Buying a large dog, but which one?

Croatoan

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Isn't Discover Dogs on in November? AFAIK all breeds are there & it's a good place to meet them & to chat to their breeders & other owners about the breed in general x

I've looked at this but can't currently get the time off work

cjmumto2

My friend has a Leonberger and she is adorable, a big softie, they also have 2 young kids and had a cat. I have never heard her bark and she is extremely gentle so I can highly recommend them.

I used to run a home boarding kennels and often looked after a bernese mountain dog and again what a lovely dog, never barked and very gentle and was also brought up with a young child.

Not sure of a mastiff with kids, probably wouldnt be my first choice. Newfies are gorgeous and have met two that were used at fairs to pull kids aournd on a cart but dont know any very well.

Good Luck

UKTigerlily

Just thinking with the Newfies, where I live they train them in water things at the local country park, maybe there is a local Newfie club who train somewhere similar. Ours is in Leicester but if you need a number I can probably find it. Maybe the breed secretaries will also be able to put you in touch with local breeders or people who breed them & can talk to you honestly about the breeds.

Your Cat mag do breed profiles, maybe Your Dog do something similar? You might be able to get back issues featuring them x

Croatoan

cjmumto2 wrote: »

My friend has a Leonberger and she is adorable, a big softie, they also have 2 young kids and had a cat. I have never heard her bark and she is extremely gentle so I can highly recommend them.

I used to run a home boarding kennels and often looked after a bernese mountain dog and again what a lovely dog, never barked and very gentle and was also brought up with a young child.

Not sure of a mastiff with kids, probably wouldnt be my first choice. Newfies are gorgeous and have met two that were used at fairs to pull kids aournd on a cart but dont know any very well.

Good Luck

When we made out our original list, the Bernese was, and still is, my wife's first choice, and the Leonberger mine
Having just lost a dog at an early age I might be guilty of placing too much of an emphasis on the health problems of the Bernese. Next step I think is to attend a few shows and talk to breeders. There is a lot of info on the internet, though as always, much of it is contradictory.

krlyr

I wouldn't rule out rescues entirely - you won't know thieir rehoming policies unless you ask, and it can vary greatly from rescue to rescue. A known quantity, e.g. a calm adult, may even be a better choice given your wife's job - better than an excitable nippy puppy that isn't keen on being shut away from all the fun when the children are about (and will use them/their toys as teething aids)

meritaten

The only experience I have with large dogs are Great Danes. Gentle Giants!

Caroline_a

Back to the OP... I'm a giant breed lover, had many Danes and hankered after most of the breeds you list. How much research have you done on giant breed care? They are totally different in their younger years than any other breed, no long walks, no stairs or jumping, just have to keep them as calm as possible so they have time to grow into their size without damaging growing bones and joints.

You will have to feed at shoulder height to prevent bloat - some people still argue about this one but I've never had a case of bloat and always fed at shoulder height, so was I lucky or doing the right thing?

As far as the life expectancy goes, all giants have a lower life expectancy than, say, a collie. However, so much of it is dependent again on breeding history, and care in younger life. My last Dane was 11 when I finally had to have her put down, and she was still running around gamely at that age, no skeletal issues at all. Having said that, the vet said she had never met a Dane of that age! The heavier giants tend to live less long as they have a larger mass to carry around - I recently knew of a St Bernard who died at 7, his heart just gave up, but having been charged around up and down stairs and long walks as a pup, he'd had cruciate surgery several times before he was 3!! He then spent his life asleep or begging for food... poor old thing. I heard one of the teenagers who were friends with the owners say he was 'boring' as he didn't do anything.... but given his early life I don't think he had a chance.

Good luck, research your breeder well. One thing to mention though... check out the slobber rating!!! I never had a Dane who slobbered, but Newfies are known for it, as are some of the other breeds you list.

Edit - I note you mention barking.... that just depends on training. I own a German Shepherd now who barks very very rarely, yet Gettingready owns his virtual twin and I know she had lots of trouble with hers barking not so long ago. Mine does have a woof at pigeons who dare to fly over his garden, and will woof once or twice when the doorbell goes... but that's all. If there is any other barking, I know something is very wrong.

VoucherMan

suki1964 wrote: »

Not meaning to hijack this thread nor to single out a poster because we have had run ins, but what is it with the flipping pictures with every post? Do you have no respect for those who have to use 3g and find the pictures not only take an age to down load but eat up allowances??? I avoid the threads that are obviously picture heavy but to add pictures of your pets to every thread is now making this forum a nightmare to navigate

Going off -topic but

go to edit options

Under Thread Display Options un-check the Show Images (including attached images and images in box. Then save changes.

Job done

If you want to see an image just click the link to the hosting site.

krlyr

Caroline_a wrote: »

You will have to feed at shoulder height to prevent bloat - some people still argue about this one but I've never had a case of bloat and always fed at shoulder height, so was I lucky or doing the right thing?

On the other hand, as an owner of large breeds with deep chests, prone to bloat, I have always fed from bowls on the floor and never had a case of bloat I believe the latest studies show that raising bowls could possibly make bloat slightly more likely but generally there is not a significant link (they're struggling to find any real link, to be honest). Giant breeds may find it slightly more comfortable to have a raised bowl though due to the slightly unnatural height of the dogs (bigger than 'wolf-sized'). Given the lack of any real link either way, I'd just pick whichever the dog found most comfortable - perhaps offer a raised water bowl and a bowl on the floor and see which the dog tends to use more as a way to judge it.

Croatoan

Caroline_a wrote: »

Back to the OP... I'm a giant breed lover, had many Danes and hankered after most of the breeds you list. How much research have you done on giant breed care? They are totally different in their younger years than any other breed, no long walks, no stairs or jumping, just have to keep them as calm as possible so they have time to grow into their size without damaging growing bones and joints.

You will have to feed at shoulder height to prevent bloat - some people still argue about this one but I've never had a case of bloat and always fed at shoulder height, so was I lucky or doing the right thing?

As far as the life expectancy goes, all giants have a lower life expectancy than, say, a collie. However, so much of it is dependent again on breeding history, and care in younger life. My last Dane was 11 when I finally had to have her put down, and she was still running around gamely at that age, no skeletal issues at all. Having said that, the vet said she had never met a Dane of that age! The heavier giants tend to live less long as they have a larger mass to carry around - I recently knew of a St Bernard who died at 7, his heart just gave up, but having been charged around up and down stairs and long walks as a pup, he'd had cruciate surgery several times before he was 3!! He then spent his life asleep or begging for food... poor old thing. I heard one of the teenagers who were friends with the owners say he was 'boring' as he didn't do anything.... but given his early life I don't think he had a chance.

Good luck, research your breeder well. One thing to mention though... check out the slobber rating!!! I never had a Dane who slobbered, but Newfies are known for it, as are some of the other breeds you list.

Edit - I note you mention barking.... that just depends on training. I own a German Shepherd now who barks very very rarely, yet Gettingready owns his virtual twin and I know she had lots of trouble with hers barking not so long ago. Mine does have a woof at pigeons who dare to fly over his garden, and will woof once or twice when the doorbell goes... but that's all. If there is any other barking, I know something is very wrong.

Yeah we're researching, and the taking it easy on exercise (5 minutes per month in age a day, eg 30 mins at 6 months, an hour at 12 as a maximum was one figure I saw being used), and as you say, avoid stairs, jumping out of vehicles etc., until maturity, and eating high, to avoid bloat (something we did with the Chow) have been noted.