A vet has dished out the five dog breeds he would never own — including a family-favourite and a most-loved variety.
Amir Anwary, a veterinarian from South Africa, shared the different types of dogs he would not recommend due to their little-known health conditions, shorter lifespan, or high energy personality.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Vet dishes on five dog breeds he would never own.
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The animal expert said he would steer clear of the family-favourite border collie, especially if you are living in the city or don’t have time to take them out for walks every single day.
“These dogs are bred to be working dogs,” Anwary says.
“They need to be physically and mentally stimulated every single day and most people that get a border collie don’t actually understand this. This breed is designed for herding sheep on a farm so it’s extremely difficult to keep them happy in a city setting.”
Not only are they active dogs, but the vet pointed out the breed is prone to hip dysplasia and arthritis.
Cavalier king Charles spaniel
Anwary said while he “loves” Cavalier king Charles spaniel, he couldn’t look past their serious health conditions.
“They’re probably one of the nicest breeds I’ve ever worked with but they suffer from a genetic disease that can cause the cavalier to go into congestive heart failure at a younger age,” he revealed.
“Often dogs are affected as soon as they’re seven years old but this can be delayed up until 10 years old, in which most cavalier are affected.
“What does that mean for you? It basically means your dog may die at a younger age or best case scenario, they will be on medication for their heart for the rest of their lives.”
Bulldog
Anwary said he couldn’t cope owning a brachycephalic, a breed of dogs with shortened snouts, which include varieties like bulldogs and pugs.
“I love these brachycephalic breeds but because of their pushed faces, they suffer from a condition called brachycephalic airway syndrome,” he explained.
“This is basically because of all the anatomical abnormalities with a squished face, they struggle to breathe, they also struggle with temperature regulation and exercise intolerance.”
A dog suffering from exercise intolerance wants to move and take part in the activity but is unable to do so.
“This exercise intolerance often leads them to gaining weight, which makes temperature regulation and breathing even more difficult,” he said.
“It’s very bad self-perpetuating cycle with these dogs.”
Doberman
Anwary said the Doberman, a German breed, was on his no-no list due to their serious heart condition.
“Dobermans are prone to a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, which is basically where the heart muscle become thinner and the heart chambers become larger — making it very difficult for the heart to pump heart throughout the body,” he said.
“So because of this, they’re going to require regular check-ups, and they may also need life long treatment for their heart.”
Great Dane
Finally, Anwary said he could never own a Great Dane due to their short lifespan.
“Who doesn’t like a Great Dane? I have a Great Dane cross but the purebred Great Danes can only live for about seven to eight years, which in my opinion is so little,” he said.
“For that reason, I would not want to own a pure Great Dane.”
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