From the Great Dane to the Newfoundlands and Mastiffs, giant breed dogs aren’t fir for every household. They need lots of specialised care (not to mention food), and some of them come with a precaution of medical conditions.
Here are some things you might want to keep in mind before adding a large, lovable furball to your life.
Consider THIS before getting a giant breed
They take up a lot of space
Okay, so this one sounds obvious but take a second to really think about it. Do you already have a cat or a medium-sized dog? Ever considered how much space they take up in your bed or couch? Are you ready to share what’s left of the space under your feet as you cook with an even larger dog?
And then there’s the food thing
Giant breed dogs need special attention paid to their diets. They have to eat specific foods until they are two years old. Their diet needs to be regulated in terms of energy, protein and calcium to ensure steady growth during their two years in puppyhood. Also, giant breed dogs eat twice as much as a regular dog, so there’s also a major cost implication here, especially if you’re sticking to vet food, which is highly recommended.
Plus vet costs
Some giant breeds are predisposed to health conditions, which can quickly translate to massive vet bills. Before welcoming that Mastiff into your life, it’s a good idea to have some kind of pet insurance in place. Talk to them about what will and won’t be covered with your giant breed so that you’re prepared for the costs.
Giants don’t live the longest lives
A sad but very true thing to keep in mind is that certain giant breed dogs may only live for six or seven years. You need to be okay with this fact if you plan on adding one to your family. Ten years is considered a long life for giant breeds.
There will be accidents
Just one sweep of a giant breed’s tail can send everything on your tables flying to the ground. And that dinner you prepared lovingly? Your giant breed will gobble it straight off the table. Before welcoming a large dog into your home, you need to dog-proof your home.
The costs for everything will generally be higher
Giant breeds need bigger beds, bigger collars, bigger bowls, more rugged toys, the list goes on and on. On top of the higher cost of feeding your dog and healthcare costs, life, in general, will cost more if you’ve got a giant furry friend living in your home.
A poop scoop will become your new BFF
It’s simple math: giant dog =giant poops!
