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?

Someone in our village breeds Newfoundlands, and I'm always genuinely enchanted to bump into them. They're like shetland ponies and so very gentle.

On the other hand, a lockdown dog owner has got a rhodesian ridgeback that they have indulged rather than trained, and I'm sick of having to cut walks short or turning round at speed to avoid them. It comes bounding over, often several fields away from its owner and I appreciate it's part of their breed but when it's heckles are all up and it isn't neutered, I'm absolutely terrified of it as well as my dogs. The owner is beyond stupid with it and I'm never sure if its aggressive or friendly........

I wonder if it's the lifespan / orthopaedic issues thing? Lots of mastiffs and some St Bernards, newfies, and even some Bernies, just seem to have trouble moving, due to breeding for the show ring. Wolfhounds and some Danes seem to usually be athletic, so it's not just a size thing. A St Bernard should be an active dog that can hike up mountains in the snow, so it's a bit sad to see one that can barely support it's own weight.

I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback and the most you'd be in danger of is being licked to death. Or possibly sat on for a cuddle. Does seem to be marmite - people either go out of their way to see her and fuss her, or they're absolutely terrified of her.

If I met an owner with a Newfie, mastiff, St Bernard etc I would absolutely be too busy chatting to the doggo to think twice about the owner. The poor woman with a GSD has learnt to cross the road before my house if she doesn't want a five minute delay here.

@Maneandfeathers actually, allowing some people to breathe the same air as dogs is irresponsible! pity that the poor person was not in charge of the brain cell today. what an idiot to say that

not just large but mainly the breed and number one on my list is the bully type dogs

I love them, I'd just think I hope you have a large house . I'd be judgy if you had a small house.

If I ever see a rare big dog I always think what a shame people don't have more of them. They might extinct.
When did you see a St Bernard last time for example?

I feel like when I was growing up, it was more normal to have bigger dogs? They were all red setters, labradors, golden retrievers etc? Now that the average dog seems to be very small, big dogs look huge rather than just normal?

Not sure if that goes for all dogs. Any intruder here and our Berner would go and hide in a corner silently and try not to be found

What an odd thing for her to say. In general, we cross the road towards giant breeds in order to try and catch the owners eye to see if we can have a stroke. For smaller dogs I give them as much space as possible without appearing rude. The only dogs I cross the road to avoids are bullies (I've only seen 1) and small dogs that I know will rear up on their hind legs, straining at the lead and barking their little heads off.
I'd love a Bernese or Irish wolfhound - I couldn't find a breeder I liked though.

What a weird comment.
There are responsible and irresponsible owners of dogs of all sizes and breeds. I don't suppose nearly so many large breed dogs are from puppy farms or illegal imports.

I love dogs, the bigger the better and I’ve a particular fondness for the bull breeds. We currently have a greyhound x sone kind of bull breed (we rehomed him) and he’s huge. Not a hint of aggression in him but he’s an absolute plonker (vets words) so heavily insured in case he knocks someone over or gets hit by a car. Obviously he’s on a lead around other but … he’s an idiot if the highest order.

big dogs cost a lot and I wouldn’t have another this size but I’ll never stop greeting them in public 🤣

I tend to think the smaller the dog the more likelihood of snappiness. I adore big dogs.

Unless the dog is acting aggressively doesn't bother me at all

Yes smaller dogs can be yappier and scurry about your feet least you can see a giant dog bounding for you 😀

I think it's breed specific. People cross the road when they see my GSD. I can kind of understand it though, they need a certain type of owner to be good dogs and lots of people won't do the training that's needed. So actually it's the owners I don't trust not the dogs.

I suppose it depends on why giant breeds have such short lifespans. If it's because they all get riddled with painful distressing cancer then I would feel on the fence about the ethics of continuing to breed them.

I'm not afraid of them though. Whereas I avoid all bull breeds, even staffies, when out with my dog, as they aren't a typically dog friendly type, and they're all strong and capable of great harm.

I think it's pretty unnecessary if I'm honest. But not necessarily irresponsible. Depends on breed & owner.

I used to see a dog-walker with three MASSIVE dogs - they looked like St Bernard's but someone told me they were something else, can't remember the name.

The would be ambling along towards the park on their leads - I never actually came across them in the park so don't know if they ever got a run, or just ambled.

They lived in a huge expensive townhouse on The Thames!

If we only did what was 'necessary' life would be a lot less interesting!

Every Newfoundland I’ve known has been a gentle giant.

We took our Parson Russell to puppy classes where there was a gorgeous NF pup called Minnie: our tiny PR bossed her about terribly.

Well unless you have a dog to do a job, owning one is unnecessary really isn't it

I suppose it is in a way but giants actually would suit the majority of families better than cockerpoos and the more fashionable breeds imo.

A newf, Saint or leonberger would be fine living in a modern family type setting because they need less exercise generally and don’t have the drive that lots of the working breeds do. One of mine slept or pottered about for hours of the day and was more than happy to do so rather than bouncing about waiting for the next walk. For people with busy working lives and families people should get dogs that suit their needs, not working types really but it’s more fashionable to have a spaniel or lab. Personally I would rather groom more and have a dog suited to my environment…

Thats not saying anything about those with working breeds who actually work, exersise and stimulate it!

@Maneandfeathers how strange. Leonberger owner here. Obviously I get stopped every 5 yards by people wanting to ask about him or impress by telling me their mate has a Caucasian too or a Newfie 😂 I also get asked weirdly specific questions about the size of his poo (minuscule actually, he is raw fed) but never people projecting about their misconceptions about owning a giant breed. Did you use the MN favourite line ‘ooh, did you mean to be so rude?’