I’m a dog trainer – 5 breeds I’d never recommend, including an ‘aggressive’ pet and another prone to ‘attack’ people
A CANINE expert has revealed the top five breeds he would recommend avoiding.
According to the professional trainer, not all dogs are well suited to being man’s best friend.
Garret Wing, 40, is the owner and founder of American Standard Dog Training & DIYK9.com Online Dog Training, which he established five years ago.
A dog whisperer in his own right, Garret shared his expertise with The U.S. Sun.
“The biggest mistake people make when adopting or buying a dog is not researching the breed to ensure it fits their lifestyle,” he said.
Garret continued: “People often forget that certain breeds require more grooming and exercise than others, and can become destructive if left alone for long periods of time.
“Most folks aren’t aware or prepared to commit the time and money to properly raise, train, and socialize their dogs,” he said.
The expert recommended spending at least one hour every day to train your new furry friend.
And if you’re still deciding on what breed to get, Garret shared his recommendations for first-time owners.
“Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, Labradoodles, and Boston Terriers. These breeds are known for their intelligence and friendly outgoing nature,” he said.
The professional trainer explained that these breeds are “generally easy to train” and rarely show aggression towards people or other animals.
On the other hand, Garret revealed the top five breeds he wouldn’t recommend owning.
One of the no-go dogs on his list is the Akita, which Garret described as “large, powerful, and dominant.”
He said: “These dogs are notorious for being human and animal aggressive. They are suspicious of strangers and quick to defend their property and people from everyone, including friendly neighbors.”
As these dogs were “originally bred for hunting large game such as bears and boar,” Garret recommended avoiding this breed unless “you plan to live alone on a mountain-top and go bear hunting.”
The canine professional also named the Chow Chow as an unideal family pet.
An “ancient” breed, Garret revealed that the Chow Chow is known to be “unbelievably stubborn and headstrong, making them one of the most difficult breeds to train.
“They are dominant, wary of strangers, and extremely independent,” he said.
Garret also pointed out: “Their coats are very thick and dense and require constant maintenance and grooming.”
The professional trainer also advised against bringing a Cane Corso into your home, unless you are committed to training it properly as he has done with his three.
“The Cane Corso is a direct descendant of ancient Roman war dogs used in battles and bloodsport in the gladiator arenas. These dogs are large, dominant, and incredibly powerful,” Garret explained.
He continued: “They are natural guardians and extreme protectors of the home. Males can weigh between 120-160 pounds or more.”
The canine expert also pointed out that the breed’s “extremely high pain tolerance” it can be “very difficult if not impossible to stop them” from attacking someone.
Garret also cited the health and temperament issues that are occurring with the breed due to overbreeding.
“Hundreds are being surrendered to shelters daily and the rescues are completely overloaded with examples that are aggressive and mentally unstable,” she said.
The Belgian Malinois, commonly used for police and military K9 units, also made Garret’s no-go list.
Due to this reputation, many people purchase the breed expecting them to “somehow [be] born fully trained and turn-key ready to be a protection dog or to be the perfect family companion.”
However, Garret explained that “nothing could be further from the truth.”
He explained: “These dogs are like Tasmanian devils fueled by a constant drip from an IV bag filled with triple-shot espresso.”
The professional trainer shared that a Belgian Malinois requires “thousands upon thousands of hours of training.”
“If you don’t spend two to four hours a day training your Belgian Malinois to perform a task they will spend every second of the day finding work to do to release their pent-up energy,” Garret said.
He pointed out: “That work won’t be folding your laundry, it will be tearing up your carpet, digging a hole to China in your backyard, chewing a hole through your drywall, and running laps in the house.”
Next, the canine professional advised against adopting or buying an XL Bully, an extension of the American Pitbull Terrier but “two to three times the size.”
Often considered “gentle giants,” Garret referenced “a considerable number of incidents in the recent past in which these dogs have turned on their owners or other pets resulting in fatalities.”
He explained: “These dogs are incredibly powerful and the mixed genealogy that makes up these breeds means you can’t be too certain what exactly you are getting.
“The genes could be made up of high prey drive game bred pits or dogs with a genetic history of dog fighting,” Garret said.
He continued: “In either case, you may have a dog with a genetic predisposition to chasing down and killing every cat in the neighborhood or fighting every dog it comes in contact with.”
The breed grows to 130-150 pounds, and Garret compared controlling them to handling “a pro bodybuilder.”
Finally, the professional dog trainer suggested avoiding getting a Doberman Pinscher unless you are willing to carry out extensive training.
Garret explained that Dobermans were “originally bred to be the ultimate bodyguard and protector of a tax collector making his rounds on foot.”
As a result, the breed “has developed a reputation for being a velcro-dog that attaches itself to one owner and acting highly protective and reactive towards anyone that comes close to its owner.”
He continued: “Dobermans are often wired to be constantly on guard and always scanning their environment for a potential threat. They can have difficulty relaxing or settling down.
“Their daily walks, which should be a casual stroll through the neighborhood, instead more often resemble a high stake, finger on trigger, stressful military patrol through the streets of Fallujah,” he said.
Garret added: “We so often forget the origin of working line dog breeds bred for specific guarding or working purposes and try in vain to fight against nature to convert these dogs.”
While trying to turn these animals into “the perfect, laid back, friendly neighborhood dog,” Garret warned that you may find out “these dogs can be more Terminator than Lassie.”