There’s nothing more comforting to have bouncing around the house than a big dog. You won’t have to worry about stepping on them as you do with little, lap dogs. Some people lament having a large dog because they want a dog that’s gentle and who can rest in their lap when they watch television. The good news is you can actually have it both ways. Here are the best gentle giant dog breeds that love to be cuddled:
Gentle Giant Dog – Bernese Mountain Dog
Although the Bernese Mountain Dog usually weighs eighty pounds are more, this is still one of the most gentle and affectionate breeds around. The Bernese Mountain dog has a history of serving as a guardian of the flock, although their aptitude as a property guard dog was limited due to its gentle, trusting nature. Although energetic, this dog breed is content to be cuddled and would crawl into your lap if you would allow it. This breed makes an ideal family dog.
Gentle Giant Dog – Newfoundland
Don’t be fooled by the size of this massive dog that in some ways resembles a bear. This dog loves both people and animals and is a natural with children. Even though a Newfoundland may want to crawl into your lap, you may not be able to handle all 150 pounds of him. Unfortunately, this dog breed doesn’t have a long life span. Being prone to hip dysplasia and various forms of heart disease, their life span is under ten years on average. Be prepared for your Newfoundland to attract a lot of attention from strangers and he’ll love every minute of it.
Gentle Giant Dog – Great Dane
This tall, regal appearing dog might intimidate you with its height, but its gentle manner will win you over. Historically, this sturdily built dog was used for hunting but is now more comfortable serving as a loving pet. Affection and easy to train, this dog is a natural family companion. Although excellent with children, their size can be a bit intimidating even to larger children which make training important to reduce the incidence of jumping and overly exuberant play. Unfortunately, this breed is prone to a variety of health problems including gastric torsion or volvulus with an average life expectancy of less than eight years.
Gentle Giant Dog – Irish Wolfhound
This dog breed has the distinction of being the tallest and largest member of the hound group. This breed has served historically as both a war dog and hunting dog. If given proper socialization, they are both gentle and loving by nature, even with children. Of course, this breed’s large size can make them intimidating to a small child. Plus, this enthusiastic dog can forget his own size when he plays. Thus, it’s important that small children be supervised around an Irish Wolfhound. All in all, this breed can be a loving and devoted pet and family member.
Gentle giant dog breeds can be a joy to have around the house and they adapt extremely well to indoor life. Be careful though that that 150 pound dog may be heading straight towards your lap!
