sea rescue dogs you would never underestimate them again. Inhospitable doesn't begin to describe that environment.
 
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