Always a popular commercial dog, we recognize the Bull Terrier with its familiar dense head as the Target store mascot, Bullseye. Some remember him as Budweiser’s lively Spuds Mac Kenzie. But the adored Bull Terrier is another breed that is not advisable for families who are new to dogs. Breeding of this dog began in the 1900s, but it wasn’t until 1936 that it was accepted as a separate breed.
True, a Bull Terrier is fun-loving, fearless, clownish, active, and obedient, but they are not recommended for all households. Left alone without enough exercise and mental stimulation, these dogs will become destructive and dangerous to small children. They need supervised entertainment, such as running and playing every single day. They are extremely strong dogs with the jaw power of a Pit Bull. They need to be kept away from other pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, and cats.
Border Collie
As the quintessential sheepdog, the Border Collie is revered for its herding instinct and ability. Because it is so well-suited to the energy-intensive task of shepherding, this dog is a ball of energy and excitement. It likes to bark. It’s very territorial, another herding instinct. But it’s also extremely playful and affectionate, loves children, and needs human contact. And, if you need a watchdog, this is the crème de la crème of dogs.
The Border Collie loves its family obsessively and will follow you around the house relentlessly. They develop a very tight bond. Because of its herding instinct, it will try to herd your family, the kids in the yard, and anything and everything it comes across. Chasing after kids on bicycles are included. They develop other obsessive behaviors like chasing bugs, standing guard over the dishwasher until it stops, or watchfully waiting for a child to wake up from a nap. Due to this obsessive nature, a Border Collie has a high tendency toward destruction when bored, ten times higher than the average dog.
Weimaraner
The Weimaraner was bred in Germany during the early 19th century for courage, intelligence, and excellent scenting abilities to hunt large game. They developed a dog with stamina, speed, and hunting versatility to track down prey of all sizes. This breed hunted deer and bears. The distinctively grey breed’s stunning appearance was immortalized by photographer William Wegman.
This breed is so loyal it will almost smother its human. This means the Weimaraner is very unhappy alone and is vocal about it. It is a high-energy dog that needs plenty of outdoor air. If you have time for a very active dog that wants to be with you all day, you may have found the perfect pet. This breed attaches so much that separation anxiety is a common problem. According to VetStreet, “some Weimaraners become so distraught when left to their own devices that they bark, dig, escape, and even injure themselves.” On top of that, they can be difficult to house-train, stubborn, and demanding.
French Bulldog
If you’re looking for a dog that doesn’t require much exercise, the French Bulldog may be your breed. Frenchies can’t keep up on a jog, can’t swim, can’t tolerate heat, and were bred to be lap dogs. As a brachycephalic, one of the “squished-faced” breeds, the Frenchie can’t regulate body temperature and needs to be indoors in a climate-controlled area. On a positive note, it sheds very little hair.
French Bulldogs are not recommended for first-time dog owners. Because it is brachycephalic, it is prone to disease and other health issues. More importantly, training this dog can be a real challenge. This dog prefers to be the alpha, which makes it aggressive. However, the adorable squished face and perky bat-like ears can be hard to turn away, especially because it’s got an enthusiastic personality and is affectionate with people without being too loud and yappy. But then, he can’t tolerate being alone, so someone must be in the house with it most of the time.
Caucasian Ovcharka
This breed served its duty well, guarding sheep against wolves and herding flocks in the Eastern European Caucasus Mountain region. As a territorial and aggressive dog, it defended diligently against wolves. The Caucasian Ovcharka breed originated in the 1920s. Its name means “sheepdog” in Russian.
The Ovcharka’s thick double coat requires a lot of maintenance and a cool climate. He’s a low-energy breed but also high-strung and strong-willed. If not socialized fully, these dogs can become aggressive. VetStreet says, “While his protective nature may be attractive to some people, the Ovcharka is not an ideal match for novice dog owners. He’s smart but also an independent thinker, so he needs someone who can guide him with firm, loving, and patient training.”