giant breed dogs

kerriej

my fiance & i are moving to our new house in approx 3 months - i've had small dogs (king charles) for years. however now that we're moving to our own house and will have a large garden (1 acre) we want to get a large breed dog, possibly two. we have had large dogs before in our families, such as boxers, doberman, etc. but my fiance has wanted a st. bernard all his life so that would be ideal.
unfortunately i've heard some horror stories about their health and life span. i've been told they only live about 6/7 years. our oldest dog at the min is only 6yrs and we'd be devastated if i thought she might die in the next year.
i'm hoping to find some people who have actually had a st. bernard that lived to 9/10yrs old. also anyone who has experiece with health issues of the st. bernard in reality. i've read a lot about their possible health issues but not sure whether to believe it all. my family have had king charles my entire life but we've only had one with a slight heart mumor. however if you read about the king charles health issues - you would easily believe that all king charles dogs have heart issues that will cause them to die prematurely.

andreac

Most giant breeds have a much shorter life span and they generally would live to about 7-8, some may live longer, some dont even make it to that age.

Most large breeds can suffer from hip/joint problems and cancer is a big thing as well.
If you are going down the route of pedigree, please please research your breeder very carefully and ensure all health testing like hip/elbow scores are done on both parents and any other relevent health checks that the breed suffer from.
A lot of pedigree dogs can suffer with sensitive tummies and my friends Saint suffers from this regularly so just be prepared for quite a few health problems.

Shanao

Like Andreac said do a lot of reasearch first, giant breeds can have some rather giant problems, not to mention that they cost a lot more to keep than smaller dogs. Bigger dog means bigger things. I've two giant breed pups at the moment, and even at four months, they eat quite a lot. The breeder I got my pups from used to breed st bernards and her last one died at eleven years of age. I think they may have just gotten lucky though, a friend's died only three weeks ago at six years old after getting bloat. They managed to save him, but a week later he had a heart attack and died.

I had considered a bernard for quite some time, and we actually took one in a few months back as a foster. The few weeks she stayed with us were enough to convince me that they were not the dog for me. If you could do something like that for a while and get a feel for the breed before committing, it might be an idea.

andreac

Just to add, Saints are an extremely head strong, stubborn breed, typical mastiff, so please do a lot of research about them before considering getting one as they really arent a dog for everyone, if many really. Most males weigh anywhere in the region of 11 stone, 70 odd kg so they need firm training and even at that they can be hard to discipline.

Wisco

Definitely do your research on the breeder and the line if you're going for a purebred dog.
If you know anyone who has a St Bernard (or whichever breed you decide on) perhaps you can mind it for a while to find out what real life with it would be like.
Also, give serious consideration to pet insurance as you're almost guaranteed to be hit with some big vet bills as treating even a minor illness will be MUCH more expensive with a big dog, let alone major surgery or emergencies.

kerriej

thanks for all the information - unfortunately the outlook for a st bernard doesn't look too good. our second choice for a large breed would be a long-haired german shepard but they seem quite hard to find.
obviously i want to get a pup as young as possible as i know they need a lot of good socialisation from a young age and i want to make sure the pup intergrates well with current pets. i'd be grateful for some general information on this breed, maybe where there are reliable breeders, they don't have to be IKC registered, so long as they have right health checks). we are still open to suggestions about other breeds of dogs, as we have 3 months before moving and are not rushing into it, just want to get the right dog.
thanks in advance

cjf

Would you consider rescuing a dog. . .sorry had to ask there are just so many biggies who are looking for homes and they can be harder to find good homes for due to their size!

I adopted my doberman at 6 months and I still did all the regular puppy classes and puppy socialisation with him. . granted we got some funny stares he looked like the bold dog who was kept back!! But he turned out great has a heart of gold and is very good with any foster dogs I have! He came with papers and his parents are regulars on the show scene! I neutered my chap so he wont be following in their footsteps heehee!!

I also adopted a staffy x and I adopted her as a pup did all the same training etc with her but she can still be nervous of new people especially men (work in progress!). just goes to show that adopting as a puppy doesnt mean they will 100% grow into perfect adults!

Dobermans are great! Defo not for everybody but cant imagine ever being without one now!! Although you seem to be in to the fluffy giants and dobies are defo not fluffy few wipes with a baby wipe and thats him cleaned!!

Skadi

I have two giant breeds. One is a 3 year old Alaskan Malamute and the other is a 3 month old Newfoundland. Both these dogs are really affection and cuddly.

It is well worth researching the breed, there were breeds that we wanted but discounted due to their lifespan and potential problems. It is interesting to see health surveys done on the dogs to see what the average lifespan is and what the common cause of death is. We wanted a Burnese Mountain dog but saw from health reports that some died from cancer before they were even 2 yrs old. Also over the space of a few years there lifespan had dropped by a few years.

I've had mongrels before, one was a german shepherd Malamute mix. He was a rescue dog so we were never sure about his age. In the end he had the hip problem. He lived to be around 9 yrs of age. Our other dog (which we sadly said goodbye to recently) was a White German Shepherd Lurcher cross. She lived to be nearly 14yrs and was very active right up until the end. She went downhill very rapidly (over the space of a few weeks) and suffered from liver and kidney failure.

TooManyDogs

What about keeping an eye out for a st bernard x?? In my experience cross breeds/mutts are healthier than alot of pure breds. A st bernard cross might be healthier and live longer. If you're not looking to get involved in the show ring it might be a good option.

Shanao

• Akita
• Anatolian Shepherd
• Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound)
• Bullmastiff
• English Mastiff
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Leonberger
• Caucasian Sepherd
• Estrela Mountain Dog
• Pyrenean Mountain Dog
• Tibetan Mastiff
• Kuvasz
• Sarplaninac
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Neopolitan Mastiff
• Cane Corso
• Saint Bernard
• Bloodhound
• Otterhound
• Great Dane
• Newfoundland
• Irish Wolfhound
• Scottish Deerhound
• Rottweiler
• Kangal Dog
• Dogue du Bordeaux
• Fila Brasiliero
• Komondor
• Presa Canario
• Black Russian Terrier

That's all the giant breeds I can think of, not sure if I've missed any, though I probably have. Anyway, there's the rest of the very big guys, though obviously a lot of them are near on impossible to get in Ireland and the UK. Was there something in particular that drew you to the st bernard, or draws you to the shepherds? Might be a bit easier to figure out what kinda dog will suit you. Do you want an active, or lazy dog? Grooming requirements; minimal or do you like big dogs that coat the house in hair XD

Honey-ec

cjf wrote: »

Would you consider rescuing a dog. . .sorry had to ask there are just so many biggies who are looking for homes and they can be harder to find good homes for due to their size!

A truly-miserable looking St. Bernard came into the Ashton Pound today. Poor guy is in need of some serious TLC. The same dog has been in the pound before.

anniehoo

Honey-ec wrote: »

A truly-miserable looking St. Bernard came into the Ashton Pound today. Poor guy is in need of some serious TLC. The same dog has been in the pound before.

Yankee
Previously reclaimed last Oct....serious eye problems going on, that might be easily fixed with a bit of attention and care

daenerysstormborn3

Look at that poor dog. Looks like he is in need of someone who will shower him (literally and metaphorically) with love and affection.

I have a great dane. My advice would be to do your research. Contact breeders, even if you plan on adopting a dog from a rescue, experienced breeders will prove a fountain of information. You can be guaranteed that a good breeder will have no problem providing good information. Go to shows and talk to people who actually own the breed you're interested in.

I spent a year doing research before I got my dog. My reason for going with a great dane was their personality and the fact that they are short-haired. I couldn't cope with the grooming that goes into a long-haired dog like a st bernard because I'm asthmatic.

Also, consider either insurance or putting money away each month (start now) towards future medical expenses. The thing about giant breeds is that they may or may not get sick often but when they do get sick they need larger doses of everything than smaller dogs so this is where the expense lies. Take neutering for example, there is a big difference in the cost of neutering a jack russell and neutering a great dane and this is because of the anaesthetic dose being dependent on the dog's weight.

My insurance is 16.33 a month but I have never needed to claim (dog is healthy as a horse!), who knows if I was to make a claim for an accident or long-term problem how much the premium would go up by.

Good luck with whatever you decide but take your time making your decision.

The Sweeper

If I could do it all again with giant breeds, I'd get a mastiff or a mastiff cross.

I'm lucky in that the pounds in Victoria are full of giant crosses here who do come from a very dilute gene pool, so I'd have more of a chance of landing a giant breed with robust genetics (such dogs are used for hunting larger game quite regularly so there are a bunch of bitsas ('What's your dog?' 'Oh, bitsa this, bitsa that') in the pounds every year).

lrushe

kerriej wrote: »

our second choice for a large breed would be a long-haired german shepard but they seem quite hard to find.

This little beauty is also in the pound

Long Hair German Shephard.jpg

"Yaeger is absolutely stunning boy in great condition. i will be extremely surprised if this lad's family don't come for him. Sweetest temperament and gentle on the lead. Got some kisses to give and will be an affectionate and loyal partner. Needs out Monday 21st February."

kerriej

we would absolutely consider adopting a rescue and have thought about this in the past, but thought it would be better to get a pup so that they could get used to having a cat around as well as the small dogs. the cat doesn't even know how to hish or scratch so it would be absolutely defensless - and obviously i can't risk her health. Irushe - that is a beautiful little guy and i'd love to take him but again i'm concerned about how he'd mix with current pets and also we haven't moved to house with large garden yet.
i do love the furry types of dogs, i enjoy spending time grooming the dogs, so don't mind that at all.

Mr. Manager

Shanao wrote: »

That's all the giant breeds I can think of, not sure if I've missed any, though I probably have. Anyway, there's the rest of the very big guys, though obviously a lot of them are near on impossible to get in Ireland and the UK. Was there something in particular that drew you to the st bernard, or draws you to the shepherds? Might be a bit easier to figure out what kinda dog will suit you. Do you want an active, or lazy dog? Grooming requirements; minimal or do you like big dogs that coat the house in hair XD

And a handful are restricted.

Shanao

Cereal Rapist wrote: »

And a handful are restricted.

Only the bully, rottie and akita, and can i ask what exactly is wrong with them being restricted breeds?

@kerrieJ- You dont mind the furry fellas then, so how about activity level, guarding levels, temperament etc? What exactly are you looking for in a dog, cos honestly, there is a huge difference in a St Bernard and a GSD when it comes to activity level.

lrushe

kerriej wrote: »

i'm concerned about how he'd mix with current pets .

Alot of resuces will do a temperament evaluations on each dog they have, some dogs will even have been in foster homes so the resuce should be able to give you a good idea of how that dog will react to a cat or other dogs, you could even bring your current dog up to mean a new dog to see how they get one, just an idea for you.

The Sweeper

Shanao wrote: »

Only the bully, rottie and akita, and can i ask what exactly is wrong with them being restricted breeds?

What's wrong, Shanao, is that if you get a dog without knowing it's a restricted breed, your entire expectation of your own interaction with your dog will change.

No off-lead runs in the park for you. No swims and games of fetch at the beach. No hikes in the forest with the dog running in and out of the brush. No popping around the shops for a newspaper without a lead AND a muzzle on the dog.

There is no harm pointing out what breeds are restricted, because it's a major part of your breed research before you commit to any dog. Regardless of the fact that BSL is bullshit, if you don't pay attention to the laws regarding your restricted breed dog, it's the dog that will pay the ultimate price, not you.

Shanao

I understand what you mean, but surely if the OP had already researched GSDs, which they seem to have done, then they would surely already know this and would be fine with it? RBs make fantastic pets and shouldn't be excluded, which is the way the previous comment came across to me. Perhaps that isn't what the poster meant, but that's simply what it seemed like to me.

BSL really is bull**** :mad:.

Mr. Manager

I wasn't saying it in a negative way. As Sweeper said, it's not as easy as one might think.

Also, other dogs on that list such as the Cane Corso, Fila Brasiliero and Presa Canario might not be met with open arms at a Dog Park.

Again, nothing against these breeds, (I personally would love a Cane Corso) just bringing to light that there is more to them than other breeds.

kerriej

ok - i know there are major differences in temperment with the st. bernard and gsd. i would love to have a german shephard or rottie and believe that their temperment depends a lot on their owner and upbringing. however i am concerned at others peoples perception of them. i currently walk my dogs off leash at the beach or up mountains (small unpopulated route), i do really enjoy watching them explore and run freely. my dogs dont approach anyone else and i would like to think that whatever large dog we get would be able to do the same. i would never let a dog off leash if there were any danger to anyone or other animal but obviously a stranger won't know that and may react very badly to a gsd or rottie running around. i was drawn to the st. bernard for their 'typical' happy disposition. with regard to temperment that i'm looking for - we want a friendly dog, not too much energy, although we do walk the dogs daily for about 45 mins. i admit i am someone who believes there are so much dangerous breeds, more a case of dangerous owners. obviously some dogs are more powerful than others and have been bred for different reasons - however if you're getting a dog originally bred for fighting - you should know how to train and socialize them in order to have a happy safe dog, otherwise don't get one. there are a lot of people who get 'dangerous breeds' and just don't put any effort into training, exercising or socialising them and then blame the breed for the pent-up energy that causes the dog to snap or get wicked.
what we want is a large dog thats playful and fairly easily trained, most of all i want a healthy dog. our dogs do a good bit of swiming, anywhere there is water they'll try to get into it. i believe that with the right socialisation, training and effort a gsd can be exactly that or really any dog can. again i'm open to all sort of suggestions but i do prefer dogs with long hair.

antomagoo

The Sweeper wrote: »

No hikes in the forest with the dog running in and out of the brush

Thats not true, we take our Rottie up the mountains and forests where you get nobody other than other RB owners out letting their dogs run around, shes go back on leash though as soon as walkers approach, she has very good recall.

The Sweeper wrote: »

There is no harm pointing out what breeds are restricted, because it's a major part of your breed research before you commit to any dog.

Very true

ria2011

Hi I'm interested in getting an Irish Wolfhound, in around 8 months time when I've moved into my new house on a farm.
Anyone any advice about them? Have read that their life expectancy is around 8 years which is a bit worrying.
From other posters experience would you say this is about right?

TonyFella

kerriej wrote: »

ok - i know there are major differences in temperment with the st. bernard and gsd. i would love to have a german shephard or rottie and believe that their temperment depends a lot on their owner and upbringing. however i am concerned at others peoples perception of them. i currently walk my dogs off leash at the beach or up mountains (small unpopulated route), i do really enjoy watching them explore and run freely. my dogs dont approach anyone else and i would like to think that whatever large dog we get would be able to do the same. i would never let a dog off leash if there were any danger to anyone or other animal but obviously a stranger won't know that and may react very badly to a gsd or rottie running around. i was drawn to the st. bernard for their 'typical' happy disposition. with regard to temperment that i'm looking for - we want a friendly dog, not too much energy, although we do walk the dogs daily for about 45 mins. i admit i am someone who believes there are so much dangerous breeds, more a case of dangerous owners. obviously some dogs are more powerful than others and have been bred for different reasons - however if you're getting a dog originally bred for fighting - you should know how to train and socialize them in order to have a happy safe dog, otherwise don't get one. there are a lot of people who get 'dangerous breeds' and just don't put any effort into training, exercising or socialising them and then blame the breed for the pent-up energy that causes the dog to snap or get wicked.
what we want is a large dog thats playful and fairly easily trained, most of all i want a healthy dog. our dogs do a good bit of swiming, anywhere there is water they'll try to get into it. i believe that with the right socialisation, training and effort a gsd can be exactly that or really any dog can. again i'm open to all sort of suggestions but i do prefer dogs with long hair.

My old dog was a bearded collie we showed him for a while they are a very loyal dog and very clever & they have the long hair you want. I now own a few american bulldogs and find them an amazing breed worth reading up about them