A dog behaviour expert with more than 30 years of experience has shared his top tips for first-time dog owners, and unveiled a list of five breeds he’d urge them to avoid
A professional dog trainer has revealed a list of five breeds he advises first-time owners to steer clear of. Choosing the right breed to join your family can be a daunting task, with various lifestyle factors to consider.
Content creator and “dog behaviour expert” Casey Ray, who boasts more than 30 years of experience working with dogs, has listed the breeds he’d advise new owners to avoid. In some cases, he wouldn’t recommend these breeds “even for a second or third timer.” He suggested that potential owners who are still trying to understand how dogs function and how to interpret their body language and energy should “stay away” from five specific breeds.
The top breed on his list is even banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. He said: “If you’re experienced and you think you’re ready to tackle one, you know, maybe get with a professional trainer and ask them some questions about them because these breeds are no joke, right?”
5. Cattle dog
Starting his list, Casey discussed the cattle dog, also known as the Australian cattle dog, a herding breed developed for driving cattle through rough terrain over long distances. They’re high energy, extremely loyal and intelligent, but can nip at the heels of small or squealing children due to their natural herding instincts.
Casey said: “My personal opinion is if you don’t have a farm or a ranch, you don’t need these dogs. You know, it takes a lot to keep them fulfilled – they are intense and that energy needs to go somewhere.
“I’ve probably seen this breed become more reactive on and off leash than any other and that’s because the energy is not being channelled into what they are bred to do.”
4. Akita
Casey then moved on to the Akita, a Japanese breed recognised for its powerful protective instincts. They’re large and robust dogs with highly dominant and independent characters.
They demand consistent training and early socialisation to prevent them from becoming overly aggressive. Casey described them as “powerful” and explained: “It’s got to be properly socialised. It’s got to come from good bloodlines.
“It needs to go right into training, and you, the handler, needs to understand exactly what needs to happen for this dog or this breed.”
3. Belgian Malinois
Next, Casey placed the Belgian Malinois, which was “first bred around the city of Malines in the north-western region of Belgium”, as per the American Kennel Club. Casey has personal experience with this breed, having owned one himself, and shared: “Most loyal dog I ever trained and owned, he was fantastic. He was my right hand for 14 years – I miss that boy dearly.”
But he admitted they’re “off the charts” with “zero chill” as they were bred to work, and their protective, stubborn, confident, active and demanding natures can make them extremely challenging in the hands of inexperienced owners.
Casey said: “I would say honestly, this breed is not for 99% of homes.”
2. Anatolian shepherd
Taking the second spot, Casey highlighted the Anatolian shepherd, recognised for their fierce loyalty and instinct to guard their owners, or “pack”. While they can be gentle and loving with their immediate family, they remain dominant and demanding, requiring strong owners capable of providing firm, consistent training.
Casey described them as “very large, very powerful, very aloof”, and noted “most people don’t know how to handle them.” He continued: “This is like a lifetime package because they need to understand what to do all the time and it’s ongoing. Very challenging breed.”
1. Dogo Argentino
Topping the list, Casey placed the Dogo Argentino, a breed which is banned here in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. It’s a large, mastiff-type animal recognised for its muscular build and background in dog fighting.
Casey featured them in his list because “they’re gaining popularity” in some countries. He described them as “stunning” and “high energy” with a “strong prey drive” which “equals aggression towards other animals”.
He continued: “And that’s what you really have to watch out for. Obviously, this is not ideal for first-time owners.
“Probably not even first-time trainers, second-time owners, third-time owners. This is a big, powerful breed – and you really got to understand what you’re getting yourself into.”
Regardless of which breed you decide to get, training is often vital. Never leave dogs unsupervised around children, and always conduct your research and seek professional guidance before choosing a dog for your family.