Big dog breeds are plenty! There are many large dogs with a wide variety of temperaments, coat types, and care needs. With many different characteristics, there’s surely a large dog breed that will adapt to your life seamlessly and become a lifelong companion.
Our article will list the top 20 big dog breeds. Read on to discover the unique traits of each large dog breed that found a place on our list and get tips on finding the right one for you and your family.
Below are 20 of the biggest dog breeds. We’ll provide a quick overview of each dog breed while covering their average height and weight.
The Akita, also known as the Akita Inu, is a Japanese dog breed with strong instincts to protect and stand by their owner’s side. Akitas are naturally protective dogs that make great pets for individuals and families looking for a powerful guard dog to look after their property.
However, Akitas have immense socialization and training needs due to their protective instincts, making them only suited for experienced dog owners. If you’ve had guard dogs in the past, the Akita can be an excellent family pet that can be just as playful and affectionate as they are protective.
The Anatolian shepherd is a livestock guardian dog (LGD) from Türkiye (Turkey). These dogs have independent personalities and are born for what they were bred for over thousands of years – to protect livestock from predators. They are independent thinkers and can be stubborn, making them only suitable for very experienced owners.
Anatolian shepherds can be good family pets, but the conditions must be optimal for these dogs. Anatolian shepherds don’t always need livestock or a job to be fulfilled but must have adequate space. The Anatolian shepherd can only be an ideal pet if you’re experienced with LGDs and in a rural area with enough space to give your dog.
The Bernese mountain dog is a working dog breed utilized as an all-purpose dog originating from Switzerland. They are one of the most affectionate large dog breeds with a huge heart for every member of their family. Shortly known as the Berner, this breed bonds deeply with their people and can’t get enough of the love and affection they receive.
This large breed thrives in families that can provide them with enough space, exercise, mental stimulation – and most importantly, love. The affectionate nature of the Berner doesn’t make them ideal for individuals and families living a busy life planning to leave their dogs home alone for extended periods.
With weights of up to 200 pounds, the boerboel is truly one of the largest dog breeds. Considering how big boerboels get, this massive breed is only for confident handlers. From a young age, boerboels require proper training and socialization. Provided, they become well-mannered dogs that can manage their protective instincts and aggression.
The size of the boerboel enabled them to be utilized for big game hunting and protecting remote farms throughout Africa. Naturally, they are vigilant dogs that can fend off intruders and predators. With all these, the boerboel is only a match for the most experienced dog owners that know what they’re doing.
The borzoi is a dog breed that was the close companion of the Tsars (Russian royalty). They are dignified dogs with undying loyalty. However, unlike many other dog breeds favored by the aristocracy, their size doesn’t really make them a lap dog, though a borzoi would disagree with their devoted temperament.
Borzois can be a good pet for individuals and families with older or no children. They are sensitive dogs that bond strongly with their owners and demand their attention more than anything else. Nevertheless, they are athletic dogs that can run endlessly, making them only suitable for those living an active life.
Like the borzoi, the Broholmer is a dog breed favored by the European nobles. However, unlike the borzoi, the Broholmer is a guardian dog breed with a bulky frame. They have a natural drive to project, requiring consistent training and socialization at an early age to ensure they become well-mannered large dogs.
When with their family, Broholmers are affectionate and loving dogs that typically act gentle around kids. Nonetheless, an adult’s supervision is always essential due to their size. As with other large breeds, they thrive in a spacious home. The Broholmer can be a fitting breed choice for families seeking a gentle and affectionate guardian.
Bullmastiffs, like other mastiff-type dogs, are large, powerful dogs with thick bones and a muscular frame. Needless to say, they require a spacious home with a yard. Bullmastiffs are eager to please and affectionate but are wary of strangers. This temperament requires bullmastiff owners to prioritize socialization and training when young.
Although not as heavy as other massive breeds, nobody should underestimate the strength of the bullmastiff. They are incredibly powerful dogs that need a confident handler who can expertly train their dog. Otherwise, a bullmastiff may become too difficult to handle, even for experienced dog owners.
Coming from the Caucasus, the Caucasian shepherd is an exemplary livestock guardian. This breed has been utilized in the Caucasus to protect livestock from predators and human thieves for hundreds of years if not thousands. As with other LGDs, these dogs need work or an expert owner with experience in handling dogs of this caliber.
While Caucasian shepherds have the traits you would expect from an LGD, they are more affectionate than others. They bond strongly with their people and can get along just fine with children who respect their boundaries. These make Caucasian shepherds ideal pets and working dogs for families living on farms and ranches.
The dogue de Bordeaux, known as the French mastiff, is a big dog breed with an intimidating, muscular appearance but are such love bugs that bond strongly with the family. They are one of the most loving dogs in this package, earning them a spot among the largest lap dogs.
This breed can be considered low-maintenance, but they tend to be messy dogs that drool a lot. Additionally, they suffer from various health conditions that may affect their quality of life. With these in mind, the dogue de Bordeaux can be a fitting large pet for families living in a spacious home with yard access, who can take their dogs to regular vet visits.
The Great Dane is a friendly, patient large dog breed that can make an ideal companion for first-time dog owners. The only possible drawback of this big breed could be their stubbornness, but with guidance from expert training materials, the Great Dane makes a fitting dog for first-time owners.
Although very tall and heavy, the Great Dane is often a couch potato that loves snoozing throughout the majority of the day. They are fairly low-energy dogs that enjoy socializing with strangers and other dogs. With all these, the Great Dane is one of the best big dog breeds for inexperienced owners.
The great Pyrenees is a livestock guardian dog with an affectionate and loving temperament. Like similar breeds, they aren’t a good pick for first-time dog owners. However, great Pyrenees are relatively eager to please, making training more manageable than others. This trait can make the breed ideal for dog owners with some experience.
Nonetheless, the great Pyrenees is a protective dog that requires the handler to have a firm grip over their dog. These dogs must be socialized and trained young. The great Pyrenees can be a good choice if you have enough space and can dedicate yourself to this breed’s early socialization and training needs.
The greater Swiss mountain dog (Swissy) is closely related to the Berner. However, they are calmer dogs that act patient and gentle around kids. With these traits, the greater Swiss mountain dogs are more family-oriented than other Swiss dog breeds, though they are still working dogs that need a purpose.
Swissies flourish in a loving family that can provide them with enough opportunities to engage their body and minds. They are moderate-energy dogs that can handle vigorous exercise. Greater Swiss mountain dogs warm up to strangers quickly, making them an excellent large family dog if you have visitors coming over often.
Irish wolfhounds are the largest sighthounds. This breed is the ultimate gentle giant with a fairly energetic temperament. When well-exercised for the day, Irish wolfhounds want nothing but to receive love and snuggle up with their owner. They are quiet dogs that bond strongly with their family and can be easily trained using high-value rewards.
With an easygoing temperament, the Irish wolfhound can be a good breed choice for first-time dog owners prepared to have such a large dog. If you can provide them with adequate living space and a yard, Irish wolfhounds will become low-maintenance dogs that don’t demand anything special.
Leonbergers are basically large golden retrievers. They have an outgoing temperament that’s willing to accept everyone as a friend. Leonbergers are gentle around kids and up for playtime when offered, making them outstanding large dogs for families with both older and younger children.
However, training a Leonberger requires dog owners to familiarize themselves with positive training techniques. They are sensitive dogs that don’t respond to punishment at all. Leonbergers are incredibly affectionate large dogs that thrive in quiet homes, where they are respected and loved.
Another large dog breed with a loving side is the mastiff. In fact, many consider the mastiff the biggest dog breed, with males reaching up to 36 inches tall at the shoulders and weighing 230 pounds. With their frame, mastiffs are bulky dogs with low exercise needs, making them ideal for families looking for a large, gentle companion.
Since the mastiff is as large as a gentle giant can get, this breed requires a spacious living area – but being minimal barkers, mastiffs can adapt to living in large apartments. However, the breed is more suitable for living in a home with access to a yard because going up and down the stairs every day can take a toll on their joints.
The Newfoundland is a Canadian working dog breed utilized for water rescue. They are impressive swimmers and can endure cold waters with their thick coats. As family dogs, they are gentle dogs that get along well with everyone, including other pets and young children.
While these dogs can be excellent family pets, Newfoundlands have difficulty adapting to hot weather. Newfoundlands benefit from an air-conditioned space in the summer and should be walked only very early in the morning or at night. If these aren’t a problem, the Newfoundland can be an affectionate pet for those seeking a large fluffy dog.
In many regards, Saint Bernard is similar to Newfoundland. However, Saint Bernards have higher socialization and training needs, though they are just as affectionate towards their family members. Saint Bernards require a lot of discipline when young to ensure their massive size doesn’t make them challenging to handle.
Saint Bernard can be a fitting big breed for experienced dog owners who don’t mind cleaning after their pups, as they are among the breeds that drool the most. When properly socialized and trained, Saint Bernards become lovey-dovey dogs that become playful dogs. Like other large dogs, Saint Bernards do best in spacious homes with yard access.
Scottish deerhounds resemble the Irish wolfhound but are smaller dogs. They are quiet dogs with independent minds due to the long lineage of hunting deer. This can make training difficult, but Scottish deerhounds respond well to training once they bond. Owners of this breed should prioritize bonding activities when young, with socialization being the major one.
The Scottish deerhound isn’t the best big dog breed for inexperienced dog owners. Socializing, training, and handling these dogs can take some work, especially with their tall frames. Besides these, Scottish deerhounds are easy to care for with minimal grooming and moderate exercise requirements.
The Tibetan mastiff is an impressive dog with a dense coat. They are sweet dogs that act gentle and easy around their people but are fiercely territorial with strangers. Tibetan mastiffs aren’t for experienced owners with a faint heart, let alone those inexperienced with dogs.
Tibetan mastiffs require solid training and socialization when young that can go on for the rest of their life with how territorial towards strangers and unfamiliar animals. With proper guidance from an owner who will train their dog expertly and take the lead, the Tibetan mastiff can double as a family sweet companion and an excelling guard dog.
The Tosa inu is a large, athletic dog breed with origins in Japan. These dogs were originally developed for dog fighting in the 14th century. As you can expect, they have high dog aggression that must be kept in check.
The inherent aggression of the Tosa inu doesn’t make them ideal for 99% of the people looking for a big dog. This breed is only suitable for highly experienced dog owners looking for a ferocious guard dog to protect their property from anyone who dares to enter with the presence of a Tosa inu.
Finding the best big dog breed for you requires considering everything that goes into owning a dog. Here are some of the top considerations for finding the right large breed.
By keeping in mind all these, you’ll land on several big dog breeds that can make an excellent companion or a working dog for your preferences and circumstances. Although many are working dogs with a long history of helping their handlers, every dog breed can become a good pet with proper guidance and care from their owner.