Items17The creator’s order
  1. 1Great DaneGreat DaneGentle, clingy and happiest leaning on whoever is nearest, the Dane is the giant that settles most easily into ordinary indoor life, provided the sofa is big. The cost to plan for is bloat: one model puts lifetime risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus above a third, so many owners pay for a…0i
  2. 2English MastiffEnglish MastiffOften the heaviest breed of all, with big males passing 90 kg, the Mastiff is also one of the calmest: it sleeps much of the day and guards mainly by being there. That mass brings drool on every surface, hip dysplasia, bloat risk and drug doses priced like a small adult's. Expect around 9 years,…0i
  3. 3Irish WolfhoundIrish WolfhoundThe tallest of the major breeds, a Wolfhound can rest its front paws on a tall man's shoulders, yet adults are soft, quiet and undemanding in the house. The hard part is the timescale: most published estimates put life expectancy between 6 and 9 years, and the breed has high rates of dilated…0i
  4. 4Newfoundland dogNewfoundland dogChoose a Newfoundland for patience with children and a deep love of water; the breed worked alongside fishermen and is still trained for water rescue. Living with one means a heavy double coat that sheds hard twice a year, drool on the walls and a soaked dog in the car after every lake. Hip and…0i
  5. 5St. Bernard (dog breed)St. Bernard (dog breed)Big, sweet-natured and slow to anger, the Saint is a sound family dog for homes with cold winters; heat is its enemy, and a humid summer needs air conditioning. Owners budget for drool, eyelid problems and joints: in one large American study almost 15% had hip dysplasia. Plan for 8 to 10 years, and…0i
  6. 6LeonbergerLeonbergerLion-maned and sociable, the Leonberger was developed in Germany from Saint Bernard, Newfoundland and Pyrenean lines, and makes an even-tempered family dog for an active household. Before buying, ask for DNA results for the inherited polyneuropathies, which can cause laryngeal paralysis and…0i
  7. 7Greater Swiss Mountain DogGreater Swiss Mountain DogThe Swissy is the short-coated, sturdier cousin of the Bernese, with males often over 55 kg, and a cheerful, sociable family dog that enjoys a job such as pulling a cart. Grooming is easy, but the breed has a known risk of splenic torsion and bloat, and many owners learn to recognise lick fits,…0i
  8. 8Black Russian TerrierBlack Russian TerrierDeveloped by the Soviet army as a guard dog, the Black Russian Terrier is a terrier in name only: a 50 kg working dog that bonds tightly to one person and needs regular training to stay settled. Its low-shedding coat suits a tidy home but needs brushing several times a week plus professional trims,…0i
  9. 9Neapolitan MastiffNeapolitan MastiffLoose skin, heavy folds and a rolling gait make the Neo the most dramatic-looking giant, and its devotion to its own household is matched by deep suspicion of strangers. Those folds need daily cleaning to prevent infection, drool is constant, and eyelid problems such as cherry eye are common…0i
  10. 10BullmastiffBullmastiffBred for English gamekeepers to pin poachers, the Bullmastiff is the most compact giant here and the easiest to fit into an ordinary house, with a short coat and modest exercise needs. It is still around 50 kg of strong-willed guardian that dislikes heat and can be intolerant of other dogs, and…0i