Dogs have long been considered as man’s best friend.
With our strong bond with these creatures, a lot of us don’t even consider them as our pets anymore. We consider them as family already. Not only are they loving and affectionate, they’re also loyal, just everything we look for in a companion.
A lot of us, though, tend to have preferences when it comes to dogs. Some like small ones, some like big ones, some like all shapes and sizes.
Not all of us can take care of dogs though. Dogs also need to be taken cared of and they would need your time, effort, and money and even the ones who have the time, effort, and money can sometimes still not not be able to fully take care of a dog because of its size, tendencies, or needs. Things like family, space, and more, are also factors when it comes to choosing a dog.
So, for you guys looking for large dog breeds to bring home to your families, here’s our list of the top 10 family-friendly large dog breeds.
10 Rottweiler
Thought by many to be a vicious and scary breed, Rottweilers can actually be very gentle and loyal. This myth of Rottweilers being aggressive as a breed probably circulated because of its mean-looking face. All dogs are products of the environment that they live in and if abused and treated poorly, all dogs regardless of breed will manifest aggression. Rottweilers are very obedient and loyal, which is why they are great as house pets as they aren’t hard-headed unlike other dog breeds so training them would be an easier task as compared with other breeds.
9 Great Dane
Despite its huge size, the Great Dane may as well be the definition of the term “gentle giant”. Not only is this breed very majestic-looking because of its size, Great Danes are generally playful, friendly, and loyal. They are great with kids and are usually very affectionate. Although supervision is still advised when having these dogs (or any dog for that matter) interact with kids because their sheer size may cause accidents. (Fun Fact: Scooby Doo is a Great Dane)
8 Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is a very gentle dog breed. These dogs tend to be very loving and caring towards their family members. This affectionate nature of this breed combined with their intelligence makes them a very ideal family pet. The only downside is that these dogs shed and drool a lot. That’s nothing compared to the upside that these cuddly dogs bring to the table though.
7 Boxer
The Boxer is a very fun-loving dog breed that is very much willing to please. Boxers are natural clowns and tend to be very playful. They’re protective with their families to the point of being already borderline possessive and are iffy with strangers. They make great family pets for active families as these dogs are active and playful.
6 Collie
A very iconic breed, the Collie has become very popular because of several novels, TV shows, and movies featuring the character Lassie, a Collie. Collies are a very intelligent breed and are highly trainable. They’re an almost perfect breed because of how intelligent, loyal, and eager to please they are. The only downside is that their coats are high maintenance and they need a lot of exercise.
5 Standard Poodle
Poodles are said to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds. Their outgoing nature and general playfulness make them very lovable. A huge plus is that their coats are hypoallergenic. So, especially for new families worried about their kids having allergies, a Standard Poodle would be a great addition to your family.
4 German Shepherd
German Shepherds are a loyal, protective, and highly intelligent dog breed. They bond well with their families. Their high intelligence coupled with their obedience make them great household dogs when trained properly. These dogs need a lot of exercise as they were bred to herd sheep.
3 Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a very popular dog breed. They are clownish and are very friendly even towards strangers. This is the reason why Golden Retrievers make good therapeutic dogs because they just love the attention that they get no matter who it comes from. They also don’t make great guard dogs because they tend to be friendly to everyone but they’re great with kids and are also very intelligent. These dogs are great as household pets but require a lot of exercise especially when they are young as they tend to have a lot of energy.
2 Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever just like its cousin, the Golden Retriever, is also one of the more popular dog breeds. Their even-temperedness and their caring nature makes them one of the most adored dog breeds. Labs are reliable, intelligent, and very eager to please their humans. They tend to get very attached to their owners and are very affectionate. Also like their cousins, the Labs likewise need a lot of exercise and are very playful. Inactivity for these dogs could result to restlessness.
1 English Mastiff
The English Mastiff is a huge and majestic dog breed. Their large and heavy build coupled with their humungous heads may make them look a bit scary at first, but they’re actually very gentle and lovable. English Mastiffs are generally very calm and quiet. Their easy-going nature makes them great with kids. They are usually never aggressive unless they are protecting their families. This majestic breed is perfect for families especially with the small cuts of apartments and condos nowadays as English Mastiffs tend to be couch-potatoes. They like to just lie around which makes them a perfect fit for families that don’t have the huge spaces needed to care for more energetic dog breeds.
