Newfoundland? Or other giant breeds?

[SmellyToilet]

Thinking of getting either a Newfoundland, St. Bernard, Leonberger or Great Dane.

My main priorities are friendliness. I’d also like a dog that doesn’t need tons of exercise and is reliable off-lead (with training of course).

can anyone recommend?

OP, finally met someone who think retrievers are medium size. 😁

My friend got a Pyrenean mountain dog, he was absolutely uncontrollable, same as your experience - constantly barking, no recall, constantly digging massive holes everywhere, some signs of aggression … she ended up rehoming him as she just couldn’t cope.

Not in my experience … you can pay £3k for a French bulldog and £2k for a Newfoundland. I saw someone selling a 5 month old Dobermann the other day for £4k!!

We have a BMD cross with a black lab ! He is ace !

To be fair, that's ridiculous amounts. I'd rather put a monthly amount aside than pay for insurance, giant breeds don't live too long but the insurance goes up.
There also has to be a point when you call it a day...

Depends if your have hours and hours to spare.

A large dog to me is a German shepherd, Retrievers are definitely medium 😁

I'm going to get a Leonberger when I finally move back to a temperate climate (whenever that may be!)

They're my perfect dog, friendly, sociable and so beautiful. I've already got a dog that looks like a smaller Leo (shep/retriever mix) and is double coated so I'm used to the shedding but I just adore them.

I love newfs as well but I don't need another stubborn dog as well as stubborn children 😂

Along with vet bills you’d have to factor in a hefty grooming bill.

And food. Big dog, big stomachs.
Extra poo bags as well obviously…
It will all add up!

I do, unfortunately! 😂

This. My criterion for ddog is that I can carry it. They get frail and have accidents. Being able to scoop up and get ASAP to vets or steady when they’re old without the risk of both of us falling is invaluable.

Yeah I think out of all of them the Leonberger is looking most appealing. There is a bloke near us who walks one every day, it never pulls on the lead, never reacts to anything … just plods along but is certainly alert to it’s surroundings. “Sensibly alert”. You know it’s switched on but it doesn’t make a scene to prove it 😂

looks a bit like a bloke walking a grizzly bear from a distance

Not necessarily. German shepherds eat loads for example. I had a Sharplaninac, he ate an ice cream tub worth of dry food in a day, not more. He was 70 kgs. Lots of livestock guardian breeds live on little food as they don't run around all the time.

You could say the same about people who own horses - what do they do if the Oss falls ill in the middle of nowhere?

I’ve been told Leonbergers don’t eat much more than a German shepherd.

@Etinoxaurus would you not walk with large human either incase they fell and you couldn’t carry them? Or ride a horse because nobody is lifting that 😄

My Leo does not eat much more than my GSD, he’s fussy and lazy so I presume needs less energy!

Can I ask how you socialised him?

Dogs are likely to need care when they’re old. I’m not saying big dogs shouldn’t be allowed, just for me being able to scoop them up and look after them is important.

I had a Newfie a few years ago and would definitely have another

I can't say she smelled any more than any other dog, my friend had a Irish Wolfhound at the time and another had a black lab

She was small(ish) for the breed, approx 70kg lived just short of her 13th birthday

She was obedient most of the time, great around children a real gentle giant

Following this thread with interest - I'm obsessed with Leonbergers and really want one, but it'll have to wait until we have a bigger house

A large dog to me is a German shepherd, Retrievers are definitely medium

There's not much in it, a large golden retriever will be bigger than a small German Shepherd

Met a “newfiepoo” recently. I’m not usually a fan of poodle crosses, but the chilledness of the Newfoundland really seemed to counter the sensitivity of the poodle. This was a lovely dog

I love Leonbergers… I met one at a wine tasting in Austria. Her name was Daphne. She put her head in my lap and the owner kept trying to move her away. I explained that I loved dogs and was totally happy with her there. She started panting heavily later in the night and gave birth under the table. I was out with some med students and one was so overcome he fainted. (Blamed the wine…)

I have a Newfie. She's mostly lovely now that she's 4 but she was a total dickhead for ages.

She doesn't stink, apart from her breath. I actually love the smell of her head and like to sniff it often.

She is a bit drooly, but nothing terrible.

She is a little Newf, only 45kg, which is 10kg smaller than the average for a female.

I pay £60ish per month for insurance, so it doesn't have to be in the £100s.

She has already had surgery on her CCL after it tore, and has since developed arthritis in that knee. The vet gave her plasma therapy (NOT covered by our insurance; lots of places don't cover this, it turns out) that has helped a lot. Vet thought her other CCL would go within the year, which is what usually happens, but it hasn't yet and it has been about 11 months since the first went.

She needs more exercise than people think, but still not as much as most breeds. We do a 30-40 minute walk on weekdays, plus play in the garden, and then DH takes her and the children out for a couple of hours at the weekends, which she loves. Of course, her exercise has been limited of late after surgery and treatment, but she'd happily do an hour or more a day and love it. Don't forget they are working dogs, even if as pets they tend to lead more sedentary lives.

Really? I groom my own dog.