Alert – I’m a vet and these are the five dog breeds I WOULD have as a pet

A British vet has revealed five more breeds of dog he would have as a pet – and why they are suitable animals to keep.

Content creator @ben.the.vet shared the list in a video on TikTok, where he has more than 208,600 followers.

The video follows a previous clip in which he listed five dog breeds he would have as companion animals.

Among that five were Labradors, wire-haired viszlas, greyhounds, border terriers, and mixed breed.

However, he made a point to note that ‘there are pros and cons to owning any breed and this ultimately is just my opinion’.

Ben the Vet (pictured) revealed another five breeds he would have as pets, as well as explaining why

Revealing the breeds on his latest list, Ben said: ‘Number five is the Staffordshire bull terrier. I had a staffy called Bessie growing up…and she was a fantastic family dog. 

‘If you’re looking to rescue a dog, staffies might be a good option because there are so many needing homes in rescue centres, partly because of misconceptions over their temperament. 

‘They’re generally pretty good with people, but they’re not always great with other dogs.  So if you have another dog already, they might not be the best choice for a rescue. Health wise, they are pretty sound as well. So it’s a thumbs up for me.’

Moving on to his next choice, the vet said: ‘Number four is a cocker spaniel. I definitely have a soft spot for this breed… But they are a high energy breed and need a lot of exercise.

‘I would only get one if I had once two hours reliably every day to exercise them.  And they are prone to ear infections. So I would, from a very young age, get used to having their ears cleaned out with a cleaning solution every week.’

The vet and TikTokker (pictured) pointed out that his list is ‘ultimately just [his] opinion’, before sharing the breeds he would have as a companion animal

Moving on to the next dog, Ben said: ‘Third on my list (and this isn’t in any particular order) is the miniature schnauzer. 

‘I think for someone considering getting a flat face breed like a Frenchie, or pug, or looking for a smaller dog, a miniature schnauzer might be a good consideration.

‘They’ve got their characteristic moustache, they are a unique looking dog, but they don’t have any anatomical exaggerations – they don’t have a long back or a squashed face or anything that is going to physically impact their health.

‘I think they have quite entertaining little personalities. They’re an intelligent breed of dog, and I think they generally have a pretty sound temperament. 

‘One thing I would say, is that you do have to be careful with what they eat. They can be very prone to pancreatitis, which is a problem that can be triggered by eating fatty foods. So careful.’

He added that people should be extra careful if their miniature schnauzer is a ‘scavenger’ as they are a bit prone to diabetes, but noted that on the whole, they are a ‘healthier alternative to a flat face breed like a pug or Frenchie’. 

Moving on, Ben said: ‘Number two on my list is the golden retriever. A good retriever is like a big cuddly teddy bear. I definitely have a soft spot for them. 

‘And though you can’t trust any dog completely around children, on the whole, they tend to be really good with kids. 

Among the dog on his list were Staffordshire bull terriers (pictured) which Ben said can often be found in rescue centres (stock image)

‘My only real reservation is that they are a breed that is quite prone to cancer, and they can drool quite a lot. So maybe an asterisk.’

Finally, revealing the last breed to make his list, the vet and TikTokker said: ‘Number one (again, not in any order) but definitely cockapoos and canopies would be on my consideration list.

‘There is so much doodle hatred online, with people saying things like “you cannot responsibly breed these dogs and they are all messed up”. 

‘But this is most often just based on misconceptions. There is nothing inherently wrong with crossing two breeds of dogs together. 

‘Actually many pedigree dog breeds are dangerously inbred, so this [mixing two breeds] is a positive thing for their health potentially.’

Where it can go wrong, Ben explained, is when ‘these breeds are targeted by people in it for the money, selling designer dogs for high prices, breeding them in poor conditions, with no consideration to the temperament or health of the parents – but they can be bred responsibly’. 

He continued: ‘Bear in mind that even though some of these crosses may be small, they’re not lap dogs. Think of the parent breeds – a cocker spaniel and a poodle. They’re intelligent, active breeds, they need lots of stimulation.

‘Where this doesn’t happen, they can have a tendency to develop behavioural problems and become anxious – but they can make brilliant family dogs, much to the contrary of what many people say.’