A silent emotional understanding is something that everyone craves. Since the beginning of time, people have loved to pet dogs as these furry friends have always been known to form a strong and healthy bond with their owners. Those who keep them from a young age have a special kind of affiliation with their canine friends.
Since dogs are quite affectionate companions, they also help in mood uplift. Many large breeds of dogs are known for their friendly nature despite being huge in size. Interestingly enough, big dogs, particularly Labs, when they communicate with their favourite people, create unique voices in order to create emotions and show their affection.
With unconditional love, these breeds form an unbreakable bond. Keeping the large breeds not only creates a strong bond but also helps in treating many medical conditions of humans by keeping them happy. Let’s dive into the world of dogs to explore the reasons behind their emotional communication and intelligence.
Best Large Dog Breeds with Strong Bonds
1. Afghan Hound
Little reserved but fiercely loyal. The Afghan Hound is one of the most attractive of all dog breeds. Even with exuding noble elegance, this giant displays an adorable touch of lighter-heartedness and deep loyalty. Purina reports that in 2005, an Afghan hound named Snuppy was transformed into the first successful dog clone.
Primarily found in the mountain regions of Afghanistan, their glossy coat protects them from harsh climates. Though they show little warmth, but they appear to be a little goofy for their loved ones.
With their family members, they form strong bonds and appear to be wonderful family pets with their unwavering loyalty.
As a large dog breed, the Afghan hound needs moderate exercise for one to two hours. This breed, with sheer size, appreciates space, whether indoor or outdoor.
They enjoy running, so keep them away from busy roads and other hazards. They have established themselves as family dogs and thrive in the constant companionship of older children with proper socialization.
2. Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Rugged flock guardian of an ancient lineage, these muscular avengers are valued as peerless working guard dogs. Anatolian Shepherd Dog has virtues of a protective nature, intelligence, and patience.
They have muscular builds and agile bodies, which make them a perfect match for predators and the harsh terrain of their homeland.
A sense of timelessness and untouched quality of this ancient breed takes us back to the Bronze Age from where they have descended. With smartness and devotion, they protect their family members. They have a sense of adaptation that makes them suitable for families with kids, small dogs, and even cats.
Being a dominant and extremely loyal breed, they do not hesitate to spring into action if they sense any danger around the family.
They have an independent nature, which sometimes comes off as stubbornness, making training difficult. The owner must be strong, experienced, and willing to handle this large and reserved dog breed.
3. Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian sheepdogs belong to the Belgian Shepherd family and are known for their long black coat. They are also labelled as Groenendael, which can link to the 19th century in Belgium for herding and guarding purposes.
According to PetMD, they have also made their name in the most popular dog breeds that work as police dogs. These dogs excel with human families by making strong attachments with them.
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and a strong-willed breed, it is an exceptionally loyal companion. They tend to be workaholics with an eager-to-please attitude.
These friendly nature companions are highly trainable and intelligent. Their gentleness and participation in family activities make them great family pets.
To thrive in family life, these active dogs also need regular exercise and mental stimulation. They show uneasiness towards strangers and other pets. That’s why early socialization and training at a young age make them a good fit for families. They enjoy busy routines and are a suitable option for active families with a fenced yard.
4. Belgian Tervuren
The Belgian Tervuren, an elegant and self-assured breed, is famous for its affectionate and possessive nature. It is characterized by a medium to long coat with an elegant and muscular frame.
This tireless breed loves challenges and hard work. With an insatiable work drive, unaverred loyalty, and intelligent aura, these dogs excel as therapy dogs as well as search and rescue dogs.
This confident and lovable dog breed forms close bonds with its family. Eagerness to work and please makes this dog highly energetic. That is the reason it demands a lot of mental and physical stimulation. Being one of the smartest breeds, they tend to be quick learners, which makes their training easy.
Despite being highly devoted to their loved ones, they may show detachment from new people. The sociable nature of these dogs can mitigate this problem via introducing early socialization.
Their beautiful, thick double coat needs regular grooming during the shedding period. They make great family dogs for active families.
5. Curly Coated Retriever
The famous and diverse gundog and unmatched water dog breed, the Curly Coated Retriever, ranks among the oldest of the retrievers.
They are named after their water-resistant black or liver coloured coat that is made of small, tight curls. Like Labrador retrievers, Curlies also have an affectionate nature but with a mix of independent and dominating personalities.
According to AKC, this retriever is a great bird hunting dog just like other retrievers, but its elegance makes it stand out among all. The wickedly smart dog is an affectionate companion and enjoys the company of loved ones.
However, they are not as friendly as other retrievers like the Golden Retriever. Curly, as a protective dog, is aloof with strangers, which is beneficial for humans to guard them.
These furry friends are high-energy dogs and unleash their energy through playing, walking, or swimming. This large breed at least needs two hours of exercise a day.
They may show destructive behavior if left alone for a long time. They need early training and social settings in order to do well with other pets and children.
6. Broholmer
This large breed has a loud bark with an elegant and confident walk. In spite of their sheer size, these dogs enjoy cuddling with their owners. These mighty but gentle giants are sharp, loyal, and intelligent. Broholmer forms deep bonds with people they love and is also regarded as a great family dog.
With resounding bark, they tend to show their calmness, docility, and even temperament to their loved ones. Their gentle nature makes them best suited for families with older children, as they are fond of kids and want to be their cuddling partners. They have a short, dense, and light yellowish/brownish or black coloured coat.
This large mastiff-type breed originated in Denmark. While having protective instincts in their bloodline, they guard humans with their unique traits like love, calmness, and watchfulness.
They were used to lie at the doorsteps of butcher shops and then nicknamed as the butcher’s dog. This large breed requires a large home, too. These dogs thrive in active families, along with their love for canine sports.
7. Bouvier des Flandres
Bouvier des Flandres was originally bred for herding purposes, working closely with human make these big dogs sociable. They have a medium-length double coat that gives protection in harsh weather. Bouvier des Flandres ranks among the beard dog breeds, with a massive head and shaggy eyebrows. They live from 10 to 12 years.
Backed by history, they are naturally protective of their family and make excellent watchdogs. They are known for having a gentle nature and are well adapted to families and other animals with proper training. They tend to please their owners, making their training easy. This breed is very smart, and once taught, they will never forget.
They are also not prone to hyperactive behavior, which is suitable for any lifestyle. Bouvier is an average shedder, but regular brushing and care will keep shedding minimal.
Despite having a serious demeanour, Bouviers are also known to boast playful spirits. Their playfulness makes them excellent companions with active families.
Conclusion
These big dogs with big hearts form unbreakable bonds with their favourite people. They are more than just pets; they are family. Their big stature may seem dominating, but beyond those vigilant eyes, there is a communication filled with loyalty and love. These protectors ensure the well-being of their loved ones, whether it’s mental or physical. They are always ready to guard you!
