Things To Know When Getting A Really Big Dog

* All Photos provided by Pixabay

Hi Everyone. It seems like forever since I last posted here. In the past year, I had planned a wedding, got married and had some medical issues that caught me off guard. I'm doing much better now, and I am finally back to blog about one of my favorite topics--dogs.

Getting A Really Big Dog

In an ideal world, a dog's size wouldn't be an issue. People would see a dog and think it's cute or not. But the reality is much different. We live in a world full of fear. Many people are afraid of dogs. Even a large dog like a labrador retriever, will send those with an intense fear of dogs, running for the hills.

That being said, many dog lovers gravitate toward owning really big dogs. When I say really big dogs, I'm referring to dogs over 100 pounds (45kg) and up. These owners don't worry about the fact that having a huge dog makes them conspicuous. All they see is a wonderful pet. That's the way it should be. Having any dog is work but if trained right, a really big dog like a Mastiff (pictured above) or an Irish Wolfhound (pictured right) isn't going to be any harder than owning a smaller dog.

Misconceptions about Really Big Dogs

Here are some misconceptions about giant dogs:

1. They are aggressive.
2. They are hard to control.
3. They don't like children.
4. They are noisy.
5. That dogs of this size live long lives

There are always certain breeds of dogs that will be more aggressive than others. However, most owners have a desire to make their dogs aggressive. Dogs don't wake up one day and say, "Who can I terrify today?" Usually, if something happens, it's in direct response to what they felt was a threat. Many breed-specific laws try to address this issue by eliminating the breeds. But in actuality in a study by the Irish Times, the number of dog aggression incidences actually increased. In fact, many dog breeds like the Mastiff and the Bernese Mountain Dog are quite gentle and loving.

Having a really big dog that pulls you when you take them on a walk, will tire a person out more than a smaller dog. Still, how a dog behaves, comes down to training. By using positive reinforcement methods, any large dogs will be as easy to control as their smaller counterpart.

Whether or not a dog likes children or not is more based in the breed type of the dog. Dogs like Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes, absolutely love children. It's important for parents to set ground rules when it comes for their children behaving properly around pets. After a while, even the gentlest dog will get tired of a child yanking on its ear.

Many large dogs are very nimble on their feet. You'll probably hear them walk into the room and yes, some breeds are messier than others, but in general, many large dogs like the mastiff will bark to alert the family when something is wrong.

While smaller dogs live anywhere from twelve to twenty years, it's a different story for giant dog breeds. Many dog owners are lucky to see these pooches live over twelve years. A dog like an Irish Wolfhound lives a maximum of 8 years. A Great Dane lives for about the same time. Mastiffs can live over ten years and many Bernese Mountain dog owners are fortunate to have their dogs around for nine years.

Final Thoughts

While really big dogs tend to stop traffic on the street, having them as part of your family should be more than just a novelty. With their larger size, you're going to have higher dog food bills and more upkeep. As with any pet, it's important to do your research to find the best dog to fit in with your lifestyle. What do you think is the most important thing to owning a really big dog? Leave your comments below.

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