Owning any large or giant breed is irresponsible…

[Maneandfeathers]

As said to me today whilst walking a Newfoundland.

If you see someone with a giant or very large breed do you generally think negatively or is it mainly geared towards certain breeds (bull breeds/GSD etc)

Do people generally think anything when walking past giant breeds? Does it worry you or is it more breed specific?

Definitely breed specific for me personally! I wouldn't ever think a newfoundland looked scary - I'd think you were mad, but they look more cute to me than anything!

The only thing I think/say when walking past a Newfie (or any other dog, tbh) is “hi, puppy!” 😂

I just want to pet any large dog I see

Breed specific for me, I’m not a fan of bull breeds at all. I love GSD and Rottweilers to look at but wouldn’t ever have one as I wouldn’t want a dog that strong

If you walked past me with a Newfoundland I’d ask if I could cuddle it as they are so beautiful!

We had one. Wouldn’t have called us irresponsible. Stupid perhaps because it was a ridiculously hairy beast, but as we have a farm don’t think it caused anyone any issues apart from the foxes.

Breed specific. If I walked past anything very hairy of any size the only think I can think of is the rigmarole of washing and drying it every day after a muddy walk, but otherwise not much other than nice dog.

100% breed specific. Give me 2 GSDs over 1 Chihuahua any day.
Used to have a gorgeous GSD he was like a big bear, much more laid back and placid than the small breeds

Me too...but not a huge fan of small dogs, was bitten twice as a child by small terriers. I have a large dog, we get huge amounts of attention when out and about.

Breed and situation - friend had the most gorgeous giant dog (sorry don't know breed) massive dopey fluff ball so not muscly / threatening apart from its size.

But she had a really small terraced house with an equally tiny garden which I thought was an odd / irresponsible combo as poor dog couldn't move about freely anywhere

Very much breed specific. I'm never going to feel nervous of a Newfie or a Wolfhound or a Great Dane because I know generally they are huge soppy morons, but I will tense up if I see a Cane Corso or similar.

I have three fairly large dogs myself, not sure any of them are classed as "giant" breeds technically, the Deerhound is a tall drink of water but very lanky so I've never really had negative comments about her. Surprised someone would think a Newfie is irresponsible, they're just the sweetest creatures.

I love giant breeds, I've found they are the most likely to be really friendly.

Absolute bollocks. Giant breeds - Great Danes, Newfies, Wolfhounds, Mastiffs, St Bernards - are often the most docile and loving numpties there can be. My MIL had a Newfie and he was a daft as a brush and so soft.

I have a 27kg mutt who is frequently commented on as a large dog, but to me she's just a normal sized dog!

I absolutely love GSD. People seem to miss that Belgian Malinois dogs are also used as police/security dogs because of their much stronger bite strength and lightweight bodies so they are easier to lift over a wall when searching or chasing!

Labradors can be absolute units as well.

Ready the helmets and armour for the inbound complaints about XL bullies, Cane Corso, blah blah, bigger bites, unsafe to allow them to be with good kids etc.

I agree bigger dogs have bigger capabilities, but it's still not dangerous to have any well bred, well trained and well cared for dog. And never leave any dog with a child or allow a child to climb on a dog.

Newfoundlands are beautiful- wish I had the space for one (or two).

Breed specific.

I owned a very gentle deerhound for 14 years. Trusted him fully.

There’s an old couple in our village with 2 wolfhounds who are so so gentle and placid too.

I’m more afraid of the bully type dogs who have mean faces

I wouldn't be immediately concerned about a Newfoundland attacking myself or my child (unless the dog was showing worrying behaviour!)

But I do worry about the welfare of enormous dogs kept in regular sized family homes. And the very hairy breeds (Newfoundland, St Bernard, Husky etc, even golden retriever) often look very hot and miserable in the summer.

The only downside I see is that they have a shorter life expectancy than smaller dogs

Not at all, but I am friends with a Bernese and a great Dane and it does make me sad that they are so short lived. I wouldn’t have one for that reason

Breed specific.

I had a Samoyed which is large and extremely fluffy and everybody loved him.

Owning a large or giant breed is irresponsible because...

• you live in a bedsit with no garden and many DC

• you can't afford the cost of medical care, food, regular treatments, insurance...

• you put a saddle on them in the summer and use them like a donkey on the beach for rides across the sand at low tide

Owning any animal, a hamster, a fish, a horse, a crocodile is only irresponsible if you can't meet their needs and wellbeing.

Oh god, just googled life expectancies of some of the breeds named. No, op, I wouldn’t think so, only if it looked like the person couldn’t cope with them

Breed not so much - owners yes.

I do not understand why an owner would have a certain breed.

Bully dogs, mastiffs etc were bred for a reason - to put these in a family home is just stupid.

I got my first Labrador puppy after much research and fostering Labradors. I got it from a very trusted breeder - all scored etc and he his parents were field trial champions. Took him home at 7 weeks old - from a family home handled constantly and surrounded by noisy kids etc and he fitted in like fingers into a glove on our family. At 14 weeks I took him along to a local pheasant shoot - he was only just going out and already walking to heel without a lead. Well I was shocked. Without being told or any training - he ran collected the most pheasants and brought them back it was pure instinct etc breeding.

There are many bad owners who do not understand what any dog can do and think of them as a soft human baby - they aren’t. My labs are as soft as warm butter and never growled at humans or snarled or shown any hint of aggression but I never forget they are an animal

No I wouldn’t view a dog owner as irresponsible based on the size of their dog. That would be ridiculous.

Most homes aren’t suitable for giant breeds, so I raise an eyebrow at the giant owners near me.
I have had bad experiences with some big dogs, and now assess whether the owner is able to control the dog in an emergency. If not, then I judge.

I judge the 7 stone woman walking two akitas in my area.
I judged the 5ft man with the Great Dane he was unable to hold onto, lovely though the dog was.

Not at all as long as you have the right set up, home, garden, grooming, can afford the dog/pet.
Someone close by has a Newfoundland, an incredibly fluffy beast. Soooo jealous, but not about the grooming or vacuuming. I have a lab and he’s bad enough!

And I judge anyone who chooses an intimidation breed, unless they have a legal need for security and the training to go with it.