What Is It Like To Have A Big Dog And What Should You Expect?

I have to say I never thought I would ever be owned by a large breed dog.  I love them and think they are great dogs but didn't ever think one would be in my life.  So what is it like to be owned by one of these gentle giants?  What should you expect?  There are a lot of pros and some cons as with anything.

First of all these dogs are the sweetest dogs and are some of the most gentle animals on earth.  They are excellent with children and make wonderful family dogs.  They ironically do not take up as much room as you might think but they do eat on average 6 cups of food per day.  They love human attention and are loyal to their family pack.  As with any dog, though, they should be well socialized so they are good with other dogs minimally. 

Here's some information on some various large breeds:
http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/great-dane

http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/newfoundland

http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/boxer

http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/great-pyrenees

http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/rottweiler

I put some of these links here because research of the breed you think you want is extremely important because just because a dog is cute doesn't mean the dog is good for your family.  For instance, smaller dogs may or may not be best for your family depending on the personality of the individual dog.  In my experience, small dogs such as chihuahuas, tend to be a little more snippy than other dogs and may not be the best around small children depending on the particular dog.  A lot of people are also afraid of rottweilers and they are honestly a wonderful family dog and are fantastic with children.  I was owned by a wonderful rottweilter for a few years (I got her when she was an adult) and we used to visit the children's playground and she would let the kids do whatever they wanted to her.  They are loyal dogs but definitely need training and are not for first time dog owners.

Some things to be prepared for prior to being owned by a large breed dog is the food bill (like I said...6 cups a day depending on the size of the dog), monthly heartworm and flea/tick costs, the loss of part of your couch, some drool (depending on gender and breed), and a great deal of love in return for just arriving home from work or school.  The larger breed dogs do not live the same life span as the small dogs which is honestly not fair but the love they give while they are with you is two-fold.

This is my Great Dane Lucien.  He's 4 years old.

Lucien loves to play with his humans, is great with dogs and cats, and is very loyal and protective.  However, if you call his name and give him a treat he will be your friend forever and show you where the good stuff is in the house.  Great Danes tend to be goofy dogs and will definitely keep you smiling and laughing. 

All of this being said, please research the breed of dog before you adopt or see a breeder.  There are so many misconceptions about a lot of breeds (ex. rottweilers, German Shepherds, "pitt bull") and the fact is any dog can bite or snap but if raised correctly and trained properly then they will be fine.  It is all about the owners and how the dog is trained and how kids behave around the dog, etc.  There are exceptions to every rule, however.  The key is personality and spending time with the dog prior to adoption.

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