8 Large Dog Breeds That Make Good Pets

Having dogs as pets is a big responsibility. They eat a lot, run around a lot, need to be taken for long walks, and require a lot of attention. Even more so for big dogs. In fact, raising a dog is quite similar to raising a kid. They both are mischievous and cause a mess around the house, but neither of them helps you clean up! However, all the effort that you put into taking care of a dog is returned in the form of unbounded and unconditional love. Nothing can light up your house like a furry four-legged friend.

Big dogs are often misunderstood and carry an undeserved reputation for being aggressive. But that is far from the truth. Yes, they are big and strong, and that makes them confident. But it is their confident nature that also makes them calm, patient, and great as pets. In fact, big dogs are, more often than not, extremely playful and friendly. Furthermore, they are quieter than small dogs and are more of cuddlers than fighters. However, the temperament of dogs does vary from one breed to another, and this must be considered if you plan to adopt a large dog breed.

Here are 8 large dog breeds that make great pets.

1.  Mastiff

Don't go by the size of this dog. In fact, they themselves tend to forget their own size and aspire to be lap dogs. The Mastiff is a gentle giant. Laid back, calm and affectionate, they make great apartment dogs. They are not very demanding when it comes to exercise and short walks and a few trips to the park is all that they need. In spite of their size, they are great with kids. While their size might intimidate your friends and guests, it doesn't take them much time to win over your friends. Unlike most of the large dog breeds, they have a short coat. So while they do shed hair, it creates less of a mess and they require less grooming.

2.  Great Dane

The Great Dane is very similar to the Mastiff, both in size and temperament. This is because the Great Dane was bred from the English Mastiff and they both share the same DNA. Just like the Mastiff, they are gentle, quiet and calm, and easily adapt to the environment of an apartment. They also have a short coat and as such grooming and shedding of hair isn't a huge problem. However, they do have some downsides. They eat a lot and often claim your couch for their own. Further, in their enthusiasm to welcome you home, their tail can often send things flying. So you better clear your tables. But honestly, an enthusiastic greeting is something every dog lover looks forward to. They also tend to drool a lot, so that could sometimes create a mess.

3.  Greyhound

The Greyhound is amongst the most athletic dog breeds and can run at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. While the dog's athleticism suggests otherwise, they do not need much exercise and easily adjust to living in a house. They are loveable, friendly, and hardly ever bark. Like the Great Dane, they also have a short coat and do not need much grooming.

4.  Golden Retriever

The personality of these dogs is just as golden as their coat. Golden Retrievers are considered the perfect family dogs. They are calm, patient, extremely friendly, playful, and great with kids. They are also considered to be amongst the most intelligent breeds. The temperament of a dog naturally depends on their upbringing, but you would have to really try very hard to raise an aggressive golden retriever! The only downside to having them as pets is that they can sometimes be a little stubborn, especially during walks. If a Golden Retriever does not feel like walking in a particular direction during your walk, it will refuse to budge. They also tend to shed more compared to the Mastiff and the Great Dane. But otherwise, you couldn't go wrong with having a Golden Retriever as a pet.

5.  Vizsla

The Vizsla is a Hungarian dog that was originally bred to serve as a pointer and tracker dog. Over time, they have gained the nickname of 'Velcro' due to their extremely loyal nature and inability to grasp the concept of personal space. They tend to cling on to their owners, often insisting to sleep in the same bed and cuddling whenever an opportunity presents itself. Vizslas easily form close bonds not just with their owners, but even with strangers. In spite of that, they make great guard dogs if trained properly. They are extremely energetic, yet calm and patient and make great family dogs. Easy to train and highly energetic, they require lots of exercise and attention. They are very similar to the Weimaraner, in both appearance and temperament. However, they are nowhere related to each other. While the Vizslas make great pets, if you travel a lot and are often away from home, you should refrain from getting one. They get deeply attached to their owners, and often whine, refuse to eat, and generally keep unwell in their owner's absence.

6.  Labrador Retriever

A Labrador Retriever is very similar to a Golden Retriever, both in terms of temperament and appearance. It is, however, easy to distinguish them as the Labrador is often slightly larger in size and has a smaller coat. But apart from that, just like the Golden Retrievers, they are water dogs and are extremely friendly, affectionate, intelligent, and make great pets.

1.  Saint Bernard

Amongst the fluffiest of breeds, this is also the breed that you are most likely to be familiar with, thanks to one of the most popular dog movies ever, Beethoven. Saint Bernards are often used as rescue dogs and make for great family pets. They are friendly, loving, gentle, and caring. While they are great with kids, they need to be trained well as they often don't realize their own size.

2.  Chow Chow

An absolute fur ball, it is impossible to resist pulling a Chow Chow into a bone-crushing hug the moment you see one. They have long hair and a very dense coat, fortunately, they don't shed much. But you will need to brush them frequently to maintain their coat. They are extremely loyal and protective. In fact, they are a little overprotective in nature, which can also make them aggressive. So that is something one needs to be careful about while raising them. But if trained and raised properly, they make for very well behaved and patient dogs and can be a great addition to your family.

People often refrain from keeping large dogs as pets, more often than not, due to misconceptions. But the larger the dog, the larger is its heart. While the nature of dogs varies from one breed to another, most of the larger dog breeds are quite friendly and make for great pets. If you are looking for a large dog that would make for a great pet, you couldn't go wrong with any of these dog breeds.