Dog trainer claims popular breed should be avoided in family homes

An expert dog trainer, embraced by an army of almost a million followers on TikTok, has advised against choosing Spaniels for busy family homes due to their boundless energy.

Will Atherton, a highly regarded canine behaviourist with a substantial social media following, regularly imparts his knowledge about matching dog breeds to different lifestyles.

The trainer found himself defending his stance after facing a viewer's critique asking: "Why do you hate Spaniels so much?"

In his response on the digital platform, Will asserted: "I promise you that isn't the case whatsoever."

Relaying his own experiences, he divulged: "One of the things I enjoy more in the dog world more than nearly anything else is when I take uncle Sully [his dog] and we're working out in the field, doing some gun dog stuff, and you see a spaniel beating up game, flushing through thick heather and thick hedgerows."

Atherton celebrated the activity of spaniels hunting, describing it as "beautiful" highlighting: "There are not many things in the dog world that are more awesome to see than that," reports the Mirror.

Despite his admiration, he contended that this spirited dedication can render spaniels unsuitable for busy family life.

He elucidated: "The problem is, when you bring that kind of energy into a busy family home, it rarely meshes very well.

"It wouldn't mesh well at my home with my family and my lifestyle, that's way too much energy."

His candid views have sparked a lively online discussion, with one follower commenting: "I have two Spaniels and I completely agree with you to be honest."

Another person shared their experience, saying: "100% agree!

"Our Springer is coming up to two years, and needs super engagement and enrichment, thankfully she runs with me and that burns off a lot of that energy!"

Meanwhile, someone else admitted: "We got a cocker without much research and he hums with enthusiasm and energy, but we mesh somehow - he's crazy though."