Anyone have a giant breed dog? [Archive]

CatOnLap

Aug. 27, 2009, 11:45 AM

We have two rottweiller/boxer crosses that are about 100 lbs- not giant, but large dogs. They are goofy and friendly. I got them from an adoption/rescue agency who had taken them from an indian reserve somewhere, where they were abused and neglected. They lived inside for the first 6 months, but then we really wanted a kennel as the house was getting destroyed from normal living.

some things to consider:

In most areas, you cannot let a large dog loose- people are simply too frightened of large dogs. We are intimately aquainted with the local pound and police as a result of occassional escapees from our custody. They've never done anything but bark at people, and mostly they don't even do that, but it does get tiresome to have to keep them leashed, kennelled or to put 6 foot high chainlink around the whole place to keep them in all the time. On the other hand, we do not fear burglary or assault.

Large dogs do not live that long. The giant mastiffs in particular are "old" at around 8- Danes are pretty similar. My last Rottie died of old age and a heart attack at 9. My corgi lived to 15, and my lab till 13, so that 8 or 9 year mark sneaks up on you pretty quickly by comparison.

Large dogs do not fit in cars. Buy a truck.

Large dogs eat more, their gear is more expensive and their vet care is more difficult and expensive (we had to move one dog on a stretcher when he collapsed once- we wouldn't have been able to move a 180 lb mastiff with just 2 people).

Large dogs are more difficult to train, well because they are large. As my dogs reached their full size in less than a year, the "puppy training" was a little overwhelming. And I have had large dogs before! I got used to almost being pulled off my feet even with full choker chains. They were succesful on at least one occassion and my wrist is still recovering from that.

Still, I love my goofy "giant puppies". They get several good runs every day and then they will settle nicely for the evening to watch TV or while I am on the computer.

pAin't_Misbehavin'

Aug. 27, 2009, 11:48 AM

Yes. Well, not any more, but I've had Great Danes off and on for thirty years or so, and used to show Irish Wolfhounds. I also used to love the mastiff that was my former boarding barn's mascot.

Sadly, I probably won't ever have another. They are comparatively short-lived (10 is an advanced age) and are prone to problems getting around in their later years. Which can lead to heart-breaking decisions about having to put a dog down just because s/he's too large for me to assist in getting up and down.

I decided I'm not having another dog I can't pick up and carry if I have to. My 70 lb. border collie/maremma mix is as big a dog as I want these days.

But if you're still young and strong, go for it!:)

tle

Aug. 27, 2009, 11:49 AM

I'm on my 2nd Newf. Reilly is now 2 and still a big goofball! He plays with the rabbits, plays with the cattle dog but is still a very calm dog by comparison to almost anything his age. The 7yo uses him as a pillow and he's never met a stranger -- although his "big dog bark" is quite unnerving to hear. Hubby and I came home one night and he heard us comign through the door... barked all the way to the bottom of the steps when he literally PEERED around the corner. Was one of the most comical things I've ever seen!! If you can deal with the hair and of course the drool potential (common in I think all giant breeds), newfies are amazing animals!

FWIW, this is my desktop pic at work -- Reilly at 3 months:
http://windraven.smugmug.com/photos/240794306_nKZHy-M.jpg

RacetrackReject

Aug. 27, 2009, 12:00 PM

I love big dogs too, but I have decided that my GSD will be my last large dog probably. When I went to look for another dog, I decided on a large dog in a small body and picked up a Jack Russell Terrier. Love that dog!!

My boyfriend has what was told to him to be a Irish Wolfhound/Bouvier mix. A woops on the breeders part apparently, but she looks amazingly like a purebred Briard, which the breeder also raises. Anyway, she is a great dog, but it is hard having her in the house for most of the winter. She just doesn't realize how big she is and tends to crash things over. She is a sweet as can be though, and that goes along way.

I always wanted an Irish Wolfhound myself.

Brown Horse

Aug. 27, 2009, 12:02 PM

Consider a giant schnauzer! Super loyal. Great around other animals. Not as short lived as great danes and other big dogs. And beautiful!
dogbreedinfo.com <-- that's a good site if you want to learn about different breeds!

AnnaCrew

Aug. 27, 2009, 12:07 PM

My lifetime fav is St. Bernard. Had them all my life and have one now.

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq222/ozolkalni/28-06-09/PICT2813.jpg

This is a rescue (not a fancy breeding, but on positive note - no drool at all), from a very, very bad situation so we are having some issues still after 3 years but all worth it.

For me larger is better as well, can not stand little, fast and japing dogs. So I have 3 GSD and one saint.

Large breeds - usually health problems as they get older, short life span and yes, larger vet expenses and food bills.

equusvilla

Aug. 27, 2009, 12:12 PM

My daughter has a bull mastiff and she adores him. He can clear a coffee table or take me down with his tail when he is happy though!!! He is gentle as a lamb and loves to play with other dogs. It is funny when he is playing with a small dog.

Bravestrom

Aug. 27, 2009, 12:13 PM

We had a 165 lb great dane and now have a 160lbs bernese mountain dog.

Love big dogs and the next one will be a dane again.

Dance_To_Oblivion

Aug. 27, 2009, 12:27 PM

We are on our second Great Dane and love the breed. All of the above issues noted with giant breeds are absolutely true and I will add that while I don't know if it is true with other giant breeds with Danes there are extra things to be concerned about as far as health and feeding. Research pays off. We lost our first Dane through what was likely to be a bad series of events but had I known what I know now I can't help but feel I could have prevented it.

However, I love our Dane and wish I could convince DH we need two!

alacrity

Aug. 27, 2009, 01:03 PM

We have a big SUV and plenty of space but I do worry about some of the health issues and heartbreak of losing a pet too soon. I forgot about Newfies! They were on my list too, although that is a lot of fur to handle. Wouldn't it be great if having one white dog and one black dog canceled each other out in the shedding department? :lol: GSDs are a dream dog for me... from what I've been told you need to be a pretty experienced dog trainer to own one. Is that really true of all lines?

Our little (45lb) marshmallow (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/alacrity_/blee.jpg)was a rescue - she's sweet as can be but she also has a bit of a devilish side. She loves other dogs and although she's fine alone, I think she would enjoy having a playmate. We knew it was meant to be when we found her, and I'm sure we'll know with our next dog too.

EponaRoan

Aug. 27, 2009, 01:19 PM

GSDs are a dream dog for me... from what I've been told you need to be a pretty experienced dog trainer to own one. Is that really true of all lines?

Not necessarily - they vary a lot by individuals of course. My current male ( 8 1/2 now) is as sweet as can be and has been that way since he was a baby. He's working lines. My rescue adopted girl is more complicated, but not hard or really difficult. If you work with a breeder or rescue, they can help match you up with the right personality. I look for companionship potential first (are they people oriented) as they live in the house with me rather than drive since I'm not really an active competitor (obedience/agility/Schutzhund) which is what some folks do want & they want a dog with more drive. Although Fred is definitely still ball crazy & has been since he retrieved a ball & gave it back at about 8 weeks of age - never had to teach him that! :lol:

FatPalomino

Aug. 27, 2009, 01:22 PM

I just saw "Big Ben" at our very cool local rescue:
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14251420

He is the size of a small pony, and as gentle as a lamb. He is a super cool dog. The crosses are often longer living and 'sturdier' health wise ;)
I'll help transport him if you want him. I'd take him if we didn't have 5 dogs already ;)

We've had Danes, both rescued, and both wonderful dogs. The biggest dog here now is "Gorilla", a dane/lab shelter dog. I have a GSD or Anatolian Shep x named Ben ("small" at 100 pounds) that's the best dog I will ever have.

I like big dogs because you won't step on them, they don't have yippy high pitched barks, you don't have to reach down to pet them, and they are hard to loose sight of ;) They won't live forever, but crosses do live much longer.

KnKShowmom

Aug. 27, 2009, 02:51 PM

I have 2 large (100+ lbs) Labs but would love to have a Great Dane - DH says we will need a bigger house so I don't see it happening any time soon....

Guess I will just keep dreaming!

wendy

Aug. 27, 2009, 02:57 PM

I have always had 100+ pound dogs and won't ever get another one. Freaks of human creation. Unhealthy. Die VERY YOUNG. Suffer horribly. 50-60 pounds is my max in future. My 100 pound 6 year old dog is passing tonight. My 150 pound 5 year old dog probably won't make it for another year. My 58 pound dog is likely to make it close to 20. What kind of horrible people are we to re-create these unhealthy freaks? dogs left to breed on their own are usually around 30 pounds. Shouldn't that tell us something?

Highflyer

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:02 PM

We have a Newfie mix. He's about 150 lbs., and came with a bad leg (broken and badly set) but actually gets around pretty well so far, although he's still youngish. I do clip him 2-3x per summer, with the horse body clippers. He loves to swim, so it's a necessity. But he's a great dog, very laid back and friendly. My guess is that the other part is Lab--he looks like a freakishly large black Lab when clipped--but it's a nice cross, whatever it is.

alacrity

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:02 PM

FP, too bad you're on the other side of the country... Big Ben looks like a sweet boy. I took a look at the other dogs at that rescue and was totally taken by Louise (http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11914461). What an adorable girl!! Those ears! Looks like she's been there awhile, unless there's snow on the ground in August.

alacrity

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:05 PM

Oh wendy, that's sad. I'm sorry for your loss and understand your viewpoint. It's certainly a valid one.

wendy

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:15 PM

2 hours and can't be soon enough she's gasping at my feet. Rescue dog with nasty rottweiler puppy mill genetics. I hate puppy mills. I hate irresponsible breeders.
Since when are GSD's giant dogs? the breed standard says 60 to 75 pounds. Can't stand the "enlargement" of breeds. Great danes are NOT supposed to be over 120 pounds. Labs are supposed to be 6o pounds not 100+ pounds. Watched a bunch of Oversized Half crippled labs and GSDs attempt agility this weekend. Horrible to watch.

GoForAGallop

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:18 PM

I had a 110lb Dobie (which is big for them...he was a rescue out of a basement and certainly didn't come from a reputable breeder) and I absolutely adored him. If I were ever to go out actually looking for a dog, instead of just happening into them, I'd get another Dobbie.

He came to us at under a year old, and we did the most important thing you can ever do with a big dog; installed some manners in him ASAP. He was very smart, and always obedient. When he was in my life, my cousins and I were all between the ages of 6 and 10, and took him out to play on the farm every day. We climbed all over him, dressed him up, made him our "sled dog", and all of the other patience-testing things kids can do to dogs. Never did he even think about biting us! He knew we were his kids. I, as a 50lb kid, could tell him to "heel", off leash, in a crowded situation with other dogs and people, and he'd listen. He was also a formidable creature if someone was knocking at the door, but was a big baby and insisted on sleeping on a bed with someone. I have nothing but good things to say about him, and I've met several other Dobbies with similar personalities.

We also had a giant black Newfie-type mutt who appeared at our door one day. He came before the Dobbie above (they actually overlapped for a while....two 100lb+ dogs at once can be overwhelming!), so that means us kids were between maybe 3 and 7 when he first came. Again, we climbed all over him and undoubtedly tested his patience, but he was ever a good boy.

Wow, I miss my big dogs....the biggest I've got right now is about 50lbs, and it's just not the same! My next dog will be big!

Lori

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:24 PM

I love large dogs. I like the mastiff breeds the best, but they are not for everyone.
Large breeds are easier to train and live with as long as you buy from a reputable breeder who knows what they produce.
I don't care for lap/small/mini breeds at all.

CLEMENTINE04

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:38 PM

I have a 1/2 Great Dane, 1/2 Rottweiler female. She is 148 lbs. She is a fantastic dog. She just turned 9 in July, and still plays like a puppy. She has occasional days when she is stiff, but it is mainly due to an old bone chip she has in her shoulder. Had her completly x-rayed last year (thats how we found the chip!) and vet says her joints look incredible - no arthritis. Still goes for long walks every day!

I know she won't live forever, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that she is around for a few more years!

She is on Cosequin and Joint Strong from www.k9power.com. On her occasional bad days I give her Zubrin - does the trick without bothering her stomach as much as Rimadyl or Deramaxx.

I will never have a small dog. I love big dogs, eventhough it is sad that they don't live as long.

wendy

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:44 PM

you see? dobermans aren't supposed to be "giant dogs" either. 60 to 75 pounds says the breed standard and anyone not breeding to the standard should have their dogs forcibly neutered.

arabhorse2

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:54 PM

What I don't understand are people who hate the idea of giant breed dogs, yet keep getting them, and then slavering on and on and on about how nobody should ever have one, and they should never, ever be bred. :rolleyes:

Quit getting the damned dogs if you're so hypersensitive, and leave them to the people who actually enjoy having them around. Get yourself a regular sized mutt, and STFU.

GoForAGallop

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:55 PM

you see? dobermans aren't supposed to be "giant dogs" either. 60 to 75 pounds says the breed standard and anyone not breeding to the standard should have their dogs forcibly neutered.

Yes, and like I said, he was a rescue and not from a reputable breeder. Humans mess up a lot of things, but you have clearly not done your research into this issue, because big dogs have been around for quite a while, before humans even started thinking about making "breeds" and what not. Heck, some species of wolves today can weigh upwards of 100lbs.

This is a thread for people to love on big dogs. Clearly you don't belong here.

Nor do I understand this vendetta against big dogs. EVERY dog breed has been messed with by humans....do you really think those tiny little teacup dogs would have evolved without selective breeding? My friend's pug can hardly breathe...I know of another person who just spent thousands of dollars to stop her Boston's nose from receding into it's face.

Sheesh.

rabicon

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:55 PM

We have a 105lb. doberman, he's a BIG dobie. The kind of like, don't like the small ones that much :winkgrin: He's an amazing dog. He is now 8 years old but he is smart and honest and has never been a bad dog except of course as a puppy ;):lol:

I had a 125lb. catahoolaXaust. shep. That was the best dog I've ever had. Smart as they come, protective, honest, sweet, loving, like my best friend. Had an amazing personality and followed me around always, never left my side. That dog never did a bad thing EVER, not even as a pup. Had to put him down in March at the age of 9, he developed bone cancer and there was no hope. That was a hard day and is still hard for me. He was my best friend.

We now have also a 95lb. Bloodhound pup. He just turned a year old this month. I would not recommend this breed to anyone that has little patience. :eek: They are strong willed, hard to train and their nose gets the best of them. He's getting better with age, but boy he can just compelety ignore the come command. :lol: Very smart though, has learned all the tricks, sit, stay, lay, play dead, shake, climbs the ladder on my daughters playhouse and slides down the slide but the nose is a pain :lol:

genevieveg17

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:57 PM

I have 2 English Mastiffs. They are full brothers and are 12 y.o. now. Very nice dogs, great with other dogs and love people.
Norman was 231 lbs in his prime, Ralph topped out at 204 lbs. They are doing well although definitely showing their age these days. I give both of them Adequan injections and that seems to help them limber in their old age. Ralph has had chronic eye problems from the very beginning. He takes quite a bit of maintenence keeping them clean and medicated. Both have had their share of ear infections in the past couple of years.
Both have had a few of the fatty tumors. Ralph had them removed when he was 4 but they have returned and now at his advanced age the vet does not recommend surgery. They do not seem to bother them at all.
They enjoy a lamb/rice dog food. They will eat anything but that is clearly their favorite. They eat about 50 lbs of food a week.

My daughter has a bull mastiff who weighs in at 128 lbs. He was a rescue and was supposedly used as a bait dog for a pit bull fighting ring. He is very quiet, gentle and loves take long naps stretched out on the couch, snoring and farting. He can clear a room very quickly.

rabicon

Aug. 27, 2009, 03:58 PM

Oh BTW my large dobie was from a reputable breeder but there was an accident between his male and a dobie bitch he had gotten and was getting spayed. She was large, to large and he wasn't going to breed her but had her papers etc... and just took her in as a favor to a friend. Needless to say when we bought our dobie at 6 weeks she was spayed already :lol:

Here he is (this is facebook but is public so you should be able to see) and the much loved catahoolaXaust shep together
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=1407126&id=1010260134

Here's the crazy bloodhound and dobie (the bloodhound loves his bunny)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=1471710&id=1010260134

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=1471708&id=1010260134

GoForAGallop

Aug. 27, 2009, 04:05 PM

We now have also a 95lb. Bloodhound pup. He just turned a year old this month. I would not recommend this breed to anyone that has little patience. :eek: They are strong willed, hard to train and their nose gets the best of them. He's getting better with age, but boy he can just compelety ignore the come command. :lol: Very smart though, has learned all the tricks, sit, stay, lay, play dead, shake, climbs the ladder on my daughters playhouse and slides down the slide but the nose is a pain :lol:

That's a hound for ya! I have a 35lb Beagle, and he lost his "off-leash" privileges looooonnnggg ago thanks to his nose! It would be one thing if he stayed on the property (we have 100 acres for goodness sake!) but we've gone to pick him up three towns over!

He's a right little thief too, when it comes to food! In his younger days, he'd just bounce himself right up onto the kitchen counter! He'd also begun to figure out how to open the fridge......we now have the kitchen closed off when it's not supervised....I cannot even begin to imagine him in a larger package!

wendy

Aug. 27, 2009, 04:07 PM

231 pounds??? ok must go KILL my over-sized rottweiler who is dying after six years due to horrible breeders. Blech. I hope you people go read the breed standards and realize a GIANT breed dog is 100 to 120 pound max. A normal working-breed dog such as a dobie or a GSD is 60 to 75 pounds. Bigger is inhumane. Just say NO. Good temperaments can be built into healthy bodies. I'm irate, emotionally upset, need to kill my best friend, and hope I offend you all.

MistyBlue

Aug. 27, 2009, 04:36 PM

Wendy, I feel your pain losing your dog.
Please do be aware that while there definitely are too many poorly bred large breeds dogs around...there are also well bred and perfectly normal larger than breed standard dogs.
A GSD weighing 60-70 lbs is the breed standard, that standard being set for show bred GSDs. Being outside the standard weight limit doesn't necessarily = bad breeding or health issues. My GSD is wonderfully bred and healthy as heck. Comes from excellent lines, has his OFA Excellent designation. He's 95 lbs. Which I personally consider "medium" sized because I have had enormous dogs my entire life. ;) Neopolitan Mastiffs, St Bernies, etc have a breed standard of 150 lbs or more. English Mastiffs aren't showable as males under 120 lbs, average size for a well bred one is 180 t 200 lbs. This is perfectly normal and is their breed standard. My Eng Massies were 195 and 215, completely average in size when I had them.

Wendy does have a point though in that "giants" do have more health issues and require more careful care and handling than small, medium and large dogs.
If someone is set on a very large dog...please do NOT ever get one from any breeder other than someone who is breeding them the right way and make sure the parents are OFA Good or higher. Both parents. Check line history for all inheritable problems.
And be prepared to afford them. A giant dog can be like owning a walking bank account drain. :winkgrin:
Realize they do not make Heart Guard or Frontline type meds for dogs over 110 lbs or so. You will have to almost double that cost every month by purchasing and dosing one 100 lb dose *and* one dose of the size to make up for whatever lbs over 100 lbs your dog is. For some of the massive dogs like English Mastiffs, which do commonly (and not badly bred) reach over 200 lbs you will have to triple the dosage. When I had Castor and Pollux their HeartGuard and Frontline came to about $140 per month. That adds up.
Also if the dogs ever need to be anesthetized, it will cost more because a pre-test will be necessary. Very large dogs don't always handle that well, many can pass away from that.
Do not skip wellness exams...hearts need to be checked on a regular basis.
Do NOT overfeed them or let them be fat or flabby/out of shape. A little fat wheezing dog is bad enough, a large fat wheezing one is a walking death sentence. No giving lots of treats, unhealthy people food for snacks, don't expect the dog to be a couch potato even if it prefers that. It needs a healthy diet and exercise daily.
Be prepared for tons of attention, both good and bad. Some people will assume it eats humans and other dogs and run...others will flock to the really big dog and fawn all over it. For either type of reaction, please make sure your dog is well socialized, well trained and well behaved. Because you will always be in the spotlight when out in public with your big dog. It's like riding into a hunter ring on a zebra.

GSDs are a dream dog for me... from what I've been told you need to be a pretty experienced dog trainer to own one.
Like others have said, depends on the GSD. That's definitely a breed to go to the best breeder you can find for one. Can easily have lots of both health and personality issues. There are so many bred for so many different reasons that the trick is finding the breeder with the right type for you. The one I have I would probably recommend for even "almost" newbie dog owners. So sweet and good natured, smart as a whip without being an evil genius type, only ever wants to please and almost trained himself. My sister has one that most pro dog trainers probably would turn down...she's a really difficult dog but can be a great dog too when handled correctly. Issue with her is you can *never* mishandle her.
I bought my GSD Chase because I was ready for an "easy" dog, and smaller one. But then I've always had really difficult dogs, either because of their breed or more often because of both breed and circumstances. (poorly bred and handled puppy mill seizures) After decades of having very large dogs that weren't bred right...I'd like to just advise anyone going for a very large dog to please just make 100% sure to go through the best possible channels looking for the right huge dog.

Life expectancy will be shorter. That's the toughest part. :(

arabhorse2

Aug. 27, 2009, 04:50 PM

Misty, all good points for newbies who are thinking of purchasing a giant breed puppy. :yes:

I might also add that before you buy any breed, giant or otherwise, do your homework on them. Know the breed standards, know their predisposed illnesses and conditions, and learn to recognize signs of impending disaster.

The only reason Lexi is alive today at 6 y/o, is because I knew the signs of bloat with torsion the second she started showing symptoms. She was rushed to the emergency vet hospital, x-rayed, and sent into surgery all within 4 hours of my noticing the onset. She was 2 y/o at the time.

Any breed, especially the extremes of large and small, can have health related problems. It's an owner's responsibility to make sure they give their animals the best shot they can at a good, long, healthy life.

A good owner will know to buy from the most reputable breeder, not the cheapest. They will know their chosen breed's strengths and weaknesses before they purchase a puppy, or take a dog home from a breed rescue.

Anyone who doesn't take the purchase/adoption of an animal seriously enough to learn everything they can about that particular breed, shouldn't have one.

Silvercrown90

Aug. 27, 2009, 05:12 PM

I have owned Danes for the last 30 years, along with various other large and Giant breeds. My smallest dogs were 75 - 80 pounds, a GSD, a Dobe, and 1 GSD/Dobe mix -- I have never owned anything smaller than 75 pounds. My smallest Dane (female) was 125 pounds, but most of them were considerably larger. I had a large brindle male that was 185 pounds, with no fat on him. He lived to be 10 years old, but then got cancer. Every Dane I owned over the past 30 years lived to be over 10 years old, with the exception of one Rescue that bloated when I wasn't home -- he was 6 when he bloated. Yes, most Giants don't live as long as the yappers -- but you can have the yappers. I have never owned a dog that didn't live until at least 10, with the exception of the one Dane that died from bloat. My purebred GSD was 14 1/2 years old when I finally had to put him down due to arthritis. He had no problems getting around whatsoever, until he was about 14 years old and then started to stiffen up.

I live alone on a farm, and I have NEVER had a situation where I had to pick up one of these dogs. Not that it can't happen to me; I'm just saying that it never has. The day my GSD started to have problems getting up was the day I scheduled his euthanization. At 14-1/2, he had a good life and it wasn't going to get any better.

Wendy, I feel bad that you are having problems. I agree with you that there are many breeders out there just breeding "big" for big's sake, without regard for genetic health testing, etc. I encourage anyone thinking about buying a Giant to make sure that the breeder does the proper genetic health testing, doesn't breed dogs before they are 2 years old, and works their dog to some extent. Work will usually bring out any health deficiencies in breeding stock.

Now I have a young South African Boerboel that is now 120 pounds and still growing. She will probably top out at 130. She has earned her CGC, TDI and AKC Rally Novice obedience titles when she was about 1 year old, and she has been working Agility for the last 4 months. My newest Agility trainer can't believe how nimble and athletic she is for a large dog. The trainer says she very rarely recommends a large dog to take up agility, but says my gal is truly an exception. I am currently in an intermediate Agility class with a total of 10 dogs -- 2 Goldens, 1 Border Terrier, 1 Westie, 1 Border Collie, 1 Dalmation and 1 Vizla and my Boerboel. The BB is kicking a** and taking names! LOL. She has more speed and natural ability than any of the others. My goal with her is to either do Mondio Ring or Schutzhund, and the Agility is a temporary reprieve to work on her focus and control while having fun, and to get some maturity on her before we start the other work.

Don't give up on your dream to own a Giant. Just be careful when you are looking, ask questions and make sure the breeder does the proper health tests, temperament tests, etc. with their breeding stock. If not, run away as fast as you can. No one should reward a breeder for putting out unhealthy dogs and adding to the pet overpopulation. If you plan to rescue, then it is more of a crapshoot, but at least you know you will be saving a nice dog. Good luck!

Sharon
www.coolfitwear.com (http://www.coolfitwear.com)

JohnDeere

Aug. 27, 2009, 05:35 PM

The biggest in our barn pack is an Eng Mastif. I will say the BO doesnt believe in training dogs real well (kinda scary if ya think about it) and this dog can take you down if your not careful. Im not a small perfon and when this dog runs into you its not fun. I pity the 1st child that falls down around this beast!

That said seeing a dog take up the WHOLE couch is a wonderful thing. And ditto on the clearing the whole room bit. 150 lbs can really produce an aroma.

saultgirl

Aug. 27, 2009, 05:37 PM

Newfie/lab cross. Rescued from the local shelter. We love him!!

He's smelly and hairy, though!

JollyBadger

Aug. 27, 2009, 06:10 PM

I had a wonderful Rottweiler (rescued); I lost him to bone cancer when he was about six years old. He really was a fantastic dog, great with the horses (my horse nickered whenever I brought the dog to the barn with me), and excellent company at home and out on long trail rides.

They are a really, really great breed. . .for me.

Having said that, they are certainly not the breed for everyone and they are a lot of work. They're very smart, need consistent training and socialization throughout their lives, need some kind of a "job" to do and plenty of exercise. Like I said, my boy accompanied me and my horse on trail rides (including lots of hills and water crossings). I also took him hiking (he had his own backpack), we walked in local parks several times a week, and he had "zoomie" time in a large open field behind my townhouse.:D

He was tall for the breed (28" at the shoulder), had a long back and his tail was docked halfway by his previous owner/breeder (who tried to dock at home and didn't know how:mad:). His adult weight was usually between 115-120lbs.

In contrast, my parents' female Rottweiler (also a rescue) weighed about 85lbs. That didn't stop her from putting my dog in his place if he got out of line, though. Don't mess with the alpha bitch.:winkgrin:

I absolutely love big dogs (purebred and mixed) and my next dog will definitely be another "giant."

Calvincrowe

Aug. 27, 2009, 07:40 PM

Irish Wolfhound/Lab mix, got him from the Humane Society. Wonderful dog, no health problems at all-- he weighs in around 90lbs. I like having a big dog on the farm, even if this guy is a cream puff in personality!

I think there are problems with SMALL dogs too, for those who feel giant breeds should be done away with. Miniaturizing already tiny dogs simply magnifies the problems they have, as well. And, frankly, puppy mills tend to turn out more small (desirable) breeds than giants, anyway.

I've owned Airedales--have to put in a plug for those big goofballs! Great dogs--quite intimidating to strangers, loyal to their owners, easier to train that some terriers, too. Gentle, sweet natured, and can be quite large (Oorang lines can run over 80lbs.) My 70 pounder lived to be a feisty old 14!

de echte critter

Aug. 27, 2009, 07:45 PM

May I recommend a site specific to giant breed dogs, their differences and requirements? www.bigdogsporch.com (http://www.bigdogsporch.com) has tons of useful information for someone looking into giant breeds - the good, the bad and the indifferent are all there. There are experienced owners of almost all the giant breeds willing to answer questions and help out. If you stop in, tell them Baroooo sent you!

Cloverbarley

Aug. 27, 2009, 07:59 PM

I have 2 giant breed dogs. Both are working dogs as they are Livestock Guardian Dogs. I adore them! They are so soft and cuddly with us but they know their job and do it well. I would never ever advise anyone without the right type of environment (farm) to own one of these dogs though. They are bred to work. This not only keeps them healthy and lean but mentally they need the stimulus of working.

I also have a big Malinois and then 2 border collies. None of my dogs top anything like the lb figures I'm seeing here though. They are fed raw chickens every few days and they have ad-lib food out for them at all times. The days they have the raw, they never touch their complete food. None of them are food-motivated; that is not how I bring them up. I don't ever treat them and I don't ever without food from their bowls, hence they don't gorge themselves at all.

I have to say though, I do agree with what Wendy is saying, although I would suggest the same is happening with many other dog breeds regardless of the size they are *supposed* to be. Anyone looked at border collies these days? Enormous looking things. Border collies are supposed to be small dogs (as mine are). I believe the Kennel Clubs of the world do have a lot to answer for, hence I only buy ISDS collies because they remain true to form.

Evalee Hunter

Aug. 27, 2009, 08:51 PM

I have 2 Great Danes that I got from the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League. Both are 1 1/2 yrs, a black male and a merle bitch (neutured/spayed), and they are great around the farm. They are both fantastic dogs and I can't recommend the breed enough. Must also add that the people from the rescue were such a good help at matching me up with dogs that fit my situation.

I grew up with them as they were Mom's favorite breed so when I decided I needed a dog to keep me company after she passed I couldn't go with anything else. Good luck with getting yourself a large breed dog!

EiRide

Aug. 27, 2009, 09:02 PM

We had a 165 lb great dane and now have a 160lbs bernese mountain dog.

Holy crap. That's a REALLY big Berner! WAY out of the normal standard!! My guy was about 85 lbs and sort of a bottom of the normal range male. I am currently trying to talk the Significant Other into rescuing a 75 lbs male from a local rescue.

My Pyrs were a lot larger than my Berner boy, and both of them were bitches--90 and 125 lbs.

I've had two Newfies, both bitches. The first was from very large lines and went 140 lbs, while my current girl is more petite at 120 lbs.

I keep all my large dogs fairly lean for orthopedic reasons.

Oh, by the by, I am not critiquing your dog for being large, I was just surprised. No judgment intended.

vacation1

Aug. 27, 2009, 10:17 PM

One practical point, building on what someone said about never being able to let them loose because people are scared of them. (btw, it is terrifying to be approached by a 3' tall dog who is roaming free, and I highly recommend that anyone with a dog bigger than a Beagle commit to keeping it securely on their own property so any dog, cat, child or man it eats will at least be in the family. Escapes happen; accidents happen, dogs get loose, but after the first time, the animal with the opposable thumb and the higher intelligence is supposed to put both to work) so there's no repeat.

Anywho, back to my point - everyone gets caught unaware when their dog - of any size - behaves in a way that they hadn't expected. The owner is naive, the dog changes after sexual maturity, there's a freak occurence, etc. - whatever. Point is, the size of a giant dog translates to a greater potential threat to others, and an owner has a correspondingly expanded responsibility to be aware of what a giant dog is doing, and how they're reacting to situations. Handler error just can't happen. Huge responsibility, and one most people don't want. Sadly, a lot of them still get the dog.

Nor do I understand this vendetta against big dogs. EVERY dog breed has been messed with by humans....

I've heard the 'little dogs are jokes' stuff a billion times from owners of big dogs, and almost never heard owners of small dogs express the same hatred/contempt for big dogs. Fear, yes, usually after a big dog has been aggressive, but not that same dismissive 'eh, not really a dog' attitude. Which they could very well do - I've met a lot of big dogs who are very un-doggy in my book, as they do little but lie around looking too tired to move, or lumber resignedly on short walks. Little dogs may be rats on a rope, but big dogs are all too frequently elephants on the lawn.

Beverley

Aug. 27, 2009, 11:01 PM

We have two large dogs. One is a 160 lb fawn Great Dane, natural ears, four years old, our second Dane (and we found out after purchase, our first Dane was his great uncle!). Love the big goofy droolly beasts. Our other large dog is a 14 lb short legged Jack Russell, 12 years old. I expect no one would question which of the two is top dog in the house.

scrtwh

Aug. 28, 2009, 06:39 AM

"We now have also a 95lb. Bloodhound pup. He just turned a year old this month. I would not recommend this breed to anyone that has little patience. They are strong willed, hard to train and their nose gets the best of them. He's getting better with age, but boy he can just compelety ignore the come command. Very smart though, has learned all the tricks, sit, stay, lay, play dead, shake, climbs the ladder on my daughters playhouse and slides down the slide but the nose is a pain"

My favorite dog of all time was a rescue bloodhound, big red male. He came to us at two, 60lbs, and left the world ten years later at a healthy 110lbs. He was the absolute smartest dog EVER, but ... he chose when he would listen to you, or not. His legs were just a convenient way to get his nose around. He was also a clown and a total lap dog. Would drape himself over your lap and just hang out and played like heck with my yellow lab. And he was the softest, squishiest plush toy to hug and pet, and his drool ropes were dead on target several times. I miss him every day, he's been gone for about two years and has left a gap in my life that no dog will ever fill.

I now have a great dane along with the yellow lab and rat terrier. She is 90lbs at two and looks and runs like a greyhound. Super fast, lean and leggy, she is beautiful and sweet and likes to lie down on you to cuddle. We were originally going to go for a swiss mountain dog but she was at a rescue and needed a family and the grieving period for my bloodhound was tempering, so ...

alacrity

Aug. 28, 2009, 10:46 AM

CatOnLap

Aug. 28, 2009, 11:15 AM

Escapes happen; accidents happen, dogs get loose, but after the first time, the animal with the opposable thumb and the higher intelligence is supposed to put both to work) so there's no repeat.

hahah.I hear ya, and not only my IQ and thumbs but my pocketbook have had a good workout!

First kennel was not tall enough. And they weren't even that big- 50 lb, 5 month old puppies with that escape. Who knew big fat puppies could bounce over a 4 foot chainlink fence? Second kennel was duly assembled, 6 feet tall with a roof, but someone forgot to secure the latch bolts and clever dog just kept scratching at the latch until it rotated around the pole and opened. The led her goofy dumb brother astray. Third time , same clever dog chewed through her tether as I cleaned the barn and then helped her brother out of his collar. New chewproof tether, new collar, which she promptly escaped from for a repeat performance...Another new "escape proof" harness- really this bitch is houdini reincarnate, and she was out of it before I made it to the barn. She spent that day in a stall until I finally decided to tie her up by her choke chain- before you guys get all in arms about that, my dogs are tethered in eyesight by the barn front door for 1 hour while I muckout, otherwise they are on a leash, in a kennel, etc. She gave up the tether escapes with that move and her brother is too dumb to escape by himself. All of these escapes, I was hot on their tails and had them back in hand within 5 minutes. But not before the pound had been informed by one of our neighbours who has "punt yappers" ( small dogs that fit on the end of your boot nicely). I totally agree, they should not be running loose.

One time, the police did appear. And then after hearing that the dog had been in sight the whole day, had never left the property, but yes, had stood at the top of our driveway, 50 feet from the public path, and barked at a lady who then claimed the dog had "attacked" her. Good grief. Her lies might have ended my dog's life except the policeman that came to investigate, believed the 3 eyewitnesses to the event and not the mischief making passerby. It helped that the same dog approached the officer and licked his hand politely when he held it out, and otherwise sat obediently at our feet while we were discussing with him.

Now they are 18 months old and all the obedience training they had prior to 8 months (and then they promptly forgot for a while) is starting to kick in again. They taken off after a couple of deer and rabbits in recent weeks, and when called, they have immediately turned and come back. And the barker sits quietly at the top of the driveway and just whimpers when one of those tasty pedestrians goes by now.

Here's the smart one last summer at 5 months when she was still 50 lbs
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/e9f26091062de68dc9705d0daf06c500237dd7c8.jpg

and the goofy one at the same age. He would take up the WHOLE couch now.
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/d3b166142d64cd0a09f09aaffbccba7b083be542.jpg

fizzyfuzzybuzzy

Aug. 28, 2009, 11:44 AM

Well, I didn't read this whole thread, but I wanted to add my lovely giant breed that many do not think of -- BORZOI! My male is 7 months old, acts like he's 10 most of the time, loves everyone, but is certainly a visual deterrent. The best part of this breed is that they are decently long lived. My boys grandparents are still going strong at 9 and 10, still keeping the young ones in check and running around! They are a sighthound, so fenced area is a necessity until recall is REALLY confirmed. They can run for miles and not know where they are. Find a really reputable breeder (I can recommend a WONDERFUL breeder in OH) and enjoy the long years of a lovely, big friend!! :)

Arcadien

Aug. 28, 2009, 12:09 PM

My "puppy" has just crossed the 100 pound mark at almost 9 mos, so he qualifies as "giant breed" lol -

Beowulf is a Caucasian Ovcharka (another Livestock Guardian breed, not very common in the USA yet) and my darling. He should mature 160-170 pounds. I have been socializing the heck out of him, and will continue, though most people laugh as he is the most people loving, other dog friendly thing you could meet. I know it could change though, so I will keep at it.

Agree about having to be uber alert to keeping big dog contained. My Beo just figured out how to climb out of his 7' high chain link kennel, so he is in the house or on leash until I figure out how to secure it. Most of the neighbors have been formally introduced to him (farming community, not too many neighbors) on purpose, "just in case".

I did a lot of research, this breed is not for everyone, especially not with kids, as they are independent thinkers and may decide to "guard" your children against their friends, for example. Obedience training has taken more persistence and patience than with my GSDs (he can be selectively deaf, lol) but it's coming along.

This breed is supposed to be one of the longer lived giant breeds. The main health issue is bloat, and I've been warned not to let him get too fat to protect his joints & hips.

To the OP, do your research, commit to more than average socialization & training effort, be ready for bigger than usual feed & vet bills, but if you still covet a giant breed, go for it!

Love my giant "Fluffaluffigus"!

(PS, anyone who wants to see what a Caucasian Ovcharka looks like, I plan to bring Beowulf to XC day for Fairhill CCI this October - if you see us (I will be the one beside the giant off-white fluffy shetland pony sized dog, lol) come up and say hi - Beo loves people!)

Arcadien

halla

Aug. 28, 2009, 12:34 PM

When I was in high school and college my parents had two English Mastiffs. They were *fantastic* dogs.

Hilda, the first, ended up right below 200lbs, in excellent shape (no fat at all). She was half-decently bred - someone we knew from 4H had bred their backyard mastiff to a nice AKC male, and Hilda took after the better half. She had absolutely no physical issues, other than hereditary epilepsy, which we later found out runs in that line. I know that she lived a surprisingly long time for an epileptic mastiff, but can't remember if it was 6 or 8 years. Epilepsy in an animal that big is horrifying.

George was a relative of her mother's who was given to us when he was about 6 months old or so, and was obviously a physical disaster from the day we got him. He ended up with hip displaysia, elbow dispaysia, a broken foot, arthritis, and for the last year or so he was alive regularly had to be helped to stand up. He also lived less than 8 years.

Both were inherently well-behaved, good-natured animals. I've since realized my parents have minimal animal training skills, yet both Hilda and George were surprisingly well behaved all the time. They can be really really stubborn, but are generally just really agreeable. We'd take Hilda to Devon and children could climb on her, jack russels were always yapping away - I remember her once giving one that was dangling from her lip a very disdainful look while she just stood there. She'd fall asleep right in the middle of the main path and need to be prodded to move.

They were total couch potatoes and barely moved once in the house. They liked the yard, but didn't really do walks. Instead my parents took them to the dog park regularly, and kept them fit that way. They were great with other dogs once they realized how big they were. They were very friendly with people as a general rule. Only once did Hilda decide she needed to be between my mom and a guy somewhere, and my mom went with Hilda's opinion there and avoided the guy. Her growl (at occasional animals in the yard) was deeply creepy :)

On the bad side, they drool like crazy, even the "dry" ones. They also have rather greasy coats. And finding ones without health problems is really hard. My mom desperately wants another, but is afraid of getting one from a rescue or shelter because of the health issues.

I think they are wonderful dogs but they really do need to be very carefully bred.

NMK

Aug. 28, 2009, 01:09 PM

I have a Great Pyrenees. I must disagree with the trainability and health issues some are critical of...most of his immediate relatives are over 12 years old and very healthy (yes I did some homework). And while these dogs are independent thinkers, they are very, very smart and very trainable in the right environment. They are true farm dogs, loyal to their "pack" and protective of all things "normal" at our farm. They are obedient but you better have a good reason why they should do things.

My male will probably be close to 120 lbs when he's done growing. He's a joyous pup who would rather be with his herd than his food, knows the routine and will hold you to it, and enjoys nothing more than a good big dog hug. I've actually come to rely on him to let me know something is out of order. In the right environment, these are fantastic great big dogs.

Nancy

asb_own_me

Aug. 28, 2009, 01:22 PM

Not giant, but large breed here. I have three Dobies, and can't imagine my life without them. I agree that irresponsible breeders have made mockeries of the intention of "breed type", which would be to breed a dog to perform its work the best way it can.

Wendy.....I'm so sorry for your impending loss. I know you're hurting.

sisu27

Aug. 28, 2009, 02:16 PM

Wendy, I am so sorry you are going through this and agree with much of what you said. It is true that we have made a mess of most every breed of dog though. Don't watch now perhaps but if you get the chance to watch this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7569064.stm it is a real eye-opener. Great documentary. Found the Rhodesian part most disturbing.

I have had Dobes for years and have had many that were bigger than the breed standard. The smallest Dobe we had lived the longest (14yrs)....coincidence? I don't think so. I *hate* when people talk in such proud terms about their "King" Dobe or GSD. Stupid, pompous term for a freak that shouldn't exist and synonymous with $hitty breeding to me.

I love my Dobes but when I went searching for dog number 2 a few months ago I went looking for a 20lb terrier....something tough and hardy that might be around for a while. I got a German Hunt Terrier. She is bonkers but growing on me and will probably have many years to annoy me with her insane aggression and high-pitched screamy bark!! *sigh*, if only Dobes weren't such heart breakers.

As for the original topic....I had a Newf as a kid (165lb female) that was a fantastic dog. Her origianl owner couldn't take her when he moved to the city so we did. She was a gentle giant and great farm dog unless you were a ground hog, snake, muskrat, raccoon, porcupine....then lookout! She lived to be 10 yo and would have made it longer but was killed in an accident. Her name was Squid and I loved her dearly. Nice dogs.

pAin't_Misbehavin'

Aug. 28, 2009, 03:15 PM

One thing I would like in our next dog is a higher play drive and a bit more of a protective instinct.

One of the LGD breeds ought to suit, then.:) You know what you might try? Cruise the border collie rescues on the internet in sheep farming areas, and see if you can find an LGD/BC cross.

I have one - half maremma (kind of an Italian version of a Great Pyrenees) and half bc. He's a terrific dog, protective but not aggressive, loves kids, going swimming, playing fetch, etc. He also loves chillin' on the sofa - he's a bigger Jockeys addict than I am - so has an off-switch.

Anyway, in farming areas, the flock guardians and the herding dogs sometimes produce sheep-farm love children, and the dogs end up in rescue or at the pound. I think it's a great mix - you get protectiveness and smarts. You might want to stay away from the sharper LGD crosses - like Anatolian Shepherds, Akbash, Kuvaszok, etc - I don't know how that temperament would mix with BC.

I'll see if I can find a picture of my maremma/bc and post it.

MistyBlue

Aug. 28, 2009, 03:39 PM

I love seeing all the pics - keep them coming! Misty, thank you for the info on the GSD and care/expense of large dogs in general. One thing I would like in our next dog is a higher play drive and a bit more of a protective instinct. Our dog will certainly bark if something's going on, but she's not the most imposing looking creature and she's very submissive in general. I know that probably shouldn't matter, but when DH goes away I'd like to feel like I have a bit more protection. I've taught her to fetch but she loses interest and prefers to bask in the sun uninterrupted by my petty games.

No problem...the cost thing does take some people by surprise. The anesthesia test isn't going to be a regular outlay of money, but the Frontline and Heartguard will. Dog beds are also more expensive, finding them for huge dogs is next to impossible. A simple trick for that is that it's cheaper to get a large crib mattress or even twin mattress and then go to the fabric store for a cheap fabric that matches whatever room you'll put it in and sew up a quick cover for it. :winkgrin: It's nice having them in bed with two, but with a couple of people adding a huge dog doesn't always work.

For huge dogs that are also on the heavy built side, you'll want to get a ramp. Really heavy dogs jumping down from things can damage joints over time, so a ramp for getting in and out of the SUV is always a good idea. Sometimes getting the really big dogs into a vehicle is like trying to load a horse in a trailer, LOL! :lol: If you have a pool or a pond, that's an excellent low impact exercise for keeping muscle up without pounding their joints. :yes: And the ramp helps with getting them out of the pool too. (Newfies especially adore water and swimming)

GSDs can be great dogs...but also do remember they're herding dogs so have a herding instinct. Stuff moving fast can trigger a chase. but a well bred and then consistently trained one can have that instinct controlled. My boy can take off like a rocket after deer, I don't even have to raise my voice...just say "Chase, come" and he stop dead and runs back. He does not go near the horses at all, was trained that from day one. Horses can run by him at Mach 2 and he ignores them. Or runs the other way. ;) He has a bark that could scare the heck outta anyone, but is in reality a big love bug. Of course strangers don't know that and few will take the chance of approaching a 95 GSD that has a huge bark. People see this breed and think police dog. They back off. He's trained for looking like a protection dog, not actually being one. :D His best form of getting "bad guys" would be to pee on them, LOL! (easy to ID later though, just find the bad guy who smells like dog urine :D)

Here's a photo of my boy Chase:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/MistyBlue5105/IMG_1143Copy.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/MistyBlue5105/img_0894.jpg

This was our late dog Kodiak. 165 lb Malamute:
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/1280082129058690718EZtLkr?vhost=pets

I wouldn;t suggest a Mal though, that can be a very difficult breed. They normally will continuously challenge leadership through out their lives. That's kind of an "advanced" dog training breed, and they get neurotic if not working.

The downside to the GSD (and even more so the Mal) is the shedding. GSDs shed quite a bit and you'll be doing a lot of vacuuming. But you won't get buried in hair. Malamutes however...they shed heavy every da of the year and then twice per year they blow coat. Which means it looks like the dog explodes twice a day every day for an entire month, LMAO!

For really big dogs, if you get them as puppies don't feed puppy foods. You do not want to accelerate their growth, the faster they grow the worse it is for thier health. (hearts, organs and joints)
And start on a large breed puppy right away on having their feet handled. Many dogs get foot shy, in a giant breed this is much worse than a smaller dog. They can't have tranqs often, so tranq-ing them to clip nails is a no-no. Also once they're full grown they can easily toss you around the room if their freaking out over their feet being bothered. If they get snappy about it, well giant dog bites are worse than small dog bites. And once they're full grown, clipping is tough as heck due to the nail size and thickness. So as a small puppy start getting them used to either hand filing nails or a dremel right away. Every week file or dremel a small amount to keep nails in shape and them used to having feet handled. Very important and something many people might forget to do. Plus too long mails makes them slide, big dog falls result in blown ACLs. :eek:

I've had English Mastiffs...well bred ones are sweet hearts. Gentle giants. But giant. Easily reaches and can go over 200 lbs. To get a well bred healthy one expect to look long and hard and be prepared to pay $1000 or more for a pet quality only one. They look very intimidating and have a ferocious sounding bark. Although my then 8 lb cat used to beat the heck out of the two I had. :D They prefer to lay around looking regal as opposed to being active though. And while they don't shed a whole lot, they drool. A lot. As in "sliding around the kitchen floor" drool.

In actuality my very fave large breed dog isn't giant, but just plain "large." And that's a standard poodle. Frankly I find them the best all around large dog. Excellent around livestock, other dogs, good with cats, no herding or chasing instincts, very rarely nippy, extremely easy to train, very good at keeping varmints away, don't shed at all and can be very intimidating to strangers. (they have a built in 'protect my property' mode) And thankfully you do not have to clip them in that dingbat show clip. I have found over the years that keeping them close clipped on the body and leaving a mohawk keeps people at a distance from them. :cool: They also come in tons of fun colors! :yes:

NEEDS A NAP

Aug. 28, 2009, 03:54 PM

May I add a recommendation for the Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League group?

My brother has adopted two from there, and they do an awesome job fostering rescues to get them ready for adoption and also matching people with dogs.

I grew up with Danes in the 50's, 60's and 70's. (Took me a long time to grow up and leave home!). I don't find that they are any larger now than they were then. Although vets now seem to prefer that you keep your dog leaner. Back in the old days, we hardly ever went to the vet.

I just checked out the MAGDRL website and it was sad to see so many available for adoption, and so many older dogs. Given their fairly short life span expectation, it is hard to imagine who would adopt a dog that is already 5-6 years old. I saw a common thread running thru many of their stories, in that their owners got older and could no longer manage them. Danes are incredibly gentle, but they are also big, and yes, if you can't pick it up, it may be necessary to give it up.

Danes are the most velcro, gentle, in-your-lap kind of larger dog. However, like with all large dogs, you had better not keep many knick-knacks at tail-length, because they will get knocked over.

ticofuzzy

Aug. 28, 2009, 03:58 PM

I am on my second Great Dane. My first weighed 175 and lived until he was 9. I worshipped this dog and watching him break down was very, very hard (much harder on them than a smaller dog breaking down - been through that too). I did everything possible to extend his life and make him comfortable. After he passed I wasn't sure if I could get another Dane, even though I loved them as a breed. However, during this time, my friend had to move away and could not take their 5 month old Dane puppy, so I was fostering him and eventually I adopted him. He had all the same characteristics that I loved about my other Dane, which cemented it - this is the breed for me and my lifestyle. My current Dane is 2 1/2 and weighs about 160.
They are GREAT barn dogs and they absolutely love the horses. I breed horses and both my Danes have worshipped all the foals. They are reliable around all the people who visit the farm every day, yet are a great security system at night - I always feel safe. They are awesome to take to horse shows. They are extremely obedient, want to please and require very little corrections. If you tell them what the rules are they are happy to follow them.
I tell people that you have to want a BIG dog to be happy with the care/expenses that Danes require. Everything is more expensive - food, heartworm, flea prevention, vet bills, etc.... Both my Danes had surgery - my first one had bloat surgery and my second one has had some problems with his orthopedic development and has needed some surgeries to correct those. Both these dogs were bred by very reputable breeders and are out of successful lines. My first one drooled (not badly) and would shake his head and spray slobber all over my walls in the house (I can't bring myself to clean all of it off the walls yet). My second one has a completely dry mouth and doesn't slobber at all.

http://www.foxwoodhanoverians.com/MISC.html to see pictures of them.

Arizona DQ

Aug. 28, 2009, 04:31 PM

[QUOTE=sisu27;4337443] It is true that we have made a mess of most every breed of dog though. Don't watch now perhaps but if you get the chance to watch this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7569064.stm it is a real eye-opener. Great documentary. Found the Rhodesian part most disturbing.
breakers.QUOTE]

That whole show is a bunch of Animal Rights people trying very hard to shut down all breeders and eventually all breeding of dogs! For very one instance they cite, I could show you 5 times the good news stories!!! Who do you think contributes much of the money for the research done to better the health of dogs? Who do you think is willing to donate DNA, records, etc to help researchers improve the life of dogs? REPUTABLE breeders! There are many genetic tests that have been developed in the past years and more in development stages.......I am talking about the breeders who care about the future preservation and health of their chosen breed !! Sheesh!:mad:

To get back on topic, if the OP decides to get a giant breed, get that dog trained EARLY! Waiting until the dog is 6 months old and whatever weight, is too late... Train from the moment you get it home, and since you will be smart enough to go to a reputable breeder, it should already have some basic obedience training..:winkgrin:

To the MAX

Aug. 28, 2009, 05:09 PM

weaver

Aug. 28, 2009, 06:59 PM

I have had Rottweilers for the past 4 dogs in my life. I can't imagine not having anything but. They are friendly, good with animals, easy to care for and the best thing is they always wonder where I am! I never have to look for them; they are always right withing a calling distance. Yes, they can scare the visitors but only their size; they are so friendly and extremely easy to train to do anything. Love to have them come riding with me also. (ps, all were/are rescue dogs)

birdsong

Aug. 28, 2009, 07:11 PM

you see? dobermans aren't supposed to be "giant dogs" either. 60 to 75 pounds says the breed standard and anyone not breeding to the standard should have their dogs forcibly neutered.

My good friend has bought from a very well known kennel for over 35 years who breeds large dobies in excess of 100 lbs. They are usually tall, not fat.

I have always been drawn to maremmas, and anatolian shpherds though I've never owned one. I keep looking at them on sites.

I have had a 100 lb husky/samoyed and now a GSD. My largest dogs. The greatest drawback and the reason I don't go for Newfie's and such is the short life span!! My dogs are family and when I lost my Storm it was as bad as losing a family member!! (Sorry Mother)

alacrity

Aug. 28, 2009, 10:40 PM

Misty, Chase is so regal looking, as was your Mal. I'm no stranger to shedding, the Dyson is my friend. Thanks for all of your practical advice - you should write a book!

I checked out the Mid-Atlantic Dane Rescue site - so many nice dogs on there, but they only adopt within the Mid-Atlantic states. I'm a big fan of rescue, but it seems that with large dogs its important to have influence over early socialization, nutrition, vet care, and training. Lots to think about. I mentioned it to Mr. Alacrity briefly earlier and all he said was "our dogs shouldn't outweigh US". Maybe I should have had that ice cream earlier! :lol: But based on what he said, he's not going to be as on-board with the giant breed stuff. It's a good point that you really have to want one, and of course that goes for everyone in the house. A few years ago I tried to convince him that Standard Poodles are great pets and he was not interested. He likes Labs and Goldens pretty much exclusively. So, maybe we can compromise and I may just get my GSD!

mbhorse

Aug. 29, 2009, 12:12 AM

If you have a farm, take a look at Anatolian Shepards. It is a livestock guardian breed originally from Turkey. We have a 120 lb. female on our farm that loves both the horses and the barn kitties (as well as our small parrot). They actually have a pretty long life expectancy for such a big dog, and the breed as a whole doesn't seem prone to hip dysplasia.

Here's the website for the breeder we got ours from:

http://www.anatoliandog.org/members/fullcirclefarm.htm

Ours looks just like Tessie - not surprising since they are full sisters.

MistyBlue

Aug. 29, 2009, 08:00 AM

JSwan

Aug. 29, 2009, 08:16 AM

An acquaintance has a standard poodle. What a fantastic, happy, smart and funny dog. A real joy to be around.

Saddlebum3

Aug. 29, 2009, 08:26 AM

I have owned 2 Anatolian Shepherds. Both working dogs. My male was 130#'s and female was 110#'s. Words of caution, if you get them as pups, wait 2 years before taking them on long rides or just keep them near the farm to guard and enjoy. They are not intended to go on long jouneys but are good guard dogs. They are a long lived dog for a large breed, 15 years is not that unusual. Socialize, socialize socialize! They can be very intense guardians and will accept, at any age, a new member into their family. The breeder is very important. My friends breed these dogs and she can recite all the linage of every one of her dogs as well as mine! They have a huge heart and come in every color, can be long or short coated. There are many rescues needing homes. Try to get the background (ie what was it raised around, goats, horses, sheep?) on the rescue and it could be a very good fit. They prefer to bark the predator away rather than actually fight. They are extremely independent minded -- they know better than you what's up. Consequently, can be quite difficult to train. They want to please but just know more than you and must check it out. People thought my male was being friendly, he wasn't, he was checking them out. He was very intense working dog. I socialized him very well but still, ppl have auroras that are simply not going to pass muster. I would love to get another one (rescue this time) but I enjoy taking the dog with me riding on the trails.

asb_own_me

Aug. 29, 2009, 09:10 AM

My good friend has bought from a very well known kennel for over 35 years who breeds large dobies in excess of 100 lbs. They are usually tall, not fat.

Well known does not equal well thought of or respected.

Wendy mentioned weight - which can fluctuate wildly based on the dog's overall fitness and diet. Weight is actually not even mentioned in the breed standard. What is referenced is height, and any variation from acceptable height (based on sex) is penalized. The height standard is continually being ignored by breeders (and owners) who think Bigger MUST BE Better!

You might find this interesting: http://www.akc.org/breeds/doberman_pinscher/index.cfm

Note they characterize the Doberman as a "dog of medium size"; go down to Breed Standard: Size, Proportion, Substance and you will see "Height at the withers: Dogs 26 to 28 inches, ideal about 27½ inches; Bitches 24 to 26 inches, ideal about 25½ inches."

asb_own_me

Aug. 29, 2009, 09:12 AM

An acquaintance has a standard poodle. What a fantastic, happy, smart and funny dog. A real joy to be around.

I knew several at the obedience club I used to be a member of (before I got my lovely acreage/horses at home and don't make the time to do it anymore!) Sweet and funny dogs. Smart and loving. They have a great sense of humor and a great sense of the TIMING of humor.

MistyBlue

Aug. 29, 2009, 09:22 AM

LOL, that's exactly it asb own me! Everyone sees some human characteristics in their own dogs, but anyone can see the "human" in any standard poodle. :lol:
And they're pretty easy dogs for newer dog owners or for owners who don't have tons of time for training. And very good for farm dogs in general.
The stereotype is pretty ingrained in lots of folks though, back when I had my big poodles I can't count how many times people would ask me what kind of dogs I had. A standard poodle is on of the easiest to recognize breeds in the world when clipped for show, nobody seems to know what they are when clipped more natural and even experienced dog owners can't figure out what they are if they see someone doing hunting trials with them.
Only problem with the big poodles is that they're like potato chips, so fun and easy and such good dogs that it's hard to have just one. :D

Saddlebum3

Aug. 29, 2009, 10:22 AM

With a Standard Poodle, what is it like taking care of their coats? What's needed?

sisu27

Aug. 29, 2009, 10:36 AM

With a Standard Poodle, what is it like taking care of their coats? What's needed?

We have one. He gets taken to the groomers about every 4-5 months and shaved. No poofs left anywhere. That's it! He doesn't shed and gets brushed every now and then. If you let it get long it can become more of a hassle.

He is a nice dog but it is funny that we don't find him as sweet, smart, funny... I think it is because we have had and do have Dobes for so long that he seems a bit flat in comparison. Perhaps we got a dud! Or perhaps he knows he will always be a second class citizen when there are Dobes around!

Here is what he looks like at about 2 months after a shave:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2567949480103114374PiUmjJ

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2135334750103114374qaoefx

CatOnLap

Aug. 29, 2009, 11:03 AM

We went to a reunion of littermates for our big dogs last month. There had been 10 puppies in the litter that was at the rescue when we adopted our two. The ones we adopted were the runt- the brindle male, who was less than 10 lbs at 8 weeks, and his fawn coloured sister, who was the second biggest puppy in the litter when we got her, at just over 10 lbs.

We were told they would grow to be about 50-60 lbs, the size of the average boxer or lab, which was supposedly the cross they were.

At the reunion, 8 of the original 10 puppies showed up. I swear they recognized each other. But our two dogs towered over the other 6. Where ours were now about 100 lbs each, the other littermates were probably in the 60 to 70 lb range. Our "runt" was the largest of the bunch. I wonder how it was that our dogs grew so very much bigger. We did not give them the supermarket "beneful" puppy food that came with them- we fed mostly homemade food made from cooked veggies, brown rice and real meat and eggs, for their first 6 months, and then slowly transitioned them to large breed puppy kibble from a good company for the next six months and then after a yer we started them on Pedigree, which is not a premium brand, but seems to do the trick. They also get a fair dose of our leftover dinners, mostly cooked veggies, brown rice and meat again.

Do you suppose the good food alone could have accounted for the difference in size? I once adopted a kitten who was the runt and fed him really well, and he turned into the alrgest cat in his litter too. Is there something special about runts?

alacrity

Aug. 29, 2009, 11:13 AM

CatonLap, whatever cross they are your two are really attractive dogs. Very solid looking... and I love how the brindle matches your furniture. Did you buy the chair to match the dog? It's interesting that their littermates ended up smaller. (Also how cool to have a reunion like that!) Could it have something to do with nutrition in their formative months?

I've been thinking about nutrition lately since my dog has been having some problems. She's been on Avoderm for a long time and just this week started waking up in the middle of the night with indigestion. I just opened a new bag of food and I think either I got a bad bag, or they changed the formula. So I've been feeding her brown rice and cooked chicken for the past few days. She seems... better? She looks better too. I know I can't feed her this way forever, so I'm starting to integrate Natural Balance sweet potato and venison kibble which is supposed to have limited ingredients to help with allergies. I'm curious to see how she does.

MrWinston

Aug. 29, 2009, 11:36 AM

My good friend has bought from a very well known kennel for over 35 years who breeds large dobies in excess of 100 lbs. They are usually tall, not fat.

I have always been drawn to maremmas, and anatolian shpherds though I've never owned one. I keep looking at them on sites.

I have had a 100 lb husky/samoyed and now a GSD. My largest dogs. The greatest drawback and the reason I don't go for Newfie's and such is the short life span!! My dogs are family and when I lost my Storm it was as bad as losing a family member!! (Sorry Mother)

Kimbertal would be the only "well known" Doberman breeder of over 35 years that breeds oversized. They are considered disreputable by the Dobe fancy (understatement). I won't waste time with details but they do not do health testing and they do not show or do performance with any of their dogs.

In the Doberman breed there are NO reputable/respectable breeders who breed FOR oversized Dobermans.

We have had 3 Dobermans for many years now, for us they are like potato chips. All of our Dobes have been standard size, even our rescues. 84 lbs. was the most any male ever weighed and all are kept fit and trim for agility.

That said, we live out in the boonies. I think that everyone in the area knows we have these guys. They are very socialized and friendly dogs but you couldn't convince the UPS guy of that.

morganmare

Aug. 29, 2009, 11:38 AM

Alacrity, if you are really interested in a GSD you should visit this forum. http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/ubbthreads.php Under the "Breeding" section, there is an area called "Choosing a breeder". There is alot of really good threads on there about which breeders to chose for what you want. And many of the working dog breeders do sell to pet homes. Most of them seem to really want to match the puppy up with the new homes.

MistyBlue

Aug. 29, 2009, 11:43 AM

JSwan

Aug. 29, 2009, 11:51 AM

LOL, that's exactly it asb own me! Everyone sees some human characteristics in their own dogs, but anyone can see the "human" in any standard poodle. :lol:

Only problem with the big poodles is that they're like potato chips, so fun and easy and such good dogs that it's hard to have just one. :D

I'm glad you wrote that because I thought that dog was a real hoot. The owner was nice - but I looked forward to visiting just so I could play with the dog. :lol:

Not an expert on the breed but he seemed to be a good farm dog. The crazy lady up the road has two of them - and they seem to be good farm dogs too but I don't know them as well so can't comment on their personality.

You'd think with the hair that they'd trap a lot of dirt and whatnot. Doesn't seem to be the case. The owner was elderly and not in the best of health - but she had no trouble taking care of that dog and he didn't seem to be the kind of big dog that bowled you over or ran into things. Also good around livestock - didn't chase wildlife either.

I'd own one in a heartbeat - but I say that about just every breed.

Oh - that poodle. He could do cartwheels. I swear. Perfect manners in the house but if you played with him in the yard - he turned into a circus poodle. FUN!

vacation1

Aug. 29, 2009, 12:47 PM

hahah.I hear ya, and not only my IQ and thumbs but my pocketbook have had a good workout!...I totally agree, they should not be running loose.

My comment was inspired by your post, but not directed at you, if you get the idea:) I've had multiple escapes before, and yes, it's surprising how hard they make you work to fix the problem:lol: I had one I could never solve, but she wasn't a runner - she only left the fenced backyard in order to get into the house via the front door.

But our two dogs towered over the other 6. Where ours were now about 100 lbs each, the other littermates were probably in the 60 to 70 lb range. Our "runt" was the largest of the bunch. I wonder how it was that our dogs grew so very much bigger.

It's bizarre, but puppies from the same litter can have different fathers. Maybe that's the explanation? It could be worse - I know someone who adopted puppies from a litter of strays; the pups were adopted all over town, and it became obvious as they all grew that this pair was going to be hideously ugly, where the other pups were just kinda normal lab mix looking dogs.:lol:

dressagetraks

Aug. 29, 2009, 01:35 PM

My brother and SIL have standard poodles and love them. They are neat-looking, although not what I'm after myself. If they had trimmed their piebald (is that the right term in dogspeak?) into pony style, she could have passed as a small pony or mini very easily.

They came to visit once a couple of years ago, passing through with a SP and a Beagle and stopped for a few minutes. They let the dogs out of the car - on leash - and the SP looked around at the cats, the horses, the farm, gave an appreciative sniff, and said, "A farm! Ah, fresh air." The Beagle looked around at the cats, the horses, the farm, gave an exuberant sniff, and said, "ROOOOOO!!!!!" and would have been gone immediately if not for the leash. He sure tried. :lol:

Silvercrown90

Aug. 29, 2009, 07:36 PM

http://www.foxwoodhanoverians.com/MISC.html

Beautiful website, beautiful horses and beautiful dogs! I owned Danes for many, many years, and it looks like you have some nice ones. They are really lovely animals, and look happy and well behaved. I enjoyed all of your pictures. It looks like your group knows how to have fun on the farm too!

Sharon
www.coolfitwear.com (http://www.coolfitwear.com)

buschkn

Aug. 29, 2009, 08:55 PM

I have 5 big dogs, all rescues, but my newest is a Great Pyrenees mix, probably with St Bernard? He is GREAT. Similar to the desciription given of the Anatolian, although not intense, but definitely independent, knows to just hang out and guard the place, but sweet cute and friendly at the same time. He is only 7mo and I noticed his LGD behavior already at 3m or so. I am totally in love. My others are 2 GSDs, a Lab mix, and a Basset/Heeler mix.

Mav226

Aug. 30, 2009, 10:45 AM

Kimbertal would be the only "well known" Doberman breeder of over 35 years that breeds oversized. They are considered disreputable by the Dobe fancy (understatement). I won't waste time with details but they do not do health testing and they do not show or do performance with any of their dogs.

I've been to Kimbertal and while I agree that their practice of breeding large is unusual, the animals they produce are stunning (pet-quality) dogs. They had one HUGE red male doberman that is not on their website any longer, but was a complete sweetheart. When he stood up he was as tall as I am.

We have a rottie that we got from them who is not particularly large for her breed. She is a little chunky now and tips the scales around 100 lbs. Generally, she is in the low to mid 90's.

The problem I have with Kimbertal is that their breeder's program requires that all of the bitches be bred before 2 years. As far as I am aware, they can't do an OFA cert on a dog under 2. So there isn't really a way to know if they are breeding dogs with good hips/elbows.

But, I don't really fault them for breeding larger dogs. If they are primarily breeding family or farm dogs, it doesn't really make much of a difference. My only wish would be that they did the OFA certification before breeding.

As far as temperament, you couldn't pry my rottie away from me for $100 million. There isn't a thing on earth I would trade her for :) We are constantly getting compliments about how sweet and pretty she is.

SteppinEasy

Aug. 30, 2009, 01:08 PM

kgro632

Aug. 30, 2009, 03:00 PM

I have two Akitas. Not giant breed, but large. I love them! The male is on the small size for breed standard, at two he weighs around 80 lbs. Breed standard is 75-119lbs for a male and 70-110 for a female. My female is a year old and probably 65 lbs. She will grow untill she is two so we shall see!

However Akitas are also not for everyone, they require alot of socialization and training and generaly aren't good with kids if they aren't raised around them. They are extemely loyal, but definately a dominant breed.

Of course since they are large breed their life expectancy is 10-12 years. It's going to be terrible. But having them now is worth the pain when they go.

To love a dog is one of the best experiences a person can have.

asb_own_me

Aug. 30, 2009, 04:30 PM

Kimbertal would be the only "well known" Doberman breeder of over 35 years that breeds oversized. They are considered disreputable by the Dobe fancy (understatement). I won't waste time with details but they do not do health testing and they do not show or do performance with any of their dogs.

In the Doberman breed there are NO reputable/respectable breeders who breed FOR oversized Dobermans.

Ditto, and ditto.

We have had 3 Dobermans for many years now, for us they are like potato chips. All of our Dobes have been standard size, even our rescues. 84 lbs. was the most any male ever weighed and all are kept fit and trim for agility.

That said, we live out in the boonies. I think that everyone in the area knows we have these guys. They are very socialized and friendly dogs but you couldn't convince the UPS guy of that.

We have three now as well. My smaller female, Ava, is about as close to breed type as you can get, a petite little firecracker who loves to lick. She fools everyone....she's outweighed by the other two by 13 and 18 lbs, shorter by 4" and 6", but she is IN CHARGE. Of EVERYTHING. She scored a +3 on the decoy threat in the WAE :winkgrin: Surprised the hell out of Mr. Creepy Decoy Man, and me, when she launched herself through the air at him.

But the UPS guy knows them and loves them :D Ava invited herself onto his truck one day and wrapped him around her little stub tail!

Silvercrown90

Aug. 30, 2009, 05:37 PM

Kimbertal is a puppy mill that breeds over 300 litters per year. No one in their right mind should support them. Google "Kimbertal" if you want an eye opener about their practices. They don't do testing of their breeding stock for genetic diseases, and they deliberately breed Dobermans to be oversized.

A few years ago 50 Rottweiler puppies died in a fire in one of Kimbertal's barns. The barn had no sprinklers, and all of the pups perished.

Doberman Rescue in Pennsylvania receives hundreds of Kimbertal dobes in rescue every year. My understanding is that Kimbertal refuses to take any of its pups back. Kimbertal will sell to anyone with money or a credit card.

CJGilman

Aug. 30, 2009, 06:05 PM

Just a comment about the Great Pyrenees breed and the current trend in other breeds to breed for giant sizes...unlike a lot of other breeds mentioned in this thread, Pyrs have been around in their current size for a long, long time. They are also not a popular breed, so their genetics haven't been messed with as much as those of some more "modern" breeds. Because of these factors, Pyrs typically don't have a lot of the same health issues other "giant" breeds do. AND, they tend to live a lot longer--with some lines even regularly going to 18-20 years.
Pyrs aren't for everyone. Their coats require a lot of care, they shed (A LOT) and they can be difficult to train because they're bred for independence rather than obedience. They're almost catlike at times in their personalities and decision-making!:lol: They also are prone to food allergies and the resulting nasty ear infections.

BUT,

They're wonderful. They don't eat nearly as much as people think; in fact, my girl eats far less than my parents' medium-sized farm dogs. Their dispositions are usually pretty mellow, so they love naps as much as walks. They're usually giant love bugs who are happiest when they've managed to corner a person who's willing to pet them.

We are a foster family with the Great Pyrenees Club of Southern Ontario. Typically we see farmers who have unregistered pup's who breed just for the working dog. They will often sell off the undesirables for cheep. We find most of them have the health issues. The reputable breeders will often have hips, eyes, and back guarantee'd or desending lines are required to be sterilized. Another funky genetic issue is dwarf's although they are cute and adorable it's not desired and desendents are required to be sterilized.

About Pyr's and trainability it depends on well you are bonded with the dog. That's what makes them excellent livestock guardians. They bond with the animals and will protect them to no end. We have had many Pyr's in our house and there was one who bonded so well with us she has seperation issue's. I think with this breed the bond is important otherwise it's just a disobedient carpet in the home. Most Pyr's are not to be trusted off leash. In our case if the dog has bonded well with and has excellent recall we allow off leash. Our Pyr Cici is now a therapy dog and visits seniors and kids and just LOVES the attention she gets. She's 125 pounds and stands 30 inches tall. We have had Pyr's who are bigger in our home. It's been nothing to have 3 pyr's in our home (1050 sq ft) . They mostly lay around the home in their spots.

Care: Depending some owners feed B.A.R.F. just chicken carcasses or leftover human food. Or in our case we just feed 1 cup of high protein food. Hair is not an issue if groomed weekly. Although they tend to "Blow" their coats twice a year which makes green carpets turn white. We have hooked up with a heritage museum and found they they LOVE her fur and often turn her fur into mitts.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm20/HouseOfBabies/IMG_0480.jpg

sisu27

Aug. 31, 2009, 10:16 AM

Sisu, handsome SP! :yes:
Saddlebum, you can bring them to get clipped or if you have clippers you can do it at home as needed. You can keep them short in summer for the heat and let them grow it in thicker in winter without letting it get too long. They're pretty easy to keep groomed and clipped.
They do need baths every once in a while like any dog...a downside to their non-shedding coat is that in snow they get snowballs stuck all over them. :lol: I used to just pick them off or hold them in the mudroom and hit them with the blowdryer...melts those snowballs right off.
They're a good sized dog, not too big and not too small. Light built, easy to lift. Large enough to look intimidating if that's needed.

OMG....I forgot about the snowballs!! That poor little guy spends his winters in Northern Ontario (big time snow!) and it is a real problem for him. I remember my Newf would get them on her feet but that was it. Well Jet (SP) gets them all over him and just lays down until you take them off. He is a hardy little thing though....when the Dobes are in winter coats and boots or in the house, he is lovin' it!

pAin't_Misbehavin'

Aug. 31, 2009, 10:19 AM

We are a foster family with the Great Pyrenees Club of Southern Ontario. . . . We have hooked up with a heritage museum and found they they LOVE her fur and often turn her fur into mitts.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm20/HouseOfBabies/IMG_0480.jpg

What a great idea.:yes: I've always said I could knit another maremma from the amount of coat mine blows.:lol:

In my experience, reputable working breeders are as likely as reputable show breeders to perform the required tests for genetic abnormalities. Those who breed to produce a pet crop are the ones most likely to ignore these tests, as well as to practice substandard husbandry.

Valentina_32926

Aug. 31, 2009, 10:29 AM

We had (she died years ago) an English Mastiff (smaller female who weighed about 110 lbs). She was given to use when her owner divorced - owner, realizing she was getting divorced and needed to give the dog away since living in an apartment wasn't smart for this large of a dog, spayed the dog so local "rednecks" didn't use her tp breed to pits.

Perfect for us as we didn't want puppies. Funny thing was dog was quiet until a car stalled in front of our house, dog went to drivers window, looked driver in the eye and started barking - we'd had her for 6 months and didn't know she could bark til then. She sounded like a lion. Driver wouldn't get out of car until we brought her back onto the property. Very imposing dog who would never hurt a flea.

Have a "mutt" now - everyone loves him, 75 lbs mixed breed with a gold color, some white on his chest and front paws, curled tail, and love to point lizards. We know he has pointer in him and suspect husky (curled tail and thick base coat), think golden retriever (coat color), and maybe some rotweiller (BIG mouth, boxy head). Best dog we've ever had - smart, protective but sweet.

MountainGirl7

Aug. 31, 2009, 12:14 PM

I don't have one, but have always wanted a Great Dane called Alfred. If only I didn't live in a one-bedroom apartment!

wendy

Aug. 31, 2009, 03:02 PM

would like to admit, but not apologize, for being over-wrought earlier on this thread. Sorry.
Just a comment about the Great Pyrenees breed and the current trend in other breeds to breed for giant sizes...unlike a lot of other breeds mentioned in this thread, Pyrs have been around in their current size for a long, long time.
agree. There are SOME breeds that have been "giant size" for a long time. Very few actually, though, and even the "giant" breeds used to be MUCH SMALLER. Most working breed dogs are SUPPOSED TO BE in the 60 pound or smaller size range, and the giant breed dogs shouldn't be much over 100 pounds. I guess labs and GSDs are the worst offenders in terms of popular bred-to-ridiculous-sizes breeds these days. You don't really think a 110-pound lab can actually hunt all day do you? No it will die of heat exhaustion. Being a lover of REAL great danes I am TOTALLY APPALLED at the over-sized, drive-less, unhealthy specimens being passed off by great dane breeders these days. Supposed to be an extremely athletic hunting/guarding breed similar to the ridgebacks, a sort of mix of sighthound and mastiff characteristics. If your great dane weighs in at more than 120 pounds, doesn't terrify your neighbors with his guardiness, doesn't rid your yard of stray raccoons without any apparent effort, and doesn't spend time sitting in your guests laps he's a travesty of the breed.
Ditto the 110-pound can't retrieve aggressive labs one sees all over the place. Ditto the "walking on the hocks" can't run, jump, or do anything except trot nicely 100 pound GSDs.
Rottweilers were totally ruined genetically in the 1980's and currently have one of the longest lists of common genetic health problems and shortest lifespans of any breed of dog, a horrifying legacy of "breeders" that even exceeds that of over-sized american-bred "should be ashamed to be associated with the name" GSDs.

skip_rainy_shi

Aug. 31, 2009, 03:17 PM

I have a coming 5 year old female dane. she was my first dane and is just a doll. at 180lbs she is taller and larger then breed standards. she loves the horses and would stay out in the pasture with them all day if i let her. she is very protective of her horses. the house and me. but would never try and bite anyone she just barks and that is all it takes to keep people away. a dane is all i am ever going to have from this point on.

horse-loverz

Sep. 1, 2009, 04:48 AM

LOL, yeah a Standard Poodle can be a hard sell to a lot of people. Especially husbands. They automatically envision foofy show dogs instead of hardy smart hunting dogs.
Maybe this will help:
http://www.greatdogsite.com/watermark/Standard%20Poodle-all-all-1209334152.jpg

An acquaintance has a standard poodle. What a fantastic, happy, smart and funny dog. A real joy to be around.

I have a standard poodle and I LOVE LOVE LOVE him. Hubby took some convicing and a promise from me to not make his hair look "too gay" :rolleyes::lol: But he is tons of fun. He is around 60lbs now at 9 months old, loves to play, great with kids, great at the barn. He does protect without being aggressive and he wants to go go go with me all the time.

If you keep them clipped short their coat is very easy to maintain, dirt easily brushes off, they don't have much of a smell and they DO NOT SHED!! Oh that is wonderful in itself :)

I do get funny looks however when I take him to the barn as my "barn dog" :lol::lol: But he is great around the horses .

http://s170.photobucket.com/albums/u274/horse-loverz/puppy/?action=view&current=foodlecar.jpg

And him resting (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=623783&l=9746e8ef7d&id=1274785839) ....

horse-loverz

Sep. 1, 2009, 04:53 AM

We have one. He gets taken to the groomers about every 4-5 months and shaved. No poofs left anywhere. That's it! He doesn't shed and gets brushed every now and then. If you let it get long it can become more of a hassle.

He is a nice dog but it is funny that we don't find him as sweet, smart, funny... I think it is because we have had and do have Dobes for so long that he seems a bit flat in comparison. Perhaps we got a dud! Or perhaps he knows he will always be a second class citizen when there are Dobes around!

Here is what he looks like at about 2 months after a shave:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2567949480103114374PiUmjJ

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2135334750103114374qaoefx

You're guys looks a lot like mine... I do leave mine with a bit of a top fluff.. but am considering buzzing that next time :) Mine is definately a comedian and loves to perform. He is always "thinking" it seems to me. :lol:

MistyBlue

Sep. 1, 2009, 08:11 AM

horse-loverz...what a handsome boy! Aren't they fun dogs?
I used to get the same looks for my "barn dogs" when I was younger and had SPs. But not that often because most people had no idea what my dogs were...few guessed poodle at all because they were tall and not clipped funny. And a lot of people just assumed that all poodles were neurotic and wimpy dogs. And then mine would trot by carrying a varmint they caught and I'd get praise for my wonderfully bred and trained and hunting Portugese Water Dogs. :lol: The looks on peoples' faces when I told them those were Standard Poodles usually looked like this: :eek: Followed by "Yeah right, they don't look foofy and ridiculous...they can't be poodles!"
Well yes, yes they are poodles. And they just out-hunted your retrievers, neener! :p
And excellent around horses and cattle. Never had a one that chased or bothered them in any way. Never had a one that was dumb enough to wander too close or get kicked or bitten either. And never had one that didn't make me laugh or smile all day long. :D Will you be doing any competing with him? They excel in obedience and agility...and are very easy to train for either. And boy howdy can they jump!
Enjoy your young pup!

CatOnLap

Sep. 1, 2009, 12:13 PM

aren't standard poodles the highest scorers on the doggie IQ test or something?

Kind of like appaloosas?

sisu27

Sep. 1, 2009, 02:18 PM

aren't standard poodles the highest scorers on the doggie IQ test or something?

Kind of like appaloosas?

Depends on who you ask (or which study you prefer)....but yes. Standard Poodles, Border Collies and Dobes are usually top five in any study.

Appaloosas are smart??? I have only known one well and yes....I guess he was ok. Nothing like any of my thbds or ponies though. Smartest horse I have known was a Morab. Evil genious he was.

horse-loverz

Sep. 1, 2009, 06:05 PM

birdsong

Sep. 1, 2009, 06:21 PM

She would be mine if I were closer!! :yes:

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12966693

This one is nice too
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12743446

CJGilman

Sep. 1, 2009, 10:52 PM

What a great idea.:yes: I've always said I could knit another maremma from the amount of coat mine blows.:lol:

In my experience, reputable working breeders are as likely as reputable show breeders to perform the required tests for genetic abnormalities. Those who breed to produce a pet crop are the ones most likely to ignore these tests, as well as to practice substandard husbandry.

I so agree with you on all counts!

thatmoody

Sep. 2, 2009, 08:14 AM

sidepasser

Sep. 2, 2009, 11:02 AM

My dog Amos was a registered Great Pyr and was very good at his job of guarding the goats, the foals, the chickens and the human children..

Lived to be 13.5 years old with nary a health problem in his entire life, no hip problems or eye problems, just a very healthy dog. He ate breakfast and laid down and went to sleep and never woke up. Vet had just been out to do his annual physicals and said he was surprised that old Amos was still around as he was a large dog at 150 lbs.

Best dog I've had in a long time. Hair coat was a bit of a mess, had to clip two to three times a year with scissors as he never got liked clippers and would burn out regular horse clippers anyway. Didn't eat much at all, very obedient when it was his idea (when he was guarding, I left him totally alone to do his job - wild dogs and coyotes never had much of a chance). He was from working dogs (his parents lived on a 1,000 head goat/sheep farm and he was raised in the sheep shed.

What most people don't get about a working Pyr is they need to bond with their flock..it is hard to have them divide their interests between sheep and humans, it is better if one is to be used as a working guard dog, that they live with the flock, fed daily and left alone to do their job. They are very intelligent about how to do their job, Amos came with that trait instilled and would not leave the goats to come to the house, even if called. Only after he got older and the last goats were gone, did he become more of a barn dog. He never liked the house and would whine to be "outside" where he could do his job. His job at the end was to guard the horses in the barn..he did it very well.

A pic taken just a few weeks before he passed away: He was 13 and a couple of months old in this picture. That was his favorite spot and although I gave him old horse blankets to lay on..he would drag them to the center of the aisle and lay on the bare concrete. He never would sleep in his igloo doghouse, prefered to sleep on the top of a large round bale of hay in his youth and later when he couldn't jump up so high, I would put him four large square bales of straw out and he would sleep on that. These dogs like to be at the highest point on the property to be able to "see" their territory. Amos spent many nights on the hill overlooking the goat pen, watching for predators. He was a nice, nice old man, very gentle with children and after learning the boundaries, he stayed on the property. They do need basic obedience (come, sit, stay, walk on leash), but the vet came to Amos, Amos never went to the vet - these dogs are not "made" for traveling, though will do it and enjoy it if not bonded with their livestock. If they are bonded with the livestock, it pains them greatly to be removed from them. They do fret and carry on, so vet came here.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y140/Sidepasser/Amos%20and%20Lucy/P4020009.jpg

I would love to own another, but only from working lines like Amos was. No showing lines as those dogs appear to have more temperment and physical problems that those from real working lines (bred and working on ranches and farms).

riff

Sep. 2, 2009, 03:01 PM

Amos was a handsome boy, Sidepasser.

I have 7 dogs right now. I have two Pyrs, two GSDs, and three labs. One of my Pyr girls is like Amos. She has no interest in being inside the house. The older girl likes to be inside where it's cool in the summer. But when the sun goes down she joins her friend outside keeping the coyotes out of my fence. Each of the Pyrs weighs about 110 pounds. My last Pyr died at 13. I lost her to bloat, which does occur in the breed. I love the independence of a Great Pyrenees. Wonderful with children. Gentle with anything small. Great dogs.

My GSDs are are both about 80 pounds but look bigger. Lovely dogs but very different from the Pyrs. My male goes everywhere with me and does therapy visits. They work the day shift around here and the Pyrs take the night shift. They take their work, whatever it may be, very seriously. And bond strongly to one person.

My labs are here to keep me smiling!

pAin't_Misbehavin'

Sep. 2, 2009, 03:03 PM

He never would sleep in his igloo doghouse, prefered to sleep on the top of a large round bale of hay in his youth and later when he couldn't jump up so high, I would put him four large square bales of straw out and he would sleep on that. These dogs like to be at the highest point on the property to be able to "see" their territory. Amos spent many nights on the hill overlooking the goat pen, watching for predators.

:yes: My maremma X thought the perfect spot for repose was the middle of my dining room table!:lol: It's right in front of a bank of windows and offers the best view of the farm. We discussed it:winkgrin: and came to a compromise, since the back of the sofa offers the second best view of the property. But when he's outdoors he still leaps up on the table I keep for eating out on the porch! :uhoh:

Haven't seen or heard any bobcat or coyote around the farm since he moved in though, so on balance it's worth having to shake dog hair off the table cloths before company comes.:lol:

alacrity

Oct. 3, 2009, 02:43 PM

I had to bump this now that I have first hand experience. This weekend we were asked if we'd be willing to dogsit the Bullmastiff who previously I had only admired outdoors.

First thing I noticed upon leading the beast into my home - the SMELL. Dear god, the smells that come from that dog. At one point my husband was like "Um, do we have a rotting garbage situation going on, or is that his a$$?" :lol: Now as a disclaimer I'm sure if he was fed a better quality dog food it wouldn't be so bad. We had company for dinner last night and made sure to light a lot of candles beforehand!

Second thing I noticed: he is a love. Just a total gentle giant and 170lb shadow. For some reason he chose me as his person to follow around. I go the bathroom, he waits outside. I cook dinner, he sits there looking lovingly at me. Good boy, very sweet temperament.

Third thing: He is SO BIG that he makes our house seem like a studio apartment. Everything looks out of proportion with him around. All I could think of is that commercial where the woman has a big dog, big jewelry, big hair and accessories because she thinks it makes her look thinner!

Fourth thing: He peed (outside, thankfully!) There was a lake.

Fifth thing: He hurts. :( He lays down a lot, and when he gets up its clear that his whole hind end is in pain. He's probably about 10lbs overweight, needs to be on a joint supplement and have an orthopedic bed to lay on. He's 6 or 7 and I think without some consideration to whatever degeneration is going on in those joints I'm not sure what'll happen.

Overall its been a great experience and really underscored the theme of a lot of posts here - big dogs are a labor of love. You can't beat the temperament but they require a lot of consideration in their later years.

MistyBlue

Oct. 3, 2009, 03:04 PM

Awww, poor ouchy stinky guy.
With the really big and heavy breeds, joint supplements are a good idea to start at a certain age before they actually look necessary. The really big and heavy built dogs can be like having a horse...you wouldn't want a horse laying on a hard floor due to it's weight, same for the dog. Orthopedic beds help a whole lot. Sometimes not for the long haired big breeds though because some will feel overheated on cushy beds, but they make some that allow airflow.
Being stinky is usually what they're eating. Sometimes it can be the best premium dog food, but some dogs will still be stinky from that. That's normally a case of tweaking what they eat until you find something that works. Also with giant dogs, the less "oomph" the food has, the better. They aren't high metabolism dogs, they're very efficient with their food so food that's too high in nutrition gets wasted and can cause them to smell.
And people food usually isn't a good idea for reducing the stink.

I had a couple mastiffs...english....aren't they just big loves? Those faces, the eyes watching every move you make...very expressive. Mine adored being cuddled too. :yes: They can make even a good sized house seem small though, LOL! I was renting when I had mine, a smallish house on a lake but with an open floor plan. When they boys were inside, it felt like I was in a shoebox. :lol: It's also funny when your dogs walk by the table and it's not just their heads higher than the table but their entire backs!

So has the dogsitting experience helped you decide on whether to get a giant breed or not? With different management they can be a lot less stinky and a lot less ouchy, but there are a lot of other considerations in cost of regular upkeep. Beds, ramps, meds, etc all will be a lot more expensive than even a regular sized big dog. We even got a laugh at having to watch what type of vehicles we owned...didn't make sense to have cars that we couldn't fit the dogs into or get the dogs into, LOL! A Smart Car would definitely be out of the question. ;) Most have good personalities, but making sure they're 100% socialized is very important from a young age. Because when you take them on rides anywhere, they're magnets to other people. People are fascinated with huge dogs and don't always ask to come up and pet them or reach into an open car window to pet them. And those who aren't fascinated are terrified just because of the size of the dog. So friendly, well behaved and outgoing giant dogs keep you safe from people who will pet them without permission and will be excellent ambassadors for those who are scared of them.
But they are enjoyable!

alacrity

Oct. 3, 2009, 04:22 PM

So has the dogsitting experience helped you decide on whether to get a giant breed or not?

We really enjoy dogsitting this guy, but I'm not sure we will ever own a giant breed. My husband is a bit overwhelmed with his size and the fact that he's slowing down at 6 gives us both pause. Like you said, proper management from a young age would help with longevity, but even in the best cases takes lot of work and everyone has to be 100% on board. He's such a joy to have around though, and I'm actually getting used to the smell! Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing! :lol:

MistyBlue

Oct. 3, 2009, 04:47 PM

LOL! :lol: :lol: :lol:
They aren't known for longevity in general. Proper care and nutrition from puppyhood helps, getting one from a very experienced breeder is a bigger help...but giant breeds living over 10 isn't common and them showing aging by the age of 6 or 7 is normal.
Sure there are some who do well for much longer than average, and those are usually the working breeds who've been raised working.
But it's a sad trade off sometimes...all that big loving goofy dog for only a short time. :sadsmile:

Maybe for now try hanging one of those scented pine tree air fresheners off the back of him? :winkgrin:

KristiKGC

Oct. 3, 2009, 06:29 PM

I have a 150 lb. lab/catahoula cross (probably actually a chessie/catahoula cross even though I trust his mother's breeder - he's just too darned big to be lab) who is still going strong at 11. I credit the hybrid vigor he got through the catahoula lines - they are great dogs. He's had some health problems, but nothing serious, and with the new chihuahua puppy has gotten a new lease on life. He still takes 2 mile walks, and defends the house vigorously. I have to admit, he's the best dog I ever raised, and I was a catahoula breeder for 20 some years.

Wow, I have the same cross and mine weighs a fat 60lbs.!

I also currently have a Bullmastiff and a Great Dane (and I live in an apartment!) All three are the best dogs, I get compliments everywhere we go about how well behaved and wonderful my dogs are. The bullmastiff is the most clingy. His greatest joy in life is to be near me, even though he's technically my fiance's dog. The great dane would much rather jump on the bullmastiff than play with us, but if that's not an option, playing with people is fine by him. He loves attention as well and is the biggest goofball. He steals apples at the barn and will toss them to himself and chase them and flops around. They're both very entertaining to watch.

I always wanted the big dogs, but could never bring myself to do it because of the reasons others stated about lifespans and health problems. The bullmastiff was given to us because he was the runt of the litter and the 'breeder' (a co-worker of my fiance's) didn't want to keep the runt and didn't know what to do with him, so we felt bad and said we'd take him. The great dane was blind as a puppy and the breeder was going to put him down so a friend rescued him and said she'd find him a home (and she knew I have sucker written all over my face). He has been a wonderful dog (and is no longer blind). I figure that even if they do end up with problems, I will do my best to keep them comfortable for as long as possible, and know that even if they only make it to 6 or 7 years, at least they'll have the best life I can possibly give them.

MsM

Oct. 3, 2009, 08:56 PM

I am here killing time because I am amped with anticipation. Tomorrow I go to the breeder's to select my two puppies! :eek:

No, not a giant breed. Actually a large toy breed - Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They have their own health issues but I was very careful and the breeder does all the proper testing and parents and grandparents are free of the common breed problems.

I ended up getting small dogs after my experience with my Aussie. He was big for his breed at a fit 65 lbs. When he got older and had orthopedic and vision problems I had great difficulty helping him. Lifting an unwieldy and hurting 65 pounds was a real challenge as that was more than half my weight. So being of a certain age and having just had spine injecetions, I decided future dogs needed to be smaller. And since they are small, I decided to take two! ;) (Actually I wanted them to have companionship when I was at work)

I used to work for a kennel which specialized in preparing and showing poodles. I really enjoyed the Standards. Great, funny dogs. When shaved down, they kind of looked Dobe-like. I liked some of the Minis and toys, but many of them were hyperactive and their brains seemed to shrink more than their bodies! (Of course these were all bred for the conformation ring) I do recall one toy that was really like a teeny Standard in temperment and brains - very cool little guy!

The house dogs were my cocker mix, a Scottish Deerhound and an Irish Wolfhound. The deerhound was sweet but a bit dim. The Wolfhound was a fabulous dog - a real gentleman. He would play with my cocker by laying on the floor so she would "attack" his head and ears and he would gently move his head around.

I will miss the protection aspect of a larger dog. The wolfhound would always stand next to you when you answered the door. Nobody would mess with him. My Aussie was actually a bit shy but very devoted. He would give strangers that intense herding dog stare. It seemed to un-nerve folks. Now my cocker mix would give her all to protect me - but somehow people just werent impressed with a 20 pound blond dog barking at them. I suspect it will be the same story with the new kids:D

Nootka

Oct. 3, 2009, 10:16 PM

I love my rhodie ridgeback:yes: largeish breed and I dont want any other breed:)

WhisperHeart

Oct. 3, 2009, 10:56 PM

Asimat is our giant breed dog...though we can't decides wether he's a leonberger or a Kangal(sp?). looks exactly like a picture of a kangal i've seen but don't think anyone around here would have one. he weighs about 120lbs or so and is a total sweetheart. loves to be loved on now that he's finally settled in and is used to us.

he does make the house seem abit small and is a bit dangerous when he gets a case of the zoomies and takes off around the house..and i can say from personal experience it does not feel good when a dog his size runs his shoulder full speed into your knee.

he is a gentle giant. plays real gentle with our little dogs and just a bit rougher with me.

i'm glad we have him even though when we slip up and leave the front door open he takes off running and doesn't really come when called and i have to take off after him to catch him.

a pic to show some size...the gate in this pic is 2.5-3ft tall and the dark furry shape on the stairs is my uncle's full grown mini schnauzer
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q379/WhisperHeart/000_0597.jpg

and just for the cute factor..Asimat and Bazil sleeping together
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q379/WhisperHeart/000_0662.jpg

Denzel

Oct. 4, 2009, 05:20 PM

okggo

Oct. 4, 2009, 05:40 PM

Yup - I have an English Mastiff and she is the dog of my dreams. She is a nationally certified therapy dog, and I take her out and about to various places. She loves it, I love it, they love it - perfect match :)

We have 3 dogs, the Mastiff, a lab, and a mini Aussie and while I love them all in their own special way - the Mastiff is my pride and joy. http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii170/okgottago/Dogs/?action=view&current=IMG_8735.jpg She'll be about 180 pounds when done growing, she's 1 1/2 years right now.

MistyBlue

Oct. 4, 2009, 07:20 PM

Oh she's lovely okggo! :yes:

f4leggin

Oct. 4, 2009, 08:22 PM

My newfi has the kindest tempermant I've seen in a dog. I have 5 dogs, she is lowest on the totem poll (below my 8 lb ShiChi - who is very submissive), she loves my Aussies and is a pretty good herder. She knows not to go after livestock on her own, but, she will help when asked, even if it means following quietly after a goat who doesn't want to lead well. She catches mice for me, knows not to chase chickens (Aussie's haven't figured that one out yet). I knew all that about her - but this Saturday she showed me how incredibly patient and trusting she is (I haven't said she was the smartest dog at the farm). For the second time, she got into it with a porcupine. The first time, she went to the vet, had to have a general to pull out all the quills. It cost me $1000. This time, I thought we should try and pull them ourselves. We pulled about 30 quills from her muzzle and mouth - she was very quiet, towards the end I could really tell it was bothering her, but I know this procedure is very painful - and she just took it. I was very amazed, and grateful that she let us do it. It only took about 3 minutes - I just couldn't afford another expensive vet bill.
Jill