Raising a dog in a household is easier said than done. You need to take care of them, groom and maintain them, and clear out all the mess they create. But having them around also helps to ease stress and anxiety. In this scenario, short haired large breed dogs provide the best middle ground.
Having large dogs with short hair provides you with the best of both worlds. It cuts down the time spent cleaning and brushing long and thick coats. Plus, you get a big buddy to spend time with.
If you are contemplating adopting a big dog with short hair, here are the best options to consider.
The best short haired large breed dogs
Great Dane
- Height- 28-32 inches
- Weight- 110-190 lbs
- Life Span- 8 to 10 years
- Origin- Germany
Also known as German Mastiffs, these large dogs were once hunting dogs. They were used for guarding due to their size, intelligence, and alertness.
They might look super-large and terrifying, but they are immensely friendly, reliable, loyal, calm, and devoted. All these traits make them the best large breed for a household with children.
Great Danes are non-aggressive and very playful and peaceful around children. Plus, they are intelligent and easy to train. You only need to exercise a little precaution when they are around kids under ten years old.
Their short hair does not require a lot of brushing and tending. They can even go for several weeks without brushing. The only problem with them is that they shed quite a lot. So, cleaning this mess is something you need to put up with.
Also, they need some time to relax and rest. So, ensure that they get their own sweet corner to unwind.
Boxer
- Height- 21.5-23.5 inches
- Weight- 50-65 lbs
- Life Span- 10-12 years
- Origin- Germany
Known for their cheerful, bright, playful, and energetic personality, Boxers inject a whole new energy into a household. Also famous as the clowns of the dog world, they make the best companions of kids and adults alike. Their enthusiasm is enough to curb the loneliness of senior years.
A thing to consider while deciding to bring Boxers home is that they do not do well in extreme heat or cold. They are very susceptible to heat stroke.
Doberman Pinscher
- Height- 27-28 inches
- Weight- 60-70 lbs
- Life Span- 10-13 years
- Origin- Germany
Doberman Pinschers have a reputation as watchdogs. Although they extensively work for the military or police, it certainly does not mean you cannot adopt them as family pets.
Although they are unnerving and have an alpha leader instinct, a fearsome and confident owner can train them to be ideal house pets.
This breed is very alert, intelligent, and fearless. If you bring Doberman Pinscher home, make sure you do not let them be the leader, or else these headstrong dogs will be difficult to tame. They need a lot of training and exercise.
Also, make sure you let them socialize as much as possible. Keeping them isolated most of the time will make them more stubborn and destructive. A generous dose of socialization and relaxation will tone down their aggressive persona.
Greyhound
- Height- 26-30 inches
- Weight- 65-70 lbs
- Life span- 12-14 years
- Origin- Egypt
If you have a large open space in your home, a greyhound is the ideal dog for you because these tall and slender dogs love their sprinting game. Their long and powerful legs allow them to attain a speed of up to 45 mph.
Historically, they were used for racing and hunting. Their tall and slender body also made them a muse for poets and artists.
Greyhounds are very gentle and calm short haired large breed dogs. They are reserved around strangers but bond well with their families.
Although they are independent thinkers, they are good learners. Their short hair makes grooming a cakewalk. Brushing weekly will help keep their coat healthy.
Rottweiler
- Height- 24-27 inches
- Weight- 77-106 lbs
- Life span- 8-10 years
- Origin- Germany
Loyal, loving, dedicated, and aggressive- these adjectives best describe Rottweilers. These large breed short haired dogs are alert, confident, and fearless. Owing to these personality traits, they make up for ideal watchdogs.
Although their temper makes them an ideal breed for families sans children and other pets. If trained well, they prove to be excellent pets. All they need is a confident and fearless trainer.
In general, Rottweilers are a little aggressive towards strangers. They always make sure they guard their family well. If they sense a threat, they become aggressive to protect their loved ones.
They shed and drool. Regular brushing helps keep dander at bay.
Labrador Retriever
- Height- 26-28 inches
- Weight- 130-150 lbs
- Life span- 8-10 years
- Origin- Newfoundland
Labrador Retrievers are one of the most loved dog breeds in the world owing to their friendly, sweet-tempered, and gentle nature. These bubbly and active dogs bear an extroverted personality. They do not take much time mingling with new people. It also makes them an ideal dog breed for multiple pet households or households with kids.
As Labradors have a little longer hair compared to others in the big dog breeds short hair category, they shed more than their counterparts. They shed year-round and require grooming and maintenance.
German Shorthaired Pointer
- Height- 23-25 inches
- Weight- 55-70 pounds
- Life span- 10-12 years
- Origin- Germany
German Shorthaired Pointers were bred during the 19th century in Germany. As they were bred for hunting tasks, they are highly energetic. They are the best companion for jogging and hiking.
These dogs are easy to train. They are not made for confined spaces. Take them out for at least one to two hours every day and provide high-intensity training to see their agile and cheerful attitude. Otherwise, you might have to put up with a destructive and dull pet.
Neapolitan Mastiff
- Height- 24-31 inches
- Weight- 110-150 lbs
- Life span- 8-10 years
- Origin- Italy
Neapolitan Mastiffs are obedient, protective, stout-hearted, dynamic, and dominant. Hailing from Italy, they had been excellent watchdogs since the ancient Roman period.
They grow up to be humongous in size. And so they appear frightening, but on the contrary, they are very friendly. Their gentle nature makes them a good option for families with children looking for large breed short haired dogs.
Dalmatian
- Height- 22-24 inches
- Weight- 45-70 pounds
- Life span- 10-13 years
- Origin- Dalmatia region of Croatia
A pristine white coat with black or brown-colored spots- Dalmatians are beautiful. They are energetic, playful, active, sensitive, outgoing, friendly, and highly intelligent. All these attributes make them an ideal short haired large breed dog.
Dalmatians were bred to run alongside carriages. So, they are extremely energetic. You can find an ideal running, jogging, or cycling companion in them.
As they are intelligent, they are stubborn and independent. So, they need a lot of training to make them a certain way.
They demonstrate moderate shedding but require regular brushing.
German Shepherd
- Height- 22-26 inches
- Weight- 60-100 pounds
- Life span- 9-13 years
- Origin- Germany
German Shepherds are one of the most recognized and loved big dog breeds. They are very confident and lionhearted.
These big black and brown dogs are active, strong, and athletic. Often seen as service animals, for instance, guard dogs and guide dogs, they are also amazing pets.
As German Shepherds are very affectionate, they are a good option for family homes with children and other pets.
German Shepherds shed a lot and require frequent grooming.
How to groom short haired large breed dogs?
It is a common misconception that short-haired dogs don’t shed and do not require grooming at all. Although they are easy to groom and maintain compared to their long-haired friends, they still need proper grooming and maintenance.
Here are a few tips that will help you groom your big short-haired buddy.
Brush them regularly
Regular brushing will keep the coat of your short-haired dog clean and healthy. It will also reduce the amount of shed.
- Start by dampening the skin with a damp cloth. It will help you tame their hair and keep them from flying.
- Next, use a bristle brush to remove the mud from their coat. Once you have removed the mud, use a round rubber brush, known as a curry comb, and gently brush all over the dog’s coat. It will remove dead hair, skin, and dirt. If it is shedding season, you might need a de-shedding brush.
- Start brushing from the head and approach the tail. Do not miss the hard-to-reach areas, such as under their legs. Hold them taut to access the folds of their skin.
- Take a fine brush and comb all over the coat.
- Take some oil in your palms (after wearing a rubber grooming glove) and apply it all over the body. Use circular strokes while doing so.
Bathe them
Some short-haired dogs need a bath every week, while some do well without bathing for four weeks. Determine whether or not your dog requires a bath. It depends on the type of coat, activity, health condition, and season.
If your dog requires a bath, start by brushing them first. It will remove all the dead hair from their body. Next, wet them and use a good quality dog shampoo. Keep a washcloth handy to clean their face and area around their eyes.
Rinse them well.
Note: Make sure you protect their eyes, nose, and mouth. Do not forget to stuff cotton balls to prevent shampoo and water from going inside their ears.
Use a good quality conditioner
Short-haired dogs have a dry skin type. So, it is essential to keep their skin moist.
Use a good quality conditioner suited for short-haired dogs to keep their skin hydrated and healthy.
Dry them thoroughly
Once they are done bathing, dry their coat. Use a soft towel for this purpose.
After towel drying them, dry their coat with a blow dryer. Make sure you keep the setting low because short-haired dogs do not have a very thick layer of hair over their skin. There is a high chance that you might burn their skin if you keep the blow dryer too close to their coat.
It would be better if you use a cool setting to dry their coat.
Trim their hair
Carefully trim all the excess hair from their face, legs, paws, and body with scissors. Also, trim their nails and apply lotion on their paws.
Things to consider before getting a large short haired breed dog
Bringing home any pet is a big responsibility. They require your care, time, and attention. There are n number of factors to consider before making this commitment. Listed below are a few.
Drool
One of the biggest concerns of any potential dog owner is drool.
Yes! Dogs drool. Some drool more, some drool less. But you will have to bear with some amount of drooling if you want to have a companion home.
Avoid certain short-haired dog breeds, such as Neapolitan Mastiff, if you cannot stand drooling.
Shed
Just like drool, shedding is also an inevitable trait. In general, short-haired dog breeds shed a lot. Regular brushing and grooming will help you manage this aspect to an extent.
Health conditions
Certain large breed dogs pose health issues like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, bloat and torsion, spondylolisthesis, arthritis, cherry eye, panosteitis, etc. Some health conditions are debilitating and require constant care and attention.
Bring home a large dog breed only if you can afford investing time, energy, and money in their health and wellbeing.
Food costs
It goes without saying that a large dog has a large diet. Again, bring home a large dog breed only if you can afford to pay their food bills. If feeding them cheap food is on your mind, back off. If you save money this way, you might have to shell out a lot more in vet bills (no points for guessing; cheap food will make them sick).
Life span
Compared to their shorter counterparts, large dog breeds have a shorter life span. It is one of the most important factors to consider while looking for a short haired large breed dog.
If you can’t stand to part ways with your pet after 10 to 12 years, consider bringing a short-breed dog with a longer life expectancy.
Final thoughts
“Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”- George Eliot.
If you are also looking for an agreeable company, what could be better than bringing a dog home?
If you prefer short haired large breed dogs, you are spoilt for choices.
We hope this guide will help you find your ideal short haired large breed companion.
