Favorite Large Dog Breeds
There are many people who love large dogs. That is obvious
by the number of large dog breeds listed in the AKC top ten
favorite dog breeds. The Top Ten list includes Labrador
Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, and
Boxers. And since Poodles are eighth in the list, you could
say that five large breeds are in the top ten since
Standard Poodles average over 50 pounds.
Why are so many large dogs found in the top ten when they
can appear so intimidating, cost a lot more to feed than
smaller dogs, require more room, and require firmer
training than, say, a Pug or Pomeranian?
There is something special about having a large dog. Unless
you have owned one of the large dog breeds you might not
understand the feeling owners get calling this large dog
"friend" and "companion." Many of the large breeds are also
among the most gentle breeds.
With the exception of the German Shepherd Dog, Weimaraners,
Rottweilers and the Doberman Pinscher, every large dog
listed below is extremely affectionate (rating four or five
stars out of a possible five). Many of the largest breeds
seem to be the most affectionate and gentle, while others
among the largest breeds, such as the Rottweiler and German
Shepherd Dog, are terrific guard dogs.
The top ten favorite large dogs are not, for the most part,
the giants of the dog world. After all, Irish Wolfhounds
and St. Bernards, among the biggest and heaviest dogs, are
39th and 77th on the AKC list of favorite dogs. Still,
Great Danes, only a few inches smaller than the Irish
Wolfhound, occupy the position of 24th favorite, and
Mastiffs (a breed that can weight about 190 pounds, just
below the St. Bernard) are 32nd favorite.
Here is the list of top ten with 11th and 12th thrown in
for good measure:
Labrador Retriever (1st) German Shepherd Dogs (3rd) Golden
Retrievers (4th) Boxers (7th) Rottweilers (17th) Pointers,
German Shorhaired (19th) Doberman Pinschers (21st) Great
Danes (24th) Siberian Huskies (25th) English Springer
Spaniel (26th) Weimaraners (30th) Mastiffs (32nd)
Considering that there are 155 dogs listed in the American
Kennel Club (in 2006), it is a significant achievement to
be listed in the top 30. Eleven of the large dog breeds
accomplish this, with Mastiffs coming in close behind at
position 32. And note that large breeds occupy three of the
top four positions, which is really impressive.
But why are these large dogs so popular even though they
require more space, more food, and often more energy to
control than little Chihuahuas (number 11) or Pugs (number
13)? The fact is some people prefer large dogs over small.
Who can argue that a Mastiff or Great Dane does not elicit
awe and admiration from everyone who sees one? They are
very imposing dogs.
Yet despite their size most of these large dogs are very
gentle and affectionate. Imagine a Mastiff with the
temperament of a typical Chihuahua. Just the thought is
frightening. Instead, the Mastiff is among the most lovable
and gentle dog breed.
The Labrador Retriever is so far ahead of all the other
breeds in popularity that it will be awhile before any
other breed overtakes them, if it ever happens at all. No
matter how you look at it, large dogs are among the most
favorite dog breeds in the United States.
About the Author:
Discover great information about dogs, dog training, dog
breeds, and dog care at http://www.christys
brought to you by two dog enthusiasts. Carol Stack has been
working with dogs for more than three decades. Carol and
her daughter Christy have created this Web site especially
for dog lovers.
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