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Expert warns families with children against three dog breeds

Home> Life> Parenting

Published 11:14 21 Dec 2023 GMT

Expert warns families with children against three dog breeds

Most dogs are very good boys and girls, but there are some breeds families might want to avoid

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle

While it's long been believed that dogs are man's best friend - it's clear not every breed of pooch is as much of a happy chappy as we'd hope for.

Many doggos out there are indeed good boys and girls but, unfortunately, there was some cases where dogs can pose a danger to people and that risk is especially high when children are around.

With Christmas rolling around plenty of families will be thinking about getting a four-legged friend, but those who've got kids to think about should be careful with what sort of dog they opt for.

Taking to TikTok, canine behaviourist Will Atherton ran through what he thought were the top three breeds of dog that families with children should think twice about before getting.

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He said one of the main things he had to deal with was dogs that had bitten children and in his time he'd seen 'certain breeds cropping up time and time again'.

You might think Border Collies are well behaved, but they want to herd things and could start biting kids.
Photos by R A Kearton / Getty Images

Top of the list was the Border Collie, a very popular choice of dog breed for many, and Atherton explained that the big mistake people made with them was assuming that being 'so trainable' made them a good choice to live with.

However, giving his expert view on the subject he warned that 'those herding instincts will kick in' and if a family couldn't satisfy the dog's need to herd things properly then it'd look to the kids to get its fix.

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He said Border Collies which didn't get their needs fulfilled properly would start 'herding your kids', which really meant 'chasing them around and biting their ankles'.

The canine expert warned he'd seen Akitas have 'serious issues with children'.
baiajaku / Getty Images

Next up was the Akita - the dog breed from Japan - with Atherton saying they could be 'incredible dogs' in the right situations but warning that wasn't always the case.

He revealed that in his experience he'd seen plenty of Akitas having 'serious issues with children' and warned that it was 'never pretty' when something happened.

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Rounding off the list was a very surprising entry - the Dalmatian.

You'd probably never think it of the black and white spotted breed that ended up getting treated to a Disney movie of their own, but the Dalmatians might not be the best choice for a family looking to pick up a pooch.

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You probably wouldn't expect it of them, but Dalmatians have surprisingly high bite rates.
By Anna Rostova / Getty Images

Atherton explained that Dalmatians have 'one of the highest bite histories' in the UK and would often target children with their attacks.

Plenty who saw the video chipped in with suggestions of their own, with many mentioning smaller breeds of dog and suggesting the problems stem from owners who 'often treat them like toys'.

Plenty of dog owners chipped in to defend their beloved canine companions, arguing that their own dogs were 'sweethearts' who'd never bite anyone.

Still, a well-trained and well-behaved dog is always a joy to have around and if you look after them properly, they'll look after you.

Featured Image Credit: R A Kearton / Getty Images/ Tiktok/@iamwillatherton

Topics: Life, Dog, Animals

Rhiannon Ingle
Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Senior Journalist at Tyla, specialising in TV, film, travel, and culture. A graduate of the University of Manchester with a degree in English Literature, she honed her editorial skills as the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the UK’s largest student newspaper. With a keen eye for storytelling, Rhiannon brings fresh perspectives to her writing, blending critical insight with an engaging style. Her work captures the intersection of entertainment and real-world experiences.

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