Emptyfacts about extra large breed dogs These BIG dogs often look strong, bold and very robust - but in reality this isn't always the case. Giant dog breeds are actually less robust than their more moderately sized 'cousins' and are more fragile than they look (both physically and emotionally). The enormous rate of growth that extra large breed puppies experience, puts them at risk for bone and joint problems, such as hip dysplasia, on a scale not seen in smaller breeds. They are also at risk for Bloat (also known as Torsion), thyroid and other hormone issues, heart problems, cancers and more. Extra large breed dogs also tend to have a shorter life span. Of course, small and tiny breeds have their own set of unique health concerns, but they are often quite different. Because these canine giants have such a huge physical presence, inexperienced owners sometimes think that they need to be handled more sternly and in a more 'physical' way than the smaller breeds so. This is totally incorrect. Obviously, if you barely weigh in at 100lbs and are 5' tall, taking A NEWFOUNDLAND (who could weigh anywhere up to 170lbs) for a walk may be a challenge, but many of these extra large breed dogs are truly 'Gentle Giants'. Loud voices, harsh reprimands and physical corrections are only going to scare them and cause them emotional distress. In some of the larger dogs,such as NEWFOUNDLANDS, this sort of attitude can make them resentful, obstinate and defiant - not a good combination. Although there is no such thing as a 'free puppy' (because of many needs these little creatures have), the cost of raising a Newfoundland puppy is going to be considerably more than the cost of raising a Yorkie.... it's a no-brainer! Although I wouldn't recommend extra large breed dogs for families with small/young children, they can be a great 'fit' for families with older or pre-teen/teen children. The main reason that they're not great around little children is because of their size, not their temperament. They can be clumsy, and could easily knock down or hurt a small child while playing with them or greeting them. You can probably imagine why an over-exuberant 45lb puppy and a toddler aren't a great combination! The Kennel Club Breed Index has lots of information on the majority of the big dog breeds,including the breed history, breed standard and links to breeders with available litters. If all of the above has made you think a large or giant breed might be perfect for your family, you're ready for the next step... to find out how to care for these big guys! What do giant dog breeds need? Big puppies need bigger 'stuff'. Of course there are the obvious 'basics' like crates, beds, toys, collars, leashes and so on, but you also need to take into account that your giant breed puppy will eat WAY more than a teacup puppy will. Not to mention, you'll need the 'large size' of just about everything from treats to medications (think flea and tick preventative, heartworm medication etc.) and more. Trust me, this adds up! But it doesn't end there. Extra large breed dogs also need more room. A NEWFOUNDLAND will take up considerably more space on your living room floor (and the ENTIRE sofa), in your car and in your yard. The good thing is that these big dogs aren't generally more active than small breeds, in fact a terrier will just about always run rings around a NEWFOUNDLAND! As puppies, all breeds are active and need to run and play, but as adults many extra large to giant breeds tend towards the 'couch potato' mentality. Of course, many extra large breed dogs who are also working breeds, such as NEWFOUNDLANDS, NEED a job to do, and don't do well without regular exercise and mental stimulation. But this isn't true of many of the others. Feeding extra large breed dogs The bone and joint problems that so many of these giant breeds are prone to, can be caused by a genetic predisposition, an improper diet, environmental factors - or more commonly a combination of all of these things. Making sure that your giant breed puppy has his specific nutritional needs met, is very important role to his future growth and health. It will ensure his correct development as a pup, through adolescence to adulthood, and can go a long way towards preventing many of the health conditions that these extra large breed dogs are prone to. Extra large to giant breed puppies need to eat a premium food - holistic, all-natural or organic ingredients are preferable. Usually one that is specifically formulated for large or giant breed puppies has the correct balance of nutrients, but there are also some 'all life stages' foods, and even the occasional one that is designed for adult dogs, that fit the bill. These are the basics of what you need to be looking for in a food for your large breed puppy... ?Protein - approx 23% - 25% ?Fat 12% - 15% ?Calcium - 1.2%- 1.5% Giant breed pups shouldn't be fed a high-calorie diet, look for a more moderate range - somewhere around 350 - 380 calories per cup of food. This will help to prevent the overly rapid growth rate that's responsible for a lot of the bone/joint problems in extra large breed dogs. You can find some of the best dog foods on the market by searching the internet,or asking other owners. Extra large breed dogs who have reached maturity, need a different balance of ingredients, with higher levels of protein, fat and calories. It's also not just the type of food that you feed that is important, you also have to be careful to feed the right amount of food. Overfeeding extra large breed dogs can also cause bone and joint problems. A nutritional imbalance can lead to too-rapid growth, or a puppy who is overweight - compounding the stress on the bones/joints. Particularly during the first 6 months, it's vital to control the calorie intake of your pup. Feed 3 times a day until around 3 months of age, when you can reduce it to twice daily. At 8 weeks old, 2 - 4 cups of premium food per day (depending on weight/breed - check individual bag for specifics) is about right, increasing slowly until 6 months of age when you should be feeding somewhere between 6 and 8 cups a day. Extra large breed dogs and puppies can be messy eaters! They tend to be a bit clumsy and can be 'drool-y' as well. It pays to invest in some non-spill, non-skid bowls if you want to keep your kitchen floor remotely clean and dry. To see some of the best bowls of this kind on the market,ask breeders or search the INTERNET. The activity level of your puppy or dog also plays a part in how much they need to eat. Obviously an active dog requires more calories than one who spends his days on the sofa, so take that into account when doing your calculations. This is particularly relevant for adolescent and adult dogs. Seasonal changes may also factor in. Like humans, dogs tend to eat less when the weather is hot, and during the winter months they need more food to burn to keep warm. Even if your dog spends 95% of his time indoors, he may still show seasonal changes in appetite. Extra large breed dogs grow very rapidly, but they take a long time to reach maturity as they actually develop quite slowly. Sometimes owners can get a little impatient and want to 'put a little weight on' their pup, especially during the adolescent stage when puppies can look very 'gangly' and a bit out of proportion. But this is totally wrong. A giant breed dog may not be fully mature until 18 months, or even 3 years, of age if a NEWFOUNDLAND and he needs to be allowed to develop at the pace nature intended if he is to grow up healthy and strong. Exercising extra large breed dogs If you have a large or giant breed puppy, it's important to take it easy with the exercise and rough-housing for at least the first 6 - 10 months. The rapid development that your puppy is experiencing means he is at risk of injuring himself if he is exercised too strenuously. In extra large breed dogs, hip dysplasia and other joint/bone problems can occur more easily than you might think. To protect your pup, avoid these things........ ?Jogging, or running on hard surfaces such as concrete ?Jumping from any significant height - ie pick up bed, SUV, bed etc. ?Playing on slippery or slick surfaces such as tile, wet ground etc. ?Roughousing or wrestling Of course, your puppy still needs exercise in order to develop the strong muscles he needs to support his big heavy bones! A short walk several times a day, moderate games (eg fetch) outside and inside, and lots of socialization are needed. Enrolling him in a Puppy Obedience Class as soon as he's fully vaccinated is a great idea. Puppies are just like babies, and your little guy will play for a while and then need a nice long nap... then he'll wake up and start all over again. As puppies, extra large breed dogs are as energetic and active as any other breed. But they can also be clumsy and endearingly uncoordinated, so always be careful when playing or exercising them. As adults, giant dog breeds are often on the lower end of the activity scale, and an adult NEWFOUNDLAND can live quite happily in doors as long as he gets his daily walks. Housebreaking a giant breed puppy really needs to be done without the use of pee-pee pads, for obvious reasons, and that means you need to be able to get your pup outside quickly, multiple times a day (and night). is a challenge most of us can't meet. Letting him walk by himself seems the obvious answer, but it's not that simple. A puppy is a very easily distracted creature, combine that with the urgent need to 'do his business' and very immature bladder/bowel control and the consequences are fairly obvious. All around it's a difficult, if not impossible scenario. Giant dog breed health problems Extra large breed dogs can suffer from some health problems/conditions that are fairly unique. These include.... ?Bone and Joint Problems These include Hip and Elbow Dysplasia, which are orthopedic conditions caused by malformed or 'poorly fitting' joints. Panosteitis (often called 'Pano') is a condition caused by inflammation in the growing joints of a young or adolescent pup. It causes lameness or limping. Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (or HOD) causes swollen/painful joints (often the lower joint in the front legs), and can be triggered by several things including infection, improper diet, vaccine reactions and more. This condition can cause the joints to become malformed and your pup may 'knuckle-over' or his front legs may become bowed. A nutritionally balance diet can help to prevent many bone/joint problems. Canine Nupro Dietary Supplement is a totally holistic dietary supplement that contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and essential fatty acids in natural raw forms. It is an excellent addition to your dogs nutritional program and is suitable (and beneficial) for all ages. ?Dilated Cardiomyopathy This is a heart condition, and a dog with DCM has heart muscles that don't contract efficiently, causing arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats). It also means that the heart has to work extra-hard to pump blood around the body and this puts an immense strain it. It's most commonly seen in extra large breed dogs, especially Newfoundlands. A dog can show no symptoms and die suddenly from this condition, although sometimes dogs show symptoms such as excessive panting, heavy breathing and are easily tired. Severity of the condition varies, as does the treatment and prognosis for individual dogs. An echocardiogram, chest x-rays and an EKG can help diagnose this condition. There's a natural product that can help promote healthy cardiac function in your dog. It's called Canine Hearty Heart for Dog Heart Disease and it's a totally herbal formula, free of all chemicals. Help your dogs' heart stay strong and healthy, and improve his overall vitality by adding Hearty Heart to his daily regimen. ?Bloat or Torsion This is a very serious condition and is also known as Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV). It's a condition that mostly affects large, deep-chested dog breeds including NEWFOUNDLAND,(and others). It's a condition where the stomach fills suddenly with gas and twists into an unnatural position, basically cutting off the passages between the stomach and the esophagus and the stomach and the intestines. It is life-threatening and, unless recognized and treated quickly, is often fatal. The causes of bloat aren't fully understood, but there are some things that seem to trigger it. These include eating too much at one sitting (especially common if the dog is fed once a day), eating too fast, drinking a lot of water, and indulging in vigorous exercise too soon after eating. The symptoms of bloat include signs of distress such as excessive panting, pacing or whining, drooling, retching or vomiting (the dog may not actually bring back up any food due to the twisted stomach),and a swollen or distended belly. If you notice any of these symptoms, get your dog to a veterinarian or emergency animal hospital IMMEDIATELY. For an in-depth look at Bloat (including causes, symptoms and treatment), check out this webpage... Canine Bloat Although they're by no means guaranteed to prevent bloat, using elevated dog bowls for your big guy's food and water can help minimize risks. This is because they make it easier for your dog to eat in a comfortable position and reduce the amount of air he swallows (a factor in triggering bloat). If you have a 'NEWFOUNDLAND' who guzzles his food, a 'go-slow' or 'anti-gulp' type of dog bowl (such as the Healthy Diet Slow-Eating Anti-Gulping Dog Food Bowl) can also help. As I mentioned earlier, extra large breed dogs are much more fragile than they appear, and it's important that new owners are aware of this. Because of this I would strongly recommend that you take out pet health insurance if you add an extra large or giant breed to your family. The veterinary bills can also be on the extra-large to giant end of the scale for owners of these dogs simply because they need MORE of everything! Medications of all sorts, tests,surgeries or accidents are all likely to be much more expensive for a Great Dane than they are for a chihuahua. Get all the information and advice you need to get the best health plan for your puppy or dog on Pet Dog Insurance, If you don't want to empty your savings account in the event that your pup gets sick or hurt, this is a life-saver (in every sense of the word) Extra large breed dogs can make a wonderful addition to your life as long as you have done your research and are prepared for the unique challenges these gentle-giants can bring. They are stunning dogs, and make loving, loyal, faithful friends. I wouldn't be without my Rottweilers for the world - even (or maybe especially) when my 125lb male wants to cuddle on your lap! For more information never be afraid to ask the breeders or people that have owned the breed for a number of years they are always willing to help of point you in the right direction.