Big Fluffy Dog Breeds

The Tibetan Mastiff is a generally healthy breed, and ethical breeders test their stock for diseases including hypothyroidism, elbow and hip dysplasia, and ocular abnormalities like entropion and ectropion. Although seizures in Mastiffs have been reported, the breed is not particularly prone to the problem.

National Breed Club’s advised health examinations:

• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) Evaluation
• Elbow Dysplasia Evaluation
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation
• Thyroid Evaluation
• Panosteitis Evaluation

A thick, woolly undercoat and rough guard hair make up the Tibetan Mastiff’s double coat. Their low-maintenance coat only needs occasional grooming throughout most of the year.
All that is necessary is a weekly brushing with a slicker or long pin brush to remove surface filth and a wide-tooth comb on the tail, head, and breeches to get rid of tangles.
Once a year, in the late spring or summer, TMs “blow” a large portion of their undercoat. Utilizing an undercoat rake or other de-shedding tool is recommended during this time.

Tibetan Mastiffs require regular moderate exercise, although it doesn’t have to be part of a structured activity.

TMs choose controlled play activities like chasing a disc or playing fetch above play-related activities like protecting their territory. In lower temperatures, they become more active.

They frequently exhibit only brief spurts of activity and lack endurance, tending to save energy until needed.

Traditional obedience training does not yield positive results with Tibetan Mastiffs. They are extremely intelligent, pick things up quickly, and don’t need to be reminded of things they already know.

They will comply with their owners’ requests because they respect and believe in their judgment, but if there is a doubt, the TM will rely more on his gut than instruction.

The breed is typically not food-driven, and training with treats does not consistently get the desired results.

They are also infamous for giving flawless performances in class but utterly disobeying all orders when they return home. They are unreliable in their recall. Thus, you should never let them off the leash.

The Tibetan Mastiff should thrive on premium dog food, whether produced commercially or made at home, under the direction and agreement of your veterinarian.

There is no particular diet needed for Tibetan Mastiffs, but any diet should be suitable for the age of the dog. 

As adults, Tibetan Mastiffs may only need two to four cups of high-quality food per day, which is far less than would be expected given their size. As a result, they only consume food when truly hungry, and frequently skip meals.

Males frequently stop eating for a week or longer when females are in season, which can cause them to lose up to 10% 0r 15% of their body weight.

Additionally, there should always be access to clean, fresh water.

Although they are generally in good health, Old English Sheepdogs are susceptible to a few health issues.

You should have your dog checked for diseases like hip dysplasia, visual problems such as inherited cataracts and PRA, autoimmune thyroiditis, cardiac defects, and genetic deafness.

Thankfully, there are now DNA tests for cerebellar ataxia and primary ciliary dyskinesia, two fatal disorders that breeders may prevent generating by simply identifying carriers and not mating them to other carriers. Additionally, medication sensitivity and exercise-induced collapse DNA tests are available.

The Old English Sheepdog’s coat is what most people find appealing. However, the breed has two coats and needs to be meticulously groomed, right down to the skin, at least once a week to keep them in good condition. 

“Puppy trims” are excellent alternatives for companion dogs, but you must brush them frequently between showers and trims. You will reduce the likelihood of issues and clean up if the feet are kept clipped (also known as “poodle feet”). 

For the duration of the dog’s life, potential owners must be willing to invest the time necessary to do this or pay a professional groomer for multiple appointments each month. It would be best if you constantly trimmed the nails periodically.

Getting some exercise is necessary for this breed. The degrees of activity vary greatly, yet they all call for frequent exercise. Thankfully, when they go indoors, they do know how to behave.

The majority of Old English Sheepdogs are highly bright and sociable. They retain information after learning it. However, with robotic, repetitious training sessions, they do get bored. 

You must make it fresh and enjoyable if you wish to take part in some of those activities. Early socialization during the puppy stage is essential for all dogs.

The Old English Sheepdog should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is made commercially or at home, under the direction and agreement of your veterinarian. Any diet should be suitable for the age of the dog. Watch your dog’s calorie intake and weight level because certain dogs are prone to obesity.

Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Find out which human food is healthy for dogs and which is not. Fresh, clean water should always be accessible.

Although Berners are mostly healthy dogs, screenings for diseases like hip and elbow dysplasia, blood problems, some malignancies, and progressive retinal degeneration are recommended. All large breeds are prone to bloat, an abrupt, fatal digestive disorder.

Owners of Berners should get familiar with the warning signals and what to do if they appear. Like all breeds, Berners require regular ear inspections for indications of infection and frequent tooth brushing with canine-specific toothpaste.

A woolly undercoat and a long outer coat make up the Bernese Mountain Dog’s double coat. Berners have a good quantity of hair loss, which increases twice a year during the shedding season. To maintain the dog looking his best, brush him once a week and every day during the shedding season.

Use a metal comb or slicker brush to untangle any knots. Regular nail trimming is necessary for all breeds since extremely long nails can hurt the dog and cause structural issues.

Bernese Mountain Dogs require at least a half-hour of daily exercise for their health and happiness.

Berners love the outdoors and are excellent company on long walks or hikes, even though they are obviously supposed to live indoors with their human family.

Large breeds like the Bernese Mountain Dog require early socialization and behavior training.

Berners are typically simple to train because they are bright and eager to please. In addition, they are extremely compassionate and open-hearted; as their sentiments are delicate, they don’t take kindly to harsh criticisms or training techniques.

A special diet should be developed for a large-breed dog with high energy and activity requirements, such as the Bernese Mountain Dog. 

Regarding what to feed your Bernese Mountain Dog and the proper amount size, you should seek guidance from your veterinarian or a licensed nutritionist. In addition, as they progress from puppies to adults to seniors, their nutritional demands will change.

Certain illnesses are more common in Newfoundlands. Although not every Newfoundland will contract one or more of these illnesses, it’s vital to be aware of them if you’re thinking about getting one.

You should check your Newfoundland for diseases like cystinuria, which can lead to the formation of kidney stones, elbow and hip dysplasia, and cardiac disease. Like all dogs with drop ears, these dogs should have frequent ear examinations for indications of infection.

Because of its thick coat, Newfoundlands should receive a thorough brushing at least once a week. A thorough combing with a long-toothed comb and slicker brush will help remove dead hair and stop clumps from forming.

However, spayed and neutered Newfs shed all year long and will likely need to be combed out several times a week. During shedding season, which typically happens twice a year, these will turn into daily sessions.

A versatile dog who feels at home on both land and in water. He is a loyal friend and a skilled draftsman with a natural knack for saving lives.

To keep healthy and content, Newfoundlanders should engage in moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes each day. Newfoundlands enjoy being outside, and they especially love swimming! They also make excellent walking or hiking partners.

Newfoundland puppies are never shy, jittery, or aggressive; they are outgoing, bright, and curious. But, of course, any Newfie needs to interact with people daily.

Early socializing and puppy training sessions are advised to help the Newfoundland develop into a well-mannered, well-adjusted pet.

A puppy that will be taught for waterwork needs to be gradually introduced to the water by the time it is four months old. Newfoundlands are generally simple to train. They are also loving and trustworthy; they take gentle direction well but do not take well to severe punishments or training techniques.

Four to five cups of quality dry food should be served to a Newfoundland every day, split between two meals.

Slow, steady growth is necessary for Newfoundland puppies. Feed a high-quality meal that contains 12 to 15% fat and 22 to 24% protein. Instead of constantly leaving food out, feed your Newfoundland by weighing his food and serving him twice a day.

You should do testing on Great Pyrenees for a variety of diseases that might afflict the breed, such as elbow and hip dysplasia, eye problems, luxating patellas, and neurological and immune-mediated disorders.

The breed is prone to various malignancies as well as bloat, a potentially fatal illness in which the stomach abruptly expands and occasionally twists. Therefore, every Pyr owner has to educate themselves on the symptoms of bloat and what to do if it occurs.

Despite having a lot of fur, Pyrs don’t need much care because their coat resists tangles and grime.

They have two coats: a soft undercoat and a lengthy outer coat.

At least once a week, give your pet a deep brushing with a pin brush or slick brush to help cut down on the amount of shed hair that gets all over your house.

Regular nail trimming is recommended for Pyrs because discomfort might result from too long nails. In addition, use dog toothpaste to brush their teeth frequently.

Pyrs are not a very active breed. Walking with their owner is a good example of a moderate daily activity that will keep them happy and healthy.

Pyrs evolved to be autonomous thinkers who could work without instruction while keeping an eye on and guarding their flock. However, despite their intelligence, they will respond poorly to routine obedience instruction.

Training requires a lot of consistency, endurance, and encouragement

Pyrs should consume four to six cups of premium dry food every day, split between two meals.

The amount of food your adult dog consumes is influenced by his size, age, physique, metabolism, and degree of activity.