Most families who have enough space prefer to own large dogs. This is because large dogs are patient, easy to train, and in contrast to what their looks might suggest, gentle. Furthermore, large dogs are loving and loyal and are usually more intelligent than smaller breeds. That said, when getting big dog breeds, it is important to find which particular type is suitable to one’s lifestyle.
Top 13 Big Dog Breeds
There are many different breeds of large dogs. Some look giant and also like a beastie. In contrast, others are large but not too much, yet live longer. From the largest Iron Wolfhound to the protective Black Russian Terrier, all of them are special and have their advantages and drawbacks. If one is in the market for the best large dog breeds, here are 13 different big dog breeds white, black and all other colors that might be of interest:
1. English Mastiff
This largest dog breed is usually referred to as simply Mastiff by The National Kennel Clubs. With a life span of 6-12 years, the English Mastiff is one of the biggest dogs alive today. These giants have an average height of 70-91 cm and a weight of 73-104 kilograms. Furthermore, many believe it to be a descendant of war canines. Usually, this giant serves in police work, military work, or security. Apart from all that, these are great house pets as well due to their high intelligence.
2. Great Dane
The German Mastiff, aka Great Dane, has got its nickname due to the place of its origin. These hounds have a lifespan of around 8-10 years. Even though, with a height ranging from 71-86 cm, they weigh a bit lighter than the English Mastiff at around 60-90 kilograms. This breed is a cross between the English Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound. Originally, the Great Dane was used by German nobles as guards or for hunting games. Nowadays, these canines have become great pets for large houses due to their playful yet kind nature.
3. Bernese Mountain Dog
Famous for its tri-colored fur, and being one of the big fluffy dog breeds, here comes the Bernese Mountain Dog. It is one of the 4 Sennenhund-type dogs from the Swiss Alps. Furthermore, Bernese Mountain Dogs are descendants of the Roman Mastiffs. Speaking about their lifespan, one can expect them to live up to 6-8 years. Additionally, they stand tall with a height of 60-70 cm and a weight of 35-50 kilograms. Bernese Mountain Dogs are popular as farm dogs in their native land of Switzerland and are also famous for their good-tempered behavior.
4. Irish Wolfhound
The American Kennel Club(AKC) recognizes the Irish Wolfhound as the tallest dog breed. A male Irish Wolfhound usually has a height of at least 81 cm. Moreover, this kind gained popularity around the 15th century with its purpose of controlling the rising wolf population in Ireland. During wars, soldiers used Irish Wolfhounds to drag men off of chariots and horses. Their life span will usually be around 6-10 years. And thanks to their loyal, dignified, and mild behavior temperament, these make amazing pets for any large house. On that note, these hounds require enough space for them to grow properly.
5. Leonberger
The Leonberger dogs derive their name from the city of Leonberg in Baden-Württemberg. These largest dog breeds have an average lifespan of 8-9 years, a height of 65-80 cm, and weigh around 41-75 kilograms. The distinct characteristic of these dogs is their lion-like mane. Unlike those other large kinds bred for combat or hunting, these dogs were developed as companion dogs. Later on, people realized their potential, and thus, they became popular as farm dogs. Leonbergers are famous for their loyalty and especially excel in cart-pulling work.
6. Anatolian Shepherd
Next up on this list, we’ve got the Anatolian Shepherd. This particular type is best for guarding livestock. This kind, which is one of the big white dog breeds, is still used for protecting flocks and property in its land of origin, Turkey. Anatolian Shepherds can happily live for up to 10-13 years. Their average height will be easily around 71-81 cm, and they have an average weight of 40-65 kilograms. Besides, these days the Anatolian Shepherds are popular as guardians of ranches and farm protection due to their intelligence, confidence, and steady temperament.
7. Neapolitan Mastiff
They bred the Neapolitan Mastiff to guard homes in areas of Southern Italy. This kind’s intelligence and quiet temperament made them popular in urban areas. These hounds thrive with positive reinforcement training due to their protective nature. With an average lifespan of 8-10 years, anyone with large spaces can pick them. Moreover, Neapolitan Mastiffs have an average height and weight of 63-70 cm and 50-70 kilograms, respectively. Their visually striking characteristic is their loose, wrinkled skin which has folds all over it. These hounds best thrive off human contact, making them very suitable family dogs.
8. Saint Bernard
Being distant cousins of Bernard Mountain Dogs, Saint Bernard dogs hail from the western parts of the Alps. These hounds are more famous for their giant appearance. Besides, one cool thing about Saint Bernard dogs is that it bred them to locate and rescue people. These canines have an average height of 65-90 cm weighing about 55-80 kilograms. The Saint Bernard breed lives for around 8-10 years. Furthermore, their loving and docile temperament makes them popular as great pets for families. Saint Bernard dogs are especially popular in films and television due to their charismatic character.
9. Newfoundland
Newfoundland is of big black dog breeds that have adapted to live around water sources. Therefore, they have webbed feet and water-repellent outer fur. They developed these dogs in Canada to work with fishermen to help with pulling fishing nets out of icy waters. Today, these dogs are best suitable for rescue missions related to water bodies. Furthermore, they are famous for their gentle character. Besides, with a lifespan ranging from 8 to 10 years, these canines weigh around 45-70 kilograms with a height of 63-74 cm.
10. French Mastiff
Most commonly famous as Dogue de Bordeaux, the French Mastiff is very powerful and muscular. Therefore, it becomes a perfect choice for guarding and protection. However, French Mastiffs have a short lifespan of 5-8 years relative to other breeds. They weigh easily around 54-65 kilograms and stand as high as 57-67 cm. These hounds have very distinct and expressive faces. Remember that early training on them is especially important as they can be stubborn. That said, once properly trained, French Mastiffs are very sensitive and loyal dogs.
11. Caucasian Shepherd
Having their origins in Eastern Europe, these dogs have an average weight of 50-100 kilograms. The Caucasian Shepherd is a dog breed that was bred for herding livestock. With an average height of 67-70 cm, these large dogs live for around 10-12 years. Usually, this kind is very stubborn and, thus, becomes best for experienced dog owners only. Besides, their unique characteristic is their alert temperament and territorial nature, making them great guard dogs.
12. Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees is one of the big white fluffy dog breeds that is recognizable for its large white coat. They were bred to protect livestock, just like other shepherds. Besides, the Great Pyrenees originate in France and have a lifespan of 10-12 years. Their average weight will range between 36-54 kilograms, and they have an average height of 65-82 cm. Furthermore, these canines being one of the white fluffy big dog breeds have a gentle and affectionate temperament, making them good family dogs. The Great Pyrenees is also popular for being an independent breed thus, it becomes ideal for working owners.
13. Black Russian Terrier
Lastly, we’ve got the Black Russian Terrier, and as its name suggests, this breed belongs to the USSR. Besides, it also has got another name, Chornyi Terrier. Black Russian Terrier have an average height of 64-75 cm weighing anywhere between 36-68 kilograms. Moreover, they will live between 10-11 years and were bred as guard dogs. They are very protective and loyal to their families. Their reliability and strength have allowed them to continue their role as guard dogs even today. The Black Russian Terriers usually come in black, salt, and pepper colors.
Conclusion
Most large dogs, as mentioned in the above list of dog breeds big, are intelligent and protective. This is because most of them were bred for war, hunting, or protection. Although they look terrific, these dogs are really kind and loveable, with loyalty being their best characteristic feature. While the roles of these dogs have mostly changed to being cute family pets and service dogs, they still retain their ancestor’s strong traits. For all their cuteness and intelligence, it is important to note that the best big dog breeds require a lot of space, maintenance, training, and effort to grow properly.