5 Worst Dog Breeds For First-Time Owners, As Shared By Trainer Of 10 Years
One of the biggest benefits of responsibly bred dogs is that they are more predictable. But if you’re in the market for such a puppy, so still need to carefully figure out which breed is the best fit for you.
It’s important to refrain from focusing solely on looks. There are many more factors that determine your compatibility. And arguably the biggest one is your experience as an owner.
Luckily, there are many choices and people who can guide you through them. Like dog trainer and content creator Karlee Stark who just released a TikTok mini-series dedicated to helping you make this decision.
More info: KarleeStark.com | Instagram | TikTok
Dog trainer of 10 years Karlee Stark believes that inexperienced first-time owners should be cautious of some breeds due to the engagement they require
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So she made a comprehensive TikTok video listing them and explaining her thoughts
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We got in touch with Karlee Stark, and she was kind enough to have a little chat with us and provide us with more context on her content. “I was introduced to dog training at eight when my parents decided to start a commercial breeding and training business,” Stark told Bored Panda.
“We worked hard to ensure that every dog sold or came in for training had the best care and attention possible. Because I was involved with most of the dogs that came in for training, I gained lots of experience working with many breeds and learning their differences.”
“Over the years, I have been able to distinguish which breeds I am fond of and which I am not. As well as breeds I see fit for different types of owners. I have also seen how environment, nutrition, and ethical breeding affect how a dog thrives in its life.”
Stark’s clip soon went viral
@ksdogtraining Pt 1 This is my personal opinion as a trainer if 10 years #greenscreen #dogmom #dogmomthings #dogsoftiktok #dogtrainersoftiktok #spoilyourdog #trainingtips ♬ original sound – ksdogtraining
Now, Karlee’s typical day starts with personal care.
“My morning routine gets my head right to tackle any situation. A massive part of it is going to the gym to strengthen my body. Weakness does not go over well when you have a dog that nearly outweighs you trying to eat you for lunch,” she said, highlighting that her strength and ability to handle bad situations affect her ability as a trainer.
Karlee then moves on to working with the dogs she’s training.
“Depending on the dog and how far along they are in their training, I will decipher how often I work with them daily. Some dogs need lots of exercise before they are ready to train, so I ensure they get it before our sessions so they are prepared to learn.”
The training sessions themselves may involve basic obedience, socialization, house training, and anything else the dog may need extra help learning.
Every dog I have the opportunity to train holds a special place in my heart,” Karlee said. “All of them come from different backgrounds and live in different environments. I spend hours on end every day developing personal relationships with these dogs and working on improving their lives.
And people started asking for alternatives to these breeds
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So she rounded up large dogs that she thinks are actually good even for novices
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Picking the wrong breed and then having to give up the pup because it is too much to handle is one of the reasons why approximately 3.1 million dogs enter US shelters every year (although it’s important to highlight that about 710,000 of them end up there due to other reasons and are returned to their owners).
Here are a few questions the American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends asking yourself when determining which dog is the best fit for your lifestyle. (Also, keep in mind that a prospective breeder may ask you these and/or other questions when deciding if your home is right for one of their puppies, so it may be helpful to jot your answers down).
- Are you an active person or more laid-back?
- Do you have children or plan to have children?
- Do you have the income to pay for vet visits (unexpected ones in addition to regular examinations and shots), pet insurance (if you choose to buy it), dog food, supplies, and more?
- How much time do you have to socialize and train a new puppy?
- How long are you away from home each day?
- How often do you take business trips and vacations, and what are your plans for the dog during these times?
It was another hit
@ksdogtraining Replying to @breroses239 #greenscreen Some dogs are the exception! #dogs #dogbreeds #dogtips #pets #dogsoftiktok #dogadvice ♬ original sound – ksdogtraining
Now it’s time to think about what you’re looking for in a dog.
- How much time can you commit to grooming a dog (and how concerned are you about shedding)? Also, do you have allergies?
- Are you looking for a dog for a specific activity (such as hiking, agility, or running)?
- Do you prefer large dogs or small dogs?
Contrary to popular belief, your living situation doesn’t necessarily have to dictate the last answer. Even apartment dwellers can easily share their homes with some larger dog breeds. As long as the dog’s exercise needs are met (through long walks, trips to the dog park, and activity sessions), the dog’s living area doesn’t necessarily have to be a certain size.
Later, Stark made a separate video on easier-to-handle small breeds
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Of course, there are individuals that fall out of the norm. In fact, the more dogs Karlee works with, the more she comes across dogs that do not fit into the stereotype commonly associated with their breed.
Like a German Shepherd who does not have the drive for bite work or sniffing narcotics even though the breed is often seen in police and military K-9 units doing exactly that.
So why don’t all dogs strive to do what they were initially bred for?
“It all boils down to the breeding lines they come from, their environment, and the quality of their daily nutrition,” Stark explained. “If your dog does not come from working lines, chances are they don’t have the instinct to work. If they are not placed in a working environment, they are less likely to show signs of that instinct as well. And if someone fed you nothing but ramen noodles and mac & cheese every day, you would not be able to function at your best. Neither do dogs. If they are not given the proper nutrients throughout their life, their minds and bodies will not thrive at their highest potential.”
Which also garnered a fair bit of attention
@ksdogtraining I love to hear your opinions on things. But don’t bash on others!! #greenscreen #dogawareness #dogtraining #dogbreeds #dogtips #dogsoftiktok #dogadvice ♬ original sound – ksdogtraining
“I am passionate about helping people, and their dogs learn how to thrive,” Karlee added. “I enjoy it so much that I started a blog that gives dog training and lifestyle tips for those wanting to learn more about having a long and prosperous life with their pets. “
“I also work with a customized pet nutrition company to ensure my clients can find the correct nutrition for their dogs. Go to KarleeStark.com to learn more about me and receive updates every time I post!”
Here’s what people said after watching her TikToks
I can't say that I agree with this trainer's logic. She seems to have a bias towards purebreds which can be more prone to health issues due to poor, and accepted, breeding practices. For instance she says to only get a purebred poodle and not a goldendoodle or labradoodle. A hybrid "doodle" (poodle parent + lab or golden parent) benefits from something called "hybrid vigor" meaning that they are coming from diverse gene pools. And while this is purely anecdotal, my sweet rescue has had two different corgis snarl and go after her for absolutely no reason. Anyhow, this list is mostly bunk. Some dogs and breeds are hard wired a certain way but proper training and behavioral training can make a world of difference. The emphasis should always be on training, socialization and exercise. Finally, rescue, rescue, rescue... and spay and neuter your dogs. We don't need more purebred dogs. We need healthy dogs and to stop euthanizing them. End of rant :D
I agree with you! And although I understand what she is doing here, I still miss advocating for mixed breed/mutts from the shelter.
No, some people end up with very powerful dogs they think they can handle and these dogs end up in shelters because as it turns out these owners are not the "dog whisperers" they think they are
I feel like mixed breeds are always the way to go. The last three dogs I have had have been pit/labs mixes one is still going strong at 13 and other passed at almost 16 years old. They have the best traits from both breeds.
I can't imagine why you got downvoted. You make an excellent point.
Corgis can definitely be snappy. They were originally bred to be cattle dogs and snap at the heels of cows.
This misses the point. Yes, mongrels can be, and often are, healthy, smart and generally excellent pets. But you don't know what you're getting. Your only guidance is advice from the shelter staff and however much time you have to spend with the dog in the shelter before adoption. Buying a recognised breed - from a responsible breeder - is a more reliable way of getting a dog that fits a type - energy levels, shedding, size etc. Some people, especially dog novices, want that. Others may simply have seen breeds that they like the look of and need advice on whether it's suitable for the. That's what these articles are here for - to advise those who want a specific kind of dog.
The issue with all the poodle mixes is people don’t pay much attention to their breeding. You’re better off getting a F1B. F2s, F3s and so forth are very dingy in the brain. I’m not saying all, because that’s accurate but I will say most. All the poodle mixes I’ve seen aren’t the smartest animals, they don’t understand the basic nature of a dog. You mix a poodle, an extremely high energy in your face dog with a Lab, Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain dog and you have two completely different temperaments. You can Google the information out there about poodle mixes and this information is widely agreed upon.
FIrst gen poodle mixes are the way to go healthwise. I can't agree with your comment about poodle mixes being dingy in the brain. I had a Goldendoodle and he was one of the smartest dogs I've ever met. But doodle to doodle don't get the health benefits since it is a small gene pool that they are drawing from. That said, every dog is different and "you never know"...
Corgis are not easy dogs at all. I should know, I have one. Smart dogs are not for everyone as they know exactly what they can get away with! There are hundreds of easier breeds and muts out there, than her list.
Corgis are adorable and smart from my experience but they can also be little devils. Cute ones though
Thank you for logic and empathy. You should have written this article. You said more in your post than this so-called expert. For once I'd like to read a decent, intelligent, optimistic! article about mixed bred dogs, period. Seriously.
I’d add Malamutes to the “Not for First Time Owners” list. They are exceptionally smart dogs. Although difficult, they can be trained. And once trained, if they don’t follow a command… it’s not for lack of understanding… it’s because they’re being willful. Plus, they’re a LOT of dog to handle. I owned two great malamonsters… Polaris weighed 143 lbs. and Regulus weighed 141 lbs. I’m a certified dog trainer. My mals were very well trained. Although, not always well behaved. :) Currently, I own a golden and an American Shepard (aka mini Aussie). My golden is a sweet, playful, goofball, while my Aussie is our house’s disciplinarian. She literally herds our cats. If I start scolding the other animals… she’s right there “scolding” them with me. I unintentionally taught her to discipline when our kitten would do something he wasn’t supposed to (start climbing the curtain or scratch the couch). I’d tell her, “Andromeda, go tell Corvus ‘NO!’” And she would! Now she does it ALL the time!
High energy and need a job
What great names for your pets. Like them all! :-)
Stars, constellations, and Greek mythological names… All of them. The golden is Argos. The other kitties are Ares and Zaniah.
Some friends of ours, both experienced dog people, had one. They said it was the hardest to train of any dog that either had ever owned and when he was going through his "teenage" spell they wondered if they'd made a mistake. He did eventually become a very well trained dog in the end.
Despite being well trained, my malamonsters were terrors! They’d constantly get into “dog proof” trash cans. Regulus ate a couch cushion. He ate a mattress. He tore up a comforter. Polaris ate shoes… expensive Italian leather shoes. Food was not safe unattended. Sometimes it wasn’t safe if it WAS attended. Twice they got into my locked and fenced chicken coop. They ate straight through the side of it. It wasn’t pretty. They’d dig up my garden looking for rabbits or gophers. They chewed up the wreath on my front door. Polaris ripped up the exterior carpet on my front porch. I tried crating them. They were better escape artists than Houdini. And they were my babies, my best friends, and some of the best and smartest dogs I ever owned. Monsters, sure! But I loved them so much!
For those interested… Here are some pics of my mals: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-T6jwpS5ANHLK60MXyBuUXYft5M9pUxLFTP5CXnyEVU/copy
How cute! I can see how they could be real terrors. Still made me laugh, particularly the one of them competing to drink out of the toilet 😂
I started reading and malamutes. That is husky. My bestie breeds giant malamutes so the post does mention your dog(s) huskies!!
Sorry, but no. Malamutes are NOT huskies. Their bloodlines are completely different. Their temperaments are completely different.
Could not agree more with the Golden Retriever. They are the best dogs in the world in my opinion. I'm not an expert, but I have lived around them my whole life, and they are so kind.
I can't say that I agree with this trainer's logic. She seems to have a bias towards purebreds which can be more prone to health issues due to poor, and accepted, breeding practices. For instance she says to only get a purebred poodle and not a goldendoodle or labradoodle. A hybrid "doodle" (poodle parent + lab or golden parent) benefits from something called "hybrid vigor" meaning that they are coming from diverse gene pools. And while this is purely anecdotal, my sweet rescue has had two different corgis snarl and go after her for absolutely no reason. Anyhow, this list is mostly bunk. Some dogs and breeds are hard wired a certain way but proper training and behavioral training can make a world of difference. The emphasis should always be on training, socialization and exercise. Finally, rescue, rescue, rescue... and spay and neuter your dogs. We don't need more purebred dogs. We need healthy dogs and to stop euthanizing them. End of rant :D
I agree with you! And although I understand what she is doing here, I still miss advocating for mixed breed/mutts from the shelter.
No, some people end up with very powerful dogs they think they can handle and these dogs end up in shelters because as it turns out these owners are not the "dog whisperers" they think they are
I feel like mixed breeds are always the way to go. The last three dogs I have had have been pit/labs mixes one is still going strong at 13 and other passed at almost 16 years old. They have the best traits from both breeds.
I can't imagine why you got downvoted. You make an excellent point.
Corgis can definitely be snappy. They were originally bred to be cattle dogs and snap at the heels of cows.
This misses the point. Yes, mongrels can be, and often are, healthy, smart and generally excellent pets. But you don't know what you're getting. Your only guidance is advice from the shelter staff and however much time you have to spend with the dog in the shelter before adoption. Buying a recognised breed - from a responsible breeder - is a more reliable way of getting a dog that fits a type - energy levels, shedding, size etc. Some people, especially dog novices, want that. Others may simply have seen breeds that they like the look of and need advice on whether it's suitable for the. That's what these articles are here for - to advise those who want a specific kind of dog.
The issue with all the poodle mixes is people don’t pay much attention to their breeding. You’re better off getting a F1B. F2s, F3s and so forth are very dingy in the brain. I’m not saying all, because that’s accurate but I will say most. All the poodle mixes I’ve seen aren’t the smartest animals, they don’t understand the basic nature of a dog. You mix a poodle, an extremely high energy in your face dog with a Lab, Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain dog and you have two completely different temperaments. You can Google the information out there about poodle mixes and this information is widely agreed upon.
FIrst gen poodle mixes are the way to go healthwise. I can't agree with your comment about poodle mixes being dingy in the brain. I had a Goldendoodle and he was one of the smartest dogs I've ever met. But doodle to doodle don't get the health benefits since it is a small gene pool that they are drawing from. That said, every dog is different and "you never know"...
Corgis are not easy dogs at all. I should know, I have one. Smart dogs are not for everyone as they know exactly what they can get away with! There are hundreds of easier breeds and muts out there, than her list.
Corgis are adorable and smart from my experience but they can also be little devils. Cute ones though
Thank you for logic and empathy. You should have written this article. You said more in your post than this so-called expert. For once I'd like to read a decent, intelligent, optimistic! article about mixed bred dogs, period. Seriously.
I’d add Malamutes to the “Not for First Time Owners” list. They are exceptionally smart dogs. Although difficult, they can be trained. And once trained, if they don’t follow a command… it’s not for lack of understanding… it’s because they’re being willful. Plus, they’re a LOT of dog to handle. I owned two great malamonsters… Polaris weighed 143 lbs. and Regulus weighed 141 lbs. I’m a certified dog trainer. My mals were very well trained. Although, not always well behaved. :) Currently, I own a golden and an American Shepard (aka mini Aussie). My golden is a sweet, playful, goofball, while my Aussie is our house’s disciplinarian. She literally herds our cats. If I start scolding the other animals… she’s right there “scolding” them with me. I unintentionally taught her to discipline when our kitten would do something he wasn’t supposed to (start climbing the curtain or scratch the couch). I’d tell her, “Andromeda, go tell Corvus ‘NO!’” And she would! Now she does it ALL the time!
High energy and need a job
What great names for your pets. Like them all! :-)
Stars, constellations, and Greek mythological names… All of them. The golden is Argos. The other kitties are Ares and Zaniah.
Some friends of ours, both experienced dog people, had one. They said it was the hardest to train of any dog that either had ever owned and when he was going through his "teenage" spell they wondered if they'd made a mistake. He did eventually become a very well trained dog in the end.
Despite being well trained, my malamonsters were terrors! They’d constantly get into “dog proof” trash cans. Regulus ate a couch cushion. He ate a mattress. He tore up a comforter. Polaris ate shoes… expensive Italian leather shoes. Food was not safe unattended. Sometimes it wasn’t safe if it WAS attended. Twice they got into my locked and fenced chicken coop. They ate straight through the side of it. It wasn’t pretty. They’d dig up my garden looking for rabbits or gophers. They chewed up the wreath on my front door. Polaris ripped up the exterior carpet on my front porch. I tried crating them. They were better escape artists than Houdini. And they were my babies, my best friends, and some of the best and smartest dogs I ever owned. Monsters, sure! But I loved them so much!
For those interested… Here are some pics of my mals: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-T6jwpS5ANHLK60MXyBuUXYft5M9pUxLFTP5CXnyEVU/copy
How cute! I can see how they could be real terrors. Still made me laugh, particularly the one of them competing to drink out of the toilet 😂
I started reading and malamutes. That is husky. My bestie breeds giant malamutes so the post does mention your dog(s) huskies!!
Sorry, but no. Malamutes are NOT huskies. Their bloodlines are completely different. Their temperaments are completely different.
Could not agree more with the Golden Retriever. They are the best dogs in the world in my opinion. I'm not an expert, but I have lived around them my whole life, and they are so kind.