Dog trainer shares the ‘frenzied lunatic’ breed he hates – even if they’re adorable
A canine specialist has fessed up about the one ‘adorable’ breed he hates and warned they could be a ‘terrible choice’ for owners. Will Atherton, from Derbyshire, runs a ‘behaviour modification’ and training centre for dogs with numerous attitude problems, including biting and barking.
While he’s always emphasised that any pup can be safe and well-managed under the right set of circumstances, there’s one breed that doesn’t have a very good ‘off-switch’. So, anyone keen to relax on the sofa at night may be in for a nightmare if they have this dog around.
“This is why I hate the Springer Spaniel,” Will said to his 950,000 TikTok followers.
“Now, I’ll let you in on a little secret. There isn’t actually any breeds that I hate, but I just strongly believe that breeds have a purpose and for some people a Springer Spaniel might be a great choice and for some people they might be a terrible choice.”
Although Springer Spaniels may look cute, Will stressed that it’s crucial to consider what these dogs were initially bred for. Thanks to their keen sense of smell, great pace and trainability, Springer Spaniels were, and still are, considered excellent hunting dogs.
Grouse hunting and pheasant shooting are among the sports they are traditionally used for, learning how to find animals before ‘flushing’ them out of their hiding spots. Will warned that this innate hunting drive may make them difficult to own.
He continued: “I think the reality is… for most people, the Springer Spaniel is a terrible choice, and a lot of people get them because they look awesome, these ears are adorable, and they match a Barbour jacket, which makes it cool for Instagram pictures.
“However, what they were actually bred for, which is to work non-stop like frenzied lunatics through barbed wire, thistles, thorns and all sorts. Using their nose [for] non-stop working means that they don’t have a very good off switch.
“….Bringing a dog like that to try and chill on the sofa with you is very hard to do and is rarely achievable, which is why I see so many here with problem behaviours at my canine behaviour centre.” Besides the Springer Spaniel, Will also has reservations about several other breeds, including the Border Terrier, which has a similarly high prey drive.
Despite their small size, they often have a ‘reverberating bark’ and destroy things when bored too. Speaking in a separate video while holding a Border Terrier, Will said: “Now, how on Earth could you actually hate a puppy as cute as this? Because this Border Terrier is absolutely a sweetheart.
“However, when she came into my centre for a day of training this morning, this wasn’t lovely, cuddly kisses. This was mauling my beard, my face, my fingers and my clothes, which is the main problem with Border Terriers and all terrier breeds for that fashion.
“…If you don’t know how to handle and manage the prey drive that comes with serious little working breeds like these guys, you are going to have a nightmare on your hands like the owners of this beautiful girl did this morning.” In the caption, he added: “Now I grew up with multiple terriers, so I’ve always been very aware of the reality of these dogs, but if you haven’t, it’s easy to be fooled by their cuteness and forget they’re actually high-level athletic killing machines.
“And if you’re not ready for that, it’s easy to get caught up in behaviours you weren’t expecting! So, always do your research on your breed history and make sure you’re ready to harness and control it, especially if your breed has any form of hunting origins.”
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