Forget the saying “good things come in small packages.” For some dog lovers, the bigger the cuddle buddy, the better! Big dog breeds offer a unique combination of impressive size, luxurious coats, and gentle temperaments. Imagine resting your head on a living, furry pillow — pure bliss! However, before welcoming one of the largest dog breeds into your home, you’ll want to make a few considerations.
Caring for big dog breeds
The largest dog breeds typically belong to the working group and were originally bred to perform tasks like guarding, pulling heavy loads, or hunting. These dogs thrive when given a job or purpose. Although their roles have evolved, they remain happiest with adequate exercise and mental stimulation to channel their innate drive. If you’re considering adopting one of these giant breeds, you’ll also want to think about budgeting for food, preventatives, pet insurance, training, grooming, and veterinary expenses. Typically, large dogs are more expensive to care for than smaller breeds.
What are some of the largest dog breeds?
While this list isn’t comprehensive, here are some of the largest dog breeds in the world. These big dogs are beloved for their unique appearances, characteristics, and of course, incredible size.
Irish Wolfhound
Even though they aren’t the heaviest dogs, these scruffy-looking pooches can stand seven feet tall on their hind legs. A breed often featured in myths and legends, Irish Wolfhounds have been around for a long, long time. They were even referenced in writings by Julius Caesar! Originally used to hunt game or protect livestock in Ireland, Irish Wolfhounds were so good at their job they drove a lot of their prey off the island completely. Nowadays, the modern Irish Wolfhound is simply bred to be a loving pup. They make great family pets who usually only hunt nice chew toys.
Great Dane
Great Danes make every list of the largest breeds in the world, but despite their name, they’re not Danish; although, they’re still pretty great! These gentle giants originally hail from Germany. These dogs are very loyal and sweet, sometimes to a fault, as they love to try to sit on their humans’ laps all the time. Think of this large breed as the world’s largest lap dog. Because of their easygoing temperament, these dogs also make great large-sized apartment dogs.
Newfoundland
These giant fluffy dogs were made for the water — literally! Fishermen in Canada prized this large dog breed for their webbed feet and thick coats, which made them perfect for taking dips into the cold ocean waters and helping to haul in fishing nets. Because of their unique aquatic talents, they also make excellent search and rescue water dogs. In terms of size, Newfoundlands can grow to be up to 200 pounds and six feet from the top of their nose to the tip of their tail, but their gentle nature and fluffy fur will make you never want to stop hugging them.
English Mastiff
Just the word “Mastiff” might make you think “massive,” and you’d be right. These dogs are certainly the heaviest, and it’s not uncommon for them to be well over 200 pounds. English Mastiffs are also the slowpokes of the dog world and prefer to spend a lot of time just lounging around. Of course, think about your budget for these big dogs. An English Mastiff eats about 8-10 cups of food per day!
Scottish Deerhound
Bred to hunt stags in the Scottish highlands, these tall pups are sweet-tempered and energetic. Scottish Deerhounds‘ small heads might look out of place on their lanky bodies, but they were once only allowed to be owned by nobility — so show a little respect! Those long legs need to run, so you’d better have lots of open space if you’re looking to bring one of these regal canines into your life.
Dogue de Bordeaux
Unlike the Scottish Deerhound, this Mastiff breed is known for their large heads. As a fun fact, they are known to have one of the largest heads of any breed. Also called the French Mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux breed is very sturdy. These dogs were first used to pull carts and heavy objects. They were also used to guard livestock and protect castles, which is great if you’re a feudal lord looking for a companion. They’ll need a castle, too, as they have a lot of energy and crave room to run around. If you don’t. have a castle, a large, fenced yard should do just fine.
Saint Bernard
These shaggy giants have earned the title of “Saint,” being used in the Swiss Alps to save stranded travelers for centuries. The largest Saint Bernard weighed a whopping 336 pounds! These large fluffy dogs naturally like to snuggle up and keep hikers warm, so prepare for a massive cuddle buddy if you come across one. Although, like in the movie “Beethoven,” they can be a handful. Oh, and be ready for some slobber.
Tibetan Mastiff
Was that thunder? Nope, it was this pup’s deep, booming bark. These muscular hounds are the great great grandpas of a lot of dogs on this list. Tibetan Mastiffs were first used by nomads to protect their flocks, so they can be very territorial and require a firm, but patient leader. Though they’re great family dogs, they don’t take too kindly to strangers. With a bark like that, intruders beware!
Leonberger
That’s not a lion, but this fluffy dog sure was bred to look like one. Leonbergers love people and are often used on search-and-rescue teams in Italy and Germany. Like the Newfoundland, Leonbergers have webbed feet perfect for swimming. Their lion-like coat needs lots of care, and they shed enough to make another dog out of leftover fur. They’re very sensitive, so be sure to have a big smile to match this big pooch.
Boerboel
Also known as the South African Mastiff, the Boerboel was a farming dog bred in South Africa. Boerboels had to be tough to survive harsh conditions and predators. But these thick-necked protectors are generally calm, so long as they can get some exercise. They’re great with kids and families, but you should have a dominant personality, or they may take you for a walk instead of the other way around.
Big dog breed life expectancy and health
Before welcoming one of these colossal canines into your home, it’s essential to thoroughly research their care needs and potential health issues. Large dog breeds often face a higher risk of medical conditions, with life-threatening issues like bloat being particularly prevalent. Additionally, many large working breeds are susceptible to ailments such as cancer or hip dysplasia. While their life expectancies may be shorter compared to smaller breeds, we can still cherish and maximize our time with these beloved big dogs. Bring on the big love!
