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Choosing The Right Large Dogs Breed For You and Family

What You Need To Know About Large Dogs Breed

Many individuals choose large dog breeds for their animal companions because they are looking for pets that can protect them as well as be their friend. There are 167 breeds designated by the American Kennel Club as large dogs breed, each weighing around or over 50 pounds. Although some large breeds are used for security, many large dogs are extremely gentle in personality and are genuinely friendly. Large sized dogs have different health, food, and exercise requirements than smaller animals and differ in behavior and personality as well.Choosing a large dog breeds is quite different from the criteria used to choose miniature dog breeds.

Nutritional Needs

Before obtaining a puppy belonging to one of the large dogs breed, you should be sure that a large dog is right for your family and your home. Every year, thousands of large dogs are taken to local dog pounds because the owner underestimated their ability to take care of a large animal. Large dog breeds eat a great deal more food and are more expensive to feed than their smaller counterparts. Food for these larger dogs is specially formulated with the correct nutritional balance for the dog at each stage of their development. Large dogs reach maturity sooner than smaller dogs, so the large breeds should be fed dog food intended for senior animals after the age of 6 years old.

Healthcare Needs

It is very important for animals that belong to large dog breeds to be examined by a veterinarian annually, as they are predisposed to many health ailments. One hereditary health condition common to many large dogs is hip dysplasia. In this condition, the joint of the hip is unstable, causing the joint to disintegrate and causing the dog stiffness, pain, and difficulty walking. Other conditions found primarily in larger dogs include bone cancer, osteoarthritis, and heart disease. To prevent many disorders from appearing in your pet, veterinarian visits must be frequent and the dog must get regular exercise to maintain their weight and keep them healthy.

Training Needs

Large dog breeds require obedience training at an early age to make them safe to have in a domestic setting. Proper training will ensure that the dog will not hurt themselves and their owners through ignorance. Large dogs like to jump up on their owners as much as small dogs dog, but their larger size could cause their owners significant injury. Training the animal early also teaches the dog good manners and allows them to be indoor animals and be around the rest of the family. Proper training can also curb the destructive tendencies of a discontent dog. Although large dog breeds require a different type of nutrition, training, and healthcare, they are just as lovable as any of the smaller dog breeds.

Family Favorites from a List of Large Dog Breeds

Every list of large dog breeds will have the names of certain popular breeds that are also suitable for homes with children. However, before going through the list of large dog breeds to select a pet, there are certain factors to be considered. Is the home large enough, with plenty of open space for the dog to run around? Are there fragile objects and furniture which may not stay intact with a large dog bounding around the house? How important is it to keep the house looking immaculate with no dog hair all over the furniture?

Having considered these problems, anyone who wants to go ahead and keep a large dog should have a family discussion about the list of large dog breeds. The most complete list of large dog breeds would certainly include names of the German shepherd, Doberman pinscher, Afghan hound, Boxer, Collie, Golden Retriever, Labrador, Great Dane and St. Bernard. In addition to the names mentioned earlier, other popular dogs which feature usually on a list of large dog breeds are the Boxer, Irish setter, Greyhound, Chow chow and Dalmatian.

Some Characteristics of Dogs from the List of Large Dog Breeds

All dogs are good with children as a rule, but if a child continuously mistreats it, the dog may eventually bite. A large dog can severely injure a small child, so never leave them together unsupervised. Large dogs weigh over fifty pounds, and some really large ones weigh over eighty. The problem is that many of them are unaware of their sizes and can knock children, furniture, and even older people flat out in their exuberance. Notwithstanding their sizes, many breeds of large dogs are gentle and can be kept indoors provided someone takes the responsibility of exercising them regularly.

While it is possible to keep some of them in apartments, they are ideal for farms or homesteads. Dogs like the Afghan Hound and St Bernard are used to a cold climate, and it would be cruel to keep them is a hot place. Similarly, Collies, German Shepherds and Retrievers are better off on farms. They are inherently working dogs, and love wide open spaces to run about.

Another thing to bear in mind while going through a list of large dogs is that many of them need a lot of exercise. All dogs need exercise and large dogs need plenty of it. They also eat more and therefore one needs bigger budgets for their meals. These dogs are expensive to maintain, and this can be a limiting factor for many genuine dog lovers.

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