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?

Did they mean health wise?

I know giant breeds can have a lot of health issues but the same can be said of many smaller breeds.

Personally I'd think more negatively of people who chose breeds with exaggerated features - brachycephalic, EBTs, GSDs with sloped backs.

I only judge breeds like pugs that can't breath.

In what way do they think it's irresponsible? I know two who are very loved and well looked after but I couldn't personally cope with the life expectancy.

The life expectancy is much better than that if a French Bulldog though and plenty of people choose those as a breed.

Breed specific, but I do sometimes think 'oh, poor thing will only be alive X amount of years' when I see very large breeds.

Newfoundland- I always think they look incredibly hot and wonder if they can be trimmed. I know they have a double coat, but out of interest- can they be trimmed? I also can't stand all that drool 😳
Pug/frenchies- I worry about their breathing. There is one that you can hear being walked down our road because it snorts and sniffs so much.
X bully/bully types or anything large and not being controlled- I worry what would happen if something triggered the dog and the owner falls over.

Gosh, no, I wouldn't think that, OP, I know what gentle sopsters many large breeds are. I used to have a Spinone, who was about as dangerous as Bertie Wooster or Winnie the Pooh . I have had terriers since, and have viewed them as potentially more likely to cause problems for people.

I guess, though, that you have to take some steps to accommodate the fears of people with no understanding of dogs, who may react more nervously to a harmless enormo-fluff than they would to a little dog.

The short life expectancy is the only thing that concerns me in terms of owning my one. We are contemplating a Newfie or Bernese when life becomes a little less manic.

I am wary of large dogs with a reputation for attacks or guard work, like XL Bullies or GSD.

Giant breeds are fine, I used to have a dog who when she stood up would tower over me by 2 feet !

I now have some very small dogs as you know, London

I Love larger dogs. No one wants to snuggle up with an oversized rodent. 🤣 (this comment is in jest no offence intended).

In my personal experiences smaller dogs are much more temperamental. I have been bitten several times. Only once by a larger dog. And it was 100% my fault (I was young and naive)

If I see a large dog out in public I make a beeline to ask the owner if I can say hello. Smaller dogs not so much.

I dont think anything if I see a giant breed other than can I please pet him/her? I would love a Wolfhound, I grew up with German Shepherds as our family dogs and a close relative owned 3 new foundlands so that could be why

Very breed specific.
I guess stereotypes come to play.

Bull breeds - I judge negatively the owner
Why would anyone want a scary dog???

Newfoundland/ st Bernards I guess I assume owners have very large house and garden. I don't judge much more than that. If I knew they lived in a flat yes I would deem you cruel and irresponsible.

I don't think owning giant/large breeds is irresponsible UNLESS they cannot control it - and by that I include if the dog tugs them, they go after it instead of being able to stand their ground.

I have more of an issue with people who own 'guard' or 'guardian' breeds and yet don't actually know how to handle those dogs but got them to make their inadequacies go away. IMO they are complete and utter turds. No one needs a guarding breed when they live in a two up two down in Wimbledon. No one needs a Cane Corso or a Caucasian Shepherd. No one.

Interesting!
The Newfie isn’t mine. She doesn’t really drool but she’s great, gentle and low energy so suits the family really well, they have a large house and garden.

I have no idea what the woman meant, I presume strength but perhaps it’s health. There are so many breeds with low lifespans that I don’t think it’s fair to tar the giants with that brush though…bulldogs, frenchies, pugs, flat coats. I’m not sure the first thing I think is ‘that dogs not gonna live long’ when I look at a bulldog but people seem to mention it a lot with the bigger dogs. There’s no guarantee with anything sadly.

I have GSD and I’m used to them being judged but I can understand why so I tend to shrug that off.

I’ve also had lots of comments when walking a leonberger but i always presumed it was being mistaken for a Caucasian hence the concern, they couldn’t be more different.

My thing with giant breeds is the life expectancy and horrendous health issues they have makes me question how ethical it is breeding them (I think the same about English bull dogs, frenchies, dachshunds, flat coat retrievers etc etc)

The giant breeds tend to be gentler than the little breeds. In the last six months, only one large breed caused us concern (who turned out to be fine). Most weeks a small dog growls or snaps at us.

I have a soft spot for large dogs, most are gentle giants so definitely beed specific. I think people who are scared of large dogs just don't understand dogs because small ones are far more likely to nip in my experience!
Also they don't necessarily need more exercise, I have a collie so not large but needs more exercise compared to some larger dogs.

I have a large dog (6.5st) in a small house. Not tiny but small. She's fine. I make sure she's exercised and entertained adequately and she's protection for me. I have a garden so that's not a problem. I have enough £ should something medical arise. I do sometimes feel she'd be better off in a different life but, she was dumped on me at a week old, she gets runs and walks and interaction with a lot of people. She comes to the pub with me, I take her to the gym, she has a good life.

Do you include Staffies in your bull breed category?

@K0OLA1D I would like to know that, too.

My GSD experiences a lot of prejudicial behavior based on breed I think. He’s a trained PPD so people are quite right to be frightened of him if they intend to murder me I suppose but he’s as lovely and gentle a dog as you could imagine, with a job he loves and a massive property/home on which to do it.

I'm very very envious of you! I absolutely adore Newfies. I have a neighbour who has a mastiff and he is the soppiest dog ever, conversely another neighbour has a small whippersnapper who is positively vicious. I think small dogs can be very snappy, I'd rather have Newfies.

I mainly think like this from a health perspective. Im not a big fan of anything too big, too small, too naked, so much fur it covers their eyes, no nose etc.
But I wouldnt go around telling people my opinions like that.

Didnt they used to be rescue dogs? Im not sure but I thought they were bred to pull people out of water? Or was that a different breed? Maybe explain that to them. Then again, you dont need to explain anything. Just enjoy your dog and ignore stupid comments.

I’m wary based on experience. People are saying their GSDs are fine, but a neighbour was treed by three repeat offenders. They are only great dogs when well managed. Left to their own devices, under walked, under trained, they are a menace like any other big guard type dog.

I love any dogs, have a few myself. But big dogs I cannot resist at all! I loved my cane corso so much. But have medium breeds now as I cant cope with the heart ache of the larger breeds of dogs life expectancy. I'm a sucker for taking in everyone's unwanted dogs. Breaks my heart

Breed and owner specific. I work with dogs, I adore Newfoundlands, and some of the Newfie owners I have met are hands down the most devoted, responsible people I have ever known. I love dogs, I couldn't do my job if I didn't, but there are certain breeds that raise my eyebrows and I refuse to work with them, not because of the dogs themselves, it's not their fault, but because of the sheer stupidity of people thinking they are suitable as domestic pets. That isn't size related though! Newfies and large breeds in general make me happy and I am even happier when they want to say hello and have a fuss 🥰

I love dogs, neither too large, neither too big. Love dogs that have not been bred for all the wrong reasons, making them genetically and physically unstable and weak, and bound to develop severe medical issues and die young.

Adopt don't buy, and especially don't buy for ridiculous looks, or size.