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Once you decide to get a dog, there are a number of things you then need to contend with, from how you’ll cover costs to who’s in charge of early morning walks.
Then there’s the breed you’re going to choose, which needs to be considered whether you’re adopting a rescue or going through a breeder.
Having worked as a vet for years, Tom Rhind-Tutt has seen countless first-timers come in with their new pets.
But once the honeymoon period is over, the picture isn’t always as rosy — which he puts down to poor breed selection.
While Tom stresses that no breed is inherently bad, they’re not all suited to newbie owners, and ‘there’s a difference between loving a breed and recommending it to someone who has never owned a dog before’.
The in-house veterinarian at Perfect Pet Insurance warns the gap between pets people want and what they’re equipped for has never been wider, with the RSPCA reporting record numbers of dogs in its care — up by more than 50% since 2020.
Insurance claims are skyrocketing too, and the breeds topping the tables are the very same ones trending on TikTok.
‘We’re buying dogs based on a 15-second video and then facing 15 years of consequences,’ Tom tells Metro. ‘Pick the dog that fits your life, not the one that fits your feed.’
Here, he shares the breeds he recommends avoiding, at least until you have more experience.
1. French Bulldog
‘Frenchies are absolute clowns; their personalities are brilliant and I completely understand why people fall in love with them,’ says Tom.
‘But nearly half of all BOAS surgeries [the procedure to open compressed airways so an animal can breathe without distress] are performed on French Bulldogs, and the Royal Veterinary College documented a 2,075% rise in those surgeries over a single decade.’
While French Bulldogs are consistently among the UK’s most registered breed, he estimates their annual vet bills to be anywhere between £800 and £2,000, with breathing surgery alone running £2,000 to £4,000.
Ask yourself these questions before getting a dog
Before you commit to any breed, Tom recommends answering these honestly:
Can you provide two-plus hours of exercise every day for the next 12 to 15 years? Can you afford a £5,000 emergency vet bill at 2am on a Sunday? Do you have a plan for when you go on holiday, work late, or get ill? Have you met the breed in person – not just watched them on TikTok?‘If you hesitated on any of those, start with a breed that forgives mistakes,’ he says. ‘Then work your way up.’
On top of this, Frenchies often struggle to exercise, overheat in summer, and sometimes can’t mate or give birth naturally.
As such, Tom argues, ‘the level of medical management they need is something a first-time owner really needs to be prepared for.’
2. Siberian Husky
Tom calls Huskies ‘magnificent animals’ who are ‘incredibly athletic, full of character, and properly devoted to their people’.
‘But they were bred to run 100 miles a day in sub-zero conditions, so when they’re under-exercised they will find their own entertainment, and you will not enjoy what they come up with,’ he continues.
Not only to they need a minimum of two hours of daily exercise with a confident handler, it’s best they have access to ‘a garden with a fence they cannot jump, dig under, or think their way through.’
‘Stunning dogs,’ adds Tom. ‘Just not starter dogs.’
3. Border Collie
Tom explains: ‘The Border Collie is widely regarded as the most intelligent dog breed on the planet, and that intelligence is a joy to work with if you can match it. They learn commands in under five repetitions and read body language better than most humans.’
As a result, they pretty much need to be put to work, or they risk becoming under-stimulated and developing compulsive behaviours like chasing shadows, nipping heels and spinning.
‘For an experienced owner with an active lifestyle they are genuinely the perfect dog,’ the vet adds. ‘For someone who works full time and is new to dog ownership, their intelligence can become frustration on both sides.’
4. Cocker Spaniel
You may think of a Cocker as the perfect easy family dog, but Spaniels now make up 22.2% of all Dogs Trust intakes, up from just 4.9% in 2021 — something Tom reckons is due to people underestimating the breed.
‘They are a working breed with serious energy and they bond incredibly deeply, which is lovely until you have to leave them alone,’ he explains.
‘Most first-time owners aren’t quite prepared for how much time and attention a Spaniel genuinely needs (although if you can give them that, they will give you everything back).’
5. Dachshund
Miniature Dachshunds have rocketed up the popularity charts in recent years, with over 11,000 Kennel Club registrations recorded in 2024 alone.
But look past their cute appearance and funny personality and you’ll see why Dachshund Rescue UK is now seeing unprecedented surrender numbers.
‘One in four Dachshunds will develop intervertebral disc disease, a spinal condition that can cause paralysis, with surgery costing £5,000 to £10,000,’ says Tom.
‘They are also surprisingly strong-willed. House-training a Dachshund is an exercise in patience that would test a monk.
‘This combination of expensive health risks and a temperament that does not yield to beginners makes them a breed to grow into, not start with.’
So what should a first-timer get?
Tom says: ‘I get asked this constantly. And the honest answer is: the breed matters less than the preparation.
‘But if you’re pushing me, I’d steer a first-time owner towards a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a Labrador from show lines (calmer than working lines), a Whippet (surprisingly low-maintenance), or – the answer nobody wants to hear – a rescue mutt over 18 months old whose personality is already established.
‘A young adult rescue dog is the cheat code nobody uses. The puppy phase is over, their temperament is what you see, and the rescue staff will match you to a dog that fits your lifestyle.’
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