Many large breeds are great working dogs and have many helpful attributes to offer you. However, it’s important to recognise that they also require a lot of care and more exercise than some of the smaller popular breeds available.
If you think that a larger dog breed would fit well into your family, hopefully one of these breeds will be for you.
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These big fluffy dogs have a very sweet and affectionate nature, loving to please their humans. They are also generally very placid unless they want to play with their owners and then you will see a different side to them!
They are known for their good-natured temperament but don’t get jealous if you get one and they become more attached to a certain member of your family!
They are known to gel with one human better than the rest of the family. But this makes them an even more great choice for a family companion.
2. Mastiff
Dignified, courageous, and docile, this breed is known to be devoted and loyal to their owners and family.
A fully grown male can measure between 30-31 inches tall and weigh up to 200 Pounds!!! Don’t let this put you off, however, as they are very loving and affectionate towards their family and own a calm demeanour.
Due to their history, they may become protective if visitors come to their home. But they will only become suspicious in defence of their family…which is a good thing! What this means if that you have your own security guard by owning a Mastiff.
3. newfoundland
Newfoundlands are famous for being great companions to their owners with their kind and loving personality.
They are physically large, powerful working dogs with a set of heavy bones.
They have a well-earned a reputation as being the perfect nanny dog to your children. So, you will never have to worry about the safety of your kids when your Newfie is about.
They are trusting worthy and easily trainable. Whilst they respond well to gentle guidance from yourself, they still require a level of strictness in their early years as they can be more active than you would initially expect.
These gorgeous giants are a must have if you are wanting a larger breed of dog!
4. great dane
Great Danes are huge, elegant, and powerful creatures who are protective and loyal to their family.
Despite their large presence, where a male can stand up to 32 inches tall and weigh up to 200 pounds, they are great dogs to have around and keep as part of your family.
Usurpingly, these dogs do take a lot of upkeep because of their size. They will eat more than a smaller breed of dog and need more exercise than most.
In particular they require more exercise when they are young and growing ,whether that be running around a large garden or taking several long daily walks.
Inviting a Great Dane into your family will not only provide you with security but also lots of happy memories and enjoyment with them.
Whilst these dogs may not weigh as much as some of the other breeds mentioned here, they make up for this in height. Measuring up to 32 inches high at their shoulders!
They have a long rough coat and originated from Scotland over 500 years ago. They were originally named “Wolfdog”, but as the wolf population dwindled out, the deer coursing population heightened so the name changed.
They love lounging in your living room, watching the world go round.
Their personality is laid back and sometimes described as lazy! However, if you offer them a reason to perform, they will try their best to please you.
One thing to think about before getting a Scottish Deerhound, they are very sensitive when it comes to bonding and socialising with other people. They are very much a one family breed and may become cautious of strangers in their household.
6. St. Bernard
As we are all probably aware, the most popular use for this breed is rescue work up in the mountains. This would involve them looking for people stranded or lost up there.
In this day and age, they have been proven to make great household pets, even with young children present.
They are very loving and placid, which makes these great personality traits for younger children. They are true gentle giants.
St. Bernard’s will devote themselves fully to you and your family, but the emphasis will be put on your children as they take their guardian role seriously!
Another great thing about these dogs, is that they do not require as much exercise as other large dogs do. So, this begs the question: “Who wouldn’t want a St. Bernard?!”
7. Samoyed
Originating back from the nomadic tribes in Siberia, this breed was used to herd the reindeers and if necessary, they would become sled pullers. This made the Samoyed an all-purpose breed with great versatility.
Unlike the St. Bernard, these are very active dogs and require lots of exercise and walking.
They also thrive off human company, so it is recommended that they are not left alone for extended periods of time. It isn’t unusual for them to begin barking a lot if they are left alone for too long and become bored.
This breed works best with their training starting at a young age and socialising very early on. This will help them become accustomed to other dogs, places, and commands.
8. Leonberger
Unlike most large breeds, this one can be more complex in terms of care. They require a lot of exercise and freedom to move. They also prefer being close by to their owner, which means they are not ideal breeds to spend any amount of time in a kennel.
Try to avoid leaving them on their own for substantial amounts of time as they can become frustrated.
The ideal owner for this breed is an outdoor person, who is looking for a companion to enjoy nature together…be this by hiking, backpacking, or even swimming!
They are not known to be aggressive to strangers they may meet on their travels, but as they mature, they may become more reserved and less likely to say hello to someone they aren’t acquainted with.
If they are well socialized, they should be fine with other pets, however, if not brought up right there are instances of them becoming aggressive – something nobody with a large dog would want to see.
If you are looking for a new fun friend to enjoy the outdoor world with, we think this breed may be just for you.
So that was our top 8 list of large dog breeds! We hope that this has given you some insight on a handful of the truly big breeds of dogs. Teacup pups aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and for some, a larger breed could be just what the doctor ordered!
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