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Top Ten Dogs for Experienced Owners

This is not a breed for the faint of heart!

As you know, there is no such thing as a “bad breed”, but all of us can likely agree that some breeds require more socialization and a firmer training hand than others. With the proper training, love, and socialization, any dog of any breed can be a great addition to the family. Newer owners may not be familiar enough with what is required to be able to accomplish the required training and socialization for these more challenging breeds.

Many of the experts’ choices are based on size, which can be an important factor. A large, powerful dog who pulls you around on the leash can create big problems in a hurry. In addition, consideration is given to the reasons for which certain breeds were created, such as guarding and policing. The natural instinct of some of these dogs is to be aggressive, and a firm training hand is needed to keep them under control.

Finally, the vets who participated in the survey gave some weight to the issue of insurance. Depending on where you live, you may have to carry additional homeowner’s insurance if you have a particular breed in your home. Many jurisdictions are starting to recognize temperament and past history as the definitive factors in requiring additional insurance, but many laws are still on the books that are breed-specific.

Interestingly enough, after years of bad press, the Pit Bull did not make the top ten list, or even the top fifteen. The comments VetStreet received on Pit Bulls were a real mixed bag, so when they weighed the positives against the negatives, they could not come to any consensus as to this breed being particularly difficult to raise.

With those disclaimers out of the way, on with the list!

10. St. Bernard: Only one word is needed to describe the major problem with this breed: DROOL! If you’re not prepared to follow behind your dog with a dish towel to wipe his mouth most of the time, you’re not prepared to have a St. Bernard in the house. And no, you can’t just leave the dog outside, unless you happen to live in the Swiss Alps. These dogs come with a very thick coat of fur, leaving them susceptible to heat stroke. Besides, they are companion dogs and do not do well if left alone, away from the family. If you want a St. Bernard, you must consider how you will deal with the shedding, the very large size, and the drool. This is not a breed for the faint of heart!

Weimaraners have very high energy and are not happy without something to do ALL the time.

9. German Shepherd Dog: German Shepherds can be great family dogs IF you spend the proper amount of time on training and socialization. These dogs are very protective and naturally aggressive, so you will have trouble if you don’t establish some ground rules right from the start. They are extremely smart, so you always need to stay one step ahead of them. You must keep them occupied mentally as well as physically, which requires some careful planning on your part if you will be away from home. If you slack off on training, you will end up with a dog you cannot trust around your children or neighbors, and you may end up with several lawsuits when the dog follows his or her natural tendencies to protect hearth and home. Aggressive dogs often end up being surrendered to shelters for this very reason, and the shelters have no choice but to put the dog down due to a known history of aggression.

8. Australian Cattle Dog: You may know this dog as a Blue Heeler or an Australian Heeler, but no matter what you call him, this breed is ready for action. They have more energy than they know what to do with, and have never heard of the word fear. Their only speeds are fast and faster. You may have trouble keeping up on walks, or should I say runs, and they are prone to injury because they never back down from any challenge. A firm training hand can keep this dog in line, but new owners may have trouble establishing that total obedience is required.

7. Dalmatian: Yes, they’re cute in the movies, but they’re also a handful, even when you don’t have 101 of them. Dalmatians were bred to work: they originally kept the streets clear for carriages and horse-drawn fire trucks. If no work is provided on a regular basis, they become destructive. You must plan for your time away from home so that you provide mental and physical stimulation for the Dalmatian while you are at work or out running errands. Dalmatians were seriously overbred soon after the original Disney movie came out, resulting in major instability in the gene pool. Responsible breeders have worked hard in the years since then to weed out many genetic problems such as deafness, and care must be exercised in finding a breeder who knows what they are doing.

6. Weimaraner: Although beautiful, these dogs are a handful. They have very high energy and are not happy without something to do ALL the time. Separation anxiety can be a big problem with Weims, and although smart, they are hard to potty train. If you have cats or other small pets, the Weimaraner will almost certainly see them as prey. If you’re not the most active of people, you will not be able to keep a Weimaraner happy and healthy as your companion.

Akitas are indepentent, strong, and hard to train. They also shed a lot.

5. Rottweiler: One of the most powerful of breeds, Rotts are over 100 pounds of solid muscle. They are extremely powerful, and this, coupled with their strong protective instincts, can make them a true danger if not properly trained and socialized. A Rottweiler requires a trainer with a very strong hand and a dominant character. Training must begin at a young age while the dog is small enough for you to easily control, and the job never ends. Constant discipline in regards to training is the only way to safely keep one of these beautiful dogs.

4. Alaskan Malamute: If you live in Alaska and travel by sled, this is the perfect dog for you. Otherwise, you may have a hard time dealing with the dog’s boundless energy and the resulting exercise requirements. This breed is internally equipped to travel miles and miles while pulling a heavy sled; taking a sedate walk through the park is not going to do it for this dog. The Malamute is a heavy shedder, particularly in the spring and fall, making it tough to keep up with grooming and housekeeping. And if you live in a warmer climate, you need to watch out for heat illnesses.

3. Chinese Shar-Pei: The Shar-Pei is challenging on two levels. First, these dogs are extremely territorial. Although they will be YOUR best friend, they may not much care for your friends or family members. Secondly, all of those wrinkles must be kept clean and dry to prevent skin problems. If you’re not an experienced dog person, you might not be able to keep up with both issues. Constant socialization is required to keep the dog open to meeting new people, and constant vigilance is required to keep the areas between the wrinkles from getting infected or irritated.

2. Chow Chow: These giant puff-balls aren’t as huggable as they appear to be. They are not especially fond of cuddling because of their independent nature. Chow Chows have been known to be aggressive toward other dogs, and are stubborn when it comes to training. They’re certainly smart enough to train well, but they have their own ideas about whether or not it’s worth their time. They are also heavy shedders.

1. Akita: The Akita was originally bred to hunt large game, and they are still formidable opponents to anyone trying to invade their territory. They can weigh well over 100 pounds, making it vital that they be trained while they are young and small. However, they are not easily trained by novices due to their strongly independent nature. They have an exceedingly strong prey drive, making them a danger to other animals. Like many of the dogs on this list, the Akita sheds A LOT. Daily grooming is recommended most of the time, and absolutely required seasonally for about two weeks.

If you are a novice dog owner, and we’ve scared you off, be sure to check out our article Top Ten Dogs for Novice Owners.