Canine behaviourist reveals three dog breeds 'most likely to bite children'

Dog trainer says there are three breeds he'd 'steer clear of' if you have kids
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


A renowned canine behaviourist has identified three breeds he would not recommend for families with children.

Will Atherton, an expert dog trainer with more than 900,000 followers on TikTok, shares dog training advice and helps his audience choose suitable breeds based on their lifestyle and the breed's temperament. In a video with over 9.3 million views, Will reveals the "worst dog breeds for families", highlighting potential dangers to young children.

He started the video by saying: "My job is helping fix dogs when they've gone terribly wrong, so which are the breeds I see that happen most often to, that you as a family member might want to steer well clear of?"

Belgian Malinois
Belgian Malinois (file) -Credit:Getty Images/iStockphoto

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Belgian Malinois

Despite the Belgian Malinois' impressive obedience and training capabilities, Will believes the breed is not suitable for families with children. He explained: "They bite children, they hurt children, they have no off switch and they want to be go, go, go all the time."

Caucasian Shepherd

Will highlighted the Caucasian Shepherd as a problematic breed, but noted that "any of the giant livestock guardian breeds" can be challenging.

He elaborated: "Yes, they can be protective of the family, but they're much better suited to live outside on a farm. And if you try and bring them into the home, they might not have the patience or the ability to get away from children that they find frustrating." Will also mentioned that such situations often result in "bites on children".

Dogo Argentino

Turning his attention to the Dogo Argentino, Will expressed his fondness for mastiff breeds but pointed out that he hears about the Dogo Argentino "going wrong with children" more than any other.

The Dogo Argentino is among the five dog breeds outlawed in the UK, alongside the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasileiro, and most recently, the XL Bully.