Pooch Picks – Walking With Giants

Pooch Picks – Walking With Giants
  • By Tania Marie de Saram
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  • When considering the size of your furry friend, it’s all down to personal preference, but the term ‘giant dogs’ generally refers to those whose weight exceeds 45kg. In the UK, this includes Great Danes, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, and Cane Corsos, with the Dogue de Bordeaux coming in as the most popular.

    Since these canines were originally bred for guarding property, hunting prey, protecting livestock, and rescuing hoomans, they have a lot of energy that needs to be worked off to avoid destructive behaviour through boredom. Daily exercise is an essential part of their routine, but they are no longer only suited to suburban or country living for extra space. So long as they have an outlet for their enthusiasm, these big softies are quite happy to snuggle and sleep with you on the sofa in your apartment; as with all pooches, training helps keep them on the right track and establishes you as the pack leader.

    Health issues they may be more prone to include bone and joint trouble through hip dysplasia, bloat, hormonal and thyroid imbalances, heart problems, cancer, and a shorter lifespan, as their size puts a considerable strain on their bodies and organs. But don’t let this put you off these gentle giants. They make excellent playmates for children who learn how to handle them, and their larger brains enable them to display increased intelligence with ‘executive functioning’, which is linked to self-control in both hoomans and canines. Plus, they are full of love!

    We adore grooming giant dogs at Purrfect and Pooch, especially since they are more prone to heavy shedding of their dense undercoats, and though the process may take longer, there is always time for snuggling! ❤

    ~ Tania Marie de Saram

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