Let's face it, some people like their pets big! If you are looking for a large
dog there are a number of breeds which are generally referred to as giants. Be
careful, though - you should only consider these breeds if you have lots of space,
lots of time and quite a deal of money.
Here's A Look At The Giants Of The Canine World. Enjoy! :)
The English Mastiff, in terms of mass is the big daddy of all dogs. The world
record holding breed for weight, this dog can weigh up to two hundred and fifty
pounds for a male and around fifty pounds less than a female. The breed has been
around for a long time - the name probably derives from the Anglo-Saxon word for
powerful -masty. It is generally recognized to be the oldest dog breed in the UK.
The dog is often used to guard, but makes a wonderful domestic pet as well. It's
said that the face gives away the character of the dog and that's the case with
the English Mastiff. It is very affectionate to its owners but combines both
courage and dignity and will protect its owner from unfamiliar people with a polite
but determined maneuver which puts the dog between the stranger and its owner.
It's great with children and smaller dogs and will become firmly attached to the
family unit to which it is introduced.
A Great Dane by the name of Gibson was the tallest dog at a staggering 42.3 inches
tall - a good ten inches taller than the average English Mastiff. As such the Great
Dane is known as the 'Apollo of all breeds' and its history is thought to go back
some three thousand years. The modern breed is thought to originate in either
Denmark or, most likely Germany. Toon lovers will know the breed as the Scooby
Doo dog!
The breed comes in a variety of colors from the common fawn and brindle to the
harlequin which is a white coat with black tear patches over the entire body
(a white neck is particularly sought out by owners. Although it is intimidatingly
tall the Great Dane has an extremely friendly temperament and get on well with
people, other dogs, and other pets.
The Irish Wolfhound male is usually between 33 to 36 inches and the female two
to three inches shorter. They are not naturally inclined to guard (they were
designed to hunt) but their sheer size would probably put any burglar off his task.
They are also way too friendly - the chances are the Wolf Hound is more likely to
approach the burglar as his new best friend than to deter him from his goal.
As such the Irish Wolfhound, more than many giant dogs can be trusted with children.
They are very open to training and are of a generous and caring nature. They will -
if you are out walking with them and are attacked - pretty much see off your
attacker: despite their reluctance to guard they will be fearless if you are
threatened. The great shame is that they are not long lived and at maximum you
can hope for ten years. As with other dogs of this size they do need a lot of
exercise and although originally a country dog they do take to urban living
pretty well.
The Scottish Deerhound is a lesser known giant breed looking like a rough coated
greyhound but it's their size which distinguishes them. The history of the breed
goes back to pre-Roman times and it is thought that the Scots and the Picts kept
this breed to hunt deer (hence the name!). These dogs are about the friendliest
you will ever meet and so, like the Irish Wolfhound, is not the best dog if you
want something to guard your home. When young, though Deerhounds get bored extremely
easily and have a sort of canine ADHD which means that if you do not exercise them
sufficiently you will probably come home to find your house looking like a burglar
really has been there.
Living up to eleven years, these dogs like nothing more than spending the day
stretched out or sleeping on your largest couch. However, it must be exercised
regularly and properly and although it enjoys the company of humans this is a
breed that really needs a companion with its own DNA in order to be fully happy.
In other words, this dog can pine on its own but will be perfectly happy in a pair.
Like all the other breeds in this article they are fine with children but should
be supervised with small ones as, due to their size, they can inadvertently knock
toddlers down which will distress both dog and child.
The Newfoundland just loves the water. In fact they have been used for water rescue
due partly to their musculature and also due to the fact that they have webbed feet -
the combination of which makes them fantastic swimmers. They have a wonderful
disposition and are very loving animals. One of the easier dogs to housebreak, they
are quite daffy animals and are about as laid back as a dog can get. The downside is
that they have to be groomed at least once a week otherwise their gorgeous coat will
become tangled.
They are thought to be the strongest dogs in the world, beating all of the others
on this list. They also make great watch dogs and are just about the best breed
in the world when it comes to children - they really are the gentle giant of the
dog world. Lord Byron said this about his Newfoundland (or Newfie as they are known)
after it died. 'Near this spot are deposited the remains of one who possessed
Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all
the Virtues of Man, without his Vices. This Praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery
if inscribed over human ashes, is but a just tribute to the Memory of Boatswain, a
Dog.'
Originally a working dog, the St. Bernard originates in the Swiss Alps where it was
used in Mountain Rescue. It is a very large dog and can grow up to thirty six inches
in height with a coat that can be both rough or smooth. They make wonderful pets but
it's vital that thorough training takes place when the dog is young as they can be
boisterous and need to be ready to take commands and be willingly controlled.
They are good with kids as long as the above is taken in to account. If you are
looking for a dog for protection they are not the ideal choice. They will bark at
intruders but that is about it - though of course their sheer size (like other
dogs here) will probably act as a deterrent.
The Leoburg is from Leonberg in south west Germany which this dog is bred - according
to local legend as a symbol of the lion in the crest of the town. So it is that this
most leonine of dogs came in to being and the breed is gorgeous. The dog is extremely
large but has an air of European elegance about it which makes it popular in well to
do households. The male usually carries a lion like mane and they can reach up to
thirty inches in height.
Unlike most of the dogs on this list the Leonberger can be used as a guard dog -
albeit a mild one. When in a tight spot the Leonberger will use his size and weight
to protect his owner rather than his teeth. This makes the breed sound a little
aggressive but the Leonberger will imprint deeply and quickly on to his adopted
human family. A very agile dog, the Leonberger needs a lot of exercise and often
astounds it owners by its athleticism, especially considering the size of the breed.
Until properly trained the dog can be a little like the St. Bernard - over energetic
and somewhat willful but after the third year usually calms down and becomes the
gentle giant that this breed is known to be.
The Neapolitan Mastiff has history! Often used as a guard dog, its breed goes way back to the
time of the Roman legions - it's just a shame there weren't a few in the Gladiator
movies. It seems that they were trained up by Roman Legions to fight alongside them.
They wore harnesses upon which were sewn in spikes and blades. The Neapolitan Mastiff
would then run under the horses of the enemy horses and disembowel them. They don't
do that today.
If you want a fearless guard dog that also really does prefer to be with the family
rather than outside in a kennel then this could be the dog for you. However, it's
not a dog for beginners and is not appropriate if you have small children. Proper
training, because of its size, is paramount. If you think the 'alpha roll' training
method will work on this breed, think again. Unless the dog is thoroughly socialized
and trained they will be aggressive to strangers and other dogs in to adulthood.
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