A canine behaviourist has shared the three dog breeds they say are easiest to own. Dogs are not always easy to have around – they require love, attention, and lots of exercise.
But some breeds are less demanding than others, and it can be hard to know which is the best pick. Luckily, expert Will Atherton has taken to TikTok to share his top picks for the easiest pooches to care for.
“As a canine behaviourist, I’ve worked with countless different breeds and I’ve seen breeds that are really easy to own and work with,” he said. “First up has to be the greyhound.”
Atherton noted these dogs are often pegged as the “racing dogs,” and many would consider them “high-energy,” which might make his choice seem “counter-intuitive.”
“But that’s actually not true,” he explained. “They’re super lazy, super chill, super quiet dogs.”
Next up on Atherton’s list was the shih tzu. “Yes, sometimes it can be a little bit yappy, but it’s really easy to fix. Other than that, they’re just easy to live with.”
Rounding off the list was one of Atherton’s personal favourites, and it may come as a surprise. He said older Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or ‘staffies’, are ideal companions, especially if they come from rescue centres.
He said: “Yes, young staffies are more energetic, like all breeds. But there are rescue centres all over the country filled with old staffies that would make easy and wonderful canine companions.”
This statement comes in the wake of Atherton’s revelation about the one breed of dog he finds challenging. The husky, while often chosen for its striking appearance, has been labelled by the pet expert as “aloof” and “drama queens.”
“I just think that certain breeds have certain requirements and meet certain lifestyles better than others,” he added.
“And Siberian Huskies don’t like to look up to people for guidance and direction, they’re very independent, and I can find that they’re often aloof and drama queens. And when my [training] system is built on the relationship in which you’re the dog’s loving leader and they look up to you for guidance and direction, that just doesn’t mesh very well.”
