The 7 Irrefutable Truths About Big Dog Ownership

Large breed dogs are not right for everyone. Here are the 7 irrefutable truths about big dog ownership you should consider before you get one…

To avoid any confusion, let me define what I mean when I say large or giant breed dogs (i.e. big dogs).

• When lying in your bed, big dogs take up more space than you do.
• When not properly leash trained, big dogs have the strength to drag you into the mud on a cold, windy and rainy Idaho morning. [READ: 5 Reasons Why Dog Handling Is Best Left To The Professionals]
• Big dogs can potentially break your toe if they step on it.  I learned that lesson the hard way.  Thank you, Junior.

In a nutshell, big dogs, when fully mature, will reach about 50 pounds or more and range in size from a Labrador retriever and German shepherd to the mighty Mastiff or Great Dane.

But with big paws, comes big responsibilities when it comes to taking care of them.  

If you are considering opening your home and your heart to a big dog through purchase or adoption, please consider these 7 facts before you do.

1. Beyond the Price of a Dog – Financial Considerations

If you are considering purchasing a large or giant breed puppy, plan to pay more… for everything.

Big dogs cost more than small breed dogs.  Period.

They are more expensive to purchase, reaching well into the thousands of dollars for a well-bred large breed or giant breed puppy.  

I discuss this in more detail in 7 Best Questions To Ask A Dog Breeder Before Buying A Puppy and The 7 Most Common Mastiff Myths Debunked.

Beyond the cost of the large breed puppy, you should expect to pay more for quality, species-appropriate food and veterinary care.  

Significantly more.

People often mistakenly believe if they purchase a 55-pound bag of kibble dog food for $20, they can cut down on how much it costs to feed their big dogs.  

Yes, Dog Chow is cheap. And, yes, it is technically dog food.

Well, hang on… let’s be precise… Dog Chow is a product some people feed their dogs.  Ok, moving on.

But this type of penny-pinching, frugal thinking is short-sighted.  It may lead to lower out of pocket costs today, but at what expense to your big dog’s health tomorrow?  

Whether you are feeding a commercial dog food diet or a homemade raw food diet, you will want to budget in the cost of feeding a large breed or giant breed dog … BEFORE you buy!

Secondly, the cost of veterinary care for big dogs will be significantly higher as compared to a small breed dog.

From larger doses of preventative vaccines and pet medications to surgical expenses if required, be prepared to budget in healthcare expenses into the cost of owning a giant breed or large breed dog.  

And this list is just scratching the surface of possible costs related to big dogs and healthcare.

For this reason, I highly recommend you consider investing in pet health insurance if you are serious about big dog ownership.  

I mentioned Embrace Pet Insurance in last weeks post about BLOAT, and it is the one pet insurance I recommend.  

Embrace offers tailored plans to fit your needs including diminishing deductibles (reduces your annual cost each year), wellness rewards, fair evaluation of pre-existing conditions, and coverage for exam fees and much more.  It was the only pet insurance that I was able to find that also covers gastropexy, a preventative surgery for GDV that you might want to consider if you are buying a large breed or giant breed dog.

But whether you decide to purchase pet health insurance or not, they are expensive to own.  

There is no getting around that.  

So, let’s make this a really simple decision.

If you are going to need a payment plan in order to purchase your puppy, big dog ownership is not the best choice for you.

Read The Ultimate Guide to Saving Money on Pet Meds [2019] for some great money saving tips and Buying a Puppy: The Gap Between Desire and Reason to ensure you stay grounded in your decision.

And for the full breakdown of the Annual Cost of Owning a Big Dog, the largest survey of big dog owners ever conducted, click here. This will provide the first definitive answer to the question, “How Much Does a Big Dog Cost?”

2. Nutritional Requirements for Large Breed Dogs

Dog nutrition is something that most people look to dog food manufacturers for information on.  Clearly, they are the experts, right?

Wrong.

I have discussed the topic of feeding giant breed puppies at great length before, so I will cover just the high-level facts here.

1. Big dogs grow faster and remain puppies longer than smaller breeds.

This accelerated growth means that they are extremely sensitive to nutrient and caloric imbalances, deficiencies, and excesses, all of which can adversely affect your puppy’s health.

The goal is to feed them a balanced, species-appropriate diet that allows them to grow slowly and evenly.  This can be accomplished by feeding commercial foods that are specially formulated for large breed puppy and large breed adult dogs, or, better yet, a balanced raw diet.  

These foods will generally be lower in fat, calories, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D.  These nutrients in excess have been linked to a range of developmental orthopedic diseases such as Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), Panosteitis, and Osteochondrosis.

2. Overfeeding can lead to significant deleterious health consequences

Your large breed puppy’s growth should be a long-distance marathon, not a sprint.  There are no blue ribbons or special awards for the biggest or heaviest puppy.

Think Tortoise and the Hare: slow and steady wins the race.

3. Proper feeding and nutrition can decrease the risk of bloat.

Bloat, or gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), is common especially in deep-chested giant and large breeds like Great Danes and St. Bernards.  

Get all of the facts on bloat (GDV) in the Essential Guide to Bloat in Dogs: 7 Simple Steps That Can Save Your Dog’s Life. 

You don’t need a “Feeding Big Dogs For Dummies” book in order to provide a balanced, high-quality diet, I promise.  

But recognize the culinary decisions you make for your large breed puppy will directly affect his longevity, vigor, and health in the future.

For more on feeding giant breed puppies, read Feeding Giant Breed Puppies for Dummies – The Protein Myth & More.  And you can grab your Quick Start Guide to Feeding Giant Breed Puppies here.

3. “Big Dogs for Sale” 

A deceiving title for this section, but if I’ve got your attention, keep reading.

If you are someone looking for a sign like this, you are NOT fit to be a large breed dog owner.

Sometimes the truth hurts.  But it is for your own good.

The ONLY appropriate place from which to purchase is through a reputable dog breeder.  Or, if you are in a position and choose to, you can adopt from a reputable dog rescue.  

Those are the ONLY two options.

Not Craigslist.  Not the newspaper, pet store, or a puppy broker online.

We’ve discussed a few reasons already, but here are a few more reasons you will want to purchase through a reputable dog breeder.

Optimal health requires special care and consideration!

Big dogs disproportionately suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat and cancer as compared to smaller breed dogs.  In fact, according to PetMD, 8 of the 9 breeds with the highest incidence of cancer would be considered a large breed or giant breed dog.

Wobbler Syndrome, epilepsy, arthritis, cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism, and a variety of eye disorders are also conditions that can occur at a higher frequency.

Reputable breeders perform health testing on their breeding stock.  The tests recommended will vary, but nearly all breed clubs (see Resources page) have recommended tests that should be done prior to breeding in order to decrease the incidence of inherited diseases.  

For more great information about health testing, read DNA Testing: Unlocking The Key To Your Dog’s Health and For The Betterment Of The Breed – An Interview With Jadem Mastiffs.

I have spent considerable time on this blog talking about how to choose a reputable breeder and the issues surrounding backyard breeders and puppy mills.  Dog rescue is a hot topic now and quite in vogue, however, I invite you to take a few minutes and consider what is actually going on. Here are a few posts to get you started:

4. Too Big For an Apartment?

It is a common misconception that many breeds such as Mastiffs, St. Bernards, and Newfoundlands, are lazy, lay around and do not require much exercise.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

They fall into the following groups within the American Kennel Club: Working Group, Sporting Group, Hound Group, and Herding Group.  

[National breed clubs listed here on my Resources page]

Bred for a specific job or purpose, most, if not all of these, will become bored and destructive if not given adequate space, stimulation, and exercise. 

While the required amounts of exercise will vary depending on the breed, very few of these breeds will be suitable or happy confined to a small apartment.

How Much Exercise Does a Large Breed Dog Need?

If you are an ultra-marathoner looking for canine companionship for your long runs, a big dog is not right for you.

Keep in mind that the larger the dog, the longer it takes for their growth plates to close.  

Because of this, large dog breeds are at a substantially higher risk of injury as compared to smaller breeds.  

The following 3 tips should help as you consider how much to exercise your large breed puppy.  

1. Only go so far as you are willing to carry your puppy home.

Long walks (over a mile) are generally not a good idea until the large breed puppy is older or you are strong enough to carry him home when he gets tired.

2. Avoid puppy play on slippery floors.

Not only does this increase the chance of injury, you are also putting unnecessary pressure on hip and elbow joints as they are developing.

3. Limit playtime with bigger dogs.

My rule of thumb is to limit playtime to about 15 minutes per month in age once a puppy is past 8 weeks.  

For example, when Junior was 12 weeks old, I would allow him a total of 45 minutes of playtime with Sulley for the day.  I would separate this into 3 separate play sessions of 15 minutes each which I would limit further if the play got too rough.  

I made use of my play yard extensively during this stage to allow the dogs to be with one another but separated by the play yard fence.  

When Junior turned 4 months I increased the daily amount of playtime with Sulley to 60 minutes, again broken into 3 or 4 sessions.

5. Big Dogs that Don’t Shed … Don’t Exist

If you buy a giant breed dog you will be faced with this not-so-pleasant reality.  

Let’s face it, living with big dogs is a messy business.  

Even the fastidiously clean Rhodesian ridgeback can’t compete with a Chihuahua.  I’m sorry ridgeback friends. It’s true.

And no matter how often you clean your house or bathe them, if you have a Newfoundland or a Mastiff, forget about it.  

You need to kiss your fantasies of a perfectly sanitized home goodbye.  

For a reality check on life with big dogs read Life Lessons: What I Learned from an iPad, Flip Flops, and Two Big Dogs and How To Make A Great First Impression Big Dog Mom Style.

BEFORE you purchase, consider your desire for a clean home and clean clothes.  

How do you feel about dog hair on your clothes?  Dog hair in your car? And let’s be real, dog hair in your food?

What about hair and slobber on your walls, carpet, floors, and, (more reality) your kids?  

How do you feel about your personal property?  Would you be willing to forgive damage to your favorite hat, your bedroom furniture, remote control, or eyeglasses?  

I am not going to sugar coat this.  If you are neat freak, you are NOT a good fit for a big dog!

6. Large Dog Breeds Need Training.  Lots of it!

Whether you want to get involved in sports like nose work or conformation or not, trust me on this one.  

You do NOT want to be the person being dragged behind your big dog or to have one that is not friendly toward other dogs or strangers.

Obedience training is critical for ALL dogs, especially big ones.  

Positive training methods using treats, toys and fun as rewards work best.    

In addition, while socialization should start as soon as the puppy’s eyes and ears open at about 3 weeks of age, you will want to budget for group puppy training and puppy socialization classes as well.

Bomb proof big dogs come with a cost.  

1. Great breeding and genetics (i.e. buying from a reputable dog breeder)
2. Training

The total cost for both of these will run several thousand dollars at least.  

And if you are thinking you can save some money and train your big dog yourself, I’m sorry to break this to you.

Formal dog training classes will give you the opportunity to expose your large breed puppy to new friendly people and other dogs and allow them to experience how wonderful the world around them is.  

Your home alone is no substitute if you are looking for a bomb proof big dog.

The investment in positive training early in life will pay off in creating a well-mannered, and bomb-proof canine good citizen.  Your puppy will love it and you will reap the rewards for years to come.

7. How Long do Giant Dog Breeds Live?

Dog life expectancy, or the lifespan of dogs, varies widely.

Because large and giant breed dogs age more rapidly than smaller breeds, they tend to have a shorter lifespan.  

This rapid aging causes their bodies to work harder to reach their normal adult size.

Consider the difference between a Chihuahua and a Mastiff.  A Chihuahua may only reach 6 pounds when full grown, while a male Mastiff can reach 200 pounds or more. That is a lot of growth which occurs in a relatively short period of time.

As such, the average lifespan of a Mastiff is 8 years with only 25% or so reaching 10 years of age, while the average lifespan for a Chihuahua is 12-20 years.

So, here is the heartbreaking truth. 

While you are supremely blessed with each day of life, be prepared for the giant paw sized void that will be created in your heart when your beloved companion is gone.  

Summary

Look, big dogs are NOT right for everyone.

My objective with this article is not to deter, it is to empower prospective puppy buyers to make a more informed decision on the size of dog breed they choose.

Knowing whether you are the right fit is one of the most important decisions you will make.  And that decision should be made BEFORE you buy.

If I can inhibit just one status seeker or impulse buyer, then I consider this post a success.

That said, if you have read these 7 facts and are still unwavering in your desire, then go for it.  

Welcome to the Big Dog Mom Community!

Take the following step and make it official!  I am so happy you’ve joined us!

1. Grab your Do’s and Don’ts Guide.  From healthcare to feeding to training, this guide will give you a high-level overview of what is in store for you.

Now I want to hear from you.  

Do you share your life and home with a big dog?  Tell me in the comments one thing you struggle with or one thing you love about living with your oversized canine companion.