Owning a large breed: Pitfalls?

[AnnaBeginsToChange]

Starting a new thread, following my Rhodesian Ridgeback one. I've never owned a very large breed like this before and I'm wondering about the disadvantages I might not have thought about (not money related). Is it difficult to take them places (eg pubs, town walks, visiting people, even holiday)? Do other parents get worried about thier children? Do other children get very worried about coming for play dates?

Any experiences welcome

[JemimaPuddle]

I haven't seen your ridgeback thread but I have 2 :)
In my experience kids aren't generally wary but adults can be (my boy is 9.5stone so huge!).
We get stopped a lot when out walking by people asking about the breed and lots of people wanting to fuss as they knew one years ago/when they were a kid etc.
I would imagine it is harder taking them places than it would be a small dog but no real experience of going to pubs with them etc.
One thing I would say is I get a LOT of out of control smaller dogs which bound over, jump all over him & then if he barks or anything I've had abuse about having an out of control dog! That is down to others though and not a pitfall of the breed as such.
They fold up very small if needed :)

[basildonbond]

I think you have to be prepared for other people to look at you somewhat askance and wonder why you have such a large, powerful and potentially aggressive dog

The only experience I've had with Rhodesian Ridgebacks is negative I'm afraid as there was a pair who terrorised the park where I used to take my very non-aggressive labs

Small dc are often very worried about going to houses where there are v large dogs and you have to make sure that they are exceptionally well-trained as if they start pulling etc there's not a lot you can do about it if they weigh more than you do

[HorribleMother]

cost of feeding, size of poos.

[FloatyBeatie]

I used to have quite a large dog -- an Italian Spinone. I didn't have problems to do with other people's reaction to him, probably because Spinones are about as threatening as Winnie the Pooh, in both looks and behaviour.

I'd say the downsides were a messier smellier house than you'd have with a small dog and higher food bills, vets fees, and kennelling costs.

Also, if your dog has any disposition to nick food, then his height will make all your kitchen surfaces available to him

I have a smaller dog these days and it is easier/cleaner around the house. On the downside he has a terrier temperament and relations with other dogs are a little vexed!

[FloatyBeatie]

Oh yes, bigger poos. I'd blotted that out of my memory, but now you mention it ...

[dogslife]

I own a big staffordshrie bull terrier. people do sometimes avoid him in the street and ive had the odd comment about how i couldnt possibly control him. Which i can and do. I take him lots of places, family,friends and he is okay as are they. other parents worry about their children but i would expect this with any dog. I try to teach them that its okay to stroke him if they ask so i can make him sit so he doesnt jump up them. I have people here for playdates and he just meanders around if it it is a particularly dog nervous child ( or parent whos bothered ) then he will stay outside or under the stairs where his bed ect is.

[AnnaBeginsToChange]

Great to hear from an owner, pop over to the RR thread I started, I'm getting quite excited All experiences gladly received.

My current bc is very portable, comes everywhere with me in the car, potters around the yard etc. But he's terrible with children (rescue dog) and so always put away around visiting children. I'd love a big, soppy hound, well socialised and reliable, around the house. Obviously supervised, I'm not stupid or irresponsible. At least, not when it comes to dogs.

[needastrongone]

We have a Springer who is 5 months. We toyed with getting a Vizsla as our friends have a lovely one but decided against it for a variety of reasons but not size tbh, that didn't enter my head. I believe the Vizsla is the same size as a Ridgeback but a more slender build and less powerful.

However, even though we have a large house and garden which could take a large breed, I do think now that I am glad he will only ever be medium sized at most (I think he will actually be quite small if genetics follow through). He seems to 'fit' better! He's certainly easier to control.

I am 7st and 5ft so a slender build (genetics following through again ), so perhaps an important consideration, especially if kids will walk a Ridgeback?

[needastrongone]

ps - I know you can train to walk correctly without pulling, was just thinking from all angles, particularly children!

[JemimaPuddle]

I've posted on your RR thread too.

[jennybeadle]

I can be hard to find a kennels to take a really big dog. Just because of how much space they need for a bed. And the vets will always be expensive, just because they need more of stuff like antibiotics, flee drops, anaesthetic, should you ever need them.

[AnnaBeginsToChange]

I take it your name doesn't refer to dogs then

Good point, our house isn't huge. Our children are very young so I am not envisioning them walking any dog alone but it would be nice if they could manage the dog at some point (with help). I think vizslas are smaller than RR, though could be wrong.

[needastrongone]

Usually refers to gin

Not sure, possibly their (Vizsla) build makes them look smaller iyswim? They are much taller than a Springer but slender with it, I would need to check.

[sweetkitty]

Oh you started a Ridgeback thread will have to find it?

I would love a RR they are gorgeous, there's a MNer who has 3 gorgeous bitches (doubt know if she's on much but she's on FB).

In holding off a few years due to an elderly grumpy cat and a almost 3yo DS.

[wildfig]

I have two large-ish breed dogs (basset hounds). The main issue with them is that they weigh about 30kg but are under the impression they're roughly the size of a springer spaniel - they're both total lapdogs.

As well as bigger poos, you also have to account for bigger anaesthetic doses if they have an operation, much larger flea/worming doses, more food, and maybe a bigger car. I traded my hatchback in for an estate, mainly to maintain a decent gap between me and the muddy hound. I've also had to carry them once or twice, which felt like that section of Britain's Strongest Man when they had to carry a Mini Metro down a hill or similar; the only downside that's really bothered me is what I'd do if I was somewhere remote on a walk and one of them seriously injured itself. Ring for a helicopter, I guess.

My favourite upside is that - of the dogs I've met - the bigger the dog, the more chilled out it seems to be. Yes, the barks are loud but they're pretty few and far between.

[tabulahrasa]

I've got a Rottweiler - there are quite a few things that didn't occur to me before I got him or I didn't think would be an issue, Some are not so massive cons, but anyway...

Large breed puppies are prone joint problems, just because of the speed they grow at, you can do everything right and still end up with a dog who can't walk - mine has elbow dysplasia, he's had an operation to try and correct it, he hasn't been walked properly since the beginning of December, he had to have weeks of crate rest and it's cost a fortune.

He's still very much a puppy, so half trained and bouncy - but to people outside he's a big dog jumping at them.

He costs a fortune to keep in appropriate things to chew.

He takes up my full back seat - I can't have him jumping in and out of the boot because he's too young...and now because of his elbow I might never be able to, I can't place him in the boot because he weighs 35kg already.

He can reach my kitchen table without jumping.

When he licks you (and that's a lot) you're blooming soaking because his tongue's huge, lol

It hurts when he stands on your feet and he does it a lot.

He has knocked over toddlers entirely by accident.

He's currently still young enough to want to zoom round the living room, but he's about the size of a full grown lab.

And yep people definitely view him a bit suspiciously, lots don't but enough that you notice it.

[AnnaBeginsToChange]

Sorry to hear about his ED, how awful for you both. How does he cope with all the resting? I didn't realise they could get it despite the joints being well looked after, that's a worry. Were his parents hip/elbow scored (with good results)? If so then that's really worrying. Is he insured and is it being covered if so?

Do you have DCs? Are their friends parents ok about your dog?

Sorry, loads of questions!

[tabulahrasa]

His parent's have near perfect scores for elbows ironically, and well below breed average for hips - I may have overwalked him by the odd five minutes occasionally, but really nothing you'd normally be thinking about (till we had to start x-raying joints, lol) he doesn't go upstairs or any of the the other things you're supposed to avoid till they've finished growing and he's not overweight either, in fact he was quite dinky till he hit growth spurts. None of his littermates have any issues, just us :( I think it's just been bad luck really.

Crate rest was a bit of a nightmare, but actually better than just reduced exercise, because you're then trying to balance letting him do some stuff with not having him do too much - having him doing nothing was easier to police. Lots of chews, kongs and clicker training. He is massively undersocialized because of it though, I did all the early stuff, but he's been either not allowed out or allowed ten minutes of on lead gentle ambling since he was about 16 weeks old, so he's like an overfriendly kangaroo when he meets people or dogs

Yes he's insured and they've paid fine - I took out a lifetime policy with £7500 a year cover because I've got an uninsured cat that's cost lots and I was paranoid, I'm glad of it now.

My DC are in secondary school, so tbh, I'm not sure if their school friend's parents even know he exists, lol, but my DP's aunt has said she'll not come here and even my mum was a bit worried at first, till she met him as a tiny puppy.

Other dog walkers avoid us as well - they see a biggish dog on a lead where everyone usually lets their dogs off and just completely avoid us and they're too far away to say that he's not dog aggressive, just limpy, lol.

[needastrongone]

Lord tab, I have said it before but I will say it again, you have had a tough time with this puppy through sheer bad luck as far as I can see and certainly no fault of your own.

Our puppy played with a 6 month old rottie bitch this weekend. She was stunning looking and bags of fun. Loads of puppy rough play (ours has been signed off by vet for exercise with continuing medication)

[tabulahrasa]

I think it has just been bad luck, but it is pretty typical that I'd get the dud one but I was pretty strict about the 5 minutes per month, like I said I did go over it, but mostly because of things like stopping to talk to other dog walkers or because he found a gate scary so we stopped while he sniffed it - not because I was walking him strenuously.

He's got his 6 week post-op checkup tomorrow, so I'm hoping I get the all clear to let him play outside a bit - we've got snow and he's desperate to play in it, lol. That's been the worst bit of it, he's got bags of energy and even when he couldn't put weight on his bad leg at all (before the op) he'd have still been running about on it, stopping him from doing fairly normal puppy things when he doesn't see why he's resting has been horrible.

[kilmuir]

We have a Great Dane.
Other people wrongly assume they are going to attack them, when more likely to be a ratty little dog.
Don't find poo that overwhelming if you use a good food.
They take up a lot of room on settee/bed, but great as a hot water bottle!

[Lucyellensmum95]

I wuld have been more inclined to ask these questions BEFORE i got the dog! Ive had two rotweillers - one from a pup and one rescue. Rottie number one did bowl DD1 over like a skittle a few times, pulled me over twice when he took fright on a flexi lead NEVER use a flexilead fora powerful dog! Dogs hair EVERYWHERE (but rotties are a high shedding breed). Other peoples reaction used to upset me as my first dog was a gentle giant who just loved everyone and everyone who knew him loved him. Rescue rottie was a bit of a handful but he had ishoos. I now have two jack russels and i have to say - rotties much much easier! Apart from the size of the poos - forget about those neat little poo bags they sell in the pet shop - you'll be needing carrier bags!

[AnnaBeginsToChange]

Carrier bags have holes!!

[tabulahrasa]

You double bag it...

[25catsnameSam]

Large breeds can reach places you wouldn't think.. Our flatcoat stole pizza from the kitchen windowsill behind our sink. He weighs 36kg, with more growing to do, and he will not get into the car unless he is carried, so he doesn't come on a lot of days out. As others have said, you will have to spend more on everything from collars to food to vet bills and be prepared for small children to run screaming even when your dog is behaving beautifully for once. He can reach the door handles, so he can open all the doors. He likes to sit on our laps.
He has a superb temperament though and we all love him. We certainly know he's here!