Types of Big Dogs

If you are considering inviting a big dog into your life, the abundance and variety of different breeds can seem overwhelming. You can narrow down your search by looking at different types of dog breeds that are distinguished by common characteristics. Big dogs are found across several different categories, including herding dogs, hounds and working dogs.

  1. Herding Dogs

    • Dogs bred to herd livestock like sheep, goats and cattle fall into this category. Large herding dogs include the old English sheepdog and the German shepherd. Herding dogs are intelligent and are especially adept at agility and obedience training. Because these dogs are bred to herd a large volume of livestock, they generally need a great deal of outdoor activity. They may also engage in playful herding behavior around you or your family. A herding dog, especially a large one, is best suited to a someone who can match its energy level and provide it with enough stimulation each day, as bored herders can develop bad or destructive habits.

    Sighthounds

    • Big sighthounds, including the greyhound, the Scottish deerhound and the Afghan hound, were bred to hunt and retrieve game. These dogs are generally willowy with long, pointed faces, adaptions allowing them to quickly spot a moving animal and chase it at a high speed. Because large sighthounds will sprint at any moving object, often ignoring impediments such as electrical fences, you will need a large fenced area to ensure the animal's safety. Such animals are generally sedate, however, preferring short bursts of activity to marathons. This makes sighthounds a good choice if you are an apartment dweller seeking a big dog, provided you can regularly let it run freely off the lead in a dog park or other large, enclosed area.

    Scenthounds

    • Unlike sighthounds, scenthounds were bred to follow game at a slower pace over a greater distance using their sense of smell. Large scenthounds include the bloodhound and the black-and-tan coonhound. Many scenthounds will produce a loud vocalization called baying, which is useful as a hunting companion but can be a nuisance in the home environment.

    Working Dogs

    • Some dogs were bred to accomplish certain tasks, such as pulling a cart or retrieving fishing nets from the water. These dogs are generally quite large and muscular. Big working dogs include the Great Dane, the Neapolitan mastiff, the Akita, the boxer and the Bernese mountain dog. These breeds are often excellent guard dogs. Some are still suited to performing a certain task--according to the American Kennel Club, the Newfoundland still possesses "true lifesaving instincts in the water" in keeping with its original breeding. Many large working dogs enjoy performing useful tasks and excel at agility and obedience training.