Dog trainer names the popular breed he 'wouldn't bring' into family homes

A famous dog trainer has revealed the one popular breed he wouldn't recommend for busy family homes, and it's caused a bit of a stir online. Canine behaviourist Will Atherton, who has more than 900,000 followers on TikTok, regularly shares tips and insights for dog owners on how to choose the right breed for their lifestyle. In one of his most-viewed videos, he responded to a follower who asked, "Why do you hate spaniels so much?"

"I promise you that isn't the case whatsoever," Will said, before explaining that he actually admires spaniels, just not in the context of a typical household. In the video, which has now racked up 1.4 million views, he said: "This is one of those things where I might have accidentally developed a reputation for hating spaniels. And many people think I hate huskies as well, and I promise you, that isn't the case whatsoever."

He went on to describe how much he enjoys working with spaniels in the field.

"One of the things I enjoy more in the dog world than nearly anything else is when I take Uncle Sully [his dog] out and we're working out in the field doing some gundog stuff, and you see a spaniel beating up game, flushing through thick heather and hedgerows, their noses down, quartering, and hunting beautifully."

However, he said their energy levels are often too high for a typical household.

"The problem is, when you bring that kind of energy into a busy family home, it rarely meshes very well.

"It wouldn't mesh well at my home with my family and my lifestyle, that's way too much energy. And they're vibrating and humming with energy."

However, his comments received a mixed response. Most users agreed, with one saying: "I have two spaniels and I completely agree with you to be honest."

Another wrote: "100% agree! Our Springer is coming up to two years, needs super engagement and enrichment. Thankfully she runs with me and that burns off a lot of that energy!"

But others had different experiences. One person said: "I think I have the laziest cocker spaniel. Fitted into our home perfectly." Another added: "Our cocker is so chilled out at home, I think we really lucked out!"

Nonetheless, experts at Dogs R Dogs say spaniels can make great pets, but only if they're trained properly from the start.

They stress that spaniels are bred to hunt and retrieve, and that these instincts don't go away in a domestic setting.

Without training, their high energy and drive can lead to issues such as poor recall, possessiveness, and frustration.

They also say many owners underestimate how much guidance spaniels need to learn when to switch off.

As the experts put it: "The main thing you need to teach a spaniel is how to enjoy doing nothing."