Some people love small dogs, while others prefer having a giant dog breed as a pet. Giant dog breeds have an imposing appearance, a massive size, and muscular bodies, which make them stand out from other breeds in the canine world.
They are not only big in size, but they have large personalities as well. These wonderful pooches are incredibly loyal to their owners and bond closely with them. They usually possess strong protective instincts and can go to any length to defend their loved ones.
Some of them make astonishing guard dogs and excellent family pets. They may look tough on the outside, but are softies at heart. Their sweet faces and loving temperaments make them true gentle giants. They are smart and easy to train.
Here are the top 7 magnificent giant dog breeds worth exploring.
Magnificent Giant Dog Breeds Worth Exploring
1. Saint Bernard
Saint Bernards are inquisitive and charming dogs with an imposing appearance. They are massive in size and have extraordinarily muscular bodies. Despite their physique, Saint Bernards are friendly and loving by nature.
This giant breed has been serving as service animals and search-and-rescue pups due to their gentle temperament. Saint Bernards get on well with children and make wonderful family pets. These intelligent dogs are playful and energetic as puppies, but become calm as they grow older.
Adult Saint Bernards are not overly energetic and need only moderate physical and mental stimulation every day. PetMD recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise every day to stay fit. These smart dogs learn quickly.
Obedience training is a great way to teach Saint Bernards not to jump on people, knock into children, or steal food from the table.
2. Great Dane
Also known as ‘Apollo of Dogs,’ the Great Dane is a large dog breed with a friendly and patient nature. Despite their sweet temperament, Danes are very alert guardians of your home. Their mere presence can make intruders think twice.
Great Danes are fiercely loyal dogs with a playful personality. They behave well around kids and are true people pleasers who make friends easily. Danes thrive on human contact and affection and are highly sociable.
Having an eager-to-please nature, these intelligent dogs respond well to firm and consistent training. Great Danes may seem sedate, but require daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation. These big dogs enjoy taking part in activities like weight pulling, obedience, and tracking.
One of the tallest breeds, Danes are prone to certain big dog diseases like hip dysplasia, Wobbler syndrome, happy tail syndrome, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
3. Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a good-natured and calm giant dog breed with immense power. These large dogs were bred for hardwork and this is highly reflected in their physique. Berners are hardy dogs with a thick double coat.
The profuse fur enables them to work well even in extremely cold temperatures. Their brain and brawn helped them multitask in the Swiss Alps, explains the American Kennel Club. Berners get on well with the entire family and are particularly gentle with children.
However, they get more attached to one lucky human. These affectionate dogs make good family pets. Berners love going on outdoor adventures such as long walks or hikes to satisfy their need for moderate daily exercise.
Berners are smart and eager to please dogs, so obedience training is easier. They enjoy participating in canine sports like agility, herding, obedience, and rally.
4. Mastiff
One of the most popular dog breeds in the world, Mastiffs are loved for their massive size and calm temperament. Male Mastiffs can even outgrow grown men, and their faces are masked in black, explains Purina.
This gentle breed is courageous, docile, and dignified. Mastiffs are incredibly loyal to their owners and serve as formidable protectors for their loved ones. When trained properly and socialized early, Mastiffs make lovable companions.
Their protective nature and natural wariness towards strangers make them excellent guard dogs, ideal for protecting homes and families. Mastiffs are intelligent dogs, so training them is not hard. However, their size and strength make them better suited for experienced owners.
These sensitive dogs can become upset with anger and loud voices. So make sure to use gentle training methods for them.
5. Estrela Mountain Dog
Estrela Mountain dogs are Portuguese mastiff-type dogs that were originally bred as livestock guardians. They make faithful guardians and inseparable companions for shepherds. Estrela Mountain Dogs are incredibly loyal to their owners and are highly protective of them.
They do not like strangers, but their love for their humans is incomparable. Estrela Mountain Dogs are generally calm, but playful with children they know. As a working dog, this substantial canine holds lots of stamina and strength.
Estrela Mountain Dogs are happy with a long walk and a play session in the yard every day. Like other large dog breeds, they can suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia. Omlet recommends a low-protein diet for these pooches to help them stay healthy.
Their thick double coat resembles goat hair in texture. Regular weekly grooming and occasional baths help keep them looking their best.
6. Romanian Mioritic Shepherd
Originating from the Carpathian Mountains, the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd dog is a relatively rare dog breed. One of the biggest dog breeds, the Mioritic Shepherd dogs are valued for their impressive size and character.
Being typical livestock guardians, Romanian Mioritic Shepherd dogs are loyal, reliable, and independent dogs. They are friendly and devoted to their family members, but very misunderstanding of strangers. These large dogs are lively, yet stuborn so basic obedience training is a must.
At the same time, they have very sensitive personalities. Romanian Mioritic Shepherds are always willing to defend their loved ones against potential threats. They get along nicely with children and need daily exercise to stay healthy and content.
These intelligent dogs learn quickly, but their strong-willed personality can make training a bit challenging. Mioritic Shepherds enjoy daily walks with their owners.
7. Leonberger
Leonbergers are large dogs who reach their full size by the age of one year. They are true ‘gentle giants’, having a friendly and playful nature. With an aristocratic grace and elegance, they tend to be calm and quiet.
Leos exhibit high intelligence and sound judgement and make wonderful watchdogs. They are calm and subdued with their owners, but may not be the right breed for you if you live in a city, apartment, or small house. In fact, they are better suited for experienced owners.
Leonbergers are highly intelligent and trainable dogs, but can be a bit stubborn. They are not aggressive, but become wary of strangers as they grow old. Leos are active dogs and need more than just a daily walk.
Conclusion
Giant breeds are valued by dog lovers due to their large size and loving nature. They are incredibly loyal to their owners and form strong bonds with them. It makes them very protective of their humans. Many large dogs make wonderful guard dogs.
They can scare away intruders with their mere presence. Their physical prowess, combined with their stamina and strength, makes them stand out from other breeds. They need regular daily exercise to stay physically and mentally fit.
