:Giant dog breed
{{Short description|Dog breed of very large proportions}}
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| footer = A Great Dane and an Irish Wolfhound, two giant dog breeds
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A giant dog breed is a breed of dog that is known for its impressive size and weight which could exceed {{convert|45|kg|round=5}}.{{cite journal |last1=Glickman |first1=Lawrence |last2=Glickman |first2=Nita W. |last3=Schellenberg |first3=Diana B. |last4=Raghavan |first4=Malathi |last5=Lee |first5=Tana |date=2000-11-15 |title=Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in large and giant breed dogs |journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |publisher=American Veterinary Medical Association |volume=217 |issue=10 |pages=1492–1499 |doi=10.2460/javma.2000.217.1492 |pmid=11128539 }} Breeds sometimes described as giant breeds include the Great Dane, Newfoundland, St. Bernard, Irish Wolfhound, and the Kuvasz.{{cite journal |last1=Galis |first1=Frietson |last2=Van Der Sluijs |first2=Inke |last3=Van Dooren |first3=Tom J.M. |last4=Metz |first4=Johan A.J. |last5=Nussbaumer |first5=Marc |date=2006-06-20 |title=Do large dogs die young? |journal=Journal of Experimental Zoology |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |volume=308B |issue=2 |pages=119–126 |doi=10.1002/jez.b.21116 |pmid=16788896 }} These breeds have seen a marked increase in their size since the 19th century as a result of selective breeding.
History
Over the years, these breeds have increased in their size due to selective breeding. People bred dogs with certain characteristics like height, strength, and calm behavior. For example, the Great Dane originated from Germany in order to hunt boars “Great Dane.” Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Jan. 2018, p. 1. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=d19ca087-6542-3157-81b7-41f40d49f44f.. Similarly, The saint Bernard also has a history of being created for a particular reason. This dog was created to help rescue travelers in the snowy mountains and it's known for being loyal and reliable to their companion.“Saint Bernard.” Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Jan. 2018, p. 1. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=53876339-2f44-39c0-8d01-8f433f725edf.
Health
Even though these giant breeds seem strong, they struggle with health problems. One huge issue is their short life span. Most of these giant dogs live between 6 to 10 years. One example is The Great Dane which usually lives up to 8 years.{{Cite web |title=Get To Know Giant Breed Dogs {{!}} ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance |url=https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/giant-breed-dogs/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=www.aspcapetinsurance.com |language=en}} Giant dogs also have a problem with their bones, joints, and hearts. Some common health problems are hip and elbow dysplasia, heart problems, and bloating. For example, the Kuvasz is a large dog who is known to develop joint and thyroid problems.{{Cite web |last=Grucza |first=Ariel |title=What to Know About a Kuvasz |url=https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/what-to-know-kuvasz |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=WebMD |language=en}}
See also
- Selective breeding
- {{Section link|List of individual dogs|Dogs of unusual size}}