If you’re weighing your decision to adopt a dog, an expert has claimed that families should steer clear of one breed in particular.
While no one should get a pup and expect them to sit nice and still as content fodder for their humans’ Instagram, clinical canine behaviourist Will Atherton has said there’s one breed that are ‘frenzied lunatics’ and may not be suitable for everyone.
According to Atherton, this dog breed could be a ‘terrible choice’ as they were bred to ‘work non-stop’ and will hardly chill out on the sofa.
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“For some people, a Springer Spaniel might be a great choice and for some people, they might be a terrible choice,” he said in a TikTok video.
“I think the reality is that for most people the Springer Spaniel is a terrible choice.”
“A lot of people get them because they look awesome, these ears are adorable and they match a Barbour jacket which makes it cool for Instagram pictures,” Atherton continued, blasting those getting a dog for aesthetic purposes.
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“However, what they were actually bred for - which is to work non-stop like frenzied lunatics through barbed wire, thistles, fawns and all sorts, using their nose to non-stop be working - means that they don’t have a very good off switch.
“Bringing a dog like that to try and chill on the sofa with you is very hard to do and is rarely achievable which is why I see so many here with problem behaviours at my canine behaviour centre.”
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Atherton’s video prompted some proud owners of Springer Spaniels to share their own stories on TikTok, with some agreeing the breed can actually be quite lazy or a good combination of ‘lunatic’ and ‘chilling’.
“My springer is probably the laziest dog I’ve ever seen,” one user said in the comments.
Another agreed: “My springer just sleeps most of the time.”
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While a third noted: “Mine is either running around like a lunatic or sleeping and chilling, just two extremes it’s great.”
Someone else wrote: “My springer must be a bit dodgy because you’ll never meet a dog who wants nothing more than cuddle. Yes when he’s out he’s a lunatic but as soon as he’s home all he wants is sleep and hugs, love them.”
As per the official description on the American Kennel Club website, English Springer Spaniels are ‘a sweet-faced, lovable bird dog of great energy, stamina and brains.’ They’re also ‘highly trainable people-pleasers’ who ‘crave company’ and are ‘good with kids and their fellow mammals’.
Stefania Sarrubba