Not everyone likes fluffy little white dogs to dote upon. Some of us would rather choose something… Well, a bit more substantial. When looking for a guard dog, a running companion, or simply an attentive, huggable friend for the whole family, you don’t have to go beyond our list.
The Top 10 Large Dog Breeds
Labrador Retriever
As we all know, Labs are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Aside from being a lovable addition to the family, their intelligence and great personality also make them excellent service and working dogs.
Golden Retriever
Following closely behind Labs are these beautiful dogs with silky fur. Besides having a lovely exterior, Golden Retrievers are known to have a friendly, easy-going personality that makes them compatible with children and adults alike. However, even though they’re primarily family dogs that live indoors, they do need a healthy dose of daily exercise.
German Shepherd
German Shepherds are well known for their well-rounded personality and intelligence. Those traits make them great companions and family dogs, as well as working dogs. The fact that they’re the most common breed to work with the police and military says a lot about their abilities and willingness to serve.
Standard Poodle
This poodle is a perfect combo of superior intelligence and classy looks. It’s a great choice for a companion because it loves attention and is quite willing to please. Besides this, if you enjoy teaching your dog tricks, look no further! Poodle’s intelligence makes every teaching process an easy task.
Rottweiler
This dog doesn’t deserve the negative reputation it has due to its bulky built! Rottweiler is an incredibly intelligent and loyal dog that has a lot to offer. It’s highly adaptable due to its obedience and good nature, which makes it a popular choice for a guard, as well as a service dog. Besides, it would make a great family dog as well!
German Shorthaired Pointer
This lovely dog is certainly a great choice for those with an active lifestyle and love of nature. What makes a German Shorthaired Pointer an excellent hunting companion is its intelligence and stamina. However, training can be very challenging because this breed is stubborn. Because of this, it probably wouldn’t be the best choice for people who don’t have enough time to be their dog’s committed leader and trainer.
Great Dane
It is a well-known fact that these dogs are gentle giants. Despite their intimidating size, they make calm and wonderful companions and are friendly towards everyone. Of course, it’s a given that these large dogs need a lot of attention and space to be active. The only unfortunate thing about owning a Great Dane is its short life span.
Collie
Another crowd-pleaser! Collies are very friendly and intelligent dogs that make everyone happy. Even though they were primarily bred as herding dogs, they’d make a wonderful addition to any family. Their strong loyalty and fearlessness are almost legendary thanks to the famous literature and movie character Lassie.
Mastiff
As you can tell at first glance: these dogs are quite large and powerful, which makes them perfect guardians. But what isn’t as obvious as their size is they’re extreme gentleness and loyalty that makes them a fairly popular choice for quite some time. And their patience and devotion make them a great choice for families with small children.
Bernese Mountain Dog
This Swiss breed is quite recognizable by its wonderful looks: it has long, silky, tri-colored fur that gives its face a cheerful expression. Since they were bred to live in the Alps, these dogs have great stamina and love spending time outdoors, even when it gets more than a little chilly. They’re affectionate and loyal, and as such, are a great choice for a family dog.