Dog trainer reveals ‘best 3 breeds for families’ after bad experiences

A renowned dog trainer has identified three breeds that he considers “perfect” for families with children.

Canine behaviourist Will Atherton, who has more than 900,000 followers on TikTok, shares advice on which dog breeds are suitable for which people.

In a recent video, he recommended three breeds – one small, one medium, and one large – for families, emphasising the importance of choosing the right breed around kids.

Will warned in the caption: “They may all be cute at eight-weeks-old, but as someone who works with extreme behaviour problems I have had more than my fill of seeing family dogs bite or maul the children in those homes!”

He said at the start of the clip: “These are the three dog breeds that I think are perfect for people with families. And I’m going to give you a breed from each size category so that, depending on what size of dog you want, you know the perfect breed for you.”

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

For small breeds Will suggested the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which weighs around 8kg.

“I definitely don’t mean the Cocker Spaniel, I think that they’re usually a very poor choice for families,” he clarified. “But the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a perfect choice.”

Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever

Discussing medium-sized dogs, Will said his decision was “easy”. He explained: “It has to be one of the retrievers, either the Labrador Retriever or the Golden Retriever – [they] are hands down the king of family dogs in that size range.”

English Mastiff

And if you’re looking to get a large dog, Will said the English Mastiff is the obvious choice for families. He said: “The English Mastiff is the epitome of a gentle giant and they make wonderful family dogs, provided you know how to manage and live with the sheer mass of an English Mastiff.”