A veterinarian has caused a stir online after revealing his five most and least favorite dog breeds, basing his list on personality, health issues and behaviors.
Whitney Terrell, who has more than 74,000 followers on TikTok, explained why she was and wasn’t a fan of every dog in two separate videos that collectively received more than nine million views.
At the top of his list of least popular dog breeds are any dogs that are an “oodle,” especially goldendoodles, as they are high-maintenance dogs, requiring expensive grooming, and prone to ear infections.
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“Some of these dogs are really nice but a lot of them are crazy, hyper crazy, can’t sit still for two seconds. We’ve had some really aggressive ones as well,” said Terrell, from Alabama.
In second place come Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds. Dr. Terrell said that while they make excellent guard dogs that work well in rescue-type scenarios, they are not suitable for pets unless their owner has enough time to train them.
“The ones we see at the clinic want to bite your face off because they’re not properly trained,” she said.
“If you’re considering getting one of these dogs, don’t do it lightly because they need a lot of training, a lot of attention.”
Taking up the remaining spots on his list of “five breeds I wouldn’t own (because) I’m a veterinarian,” were a number of small dog breeds.
As cute as they may be, Terrell warned against owning short-nosed dogs like French bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers and shih tzus due to their likelihood of suffering from respiratory problems.
Flat-faced dogs are prone to brachycephalic airway syndrome due to their facial structure, which could create other problems later in life, such as heart strain.
Next on his list are Chihuahuas due to their “ankle biting” nature, followed by Chinese crested and hairless dogs.
“Dogs are fine, I don’t like hairless animals. They (are) zitty, they are a bit fat, same with cats. That’s a no from me,” Dr. Terrell said.
The vet, who works at the Connolly Animal Clinic, sparked a heated debate on the social media platform with more than 24,000 TikTokkers commenting on her video about the least popular breeds.
“I can’t believe the golden doodle is your #1! I’m shocked!” commented one owner of the breed.
“Our doodle is awesome too! We love it. Sometimes people think it’s too good to be true. Feel so lucky to have it,” posted another.
But it’s not just oodle enthusiasts who have been fired up, with German Shepherd Dog (GSD) owners also protesting why the breed shouldn’t have been on the list.
“Pretty shocked she has this on her list. I grew up (with a) GSD. So loyal and protective,” one comment read.
“I have three GSDs now and had a Belgian malinois a few years ago and never had a problem wanting to bite someone,” said another.
But not everyone disputed the vet’s list, with those in the industry agreeing with Dr. Terrell’s composition.
“100% okay with all of this as a former vet tech,” one commenter said.
“I’ve been a groomer for 30 years and the doodles make me question my entire career path,” posted another.
“I appreciate your whole list, it replicates my list as a dog trainer,” said a third.
Although Dr. Terrell said she wouldn’t own dogs, she also made a list of breeds she likes, with her own dog’s breed listed first.
Bassets, or generally any type of dog, take the top spot despite some of their health issues.
“They smell bad, they bark very loudly, they can have ear issues, back issues (and) weight issues,” Dr. Terrell said.
“They can be a bit grumpy at the vet at times but I love them, they are so sweet. Mine is the best dog ever, he comes to work with me every day.
A mutt or mixed-breed dog came in second on Terrell’s list due to its lack of hereditary issues that purebreds typically inherit, followed by the golden retriever for its good temperament.
“He’s a good first dog, especially for families. Good temperament, easy to train, I love them,” said Dr Terrell.
Finally, the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Great Pyrenees took fourth and fifth place respectively, due to their energetic nature.
Tyrell has worked in the animal health industry since graduating from college in 2016. She said her lists were based on personal opinions and she shared her thoughts “for fun.”