Dogs are the most popular pets in the world for many reasons. Aside from the fact that they can be incredibly cute, most breeds have so much energy that it becomes contagious. Yes, it’s almost impossible to have an active breed and not be active yourself; you must because you need to give them all the exercise they need. Some breeds like the ever popular and loveable Golden Retriever can be trained to guide visually impaired individuals. As a matter of fact, some serve as emotional support to some individuals.
There’s also the very popular reason why many people keep dogs as pets, which is for security. Now, not all dog breeds fit the role of guard or security dogs. Typically, larger breeds like the Great Dane and Bullmastiff are trained to be guard dogs. While we may not be able to provide a dog breeds A-Z guide, in this article, we’ll go over some of the most popular giant dog breeds. You can however carry out more search later to find more.
The idea behind using larger breeds as guard dogs is quite simple. Their sheer size alone is often enough to deter any intruder from coming close. That said, all guard dogs are big dogs but not all big dogs are guard dogs. This is because not all large breeds are as fierce as others and although size is sometimes enough to scare strangers away, the most effective is usually a combination of both.
English Mastiff
The English Mastiff descended from ancient war dogs, according to historical facts. Its ancestors were fierce and aggressive but today, most of these violent traits have been dropped. This breed is now known to be a loving member of the family, providing warmth to everyone.
Female English Mastiffs can grow to heights of between 27 and 32 inches and weigh between 120 lbs. and 170 lbs., while males can grow up to 36 inches in height and weigh an impressive 230 lbs., making them one of the largest breeds alive today. Life expectancy is between 6 and 12 years.
While English Mastiffs aren’t generally described as violent breeds today, their size and high level of intelligence make them a great choice for security. If you’re not so familiar with them, you’d most likely be terrified if one were to charge towards you.
Newfoundland
Most dog breeds are good swimmers, but this breed takes swimming to a whole new level. The Newfoundland has webbed feet which is probably why they are incredible swimmers and love getting into the water. Being incredibly swimmers, this breed makes for excellent lifeguards and is fantastic in water sports.
They were originally bred to help Canadian fishermen and their water-repellent outer coat makes it easy to keep the cold away. Incredibly loving in nature, they make for excellent family dogs; their full fluffy coat also makes them even more fun to snuggle. Click here to learn more about grooming for this breed.
Adult females can grow as tall as 27 inches and weigh between 100 lbs. and 120 lbs., while adult males can grow to 28 inches in height and can weigh between 130 lbs. and 150 lbs. in weight. Life expectancy is between 8 and 10 years.
Irish Wolfhound
Like the Newfoundland, the Irish Wolfhound has a pretty interesting history. Due to its large size, its ancestors were trained to be wolf hunters to control the wolf population in Ireland at the time, hence the wolf in its name. Some records also suggest that they were also used in war to drag soldiers off horses and chariots! Not surprisingly, Wolfhounds are strong and active but under their big shaggy appearance is a soft, loving heart which makes them get along well with children and other pets.
The Newfoundland is an incredibly large dog. As a matter of fact, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes it as the tallest dog breed. Adult females grow in heights of between 32 and 34 inches and weigh between 115 lbs. and 140 lbs., while males, can grow in height of up to 36 inches and weigh between 140 lbs. and 180lbs. Life expectancy is between 6 and 10 years.
Great Dane
The Great Dane was created as a result of a cross between the Irish Wolfhound and the English Mastiff, so, unsurprisingly, it makes our list of the most popular giant dogs. Bred by German nobles for security and large game hunting, Great Danes are a strong and agile breed.
Today, thanks to their size, intelligence, and alert nature, they make excellent guards. But this isn’t to say that Great Danes aren’t great family pets. They are kind as they are playful so, your kids would definitely enjoy having one of these big giants at home to play with.
Adult females can reach heights of between 28 and 32 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 110 lbs. and 140lbs., while adult males can grow up to 30 or 32 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 140 lbs. and 175 lbs. Life expectancy is between 8 and 10 years. Visit https://www.dogbreedinfo.com/greatdane.htm to learn more about the Great Dane.
Final Thoughts
Big dogs are a lot of fun to have around as they are usually lively and active pets. However, for first time dog owners, they may not be the best option. This is because large breeds like these often require a lot of exercises to keep them healthy and their owners must be ready to match their energy. We should also mention that while these big breeds can also do agility, their bulkier size could make scaling certain obstacles difficult. So, you’d want to carefully examine each course before letting your pet loose.