Just to set the record straight, here at Large Breed Dog World we like all dogs!
However, we must confess that it’s the big breeds that really capture our hearts, so we wanted to share our list of why we like big dogs so much.
You’re safer when you walk
Who’s going to mess with you when you’re accompanied by a 120-pound Rottweiler? Nobody, that’s who!
You won’t need a home alarm system
Big dogs have big barks that discourage any potential intruder. Plus, that loud bark will undoubtedly wake you up so that you can grab that baseball bat you keep by the bed. Not that you’ll need it with Big Fido in the house.
They provide a great upper body workout
Just play tug-of-war a few times a day with your big, strong dog and see how fast you get ripped arms. And you’ll need those arms if your 100-pound German Shepherd hasn’t yet been trained to not pull on the leash.
Big dogs and small kids go well together
Although you’d think the opposite would be true, many of the large breeds are among the gentlest and most sweet-tempered of all dogs. Think Great Dane, Newfoundland, and Bernese Mountain dogs.
They are also better at handling the rough play and hugs that can come from children, as their intelligence enables them to tell the difference between a child and an adult (even though some adults act like children!).
Fighting like cats and dogs doesn’t apply
As with kids, it does seem odd that big dogs get along best with cats, but your large dog is the one most likely to make friends with the neighbor’s cat (or yours), as well as with other small animals.
Our 80-pound Labrador mix gets along with our both our ill-tempered cat and our kid’s guinea pigs (she licks them). We suspect this is because big dogs know they have nothing to prove.
They look great doing goofy things
Yes, we know all about the crazy popularity of cat videos on YouTube. But there are also millions of videos of big goofy dogs doing big goofy things and they look great.
Just check out how many wedding videos have big dogs in the ceremony – you’ll see what we mean!
They are very huggable
Although you’ll probably enjoy it more than your dog will, hugging a big dog after you’ve had a bad day can make things seem just a little bit better. Dogs don’t actually enjoy being hugged, but the big ones will tolerate it because they love you.
They may look goofy but they’re really smart
A study led by the University of Arizona concluded that brain size does likely mean that big dogs are smarter. And indeed, some of the most intelligent breeds are large dogs, including German Shepherds, Labs, Standard Poodles, and Rottweilers.
This is why big dogs make such good service dogs. It’s also why it seems like they can sometimes read your mind and know just when you’re going to break out the doggy treats!
Big dogs are true heroes
Bet you didn’t know that all seven finalists for the 2021 American Humane Hero Dog awards were big dogs. This doesn’t mean that small breeds aren’t just as brave and fearless. It’s just hard for a six-pound Chihuahua to save someone who is drowning or pull someone out of a burning building.
You won’t need an electric blanket
Ever heard of the rock group Three Dog Night? That name comes from a term that means a night so cold that it takes sleeping with three dogs to keep you warm. This originated in Siberia, where the ancestors of today’s Siberian Husky kept their owners cold during the freezing nights.
This works just as well today, so turn those thermostats down!
They are easier to train than smaller dogs
We’ve already said that big dogs are generally more intelligent than small dogs and this makes them easier to train. This is especially true for potty training, which should probably be the first thing for which you train your large breed dog.
It’s one thing if a five-pound Yorkshire Terrier has an accident in the house. It’s an entirely different story when it’s a 175-pound Great Dane!
The same is true when it comes to jumping on guests. You’ll especially want to train your big dog not to jump when they are young and not yet big enough to put your guests in the hospital!
Snow doesn’t bother them
Several of the working large breeds have thick or double coats and were originally bred to withstand harsh, cold climates. These include breeds such as the Siberian Husky, Newfoundland, Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Pyrenees, and several others.
The irony here is that these are also the same breeds that prefer being indoors and cuddling with you.
They are not delicate flowers
Many of the large breeds were originally bred for their strength and endurance. We also have a 70-pound Rottweiler/Pit Bull mix that I’m convinced could batter her way through the front door and not feel a thing.
You don’t have to worry about bumping into these dogs – they are not at all fragile!
They have self-control
Big dogs, especially the giant breeds, do not need to prove themselves by barking and snarling. They are too confident for that.
We frequently take care of our neighbor’s 150-pound Newfoundland – the sweetest breed ever, and his name is Clyde! On walks, we’ve never seen him even vaguely react when little dogs – or any dog – has run up and barked at him. He just seems to know that he’s in no danger, considering his size and strength.
They don’t need as much exercise as you think
Great Danes are a good example of this. They are true couch potatoes and need only a minimum amount of exercise to be happy and healthy. This is true for several of the extra-large and giant breeds.
That said, some of the large breeds in the sporting or retrieving categories – such as Labs, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds, do require considerably more activity. Even with these, some – such as the Rhodesian Ridgeback – just need a daily walk and some playtime.
You just need to be sure to match your activity level to the large breed you’re considering. If you’re a marathon runner and want a dog that can keep up with you, you probably don’t want a Great Dane.
They are easier to potty train
This is huge for many people when it comes to choosing a dog. The website PsychologyToday conducted a poll of dog owners that found that 67% of small dogs were house trained, compared to 95% of large dogs!
The poll seems to be split as to whether larger intelligence or a larger bladder is responsible for this difference.
They provide a great cardiovascular workout
With the sporting breeds especially, you will get tired before your dog does.
Even if you’re a marathon runner, a Husky will keep up with you the entire distance and then some. The average Husky can easily run 20 miles and with training can go up to 40 miles! Many other large breeds can easily run several miles at speeds you can never attain.
And many of the working breeds have the stamina to outlast almost anyone. This is better than having a personal trainer!
They are puppies longer
Big dogs mature slower than small dogs. It takes them up to 18 months to fully become adults. Compare this to small dogs, which tend to mature in 6 to 9 months. This means you’ll have longer to post videos on YouTube of that loveable puppy stage – and to deal with the challenges it may bring!
The one thing we don’t like most about large dogs is that some have a relatively short life span, for various reasons. We want to enjoy these large best friends as long as possible