With paws the size of a human hand, towering frames, and surprisingly gentle personalities, large dog breeds have been capturing hearts for centuries. They may look intimidating at first glance, but these big, furry companions have plenty of love and affection to offer.
Did you know? Large dog breeds typically have shorter lifespans than medium or small dogs, with most giant breeds living anywhere between 7 to 10 years.
Despite their size, large dog breeds are incredibly loyal to their humans. Many have strong protective instincts and make excellent guard dogs. They do tend to thrive best in homes where they have plenty of room to move around and stretch those long legs.
If you’re looking to bring home a giant dog your neighbors have probably never seen before, consider exploring a rare dog breed. Here are 9 of the most unusual and fascinating breeds out there.
Unique Giant Dog Breeds: Exploring the Less Common
1. Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiffs are ancient dogs known for their massive size and lion-like mane. These large dogs have a massive wedge-shaped head and thick double coat. They were originally bred to guard livestock and property.
These courageous and loyal dogs have an alert temperament. Tibetan Mastiffs are aloof and watchful towards strangers. One of the biggest dog breeds, they are lazy indoors and spend their day sleeping. However, Tibetan Mastiffs are more active at night.
These fairly quiet dogs bark only to inform their owners when they sense something unusual. Tibetan Mastiffs are rare and athletic dogs who need moderate daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation. Due to their size, they need plenty of room to roam.
Tibetan Mastiffs are highly intelligent dogs who learn quickly. They respond well to positive reinforcement-based training methods.
2. Leonberger
Leonbergers are playful and friendly dogs with serene patience. While these gentle giants are common in their native region, they are relatively rare in other parts of the world. They almost became extinct during World War I and II.
These huge and powerful dogs are known for their aristocratic grace and elegance. A black mask, lion-like mane, and a bushy tail. Leos are generally quiet dogs who need brisk exercise at least once every day. They enjoy long walks and hikes with their humans.
Leos were bred to be independent, but are also highly trainable. They do well with experienced pet parents and professional trainers who know how to handle this breed, explains PetMD. Leos respond well to consistent, repetitive, and firm training.
Do You Know? Leonbergers are named after Leonberg, a town of Germany, where they were originally bred by crossing a Newfoundland, Pyrenean Mountain Dog, and Saint Bernard, in 1846.
3. Irish Wolfhound
Irish Wolfhounds are the real proof that size and sweetness can share the same body. One of the tallest dog breeds, these immense and muscular hound dogs are capable of great speed at the gallop. Despite their large size, IWs are gentle, calm, and docile.
Relatively a rare dog breed, Irish Wolfhounds are comfortable around kids and other pets, especially when socialized well from an early age. They form strong bonds with their humans and can develop separation anxiety when left alone for extended periods.
Their thick double coat comprises a wiry outer coat and a soft undercoat, according to the American Kennel Club. The coat protects them from harsh elements. Having a strong instinct to hunt and chase prey, IWs should always be taken for a walk on leash.
Irish Wolfhounds enjoy taking part in canine sports like agility, tracking, and lure coursing. These emotional sponges can easily get hurt by a raised voice, so be careful during training.
4. Dogue De Bordeaux
Dogue de Bordeaux are immensely powerful Mastiff-type dogs. The muscular bodies of these large dogs are representative of their strength and their background as versatile working dogs. Despite having an intimidating appearance, they are gentle and calm around their loved ones.
Dogues are highly devoted to their humans and want to be with them all the time. These gentle giants are not overly active, but enjoy daily walks and playtime with their owners. Dogues also do well in activities like obedience training, carting, and water rescue.
They are highly attuned to human emotions and make wonderful therapy dogs. These oversized companions love to snuggle in your lap and snooze on a comfy sofa. These adaptable dogs can adjust well in different environments.
Omlet mentions that they drool a lot. Therefore, if you are planning to adopt this rare dog breed, keep a towel handy to clean the mess.
5. Spanish Mastiff
Having giant size and powerful bodies, Spanish Mastiffs are intelligent, affectionate, and kind dogs. Originally bred as livestock guardians, they are loving towards their humans and young children if socialized properly.
However, they tend to be aloof towards strangers and possess strong protective instincts. Although Spanish Mastiffs are very popular in Spain, they are quite rare in the rest of the world. They have been designated as the national breed of Spain.
Spanish Mastiffs are calm and low-energy canines. They need at least an hour of daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation. Spanish Mastiffs are intelligent dogs, but have a stubborn streak and can be a bit difficult to train.
They respond best to positive reinforcement training. Their short double coat sheds throughout the year and needs moderate grooming to keep looking good.
6. Black Russian Terrier
Black Russian Terriers are big and loyal dogs belonging to the working group. Despite being large dogs, they have a calm demeanor. These fearless, determined, and well-proportioned canines have a strong work ethic.
They are incredibly loyal to their humans, but suspicious of strangers. These unique pups are considered a rare dog breed outside Russia. Black Russian Terriers were developed by the Russian army during World War II as guard dogs and service dogs.
They need lots of exercise, plenty of training, and early socialization to behave well. Purina recommends at least two hours of walking with training for their physical and mental enrichment. BRTs also do well at big dog sports like agility and rally.
7. Scottish Deerhound
One of the biggest dog breeds, Scottish Deerhounds are polite and dignified dogs with a gentle nature. They are often referred to as ‘Royal Dogs of Scotland.’ Scottish Deerhounds were specifically bred for coursing wild deer.
Do you Know? Scottish Deerhounds resemble Greyhounds in appearance due to their wiry coats. However, they are much larger and more substantial than the latter.
Scottish Deerhounds are calm dogs with a friendly and easygoing nature. They have a strong prey drive, so early training and proper socialization are needed to turn them into well-mannered family pets.
Scottish Deerhounds are highly valued because they are rare and possess preeminent hunting abilities. They are best suited for spacious homes with big yards.
8. Kangal
Turkish Kangals are impressive large dogs, having a balanced structure. Originally bred for guarding livestock, they are athletic and well-muscled. Their thick double coat is especially designed to protect them against harsh elements.
While it is quite popular in Turkey, this rare dog remains one of the lesser-known breeds in the rest of the world. Characterized by their distinctive black mask, Kangals are capable of making decisions independently, with minimal instructions from their humans.
Well-trained Kangals are pretty cool, calm, and protective of their humans. They are highly territorial and get provoked when they sense a potential danger. Kangals need at least two hours of daily exercise for physical and mental enrichment.
9. Estrela Mountain Dog
Estrela Mountain Dogs are large dogs with a protective nature. These alert, intelligent, and independent canines love being surrounded by their family. They originally served as guardians, and it is still reflected in their temperament.
Estrela Mountain Dogs tend to be reserved around strangers and will need early socialization to be comfortable and well-mannered around new people. EMDs love their family and want to stay close to them. They bark to alert their humans to things they find unusual.
As working dogs, EMDs have bundles of stamina, but do not require extensive exercise for physical and mental stimulation. They are happy with a long walk every day and a play session in their garden. Unlike some other big breeds, they don’t slobber and have a dry mouth.
Conclusion
Some giant dog breeds are unique in their own way. They had different jobs in the past. Some were bred as hunting dogs or herding dogs while others were celebrated farm dogs. Today, they make loyal and loving companion dogs for a variety of households.
Many rare dog breeds are valued by giant dog lovers due to their distinctive traits. These canines need regular exercise, proper training, and early socialization to turn into well-mannered or well-behaved family dogs.
