TV vet Katrina Warren surprises fans with Border Collie warning: 'It's like having a toddler again'

The famous veterinarian Dr. Katrina Warren has revealed the dog breed she believes families with young children should never adopt.

Despite being her 'favourite' breed, Katrina says Border Collies are not suitable for families with small children as they are 'extremely time-consuming'.

She added that owning a Border Collie puppy is like “having another toddler” and that they can learn habits such as biting, chasing and jumping without proper training.

“Raising and training a Border Collie puppy is intense and it's very difficult to give him the time you dedicate to it when you have small children to grab your attention,” Katrina said in an online video.

'They can very quickly develop habits such as biting and jumping up, and these habits can be quite difficult to break.'

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The TV vet, who owns a Border Collie called Chilli, explained that the puppies are a 'herding breed' that 'loves to chase'.

“They can also learn to pick up and chase children if they are not properly trained,” she said.

'Border Collies can make great pets, but I do recommend them for families with older children.'

Katrina is best known for her role in the TV show Harry's Practice, which ran until 2003. She often appeared alongside her Border Collie Toby the Wonderdog.

While Toby passed away in 2010, Katrina's bond with the loyal breed continued throughout her TV, veterinary and social media careers.

She said owning a Border Collie puppy is like “having any other toddler” and they can learn habits like biting, chasing and jumping without proper training

Viewers were shocked by the vet's sharp take on the popular dogs, but many agreed they are not suitable for families with young children.

'My first Border Collie would corner my sons, aged three and seven, and then bite their ankles as they tried to escape!' one parent recalled.

'I waited until my youngest was eight to get a Border Collie and it was the right choice!' replied another.

'I've always said: look at Jurassic Park, this is how you train a Border Collie puppy. Not an easy combination with small children,” a third agreed.

“Unless you've got a thousand sheep to spare to keep them busy, get another dog,” a fourth joked.

“How old do you think the children should be?” someone asked to which Katrina replied, “It really depends on how the kids are treated and if the puppy is crate trained (really helpful). I usually recommend more than eight'.

Some dog lovers said they had a Border Collie while their children were young and had no problems.

“Maybe I was lucky, I have a Border Collie and young children and he is just the best gentle dog ever,” said one mother.

'Unfortunately I don't agree, my Border Collie is seven months old. He and my three year old are best friends, he's the best dog!' a second wrote.