Since social media has been awash lately with these lists, I decided to throw my hat in the discussion. I get it, we all have that special breed that just tucks at our hearts strings. For me, the great pyrenees is that dog. I almost had my wish fulfilled when one of my clients talked to me about not wanting to keep theirs because he was too aggressive. Great Pyrenees were bread to protect live stock from large predators, therefore they can become protective of owners if not given proper rules and boundaries. I live in the desert, I didn’t think it fair to Koba to keep him (these dogs were also bred to withstand very low temperatures). Thankfully the owners were able to have a family member take the dog after his time with me. I believe that the decision was the best one for all involved. Since their experience owning dogs had been with two chihuahuas, I would add them to the column of first time owners of a giant breed.
Great Pyrenees are majestic, these dogs look and feel like a walking cloud. They are extremely loyal and very sensitive. But they are a giant, working breed. Therefore, the first breed in this list not suitable for first time dog owners is exactly one of my favorite dogs. Precisely because they are one of my favorite breeds, I would urge first time dog owners to not get one. Most people just see these pups as that walking cloud. They forget that beneath all that fluff is a living being that has needs. If those needs aren’t fulfilled, one can end up with a giant with over protective tendencies deciding what the rules of the house are going to be. Not really a good combination for a first time dog owner. To be fair I would add Cane Corsos (also one of my favorite breeds) and Saint Bernards to that spot, for some of the same reasons.
The next dog on the list, is the Australian Cattle Dog, or Blue Heeler. These dogs are work horses with a stamina that is off the charts. They were bred to move livestock through large distances. They are extremely smart and are another working breed. Not just any work, these guys herd cattle 10 times their size. When the cattle doesn’t move, they nip at their heels or some times at their face. Think about the drive that a dog has to have to go against a being that outweighs them at least 20 times. They are one of the most intelligent of breeds and because of that can become extremely destructive and nippy if not fulfilled. It takes a lot to fulfill a high stamina and intelligent dog. They are descendants of dingoes, and I have met some that truly acted like a wild animal. These dogs need a job, they need a lot of physical and mental exercises. I am not insinuating that a first time owner would not be able to fulfill this breed, but, at least to me, it is much easier to get one’s feet wet with a less challenging dog.
This list has absolutely no scientific value or specific order, so it is not to be understood that the last dog breed mentioned is the least challenging. The last spot then goes to… (drum rolls please) the Belgium Malinois. One of the most hyper active and intelligent of breeds not recommended for your average owner, first time or not. They are fast, they are precise and they love a challenge, hence why the military and police force use them as partners. If you ever saw a Malinois at work, it is almost certain that your jaw dropped a little bit. They are soldiers, with a drive that, if not fulfilled can become dangerous quite quickly. To be fair any dog that is not fulfilled has the propensity to cause mayhem, however the probability that a dog that has the ability to dive into unknown situations with the abandonment of a leisure walk in the park, can make any mistake exponentially bigger. That alone should make any person pause and think how they will be able to fulfill and train such a dog. They are incredible, the smartest dog I have ever worked with is a Malinois. Kovu is his name and also the first time owner had to make a decision to let him go. Would I have liked to keep him? Absolutely, best helper dog I have ever seen. But extremely protective. I live in the suburbs and had to ask the very important question of what would I do if I had to travel and someone else had to take care of Kovu? Would I have the peace of mind knowing that everyone involved would be safe? Since the answer was no, a trainer friend decided to take him. She has the facility and family to fulfill him. She is an excellent trainer and her husband loves working these types of dogs. So all ended up well.
First time dog owners I urge you to do your research. Please don’t decide on a dog based on looks alone, or what you have seen in movies or TV. A dog has needs, a pure bred dog has “specific” needs since we genetically modified them to be great at a specific task. Not fulfilling a high drive and intelligent dog is asking for things to go wrong. Would you be able to solve a quantum physics problem if you had never been taught math? I doubt it. So try seeing owning an animal as you starting school and learning your 2+2’s. As a first time owner the best thing you can do is master the two plus two and then start learning the square roots. Once you have mastered those then move on to physics. Owning one of these three breeds is not a simple math problem, it is mastering quantum physics. Before getting any of them, ask yourself if you are ready for that much work.
