When deciding which breed dog to adopt, there are quite a lot of things that one needs to take into consideration. The owner’s lifestyle, living space, and financial conditions are a few things that cannot be overlooked. How the dog will behave when it grows into an adult is all up to how it was raised.
So, before you go to your nearest pet shop and adopt a big breed dog, go through these points on how to raise it:
Raising a Big Breed Dog:
The love that people have for a big breed dog is immense. They are often considered lovable and dearer than any other pet. The most common big breed dogs are Golden Retriever, Akita, Rottweiler and Bullmastiff. People fall in love after having just one look at them. But raising these cuties requires quite a bit of work.
They will become your guardian angel in every situation if they are groomed correctly. Let’s talk about how you can raise a big breed dog properly:
Understand Their Breed:
Before adopting a big breed dog get to know about its breed. Every dog breed is different and requires specific care. From temperament to personality, you will find various things that differ in each dog.
The internet consists of details on how to take care of every breed of dog. You just have to look through it and keep in mind all the dos and don’ts. Even if you have prior experience in raising a dog, you should still try to be updated with all the necessary information.
Socializing Them:
Dogs must start socializing with other humans and animals at the earliest stage. Allow them to play with other kids and puppies joyfully. This way, they will get more familiar with others too.
Do pat and snuggle them from time to time so that they can get familiar with a human touch. But on the preventive end, ensure to walk them around dog parks. Small puppies get scared of big and aggressive dogs. So, keep a watch on them while they are having a gala time with kids and pups.
How to Bathe Big Breed Dog Properly:
The large breed pups don’t have to be bathed until they are older than eight weeks. Even if they get super dirty, using a wet towel to clean their bodies is recommended. Special dog shampoo is available that will balance their skin and fur’s natural texture. But do not just choose any shampoo of your choice.
Consult with your veterinarian before deciding which product to go with. As pups might get scared while you take them for a bath, keep some toys and treats nearby to encourage them. Also, ensure to teach them how to behave while bathing when they are just tiny tods.
Daily Exercise:
You will find that most large breed dogs are happy to relax all day long. Well, this can create a lifelong problem for your four-legged buddy. Big Breed Dogs are more prone to illness and health issues like obesity. To make sure that they spend most of their time free from any health-related issues, take them for long runs and exercise. But do not overdo it. Ask your vet how much training is appropriate for your dog.
Food and Nutrition:
While raising a big breed dog, one thing that should never be neglected is nutrition. Feeding them according to their size is crucial to ensure their good health. As large breed puppies tend to grow quickly, their food intake requirement will be greater than other breeds.
So, the owner must track down how much nutrition their pups have. If you feed them more than the required amount, your pups will gain too much weight. This will lead to problems in their muscles and joints. These were some points on how to raise a big breed dog successfully.
If you have some questions about whether to adopt a big breed or a small one, here are a few points of comparison that you should check out:
Big Breed Dog Vs. Small Breed Dog:
Space:
If you have ever had a big breed dog, one issue you might have encountered while raising them is the space. While it’s easy to find a place for small breeds as they take in less area for sleeping, big breed dogs require a more specific and bigger area. Most dog owners usually have separate rooms for their big buddies.
Physical Activity:
In terms of physical activity, small breed dogs are more enthusiastic about running and jumping. At the same time, big breed dogs are more laid back and can rest for hours. But, again, it depends on how the owner is raising them. By giving proper attention the big breeds can turn into your faithful exercise partners.
Training:
Giving training to a big breed dog is far easier than to a small one. The small breeds are more likely to get violet and require attention. Due to this factor, it gets hectic to train them. When a big breed dog has behavior problems, it comes into notice quickly. Thus, an owner can detect and correct it easily.
Ease of Handling:
When it comes to handling dogs, it is pretty evident that small dogs are easier to manage than big ones. You can just travel with them anywhere, anytime. In case of big breeds their height sometimes surpasses the owner’s height. Thus, making it difficult to handle them.
Shedding:
Every dog shed hair. But the quantity of hair that bigger ones shed is prominently more than the smaller ones. Due to this, a big breed dog owner needs to be constantly on their toes.
Raising a Big Breed Dog: Conclusion
Be it small or big dogs, constant care is required for both breeds. In a few cases, like when it comes to health, big breeds require a few notches more attention than the smaller ones. At the same time, small breeds need to be taken care of from injuries.
Most dog owners are not ready for such responsibilities. People raise the puppies, but after they become full-fledged adults, you will see them being dumped into a shelter. So, before deciding to raise a big breed dog, understand the responsibilities that will come with it.