‘I’m a dog expert – three breeds tend to be best behaved’

Finding the perfect dog breed can be tough. You want a dog that will fit into your family seamlessly, that you’ll be able to train, and that you’ll have fun with.

Dog behaviourist Will Atherton has let people “in on a secret” on his TikTok page, sharing that if he doesn’t “see a breed very often” at his centre for “advanced behaviour modification,” then it’s “probably a good sign they should be on your shortlist” as good breeds.

“These are the three breeds that, as a canine behaviourist, I just rarely see have any bad behaviour problems,” he shared, starting off with a dog breed that he personally believes is “the best in the world”.

So, what is Will’s favourite dog breed? It’s a labrador retriever. He said that he does see quite a few of them in his training and behaviour centre, but it’s “often very minor behaviours and stems from them just being so loving and wanting to meet people, go see other dogs, and play with them that they might be pulling a little bit or jumping a little bit”.

He said that it was “dead easy” just to “dial those things in,” so he’d definitely recommend the breed overall.

The PDSA shares that labrador retrievers are “devoted, affectionate, loving dogs that will happily get along with everyone. They’re obedient, quick to learn and eager to please, so training should be fairly easy”.

The minimum exercise these dogs need per day is two hours, so you need to be prepared to commit to this, too.

Next up on the list of green flag dogs was the English mastiff, with Will saying that he would “love to work” with more of the breed.

He said: “I think that they’re one of the best breeds on the planet. However, they seem to come out of the womb just wanting to be a chill, laid-back, perfect canine companion”.

The PSDA shares that English mastiffs are “gentle giants – calm, good-natured dogs that tend to get on well with everyone. As with all breeds, early socialisation is important to ensure they grow up into confident, sociable dogs”.

English mastiffs need a minimum of one hour of exercise each day, but they shouldn’t be exercised too much when they’re puppies, as their joints are forming, and they can suffer with them.

The final breed that Will recommended was the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. “I think they’re one of the best small breeds on the planet,” he gushed.

He said: “If more people chose them instead of breeds that are working like cocker spaniels or jack Russells, they’d save themselves a massive headache”.

The PDSA states that “Cavaliers are great little dogs that suit family environments. They’re known to be good around children because they’re so keen to please their owners and love the company of people.”

These dogs need 45 minutes to an hour of exercise daily, so they’re perfect for people with busy schedules.