Dog Breeds NOT for 1st Time Dog Owners 

Many years ago, a friend of mine, who happens to be a professional dog trainer, told me the worst thing that can happen to a breed of dog is for it to become popular. She was right.

The general public doesn’t know a darn thing about dogs. They pick one out because it’s pretty sure it’s cute. They know nothing about the breed, nothing about what it requires, and most people are not willing to put in the hard work it takes. No matter what breed they get. It’s going to be a disaster. especially the terriers, working dogs, and guard dogs.

My fist dog was a Siberian Husky after her previous owners decided she was too much work for them. She was everything you say; active. smart and a hunter. She was a huge time commitment. Brisk walks/jogs 3 times a day, everyday were a must. Bathing her was a workout and cleaning up her hair was a constant. She was also calm and patient with children, strangers, other dogs and brought joy to my life for 15 years.

Every time I meet someone who jogs, I tell them they should adopt a dog. Most dogs surrendered to the shelter have high energy levels and would be great running companions.

You've just highlighted every reason why I will never have a dog. I love all animals, including dogs and I've had all sorts of other pets. But I have enough intelligence of my own to know I would NOT be a good dog owner. I wish more people would do their homework before getting any dog, because it's the dog that pays the price for every bad decision by a human.

You forgot Shiba Inu’s and Basenjis. Both are not easy to train for a first time owner.

I have 2 standard poodles, awesome dogs. I believe that poodle and border collies are ties in 1st place for smarts. What I hate, is people breeding poodles with every dog under the sun.

There’s a RU-vid channel where a woman just loves filming her Cane Corso being teased and becoming frustrated. She thinks it’s funny. I wrote her and strongly recommended she stop and take the dog to a qualified trainer. She’s setting this beautiful animal up for disaster. Some dogs should require a license to own. That includes pit bulls. Too many death and injuries due to selfish, immature people failing them.

Add to this the Welsh Corgi, both types. I have had 5 from 1988-2021. They have requirements that many novice dog owners may not be able to give them, they are not for beginners. Its not if a Corgi right for you, its are you right for a Corgi. They need an assertive confident owner and training for both dog and owner, they need a fenced in yard, they dont need a home with many stairs they can have back problems that can cost big $$$, they dont need a home with or the potential of small children or children that are rough, they WILL defend themselves, they need very good quality food in 2 small meals daily, they have very strong herding instincts and will herd children, animals and adults, they need daily brushing they shed massively year round, they will live 12-15 years. Anyone not up for this physically, financially or mentally, dont get a Corgi. Their popularity now has some winding up in shelters because owners did not do the homework.

I just rescued a chihuahua who was found in a rural area fending for himself. Nobody claimed him for weeks so the local shelter put him up for adoption. I was only going to visit, not adopt. I specifically require a calm, zen like environment as an introverted minimalist. The calmest, sweetest little 5yr old chi and I connected as if I raised him from birth. He’s more than I could ask for. I’m so blessed. Love my little nugget.

I am shocked at the stats for returning dogs to shelters in the USA, I had no idea it was that bad. I utterly agree on border collies, they are definitely not a first time dog, or in my personal opinion (which could be wrong), not good as a family dog. They are intense and require so much attention and also they bond with one person in the family. Border collies rarely appear in shelters here, this is farming country here in the south of France, and the border collies bred here are working sheep herders. I found my 3 year old male border collie in my local shelter 10 months ago and it was fate or something with the timing. He was literally starved by his last owner and finally surrendered to the local shelter (the French version of the SPCA) with all his papers and breeder info. I went through a rigorous process to get him. In addition to filling out the usual forms of personal info, I had to bring in the other border collie that the new dog would be living with to meet the new dog at the shelter, provide proof of the size of property I was taking the dog to (1 hectare of land), and even sign a government mandated form testifying that I knew how to look after a dog and that I would ensure feeding, vet care, grooming, exercise etc. In addition I was charged almost 300 euros for the dog, to cover the shelter's costs. After that I was supposed to wait 7 days before I could pick him up, but they offered to let me have him after two days as he was really not doing well at the shelter. The shelter said that he was a problem dog, aggressive to other dogs over food, hyper obsessive and inattentive. But as this would be the 6th border collie I would have I recognized and recognised a distressed border collie and their unique way of acting out their distress. They were wrong about him, he is the sweetest, gentlest angel that I wouldn't part with for love nor money. Not remotely agressive to other dogs or over food at all. You can do anything with him or to him, he is so gentle. You really cannot get a good handle on a dog's personality for months after bringing them home, as they take time to settle in and reveal their true personality so I cannot blame the shelter for not knowing him better. Anyway, I am not sure what the process for adoption from a shelter is over there, but the system here certainly weeds out inexperienced potential first time owners from making breed mistakes.

II had a massive boxer. He was the greatest dog I ever had! He absolutely adored my granddaughter. We went to a dog training class run by a K9 officer. He was trained in German. He and my son wrestled all the time. He loved the whole family but I was HIS person. I moss that boy every day! I now.have a senior American Bulldog. She is a fantastic dog too! As I am getting older and can't be as active as I used to ne, when my old girl goes, I will go rescue an older dog that doesn't need as much exercise but needs someone to love him or her. One has to be aware of what you can physically do with a dog and what the dogs needs are.

Those are great categories. Seasoned dog person here. A lot of people don't realize with giant dogs, the medical conditions they will likely have, the shorter life expectancy, and the food they eat comes out in huge dino piles. Not saying people shouldn't get them, but for a lot of these dogs, you need the right lifestyle for THEM. They will not be accommodating yours for quite some time until there is routine. I adopted a dog from a County shelter. I knew he was pug and something else. I couldn't figure it out until one day, "boing! Boing! Boing! boing!", off the back door. I just sighed and said, "you're a damn Jack Russell!!!" Jack Russell's are the Tiggers of the dog world.

I wish people would read what their dog breed is bred for and their behaviors

As someone who has worked in progressional grooming salons in Europe and UK; I would personaly say that curly coated breeds (Poodles, Doodles etc) are really not first time dogs. People get them because they are cute/have a good temperment etc but it was extremely rare to get a Doodle or Poodle that was not matted. Often owners never brushed the dogs or if they did they didn't brush parts or only brushed the top of the coat and so it would matt solid underneith. Curly coated breeds do not shed outwards, so their coat basically sheds inwards and basically collects the hair and causes more matting. They need daily burshing all over, with the correct brushes, even if they are "short". Most people don't know how much grooming they need and neglect to groom them, pushing it onto the groomer. In addition to that; most people do not teach their dogs to be okay with being touched in certain places (such as to get their face cut, nails trimmed or tail touched), which makes grooming them SO much harder and way more stressful on the dog.

I would also include pointing dogs as being unsuitable for 1st time dog owners. As a long time German Shorthair owner, I can't believe GSPs are now the 10th most popular breed in America according to the AKC. They are great dogs but their activity level, intelligence, and stubbornness can be a challenge even for an experienced dog owner.

I would also add almost any kind of terrier to this list. Lots of energy, smart, enormous prey drive. I know you did have JRT on your list but it applies to any terrier. Great advice! I think that some mention of the health problems and extra care in having brachycephalic (squish faced) dogs should be another caution.

Growing up we had lots of pets, now just cats but first dog when we was little was a miniature poodle. My mother spoiled that dog which resulted in us on the receiving in of sometimes vicious behavior. Years later one of my brothers came home with a Doberman, which I ended up raising. My rules were nobody teases this dog, no tug of war period. I’m 5 feet tall and on all fours she was half my height. The she had no formal training but when I went outside and she was excited and she put her paws up on me I’d gently hold them a moment until she wanted down, she stopped doing it. And when I needed to groom her I put a leash around her neck and she learned to stand still and behave when that leash was on, no pain or violence needed. She, Star, was the sweetest dog and I never thought about her as a guard dog except from looks. One day she surprised me. And cousin needed to leave his dog over for the day and they seem okay together. But I went outside once to check on them and my cousin’s dog start barking at me and Star came charging across that yard and backed my cousin’s dog all way to the other side of the yard without touching and that dog didn’t make another peep again while it was there. She impressed me.

Thank you for a much needed video. Both my Poodles have been rescues (AKA Pound Poodles). I did not see either of them in person until the day I adopted them. One was a miniature and the other is a large toy. I always figured that whatever their personalities were, we’d adjust to one another. After all, having to adapt to a second home after losing your first home and then being caged in a shelter has got to be difficult and scary. Since I was so lucky with both of my Pound Poodles, I was surprised to see a Standard Poodle on your list. Later, in your comments, you mentioned that Standard Poodles have different energy levels than other Poodles sizes. Sadly, because of the fact that there are no set standards for Poos or Doodles, when you get one of these designer dogs, you really have no idea what breeds of dog you’re getting. Your helping people to choose the right breed of dog is a blessing. As a child growing up, one of my uncles had a Chihuahua. Another uncle had a Toy Poodle. I spent a lot of time with the Poodle. Yet, when it came to choosing a dog breed, I repeatedly took the test in Dr, Stanley Corin’s book, WHY WE LOVE THE DOGS WE DO. Poodles were in the group that I always scored highest in. That same group contains GSD, Dobermans, Boarder Collies, Papillons and Shelties. For me choosing a Poodle was a no brainer. I was very familiar with Poodles and love that they don’t shed. For others, this is where they could really use your expertise. There’s a big difference in a Papillon and a Doberman. I’ve heard from many Poodle owners, that, “Once you go Poodle, you never go back.” While the breeds charming nature makes them a favorite, a Poodle requires a lot of grooming. They need to be brushed daily. They need their anal glams expressed. They need their teeth brushed. They need their nails trimmed. They need to be bathed regularly. My vet said no more than once a week for a bath. With a white Poodle, twice a week bathing would be better to keep her clean. Poodle’s hair has to be regularly trimmed. Having some basic knowledge on how to use clippers is important. Fortunately, the hot climate I live in allows me to give my Poodle a vet approved buzz cuts. Once a now more mature vet reflected about of the practice of veterinary medicine. He recounted the advice he gave an elderly woman, who asked him what breed og dog she should get after losing her beloved canine companion of many years. Being young and full of youthful enthusiasm for his favorite breed, Golden Retrievers, he told the elderly lady that Golden’s were the way to go. She got a Golden Retriever puppy. First the puppies wagging tail knocked ever and ruined many of her sentimental bibelots. As the puppy grew, his rambunctiousness made going for walks difficult. The final straw came when the growing puppy jumped up on the elderly woman and knocked her down. Her ankle was broken from that fall. Some family members rehomed the puppy, while the elderly lady was in the hospital having surgery on her ankle so she could walk on her leg again. When she recovered, she got a cat. Mean time, somewhere there was a small dog, who would have blossomed under her care and would have become her boon companion. Take the advice from someone more knowledgeable than you about what breed of dog to get. Don’t get any dog, if you don’t want to put the time into taking care of the dog and training the dog. Remember a dog is a lifetime commitment. A dog is a baby, who never grows up. Just like people, dogs are not perfect. Yet, they love their people unconditionally. Dog’s give us their whole hearts and souls. We should give them ours in return.

I adopted a 7 month old Siberian husky, he is now 15 months old and I totally love him. I had a GSD growing up and I thought that counted as a good experience cause I remembered the high energy, the shedding, and just how to handle big strong dogs, but boy I was definitely not that ready; huskies really don’t listen unless they want to, and that was the hardest part for me to work, but with a lot of patience (and a bit of professional help) we have made lots of progress. The bright side is that he is great with kids and people (my children adore him), and really chill if he gets the right amount of exercise. Thanks for the great video

great tutorial video. I wish shelters would share information like this to avoid the sad revolving door experience.

My sister-in-law desperately wants a Siberian Husky because her best friend wants one and she thinks they’re cute. It’d technically be her first dog ever owned. As a dog-obsessed individual, for years I have been educating her why NOT to get one. She’s a germaphobe, doesn’t like too much shedding, and is clueless how to train or care for a dog. Thank goodness, my brother has more sense and refuses to get a dog, period. He, too, is a germaphobe. Your video beautifully confirms why a husky is not for her. Thank you.

I have a doberman.He is the sweetest most loyal animal ever. He is a great protector and has never attacked anyone.

Many years ago my daughter and her husband, my other daughter and I went to a dog shelter looking for a dog my daughter and husband could adopt. There was not much to choose from (luckily most had been adopted) but one stood out to me. I was a lab mix with shorter legs and curly ears. A staff member whispered to me that she would be euthanized the next week if no one adopted her and that she had a gentle and friendly personality. I whispered this to my son in law knowing he has a tender heart and he stated: "This one is coming home with us and if you want another one, it will come home too." My daughter woke up the next morning with this dog sleeping next to her with her head on her husband's pillow. She became the ultimate family dog, lived to a very old age. I will warn you that I adopted two dogs over the years and had much experience with dogs so I was able to work with their "triggers." All of my other dogs I had as puppies so they never had bad experiences and were carefully trained and socialized.

I love this video. Thank you so much for the information. ❤

Thank you for this helpful video. I volunteer at a shelter and when I first started, I thought they kennels would be full of pitties. The vast majority are shepherds and huskies or a mix thereof. Breaks my heart. So many probably would've been successes if the owners had invested in a trainer.

What, no Chow Chow? Deserves its own category.

I’m a boxer person. I currently own a GSD but I’ve had five boxers so far in my life. Not only are boxers high energy and stubborn, but they’re rather difficult to train. A well bred boxer tends to have high protective instincts so they need socialized as much as possible, and a poorly bred boxer is more likely to be a bit, well, slower. They don’t pick up on training quite as fast and will ignore you if you let them (not because they don’t love you, they definitely do. But because they’re so hyperactive that the smallest things can distract them). One thing I’ve noticed with boxers though is that they will very quickly become their owners. A boxer with a calm and confident owner will be a calm and confident dog. A boxer that is around children will either be very calm and mother/fatherly or if they don’t have the best training then they may be hyperactive and not understand boundaries. A boxer whose owner just likes to rest on the couch all day will usually be right there on the couch with them. They are extremely versatile dogs. But it takes about three years for them to really settle down into their place in the world. From 6 months to 3 years of age, boxers are all just gangly, energetic goofballs and tend to be more speed than intelligence. Once they reach 3 years however, you will suddenly have the best dog you’ve ever known. They are sadly very prone to health conditions (mostly heart problems) and most don’t live very long. My oldest boxer passed at age 13, and the youngest at 7. All from some health condition or another. My grandparents have a young boxer, just 2.5 years, and he has developed a degenerative spine disease. If you can handle the heartache, the three years of mildly intense training, and the slobber, then boxers can be wonderful pets. But they are like trying to grow a rare plant. They need years of cultivated growth and training to become that perfect specimen, or else they will end up wildly overgrown and taking over your house

We had a Chow Chow years ago. She was the runt of the litter, had a bit of a foot problem and walked as though she had a "bent frame--car lingo, that) and never got above thirty-five pounds. The absolute sweetest dog I have ever known. I used to walk her at lunch, when I got home, and after dinner. The neighbors across the street had a Rottweiler, who was constantly "getting out." Anytime it was out while I was walking my dog, I would quickly pick up my dog, and slowly back away. One day, our Chow and I were sitting on my front porch, I had my hand in her collar, holding her, and the Rottweiler walked by. Before I could react, my Chow broke from my hand, and ran after the Rottweiler. Our front yard is not grassy, it is full of boulders and stones. I was bare footed, but ran across the street as fast as I could, terrified that because of my stupidity, my Chow was going to be killed. When I got there, the Rottweiler was scratching at the back door to the house, trying desperately to get in and my Chow, all thirty-five pounds of her, was standing her ground. I have never been so relieved in my life. I picked her up and we went home. Never again did I do anything as stupid as thinking my hand in her collar would keep her from running or to think bare feet were appropriate in my front yard. She lived to the ripe-old-age of 16 and 1/2. I miss her to this day.

Thank you for this, great information.

We have 2 standard poodles. They are complete opposites. The 1st one is a rescue and the 2nd is from a breeder. Our rescue is very, very mellow and sweet…she is now 11 yo. Our “breeder” girl is super high energy…she will be 7 in July and is a perpetual puppy. She does get “down” if she is not exercised a lot. Thank goodness we have a good sized, fenced yard. Love them dearly❤️

Not sure what I was expecting when I clicked this video but I was surprised that I agreed with absolutely everything. Cesar Millan always said that when people go to pick up a dog, they get the one that was jumping in the front trying to catch their attention. But that's the highest energy dog that you would find, which often ends in the dog getting returned, or having a life where dog and owner make each other miserable. Cesar says "get the one sleeping at the back". I did that with my Goldendoodle and, even though he has a lot of energy and can play non stop for hours, when he is in the house he's very calm and delicate with his actions, and likes to nap a lot. I couldn't be happier with him.

Brilliant! So much sense. This needs to be said again and again. Thank you.

Good video. I've had 5+ decades of animal care and training - pets, farm animals, and wildlife rehab. I'll read what the "experts" have to say, but then I assess based on my own experience. Since I was a child, I found too many "expert" assertions about animals to be very human narcissistic and obtuse. The intelligence of dogs is assessed based to a significant degree on their obedience and bending to the will of humans, not actual intelligence. I rehab difficult shelter dogs. My previous rescue was an Akita/Chow that had been abused and returned to the shelter 3 times because people "couldn't work with him". After a year of work with Kodiak, I brought him to a function for our local animal shelter. They asked me if I would consider signing up to be one of their animal ambassador teams, due to his beautiful behavior. Though I'm proud of that moment, it showed how smart he was and his huge heart in response to my training, I declined as it would be too stressful for him. He was smart as a whip, and once I gained his trust, he gave me his big strong heart. My current rescue is a Great Pyrenees/ Anatolian Shepherd whose former owner told neighbors to shoot him or run him over. He was 90 pounds of untrained rodeo dog when i started, (and malnourished at that weight), but his brain and heart are massive. Many trainers and "experts" will literally call Great Pyrenees stupid, because many are very difficult to train in "obedience". Those trainers and "experts" are seriously ignorant. You made a great point about knowing where these dogs come from, and their purpose. The Great Pyrenees do not work next to humans in the Pyrenees mountains. They solve problems, care for their herds and flocks and their own needs, and do their jobs completely independently most of their life. The complexity of how a pack of them works together is STILL not being understood, or even considered, by "the experts". How these dogs decide who will stay in close with the flock, who will hang mid ground as back up and who will challenge and chase at the front lines - we still don't know. This independent thinking and problem solving is highly intelligent but subtle - it takes a completely different approach in training and handling. My Andre' the Giant is now 154 pounds, in good shape, and is a certified therapy dog visiting hospice patients and changing lives. While I do use key words, I talk to him much like a human and he prefers that, or silence with hand signals. I got him a talking clock so he can "tell time". The thing is, all our animals "tell time" - we just don't teach them how to sync it up with our human clocks. I absolutely delight in working with each animal that comes under my care. My first step is to throw out my own ego about what I think I know, shut my mouth, quiet my hands, sit down and observe and learn. Animal communication is far more intricate than most " experts" have wanted to admit. Of course, I tame and train feral cats too, so I was never going swimming in the mainstream, lol. Thanks for the video, it's well done. And though I think Akitas and Chows should be in there, I completely understand the list of dogs in this category is longer than ten, and the ones you chose are the more popular ones that people are going to see.

And I'm still getting all of them:)

Samoyeds are not for first time dog owners either. They have great personalities and catch people with their beauty but are stubborn and think they are royalty. Their grooming is a huge commitment of both time, education in brushing and maintaining their coat and/or money for groomers. The plus side of training is they really respond well to 'bribes' in the way of training treats and lavish praise. I have never met a mean Sammy ( I'm sure there are some out there but I have never met one) and I have had lots of interaction with the breed.

Love this video! We had huskies for many years, and absolutely love the intelligence and problem solving skills they have..... They take a sense of humor and lots of love and time (notice my profile picture here - our sweet girl Tasha who lived to 16). Now that we are older, we have moved to Shetland sheepdogs!! We don't have the time or energy to truly care for a Sibe anymore.

My first dog was a GSD. I spent so much time training her, walking and running with her, etc. I knew what I was getting into and took ownership seriously. She was a great dog, very loving, yet protective. My best dog was a Rottweiler. Same thing. Training, training, training. I’ve had Labs, a Toller, and several mutts. All have different personalities and different needs. All were wonderful dogs. My last fog passed a year ago and I cannot bring myself to get another dog. Losing them is too painful.

THANK YOU so much for doing this video. As a dog trainer is just blows my mind when I see new dog owners getting a breed that is such a bad match for them.

We have a Jack Russell x lurcher rescue. He is a reactive dog due to being under-socialised as a puppy, but not high energy. Because of his reactivity he is walked once a day, with the opportunity to go in the garden whenever he asks. He has me well trained so that his "I need to go in the garden right now" looks exactly the same as his "I want a treat"! But that's ok because he struggles with his weight, so if he asks for a treat, he gets it. He also gets a lot of attention because we both work from home, so maybe he gets more exercise than it seems, because we play with him a lot, through the day, and interact with him a lot so he has a lot of mental stimulation. When he's not interacting with one of us, he's on 'guard dog duty' looking out the window, or curled up by my feet. Such a sweet boy, but very nervous. Not a first time dog unless you have the time to figure out what he needs and then to give it to him. I do love him and wish he could be a bit better trained, but he's made a lot of improvement from the Scrappy Doo wannabe that he started off as. Now he's only a quarter of a Scrappy Doo! Good video, thank you.

I came here because I knew Siberian huskies would be on this list!! I have three (yes, I’m crazy) they’re so much work but worth it. I agree with you though, they’re not for the feint of heart. My huskies pull me on a skateboard for 5-10 miles every day and they’re still not tired 😭😭

Love my JRT's they are extremely smart and wired for sound. Great dogs

This is why i am being very picky about my next dog, I want to make sure I am able to provide what the dog needs. Thank you for the video

I've had 5 GSDs over the years, and now have a Rottie. I'm only 4'11", but my dogs have always known that I'm the leader. They all need positive reinforcement, because they are so sensitive. They don't react well to mean correction. Get their energy out in a positive way, and immediate, consistent correction is the way to go. My Rottie is now 8 years old and she gets "good girl" every time she does good, even if it's just walking correctly on the leash. And don't forget about socialization with other dogs! Both breeds love kids, but can be too boisterous, so the "easy" or "nice" command is essential!

I'm thinking about getting my first dog and it will probably be a Dobermann or Ceskoslovenský vlciak The thing I see is that people DON'T do their research about the breed they want or just very little and that's probably 1 of the reasons why dogs end up in shelter(just a thought and I could be wrong to some degree) So i'm currently looking for as much information as possible about the breeds and dogs in general. Looking in my city for a shelter where I can volunteer at so I can get more information and experience Also took care of my brothers 10 month old German shepherd for only a month(not long though sadly) damn I were unsure at the if I were going to do well but it went good and learned a lot from it(It was my first time so I were shaky at first) You got a like for informative and well made video. Sub because I will watch more of your videos :)

Well said! I've been around thousands of dogs during the ten years working with them in a large shelter. It is definitely a learned trait of what to expect from certain breed groups!

I had two Husky and I also took care quite a few time of a Samoyed. When you got a sledge dog, you got a work out partner to walk and run around for at least 1 hour every day and a lot more if possible. I was walking every day and also sometime having one of them run along while I was biking on country roads. I was never slimmer nor fitter than when I was taking care of those dogs. Also, for the escape artist part, one of them was able to jump over me (over 1.80, 6ft) without touching me. If you want to keep them in a pen, you need at least 1m/3ft deep (if the ground is easy to dig) and 3m/10ft high. Less than that and they can dig or jump over the fence while you're out for work.

The return rate on shelter dogs really isn’t surprising. My first dog was an American bulldog pit mix who before we even left the shelter pissed on a mop that was up next to the door. When we got home within 5 minutes he hiked his leg and peed on our wall. This would become a habit so much so that he had to be kenneled if I didn’t feel like having my eyes on him constantly. I left the room to clean my cat’s litter boxes for 5 minutes and came out to him pissing on the wall again. He can’t even live outside because he whines and howls when he wants inside and digs holes all over the yard making it very dangerous and difficult to mow. We tried everything for 3 years before I returned him to a shelter. The shelter we got him from, an SPCA organization, wouldn’t even take him back. We contacted them twice and every time it came to “we’ll call you to schedule a surrender” they never called. It’s crazy when the shelter you got an animal from ghosts you, not to mention we had 3 separate people while we were meeting the dog for the first time tell us a copy/paste line of “he’s such a good dog!”… I think that shelter not only knew that was BS but also he had probably been returned before. He wasn’t housebroken when we got him, that little bit of information wasn’t made clear to us til we already adopted him and it was on the file that they only give you once you sign and pay for a dog. He was hell to walk on a leash despite being told he’s great on leash, and he would get very aggressive with us when we first got him, it took him snapping at me while I was petting him and me immediately popping him good in the face to end that. Shelter dogs have major baggage and undisclosed issues. Even the shelter we gave him to and told him all his issues didn’t reveal those issues. I saw his ad on their website and it didn’t mention a single issue. So he’s probably going to be adopted by a naive person like I was and then they get slammed with a terrible dog. Shelters lying and misleading is a large reason why dogs get returned no doubt. Also a dog being stuck in a tiny concrete prison with barking going on all around all day surely adds to the neurotic behavior. I’ll never be adopting again, my second dog I got before we returned the first was an AKC standard poodle who is still going amazingly well, so smart, has issues but she’s still a puppy and for a puppy the issues are very workable. At least I can trust this one not to mark inside the house, walk well on a leash, listen amazingly, and learn super quickly.

We’re not first time dog owners, but haven’t had a dog for several years. We’re both seniors and miss the sense of security a dog brings by just alerting us. We both have minor mobility issues that a trained service dog would help. I’ve been doing a great deal of research and keep coming back to the Great Pyrenees breed. I have a slight fear of grown dogs and would feel much more confident raising a dog from a puppy. I would appreciate you thoughts as to whether a GP might be a good choice for us. Thank you.

Can you recommend a good guard dog for a house with cats in the south. Large size is not a problem, I have a Great Dane now. Would prefer med to low energy level. But have a large fenced yard in county for dogs with higher energy levels. Great Dane is my first dog. But I have watched Caesar religiously and have successfully trained her to walk off lead. I feel confident I could train most dogs successfully. Currently helping elderly neighbor train her unneutered Labradoodle. Having hard time finding a guard dog breed that is good with cats.

Great advice! I’ve had so many from Great Dane at180 lbs to teacup poodle at 3 lbs. they all have specific needs! Raised Golden Retrievers for ten years and would recommend the hunting breeds but all dogs need constant training and attention!

Spot on. I'm a Cattle Dog devotee' but herding breeds are a very real challenge. Loyal and loving but you really do need to understand them and adjust accordingly.

Our first dog was a Labbie. A perfect first dog IMO. For my second I upped the ante and just adopted a Rottsky. He does have a stubborn independent streak but he is very chill and loves people.

FIRST TIME WATCHING. MUCH INFO AND ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH. MY FIRST DOG AS AN ADULT WAS A FEMALE DOBERMAN PUPPY BRED FOR SHOWING. THIS WAS IN 1973.. I KNEW NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT DOGS BUT MY HUSBAND HAD BEEN RAISED AROUND DOBERMANS AND IT WAS HIS CHOICE. OF COURSE WE WERE BOTH YOUNG AND ACTIVE PEOPLE THEN. SHE WAS SO EASY I FELT LIKE I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING! YEARS AND YEARS LATER I GOT MY SECOND DOG. . . A BEAUTIFUL NORWICH TERRIER. . . ALPHA MALE. WELL WHAT A DIFFERENCE. BOTH WONDERFUL BUT THE DOBERMAN WAS SO MUCH EASIER.

Thank you so much for making this video 🤗 I’m going to share this with Several people I believe would benefit Greatly from your observations ☺️🦮🙌

Husband and I each grew up in households with dogs. My 2 dogs (one at a time) were Shepherd crosses with Idk what, lol. One had collie in her, the other had some husky we think. Husband’s brother got German Shepherds, some of which were smarter/better behaved than others. Familiar with brushing and bathing their coats, etc. We currently have a cat that is basically mine. My husband doesn’t do anything other than pat it and play-fight with it, occasionally giving it a scoop of dry food if I specifically ask him to. Doesn’t think to change the water until the bowl is nearly dry, even if it’s been there 2 days. Doesn’t clean the litterbox, and won’t touch the cat claw-clipping duties. We lived in apartments when we got married (thus cat). Now we have a house, but can’t afford to add a big dog, probably for several years, and that’s if things go well in these uncertain times. We’re in our mid-50s now. He talks about how tired he is when he gets home from work. Walk the dog, anyone? But he’s determined to own a GSD before he dies. I would love to as well, but I’m not sure we can manage it and think he might just be idealizing his brother’s dog and looking for a clone. It is his dream, so I’m sure he’d be more motivated to care for the dog than he is for “my” cat, but I don’t know if once the cat is gone, we’ll be ready for a GSD pup. I think he’s open to an adult dog, as we originally went to the shelter to look at a shepherd when we ended up bringing the cat home, lol. Any advice?

Great video. My family had dogs all my life, more than one at the time usually, and my mother had dogs all her life too, so we are all pretty experience dog owners. From your list I've had an neapolitan mastiff, 4 different boxers and a german shepard, and yes, they are all challenging dog breeds, that would create different problems for a inexperience owner. Our boxers required so much exercise, had no real control over their appetite, and were too smart for their own good (one even learned to open the fridge, to steal food), but we had them as kids so they were well exercised and didn't have the energy for evil. Our mastiff was not well socialized in her first months and caused some problems when she was a puppy, but my mother is a fantastic trainer, and all of our dogs obeyd without hesitation, something important particularly with powerful dogs like mastiffs and german shepherds. We also had a great dane, 2 irish setters, a finnish lapphund, and three big mutts, so as you can see, we're not small dogs people.

My first dog was a border collie absolutely brilliant match between the two of us. My second and current dog which is a malamute,australian cattle dog,border collie mix has been a perfect match aswell

My daughter brought home a 10 week old female Cowboy Corgi-Australian Shepherd…… Herding is strong with this one. I love the now 3-1/2 month old nipper, but I need a break. Everyone else in the family does too, including my daughter. The pup was taught to sit, lay down and is learning to wait. She needs her 3rd series of shots before my daughter can take her out into the community. I think that part of the issue is lack of energy expenditure, as she needs at least 1 or 2 hours per day(or more!). I don’t think that my daughter will be willing to re-home her. I will be looking for the trainer of Malinois and German Shepherds that I saw in my neighborhood to help with the puppy.

Great video! I would also add the Akita; both the Japanese and the American. I think people get dogs based on their appearance and make that the only criteria (mistake nr.1) and also do not commit to understand and train and socialise their pups.

As the human of a Jack Russell, I completely agree. I have had many dogs in my life, my Jack is extremely smart, very active and incredibly sassy. Love her to bits

Would have liked to see Livestock Guardian breeds included on here! Noteably the Great Pyrenees which has been increasingly flooding the shelters in many areas due to urban families wanting a "family friendly", fluffy giant and then finding all they want to do is bark, escape, and roam....

My last dog passed away early April 2024, she was a shelter dog. She was 9/10 when I got her, and she passed at around 17 years old. I adopted a senior knowing she may not have a long life, but boy was I wrong! She was an amazing jack russell x. Shelter dogs are amazing dogs, as are seniors. When we get our next dog, will depend on what our lifestyle is going to look like in a few years. Mixed breeds, seniors, shelter dogs, all great. Just be ready to put time into the shelter dog, be patient. For first time owners? I totally agree with you. Great information! (im in the UK btw)

My daughter got her her first dog from pound, and it's a Shephard/ Doberman cross. After being locked up for a month of its life ( she is only a year and a half), she is turning out beautifully. My daughter just loves her to pieces, and the dog gets to go to the ocean or a park 3 times a day. She is getting socialized nicely, whether at a dog park, or sitting at a coffee shop, and has even had her off leash. She's only had her three weeks and lives in an apartment. It working out awesome for a big dog. But i get your point. My daughter only has her dog to take care of so its easy to get her out. Plus she never plans to have children. So this pup will never be going back to the pound.

My corgis were deffinitly work, fortunatly we had herding dogs growing up so I was able to work with them, but they pack so much energy in to such a small dog.

Mixed breeds are dogs like a box of chocolate, you never know what you’re gonna get 😂 Husky GSD cross with maybe some other breeds in there too. He’s smart, energetic, high prey drive, independent and always on guard. But also wants to please and friendly. Each day I never really know which breed is going to show up, but we make sure to get enough exercise and mental stimulation. Definitely think about researching different breeds and also be willing to accommodate the dogs needs into your lifestyle no matter what personality they turn out to have! Dogs need FUN and FLEXIBLE people ❤🐾❤️ Enjoy your pups 🤗

Hey! I’m sort of looking into getting a dog, and the Australian shepherd based on my research would be the best for me, because they’re good with small animals (I own rabbits), I’m really active, and I know the whole first year of that dogs life will be training. Is there any more info I need to know about the breed? Because I’m totally going to be making the investment for training and bond time.

my first dog was my Border Collie, her mother belonged to a neighbour and I often walked her, once the puppies arrived, Mama was eager to show me her babies, and so Meg became my treasured companion, she was a joy to train, and loved going on walks with me. I lost her 2 years ago and miss her greatly, I currently have a 12 year chocolate Lab, who is love on paws and is everyone's friend.

I've had Norwegian Elkhounds for nearly forty years, and shepherd mixes before that. Each dog I have had was an individual, and I can't think of one that didn't exasperate at one time or another, but the Elkhounds, well, there's something special about the breed. Not the best fit for everybody, but they are for me.

I totally agree with almost every breed on this list but I am surprised to see boxers on it. I've never had one myself but have been told repeatedly over the years that they're the ideal family dog. I can see them being rough for someone without kids if they were expecting a lap dog and didn't give it the attention and exercise it needed. I would also add beagles to the list. We've owned two. They are babies their whole life and you literally become their pack. But they think for themselves and weigh everything you tell them with whether or not it will benefit them. They are one of the most stubborn breeds out there. They are exceptionally needy dogs and you must watch them like a hawk because their aim every second is to get into some kind of trouble. So many see a cute little dog and 9/10 they end up in a shelter where they do not do well. Again, we love ours (though spaniels are my soulmates), but I wouldn't recommend them to beginners.

I would not recommend the min pin either, they are active and full of anxiety so it makes mine at least hard to leash train. At almost nine years she still pulls. doesn't help she has basenji in her either.

I have a standard poodle that I'm training as a service dog. Even if I wasn’t going so far with her, it really is a lot to train them. They grow fast, are hyper and intelligent, and (if not taught to trust you and what you tell them) can be very stubborn. Her energy and hyperness haven’t faded, but her attention and willingness to learn have increased as she's gotten older (2y/o now), but that only because of her training.

I would also add Corgi to your list, believe it or not. I have a corgi/pomerium mix who is over twelve years old. I thoroughly socialized him and he is very friendly. He was easy to train and is extremely intelligent. I bet he knows 500 words. BUT he is very forward and has lots of energy. Every time I take him out the door we have to sit and wait until he is calm. Then we go out the door and he knows another wait is coming and he circles around the door and sits. Then another wait going down the steps and a long on the sidewalk. As we walk, if he pulls on the leash, another wait. Usually does a big sigh and we go on nicely. (We have not been to the dog park since my car is being repaired. A big romp daily there is essential.) He nips my ankles sometime and tries to herd seagulls at the beach. He is the happiest dog on earth but very forward. I can see adopting people getting exasperated if they do not build in an off leash romp on a daily basis. PS: the Queen had a trainer and the dogs romped daily before the went upstairs. You can see pictures of them sleeping all over the carpet. They were tired!

I dont understand how someone can 1. not do any research and 2. return a dog - im planning on getting a border collie in may 2025 and im literally planning and researching a YEAR before i get it to make sure i know everything and am prepared for everything :) to be the best dog owner

I agree with you 100%. I have had dogs all my life. collies, shepherds, mutts. Now I have Labradors. So many people get Labs and have no clue what kind of energy they have. They ARE great family dogs, WHEN they get enough exercise and if you brush them or don't mind the shedding. I have watched other first time dog owners get various hunting dogs, like hounds and think because they're a pet, their instincts will just turn off. They do no research on the breed.

I haven't owned "my own" dog yet. However my family and I have had a few German Shepherds, my neighbor has a rottweiler I've helped train and walk and such since she's elderly. And my cousins have two huskies which I've also helped out with on occasion. However, as a 25 year old who's soon to move to my own yard (I have horses, here in Sweden) and one of my dream dogs are Dobermans. Sure it is my first dog I buy myself, but because I'm feeling confident in training, high energy and working dogs. Plus, I have a few good dog trainers and kennel clubs in my area. But I also think because of where I'm looking to be moving it will have lots of space, enrichment and I'll be able to work him/her properly. Where I'm moving I have lots of trails which is privately owned by the neighbors (which are okay to use the trails) so my dream is to train them to go with me on rides with the horses and such around here. I've trained our own, old family dogs to do it. So yeah, it's the first time I', "buying" my own dog. But because of how involved I've been with our latest dogs, as well as close ones. I feel pretty confident in taking one on, and have even began looking into a good local breeder which I really like.

I have never owned a dog (I'm in my 50s) partly that's because I like bigger dogs and I haven't been able to afford keeping one. I have wanted a dog since I was a teenager. I've studied how to take care of dogs, helped friends train their dogs (German Shepherd, Jack Russell, Smooth Collie, for instance), poured over breed characteristics and trained my cat (he had about 20 cues). I have friends who do dog rescue that have said I'm the only person they know that they'd be okay with having a Rottweiler as a first dog. That said, I agree with your list. High energy dogs and extremely intelligent dogs are a recipe for disaster if their needs aren't met because they will find ways to entertain themselves and likely those ways would be destructive. I would never, ever own a Border Collie because I'm not up to dealing with that level of energy and intelligence combined. Even if I wanted to do dog sports I'd be tempted to get my feet wet with a different breed. It's not a good idea to try to learn to drive on a Lamborghini. 😉 Big dogs can hurt people by being friendly. A large dog jumping up as a greeting could knock down someone who's small or frail and for seniors in particular that could lead to broken bones.

Unfortunately it's all too common that I see these breeds at shelters because people don't bother to know these breeds and how they work and what's involved for their care. I thought this was an excellent video.

I would like to add a caution to people who wish to own first generation standard sized golden doodles. First generation golden doodles are usually heavy shedders. They are double coated and their fur grows rapidly. We are experienced large dog owners. Our first dog was a real mixed breed, resembled a small golden retriever. Our second and third dogs were half collie half golden retriever and our fourth and fifth dogs are now golden doodles. Of all our dogs the golden doodles require the most grooming. In fact, they require constant grooming. We are older and unable to keep up with a 65 lb and an 80 lb golden doodle who needs to be groomed daily and so we are forced to have them professionally groomed EVERY month. We have them shaved to one inch and bathed and blown out one month and then only bathed the next month. In Missouri this costs about $175.00 and $200.00 respectively per month. You are charged by the size of the dog and the difficulty of the groom. The cost alone is out of many people's budget. The second reason is because these dogs are extremely active (probably the poodle in them) and have a very high prey drive. I was seriously injured the first year we owned them because I was walking them and the largest of the two saw a lone leaf lifted off the ground by an unexpected breeze. She bolted and I was twisted in the air and hit the pavement with torn muscles in both of my legs. As I said, I am very experienced with large dogs, but was not expecting such a move from my dog. They need constant exercise and preferably a large yard. The third reason is because they are highly intelligent and have high needs for affection and attention. These seem like great characteristics however this means they need to be played with constantly and desire constant affection. This last detail is something I adore. They want to snuggle and be petted at all times. However, I must admit that the first two years we had them we were exhausted. It was as if we older folks who had not had kids in the house in years had adopted two toddlers. And they are now six years old and still require the same amount of affection. They are amazing dogs and I love them dearly, but I must be fully honest. We bit off a little more than we could chew! I'm so glad I have them, but they completely altered our lifestyle!

We did have dogs before, but mainly terriers though . Tho one Golden Retriever for a while too!

Also Belgian Malinois. So many get these dogs and they have no clue on how this dog behaves. They need stimulation mental and physical. Too many are in shelters💔😢

So, what do you recommend are perfect for first time dog owners?

The breed of my heart is briard. I love them. We have a briard, she is super smart but needs training and a lot of activities. Luckily we are able to provide it to her and she is just perfect ❤️

I haven't owned a dog in over a decade, but I have done stints of longterm daily sitting and basic training in that time. My last one was 16 hours a day for almost 3 months, with two German shepherds that needed work on their reactivity and especially redirecting the younger one's prey drive. Before that, it was 4 hours a day with some foster pitty mixes, working on basic manners and replacing one's maladaptive coping mechanism with a more productive outlet for stress. My partners have never had any dogs before, and I haven't done more comprehensive training than the standard things every dog needs to know. I have limited mobility and can't do long walks or runs. I'm hoping I can get a dog or a pair that can be trained to pull a cart, so their exercise wouldn't be limited to short walks. But I'm not sure I have the skills to do that training myself, and even if I could, I'm worried it might be too much for my partners as their first dog. Do you have any recommendations?

I adopted 2 male dogs from the same breeder when I was 19, one when he was 9 months, and the other when he was 12 months. One died in 2021, and the other last summer at 15 1/2 years old. VERY nice dogs, one was very dominant. Now I got a puppy Dobermann from working line. With one of the dogs I adopted I had many problems with, read alot of books about training dogs etc. Took me many hours daily for years, but it was all worth it

Do you have the opposite video on dog breeds you would recommend for first time dog owners?

I have a Border Collie Husky mix , and a Boxer on 16 acres in the woods . Husky drags carcases of everything and keeps the critters away from my chickens and Cattle . Boxer is back up .

Adopted a 3 month old cattle jack (Australian Cattle Dog mix with Jack Russel) and my lord does she have tons of energy 😅

I consider myself an experienced dog owner, and I loved my former dog, a GSD/malinois mix, we were a team but she was also a handful. She came from circumstances that weren't optimal and the people that bought her from the breeder couldn't handle her. I get why. I wouldn't have chosen that mix, but there she was. She should have lived with people that needed a working dog, a smart dog, but she was about to be put down and I said "Why not? I'll give it a try." In a way it was a disaster but we became a team, like I said. I think she would have been better off doing agility,or killing intruders, but she was stuck with me. Don't get a GSD or malinois if you want a companion dog, or a guardian dog (if you don't need a dog protecting you from a drug cartell).

I have a Coton de Tulear! I can’t imagine having this breed of if I wasn’t in a very good financial position. Her grooming costs are about $1,500/year! There are always so many things to consider.

Adopted a Pitt mix . I’ve had him for a year. I love the kid and he loves me . He is so gentle with my mom, a little less so with my dad, and then I get the full experience. He has met a few kids and been very gentle with them. He is about 3 years old. I would get another pit mix tomorrow if I had the room. I had a miniature poodle before this kid and I wish I had gotten a pit mix instead 😂

What getting a German Shepherd Dog for persons with physical disabilities? Could GSD knock you down if not trained properly?

This is a very helpful video but unfortunately many people are too blind to see what their life conditioning really means for some dogs. In this case people like you need to protect dogs from being put in a situation where they hurt everyone. Dogs and human, based on failures made by people themselves. Bravo.

As someone who dearly loves the breed, I'd probably include dachshunds. They are great dogs with some of the biggest personalities, sweet and funny and very loving. But they require specialized care to keep their backs healthy, and they can often combine the worst traits of both hounds and terriers in their stubbornness and tenacity towards being naughty, and they are not easy to train. Wonderful dogs, I love them and I just had to say goodbye to my last one last year due to cancer, but if an owner isn't willing to put in the time and effort with them, they can be little terrors and they have teeth and claws that are sized for much bigger dogs than them (my Jake was 14 pounds and had the same sized teeth and claws as my mom's 80 pound mutt, Bruce). Again, I adore the breed, and I hope to get another in the future, but between the care needed for their backs, the challenges of training, and just how much socialization they need to be good citizens, not a breed I would recommend for those new to dogs. My Jake was practically a model citizen who was good around other dogs, cats, children (he was adored at little league baseball), and could even be trusted around chickens, but even he had his flaws. I don't know what ducks ever did to him but he could NOT be trusted anytime he saw one.

My dog has a great temperament. I adopted him when he was 6 so maybe the high energy time had past. He looks mostly like a beagle border collie mix with pug eyes but he actually is 16 different breeds.

Are GSDs rough or can they can be trained to be gentle?

Not that important but FINALLY! Someone that says the Cane Corso's name correctly! 😂 and yes, thank you for the eye opening info

I have a husky/shepherd mix. We had to spend hours when she was little training her. Consistent on leash/off leash training and making sure she was well exercised made a world of difference in shaping the dog she is today (nearly 7 years old now!). She is a very beautiful dog (my husband describes her as a GSD body with a husky paint job) but she would be an awful dog for someone who is not able/willing to put in the hours of dedication it takes to train a dog like this. She is incredibly intelligent. She is incredible with our family (2 adults and a kiddo who is 5 and 2 older cats that she has grown up with, previously had an older small breed dog we had to put down earlier this year). And yes, the hair... it's a nightmare but I wouldn't trade this dog for the world. It breaks my heart to see people get dogs and then just act like they're an accessory.

We have always had labs. They’re my favorite! My husband wanted a Brittany. After we lost our favorite yellow lab, he was on the lookout. We literally had one fall right into our laps! We were camping on Memorial weekend at our seasonal, and one of the fellow campers came across the last two Brittanys in a litter. They were both males, and we wanted a male. The lady told him he had to take both, as these dogs were free. Long story as to why this was, but it wasn’t suspect. 😉 So, he chose the runt, hoping we would take the last brother. Well, we still have him. We did our research Brittanys, and on the amount of exercise they need, so he gets A LOT! His sister, who was also adopted by a fellow couple at our campground, doesn’t get exercise, has been to obedient school-twice, and keeps running off. We kept telling him to let her get her vigorous exercise, and she will be a good dog. That poor dog sits in a kennel all day long. Brittanys can’t handle this kind of sedentary life.

Bordeaux is my 1st Dog & he is the best boy Standard Poodle