Extra Large Breed Dogs

Extra large dog breeds are full of surprises, mostly in a good way!

One of the first things you need to know is that you don't have to live on a ranch, walk 10 miles a day, or be 6' 5" and 300lbs to own one!

In spite of their size big dogs are often gentle, low-energy and very mellow which can make them wonderful family pets.

But of course, not every home (or family) is the right place for an extra large or giant dog of course, and their awesome size means that they have some very unique needs.

If you choose to add a large or giant dog breed to your home, it's important to know how to take care of him, and make sure he grows up healthy and strong.

• Which breeds are considered to be extra large?
• List of popular large and giant breeds
• Big dog facts
• About big dogs
• What big dogs need
• Feeding the big 'uns
• Exercising extra large dogs
• Big dog health problems

Which Breeds Are Extra-Large?

Interestingly, there's no one set 'standard' or 'system' that defines what are considered extra large breed dogs, and there's no specific documented height/weight minimum.

It's also a bit subjective because if you've always owned dogs on the smaller end of the spectrum, a well-built Labrador Retriever will probably seem pretty big! But, obviously any breed considered to be 'giant' has to be at the very top end of the scale. 

However height has to be taken into account too. Some very big dogs aren't terribly heavy due to their bone structure, but they are very tall (for example the Irish Wolfhound).

Popular Extra Large Breed Dogs

Big Dog Facts

Extra large breed dogs can be awe-inspiring (and maybe even a little intimidating) while simultaneously being fun-loving, goofy, chill and cuddly companions. There's nothing quite like having a BIG dog in your life.

Here are a few interesting facts about big dogs:

definition of a large breed dog

The interesting thing about this is that there is NO official definition of what makes a dog large, extra large, or giant sized.

The rule-of-thumb earlier in this article is what I would PERSONALLY consider to be the definition of a big dog, but experts, owners, and organizations each have their own ideas about this.

Petplace.com suggests large breeds weigh between 55 and 85 lbs, and giant breeds weigh between 75 and 120+ lbs.

According to their dog food labeling, Royal Canin considers large and extra large dogs to weigh between 57 and 100+ lbs.

According to the AKC, large dogs can weigh anywhere between 45 and 100 lbs (including such size diverse breeds as the Greyhound and the Old English Sheepdog), while extra-large breeds may weigh between 85 and 180+ lbs.

We also need to remember that weight isn't the only criteria in a dog's size, height is important too.

World's tallest dog

A Great Dane named Zeus is the Guinness World Record holder for being the tallest dog, reaching an adult height of 44" (that's just a few inches short of four feet). Dog height is measured at the shoulder, so his head was considerably higher than this!

world's heaviest dog

An English Mastiff named Aicama Zorba is the Guinness World Record holder for being the heaviest dog, reaching a weight of 343 lbs. Wow. That's a LOT of dog!

breeds with a purpose

Most large and giant breed dogs were originally bred with a very specific purpose in mind... to do a job. These jobs were varied and range from guarding property and livestock, through hunting and bringing down prey, to rescuing humans from dangerous situations. Some even went into battle with us!

• St Bernard - mountain rescue
• Newfoundland - haul nets and help fisherman, water rescue
• Great Dane - hunt wild boar
• Cane Corso - guardian of property and livestock
• Afghan Hound - hunter and guardian
• Irish Wolfhound - war dog and also used hunt elk, boar and wolves
• Scottish Deerhound - hunt wild deer
• Dog de Bordeaux - cart pulling and guardian of livestock
• Rottweiler - guardian and cart pulling
• English Mastiff - baiting bulls, bears, even lions, hunting, guardian
• Komondor - livestock guardian
• Boerboel - guardian and working farm dog
• Tibetan Mastiff - livestock guardian

About BIG Dogs

health

Big dogs often look strong, bold and very robust - but in reality, giant dog breeds are actually less robust than their more moderately sized 'cousins' and are more fragile than they look (both physically and emotionally).

The phenomenal growth rate of extra large breed puppies puts them at risk for bone and joint problems, such as hip dysplasia, on a scale not seen in smaller breeds.

They are also at risk for Bloat (also known as Torsion), thyroid and other hormone issues, heart problems, cancers and more. Extra large breed dogs tend to have a shorter life span because of the strain their size puts on their bodies and organs.

You can check out my page on big dog health problems for a detailed look at this topic.

training

Because these big boys (and girls) have such a huge physical presence, inexperienced owners sometimes think that they need to be handled more sternly and in a more 'physical' way than the smaller breeds so. This is totally incorrect.

Obviously, if you barely weigh in at 100lbs and are 5' tall, taking a Great Dane (who could weigh anywhere up to 170lbs) for a walk may be a challenge, but many of these extra large breed dogs are truly 'Gentle Giants'.

Loud voices, harsh reprimands and physical corrections are only going to scare them and cause them emotional distress. In fact, getting 'tough' with a large or giant breed will usually simply make him stubborn... and it's pretty impossible to MAKE a big dog do anything with physical pressure.

In some of the larger 'guardian' breeds, such as Rottweilers, Cane Corso or South African Boerboels, this sort of attitude can make them resentful, obstinate and defiant - not a good combination.

cost of ownership

Although there is no such thing as a 'free puppy' (because of many needs these little creatures have), the cost of raising a Newfoundland puppy is going to be considerably more than the cost of raising a Yorkie.... it's a no-brainer!

Check out the REAL $$ cost of dog ownership here!

compatibility

I wouldn't necessarily suggest extra large breeds as FIRST TIME dogs for families with small/young children unless the adults are totally aware of the need for supervision of both four-legged and two-legged 'children' at all times.

The main reason for this observation is simply because of their size, not their temperament!

Large and extra-large breed dogs are in general, very sensitive, loving and gentle and are not aggressive or deliberately hurtful but they can be clumsy and could accidentally knock down or hurt a small child while playing with them or greeting them. This is especially true if they haven't been properly trained and the dog/child interaction isn't being supervised.

However, if you've owned big dogs before and are confident in your ability to train and manage them around your children then it can be a great choice. I raised six children with at least one Rottweiler (usually more) always in the home, plus German Shepherds, Cane Corsi and Great Pyrenees. It was a great experience all around and my (now grown) children all own dogs, some large some small, of their own.

Large and extra large dogs be an especially great 'fit' for families with older/pre-teen/teen children where there is plenty of opportunity for play/exercise and activities with the whole family.

The American Kennel Club Breed Index has lots of information on the majority of the big dog breeds in the above list, including the breed history, breed standard and links to breeders with available litters.

What Do Extra Large Breeds Need?

Big puppies need bigger 'stuff'. Of course there are the obvious 'puppy supply basics' like crates, beds, toys, collars, leashes and so on, but you also need to take into account that your giant breed puppy will eat WAY more than a teacup puppy will.

Not to mention, you'll need the 'large size' of just about everything from treats to medications (think flea and tick preventative, heartworm medication etc.) and more. Trust me, this adds up!

But it doesn't end there. Extra large breed dogs also need more room because a Great Dane will take up considerably more space on your living room floor (and the ENTIRE sofa), in your car, in your yard and on your lap!

However the good thing is that these big dogs aren't generally more active than small breeds, in fact a terrier will just about always run rings around a Mastiff! As puppies, all breeds are active and need to run and play, but as adults many extra large to giant breeds tend towards the 'couch potato' mentality.

This means that it is possible to keep a big dog in a smaller living space as long as you're prepared to give him plenty of exercise and stimulation as a puppy, and a regular daily walk (or two) as an adult.

Many extra large breed dogs who are also working breeds, such as German Shepherds or Rhodesian Ridgebacks, NEED a job to do, and don't do well without regular exercise and mental stimulation. They are best suited to active homes and ideally need more indoor and outdoor space than some of the other big dogs.

Large breed puppies need lots of love and are almost always big babies! They can be very clumsy and seem to have little-to-no control over their limbs, tails or any other part of their bodies.

This isn't their fault.... extra large and giant breed puppies grow at a phenomenal rate and they literally seem to be bigger/taller every day. Their brains just don't seem to be able to keep up with their ever-changing bodies and they're constantly misjudging how tall/wide they are.

Feeding The Big 'Uns

The bone and joint problems that so many of these giant breeds are prone to, can be caused by a genetic predisposition, an improper diet, environmental factors - or more commonly a combination of all of these things.

Making sure that your giant breed puppy has his specific nutritional needs met, is very important role to his future growth and health and to help support correct development through adolescence and into adulthood. It can also go a long way towards preventing many of the health conditions that these extra large breed dogs are prone to.

Extra large to giant breed puppies need to eat a premium food - holistic, all-natural or organic ingredients are preferable, and choose a formulathat is specifically formulated for large or giant breed puppies so that it has the correct balance of nutrients.

There are also some 'all life stages' foods, and even the occasional one that is designed for adult dogs, that fit the bill.

These are the basics of what you need to be looking for in a food for your large breed puppy...

• Protein - approx 23% - 25%
• Fat 12% - 15%
• Calcium - 1.2%- 1.5%

Giant breed pups should NOT be fed a high-calorie diet, look for a more moderate range - somewhere around 350 - 380 calories per cup of food. This will help to prevent the overly rapid growth rate that's responsible for a lot of the bone/joint problems in extra large breed dogs.

See some of the best options for pups on my Best Puppy Food Choices page, and for adult dogs   on my 10 Best Dog Food Choices page. Extra large breed dogs who have reached maturity, need a different balance of ingredients, with higher levels of protein, fat and calories. 

To learn more about this subject, I thoroughly recommend that you take a look at www.greatdanelady.com. This website has a HUGE amount of information and advice on feeding extra large and giant breed puppies. 

It's also not just the type of food that you feed that is important, you also have to be careful to feed the right amount of food. Overfeeding extra large breed dogs can also cause bone and joint problems.

A nutritional imbalance can lead to too-rapid growth, or a puppy who is overweight - compounding the stress on the bones/joints. Particularly during the first 6 months, it's vital to control the calorie intake of your pup. Feed 3 times a day until around 3 months of age, when you can reduce it to twice daily.

At 8 weeks old, 2 - 4 cups of premium food per day (depending on weight/breed - check individual bag for specifics) is about right, increasing slowly until 6 months of age when you should be feeding somewhere between 6 and 8 cups a day.

Extra large breed dogs and puppies can be messy eaters! They tend to be a bit clumsy and can be 'drool-y' as well. It pays to invest in some non-spill, non-skid bowls if you want to keep your kitchen floor remotely clean and dry.

The activity level of your puppy or dog also plays a part in how much they need to eat. Obviously an active dog requires more calories than one who spends his days on the sofa, so take that into account when doing your calculations. This is particularly relevant for adolescent and adult dogs.

Seasonal changes may also factor in. Like humans, dogs tend to eat less when the weather is hot, and during the winter months they need more food to burn to keep warm. Even if your dog spends 95% of his time indoors, he may still show seasonal changes in appetite.

Extra large breed dogs grow very rapidly, but they take a long time to reach maturity as they actually develop quite slowly. Sometimes owners can get a little impatient and want to 'put a little weight on' their pup, especially during the adolescent stage when puppies can look very 'gangly' and a bit out of proportion. But this is totally wrong.

A giant breed dog may not be fully mature until 18 months, or even 2 years or older, and he needs to be allowed to develop at the pace nature intended if he is to grow up healthy and strong.

You can learn about puppy growth rates on my Puppy Weight Estimates and Puppy Weight Chart pages. An overview of puppy developmental stages can be found on my Puppy Development page.

Exercising Large & Giant Dogs

If you have a large or giant breed puppy, it's important to take it easy with the exercise and rough-housing for at least the first 6 - 10 months.

The rapid development that your puppy is experiencing means he is at risk of injuring himself if he is exercised too strenuously.

In extra large breed dogs, hip dysplasia and other joint/bone problems can occur more easily than you might think.

To protect your pup's joints and ligaments, avoid:

• Jogging, or running on hard surfaces such as concrete
• Jumping from any significant height - ie pick up bed, SUV, bed etc.
• Playing on slippery or slick surfaces such as tile, wet ground etc.
• Rough-housing or wrestling

Of course, your puppy still needs exercise in order to develop the strong muscles he needs to support his big heavy bones!

A short walk several times a day, moderate games (eg fetch) outside and inside, and lots of socialization are needed. Enrolling him in a Puppy Obedience Class as soon as he's fully vaccinated is a great idea.

Puppies are just like babies, and your little guy will play for a while and then need a nice long nap... then he'll wake up and start all over again.

As adults, giant dog breeds are often on the lower end of the activity scale, and an adult Great Dane can live quite happily in an apartment, as long as he gets his daily walks.

However, if you ARE an apartment-dweller there's something you need to think about before you make the decision to add one of these big dogs to your family.

Housebreaking a giant breed puppy really needs to be done without the use of pee-pee pads, for obvious reasons, and that means you need to be able to get your pup outside quickly, multiple times a day (and night).

Unless you live on the ground floor, this can be problematic, because carrying a 35lb - 50lb 'baby' outside (even if the elevators do work every single time) is a challenge most of us can't meet.

Letting him walk by himself seems the obvious answer, but it's not that simple.

A puppy is a very easily distracted creature, combine that with the urgent need to 'do his business' and very immature bladder/bowel control and the consequences are fairly obvious.

PLUS (and this is a big one), most giant breed puppies will have trouble negotiating stairs, at least to begin with. He could hurt himself (or you) if he falls, jumps and so on.

Large breed adult dogs are definitely sturdier than puppies and normal exercise and play is perfectly fine. 

Guard against extreme rough-housing or overly-energetic running, jumping as bones/joints can still get damaged. 

Also, big dogs tend to be clumsy, even as adults, and can hurt themselves (or others) when they get too excited or are moving too fast.

Big Dog Health Problems

Big dogs can be surprisingly fragile when it comes to their health, and they are at a higher risk of certain problems than medium-sized or smaller breeds.

Orthopedic conditions (such as hip dysplasia and arthritis) tend to be more prevalent, or show an early-onset, in large and giant breeds, plus they are more susceptible to developing certain illnesses (both genetic and contagious).

To give your big puppy, or dog, the best possible chance at living a long, happy, healthy life it's important to know what warning signs to look out for and how to protect him physically.

You can get the answers and info. you need by checking out my page that takes a detailed look at the health problems of large and giant breeds.

If you're the proud owner of a big pup/dog (or are about to be), I'd like to suggest that you take out some pet health insurance.

Why? Because even the veterinary bills can be on the extra-large to giant end of the scale for owners of the big 'uns, simply because they need MORE of everything!

Medications of all sorts, tests,surgeries or accidents are all likely to be much more expensive for a Great Dane than they are for a chihuahua.

Get all the information and advice you need to get the best health plan for your puppy or dog on my Dog Health Insurance Guide page.

If you don't want to empty your savings account in the event that your pup gets sick or hurt, this is a life-saver (in every sense of the word).

I hope the information on this page has helped you figure out whether or not a big dog is the right choice for you.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever size puppy you decide on and hope that my website will help you care for, and enjoy, him or her :)

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