Dog trainer shares gripe he has with popular breed and how to ‘fix’ it
A dog trainer has revealed his pet peeve about a popular breed, and it’s not what you might expect.
Everyone has their favourite breeds, be it a petite chihuahua, a faithful labrador, or a robust pitbull. And as any dog owner will tell you, each breed has its unique needs, from exercise routines to affection levels and dietary habits.
However, one dog trainer has voiced his frustration about a particular breed in a viral video – but it’s not the dogs themselves that irk him.
Dog trainer Will Atherton took to TikTok to share his gripe about rottweilers, which he says has nothing to do with their temperament. Despite their reputation for aggression, Will insists it’s rarely the dog’s fault.
Instead, he blames owners who lack the skills, experience, or assertive confidence to properly care for these majestic breeds, leading to behavioural issues.
He said: “What I hate about the rottweiler more than anything as a canine behaviourist is simple.
“It’s people getting these glorious breeds that don’t have the skill, experience, or assertive confidence required to train them, keep them under control, and let them thrive as the dogs that they should be.
“They are very independent, confident dogs that are prone to aggression if required. If you don’t know how to handle that, how to harness that and how to turn that into positivity, you will have a disaster on your hands.
“But if you are capable of doing so, there’s not many better dogs on the planet.”
The robust breed has gained significant popularity across the UK, as they were recently named one of the most “searched-for” dog breeds in the UK in 2024. According to Country Living, rottweilers finished in third place in the poll with 46,420 monthly searches – putting them just behind cocker spaniels and golden retrievers.
Interestingly, rottweilers surpassed other beloved breeds like labradors, French bulldogs, and German shepherds.
Social media users were quick to echo the sentiments on rottweilers’ suitability, recognising the importance of appropriate ownership. One commenter admitted their affection but conceded: “I love rotties, they’re my favourite. I’m never going to have one.”
Others acknowledged their appreciation for the breed but recognised their own limitations, with one saying: “I love rottweilers, I just don’t have the patience.”
Meanwhile, a long-time rottie owner shared their experience: “We’ve had rotties for 23 years and have 4 of them at the moment. Such a great breed BUT they need confident and experienced owners.”
