Rare and impressive giant dog breeds combine large size with fascinating historical background and diverse personality traits. Their well-muscled bodies and substantial builds say a lot about their strength and stamina.
Do You Know? Zeus, a Great Dane from Texas, holds Guiness Wrold Record for the tallest dog living. This pooch stands more than 3ft tall at the soulder.
Many largest dog breeds have an imposing appearance. They can intimidate and scare away potential intruders with their mere presence. Big dogs are fiercely loyal to their humans and possess strong protective instincts. Such canines make wonderful guard dogs.
With proper training and socialization, large dog breeds can be turned into well-behaved pets. Now, let’s have a look at these rare and impressive giant dog breeds.
Rare and Impressive Giant Dog Breeds: A Complete Overview
1. Neapolitan Mastiff
Recognized by its skin folds and low swinging jowls, the Neapolitan Mastiff is an ancient and rare dog breed. This Italian dog was thrown into the spotlight thanks to its character as Hagrid’s dog, Fang, in the Harry Potter movie.
Neapolitan Mastiffs are powerful and giant dogs with a highly protective nature. Having a sweet disposition, they are incredibly loyal to their owners. These gentle giants generally have low energy levels and make great couch potatoes who can spend their entire day lounging in the sun.
Pet parents should take their Neapolitan Mastiff for walks every day so that they can receive adequate exercise. These lazy dogs have a long history as guardians, explains PetMD. So, if you are looking for a loving dog who is watchful of your household, adopt a Neapolitan Mastiff.
Neapolitan Mastiffs tend to be wary of strangers. Positive reinforcement-based training and early socialization are important from an early age to help your dog be welcoming towards new people and situations.
2. Scottish Deerhound
Dog lovers value Scottish Deerhounds because they are rare and possess excellent hunting abilities. This breed became rare after World War I due to the breakup of estates. Another reason why Scottish Deerhounds are rare is that many countries do not allow hunting antlered game using dogs.
These sweet and well-mannered dogs are one of the tallest dog breeds in the world. Often referred to as ‘gentle giants,’ Scottish Deerhounds are incredibly loyal to their owners and possess strong guarding instincts.
These big dogs have an affectionate and gentle nature. They become a great fit for family life with proper training and socialization. These courageous yet sensitive dogs thrive on human interaction and are deeply connected to their people; that is why you cannot leave them alone for too long.
These calm and laid-back dogs need an ample amount of daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation. Scottish Deerhounds require a larger living space to roam around.
3. Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiff is one of the biggest dog breeds, originally bred as working dogs and guardians. Their massive size and lion-like mane give them an intimidating appearance, which alone can scare away all sorts of intruders.
Their immense loyalty, protective instincts, and wariness towards strangers make them excellent guard dogs. The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient and rare dog breed. According to Purina, they originated in China as early as 1100 B.C.
Their thick double coat enables them to withstand harsh weather conditions. Tibetan Mastiffs’ strength, endurance, and strong-willed personality make them better suited for experienced dog parents. Like many giant breeds, Tibetan Mastiffs tend to be calm around their family members.
In fact, they are more active at night and bark to alert their owners when they sense something unusual around them. Tibetan Mastiffs need only moderate exercise for physical and mental stimulation.
4. Bloodhound
Hailing from Belgium, Bloodhound is a dog breed with floppy ears and the strongest noses. This relatively rare dog breed was bred for hunting, but their docile, patient, and even temperament makes them ideal family dogs.
These substantial and large dogs love their humans and are very affectionate. They have a friendly nature and love to chill out and cuddle. Bloodhounds are great with children and need human company to stay content.
According to Orvis, they have a gentle temperament but may also act stubborn at times. Bloodhounds drool a lot and have bundles of energy. They need at least an hour or two of exercise every day to stay fit.
Bloodhounds cannot be left alone for extended periods. So they may not be a good fit for you if you have a busy schedule.
5. Leonberger
Leonberger is a giant dog breed hailing from Germany. Having a lion-like mane and muscular build, this working dog likes having a task to do. Despite being large dogs, Leos are quite affectionate and are happy snuggling up.
This giant breed was near extinction after World Wars I and II. Today, they are commonly used in search-and-rescue dogs. Leonbergers prefer living alongside their humans and have an easygoing temperament.
Leonbergers are intelligent dogs who can be trained easily. They make wonderful playmates, but don’t mind being a couch potato either. Usually, they are calm and quiet but need a brisk walk at least once every day.
Leonbergers were bred to be independent, so they are a better fit for experienced pet parents. They respond best to positive reinforcement-based training methods.
6. Estrela Mountain Dog
Estrela Mountain dog is a purebred dog hailing from Portugal. These relatively rare dogs make wonderful guard dogs due to their large size and suspiciousness towards strangers. Estrela Mountain dogs are good at herding flocks.
Their thick double coats protect them from outdoor elements. Estrela Mountain dogs are incredibly loyal to their owners and form strong bonds with them. They require regular exercise, including walks, playtime, and mental enrichment, to stay fit.
Remember, Estrela Mountain Dogs were bred to work and guard. So, they will not be lounging around the house all day long. These loving and protective dogs require consistent, positive reinforcement-based training to turn into well-behaved canines.
Estrela Mountain Dogs have an imposing presence, but they are aggressive. Early socialization is important to keep them from becoming overprotective or aggressive.
7. Dogue de Bordeaux
Dogue de Bordeaux is a relatively rare and fascinating dog breed with a rich history. These pooches have a loyal, loving, and even-tempered personality. One of the biggest dog breeds, they were bred to hunt wild game and protect properties.
These impressive canines get along nicely with kids, but are not recommended for homes with small children due to their large size. Dogue de Bordeaux has an imposing presence and physique. Thanks to their strong protective nature, they make great guard dogs.
However, they exhibit a gentle disposition towards their loved ones. Dogue de Bordeaux are sensitive yet stubborn dogs that respond best to patient and consistent training to turn into well-behaved pets. Like other large breeds, Dogues are also prone to health issues like hip dysplasia.
Conclusion
Rare and impressive giant dog breeds are prized by dog lovers due to their fascinating traits and historical backgrounds. Their muscular build and substantial physique make them look quite intimidating. This, combined with their fierce loyalty make them wonderful guardians.
Large dogs are usually protective by nature and tend to dislike strangers. However, they show the softer side of their personality to their favorite humans. Proper training, early socialization, and regular exercise help turn these canines into well-behaved family dogs.
