Advice For Giant Dog Owners

When we choose a very large dog as a pet, we need to take into account a number of factors, both so that its creation is as suitable as possible and so that the environment in which it will live is the most appropriate.

In this article, we’ll give you practical advice for those who already have or are thinking about adopting giant breed dogs.

Giant breed dogs, slower development

When we talk about a giant breed dog, we are talking about animals that weigh over 30kg. In addition to size, of course, this class of dogs is quite different from other smaller ones.

To begin with, a dog of this size, such as the Great Dane,  begins the transition to adulthood around 18 months, and may not reach maturity before 24 months.

However, a small dog, such as the Chihuahua, at 6 months has already reached this maturity.

Giant breed dogs have special needs

One of the first things you should consider is that a giant breed dog has different nutritional needs than a small dog. Since it is different in structure and metabolism.

But beware, a common mistake is to think that, because it is a large dog, it is necessary that a large amount of food be offered. This is not so.

The growth of big dogs is what it is, and feeding them more than necessary will not make them finish developing before their time. In fact, it is essential that the growth of these dogs is slower and more harmonious.

To give you an idea,  giant breed puppies multiply their birth weight by 80 times in the first year of their lives, while small breed puppies do it by 20, and will stop growing at 10 months. Even, as we saw in the case of the Chihuahua, some stop growing even before.

Therefore, these giant animals have more bone problems and malformations, so it is very important that they have adequate food.

The diet of giant breed dogs

The experts recommend giving babies a moderate amount of food. Their diet should contain:

• One-third protein for your metabolism to function properly and your muscles to develop properly;
• No more than 15% fat, to prevent inadequate growth and maintain the correct amount of vitamins and minerals.

It is important that the calcium intake is what the animal requires. Do not think, as in the case we gave food, that because they are a large breed, they need a lot more calcium.

It is very important that we control this to avoid problems with your bones and joints. Also, this mineral makes it difficult to absorb others, so always provide in moderation.

As soon as they become adults, even if you still have to control their diet, giant dogs eat, on average, a kilo of food a day, so prepare your pocket.

Giant Breed Dogs Environment

It’s critical that giant breed dogs live in an environment in which they can move around without difficulty, something that, in an apartment, can be tricky. They are ideal animals to live in the backyard. That’s where you’ll find yourself most comfortable.

Beware of extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Ideally, he should have a little house where he can protect himself from changes in temperature.

If you decide to have him,  even in an apartment, try to take him for a walk at least 3 times a day and try to get him to spend a few hours outside the house. Allow it to run and waste its energy. Otherwise, you will notice that the animal will be more nervous than usual.

Precautions with Giant Breed Dogs

The giant breed dogs are usually quiet animals, but we have to take into account the large size and strength of these animals. It is essential that we are very careful with them, especially when you have children at home.

Even though we don’t want to do any harm to anyone, our pet could cause some kind of accident, something we don’t want. We must also take all necessary precautions if we have other pets.

Giant breed dogs, besides being of undeniable beauty, are ideal for socializing with people, they enjoy the company of humans a lot, but we always have to consider the advice above.