Buying a large dog, but which one?

Welshwoofs

cjmumto2 wrote: »

Not sure of a mastiff with kids, probably wouldnt be my first choice.

I just wanted to say that a lot of people say that, but it's not actually based in any reality and more to do with aesthetics. Mastiffs merely have a 'look' that makes people worried about them being around kids but in fact they are no more likely to attack one than any other dog.

A few things on the Op I'd like to point out:

- Giant breeds can be clumsy, especially when young so it's worth thinking about the age of the kids your wife looks after. My Neapolitan Mastiff has sent a few toddlers flying simply by turning round.
- Giant breeds don't, on average, live very long. You're really looking at 8 years and anything else is a bonus.
- They need very special care when young; if you plan on a pup chasing around with kids....forget it, they can't. A giant breed will take 2 years to mature and for the first 18 months you have to be very careful with them. You also need to watch their diet; big bones needs lots of calcium and protein. My Neo's 'baby diet' was raw chicken tripe and goat's milk.

If you're worried about drool then you may have an issue with the mess from giants full stop. They'll all drool more than smaller dogs and they all have ruddy great feet to trape mud into your house. A giant breed owner's house is not a pristine house.

Out of the ones you've stated I think I'd go for the Newfoundland or the Leonberger. I don't think they're barkers. You'll get health problems with the whole lot of them - giants are carrying a lot of weight so you have heart issues, bloat and problems with cruciates/joints etc. I'll also add that routine vet care costs more because of their size! My Mastiff needs twice the amount of worming tablets a Labrador does, if he needs sedation for an x-ray it's far more expensive because the amount of drugs needed is greater than normal.

Then there's transportation. I had to sell my normal size family salon and get an MPV which I took all the back chairs out of. If you go away on holiday to self-catering cottages you'll find that MANY who allow dogs have specific insurance policies that discount all the giant breeds (an argument I've had many a time when booking!) and you'll find that some kennels can't/won't cater for giants. Even simple things like collars can be a challenge....I have to have mine made to order.

On the flipside, giants are wonderful to own. They seem to have very different characters from smaller dogs; generally more relaxed and they're also a big armful to cuddle.

Just a few things to point out from a devoted giant breed owner

Croatoan

Some drool's to be expected and isn't a problem. Gallons of the stuff, something Newfies are renowned for, might be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul0HqbcMC2o
(It's still gorgeous though)

It's one of those things I guess no one can be sure about until you have one. But we intend to take the dog just about everywhere and I know for a fact both mothers in law would be aghast!
I'm a nurse so am pretty used to, ahem, bodily fluids and waste products, but still, I rarely seek them out

Frugalista

OP, just to let you know that the breeds you are interested in are being shown on Sunday, 11th December at the NEC. Judging starts at 9.30am.

HTH

Croatoan

Frugalista wrote: »

OP, just to let you know that the breeds you are interested in are being shown on Sunday, 11th December at the NEC. Judging starts at 9.30am.

HTH

Thanks. We're going to try and get to that, work permitting.

lostinrates

Croatoan wrote: »

But we intend to take the dog just about everywhere

ah.....herein lies another problme with giants. Country walks can be a problem...navigating styles with low botton bars that can't be crawled under, and high top bars that shouldn't be jumped over by giant legs, and are very hard to lift over, if not impossible.....much of the footpath network is out of bounds. Someone pointed out the difficulty of holidays with a giant, and they simply are not as welcomed or as transportable as a smaller dog. I am very lucky to have friends who have even invited the dogs for dinner parties, and people adore giants and will stop and chat to you and for a cuddle on walks which is lovely, but suddenly, when you want to have a drink in a beer garden, or use the holiday home, or stand at a dog friendly bar you find giants are less welcomed (often less welcomed than quite snappy or grumpy dogs) and somewhat awkward for other people to manouvre around. Living with a giant you think nothing of stepping over or leaning over a big dog...sometimes in public people are less willing to make allowances.

Caroline_a

... and of course you can't be taking him everywhere until he's fully grown, so for the first 2 years there won't be any long walks, etc. The St Bernard I mentioned in an earlier post used to lie down half way round on his walks and refuse to get up. The owner had to phone her son (who luckily was a strapping lad!) who then turned up and had to carry the dog home as otherwise they'd never have got there!! :eek:

Good for weight training I guess....:rotfl::rotfl:

Croatoan

Caroline_a wrote: »

... and of course you can't be taking him everywhere until he's fully grown, so for the first 2 years there won't be any long walks, etc. The St Bernard I mentioned in an earlier post used to lie down half way round on his walks and refuse to get up. The owner had to phone her son (who luckily was a strapping lad!) who then turned up and had to carry the dog home as otherwise they'd never have got there!! :eek:

Good for weight training I guess....:rotfl::rotfl:

We know we have to be very careful with exercise at least until maturity.
The taking him everywhere was more along the lines of taking him to others' houses when we visit, short park walks etc.

lostinrates

Croatoan wrote: »

We know we have to be very careful with exercise at least until maturity.
The taking him everywhere was more along the lines of taking him to others' houses when we visit, short park walks etc.

oh, and the other thing I won't miss is nurotic people who think if a dog is big its going to eat their dog. my Big Dog is so gentle with small dogs, she just loves them....she's slowing down a little now, at five, and after a run at the beginning of a walk likes to potter with me, and meet and greet with old dogs and little dogs....who she assumes will be slower. where we walk now is more robust, but I do still get people calling me to put my dog on a lead because she just looks at theirs. :mad::mad:

On the otherhand, lots of people want to stop and ask ''is that an X'' and then chat about gthem, which is lovely (but a bit of a pain when we want a half hour quick march and socialise so I can get on with the day:o:o)


I would also tentatively suggest that not many people fancy an adolescant giant...with their abilty to blunderbus anywhere clumsily at that awkwards stage, visiting their homes.....I mean, they like the idea, but the reality is often different. I only take mine regularly to one friend's home with me*....where they always behave appalingly because its all such fun. the first time we went I had two giants and my grey (who is almost 4o k and skinny, so giant sized!) and they ran upstairs and got into my friend's bed. I was mortified.:o:o

edit:* they do get invited elsewhere but I know people invite them liking the idea but not the reality. They ARE welcome at other doggy homes where we go, but not regularly.

Person_one

lostinrates wrote: »

oh, and the other thing I won't miss is nurotic people who think if a dog is big its going to eat their dog. my Big Dog is so gentle with small dogs, she just loves them....she's slowing down a little now, at five, and after a run at the beginning of a walk likes to potter with me, and meet and greet with old dogs and little dogs....who she assumes will be slower. where we walk now is more robust, but I do still get people calling me to put my dog on a lead because she just looks at theirs. :mad::mad:

On the otherhand, lots of people want to stop and ask ''is that an X'' and then chat about gthem, which is lovely (but a bit of a pain when we want a half hour quick march and socialise so I can get on with the day:o:o)

I have toy dogs, and while I love to see them socialise with dogs of all sizes I can't help but have my heart in my mouth when they're skittering about round a Great Dane's feet, he'd only have to put a foot wrong accidentally to break their spine! :eek: I just try not to worry though, its worth it for them to be well socialised and make doggy friends!

Oh and I'm sorry, but I'm a stopper and talker, feel free to just smile and answer while you walk past though, I won't be offended!

Murtle

Frugalista wrote: »

That suggestion has already been raised and answered.

I can read thanks - but breed rescues often have very different rules than standard rescues as they know their breed (and a whole lot of different things).

Just looked at Chow piccies, gorgeous x