Best dogs
Best large dog breeds
The best of the large breeds, over 60 pounds, for families, training and calm company.
Large dogs need more space, more food and more careful training, and they live shorter lives than small ones. The breeds below are rated best overall for family life and manageability.
The list
| # | Breed | Size | Typical weight | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labrador Retriever | Large | 55 to 80 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 2 | Golden Retriever | Large | 55 to 75 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 3 | Collie | Large | 50 to 75 lb | 12 to 14 years |
| 4 | Bernese Mountain Dog | Large | 70 to 115 lb | 7 to 10 years |
| 5 | Chinook | Large | 55 to 90 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 6 | German Shepherd Dog | Large | 50 to 90 lb | 9 to 13 years |
| 7 | Newfoundland | Large | 100 to 150 lb | 9 to 10 years |
| 8 | English Setter | Large | 45 to 80 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 9 | Leonberger | Large | 110 to 170 lb | 7 to 9 years |
| 10 | Flat-Coated Retriever | Large | 60 to 70 lb | 8 to 10 years |
| 11 | Spinone Italiano | Large | 60 to 85 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 12 | Greyhound | Large | 60 to 70 lb | 10 to 14 years |
| 13 | Doberman Pinscher | Large | 60 to 100 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 14 | Great Dane | Large | 110 to 175 lb | 7 to 10 years |
| 15 | Saint Bernard | Large | 120 to 180 lb | 8 to 10 years |
About the breeds
1. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is a sturdy, water-loving gun dog with an easygoing nature, widely kept as a family pet and a working guide and service dog. Read the Labrador Retriever profile.
2. Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a friendly, feathered gun dog from Scotland, known as a patient family companion, a bird retriever and a frequent service dog. Read the Golden Retriever profile.
3. Collie
A graceful, gentle herding dog from Scotland, famous for its flowing coat and loyal nature, in both rough-coated and smooth-coated varieties. Read the Collie profile.
4. Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, tricolor Swiss farm dog known for a gentle, affectionate nature and a thick coat, with a short lifespan. Read the Bernese Mountain Dog profile.
5. Chinook
The Chinook is a rare, tawny sled dog from New Hampshire, gentle, calm and willing, bred to combine the power of a freight dog with the speed of a racer. Read the Chinook profile.
6. German Shepherd Dog
A large, athletic herding breed from Germany, widely used in police, military and service work and kept as a loyal, trainable family guardian. Read the German Shepherd Dog profile.
7. Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is a giant, water-loving working dog from Canada, famous for its sweet temperament, webbed feet and lifesaving swimming ability. Read the Newfoundland profile.
8. English Setter
The English Setter is a gentle, elegant bird dog with a flecked white coat, bred to range and point game birds and valued as a mellow family companion. Read the English Setter profile.
9. Leonberger
The Leonberger is a giant, lion-maned German family dog with a water-resistant coat, a gentle disposition and a taste for company and swimming. Read the Leonberger profile.
10. Flat-Coated Retriever
The Flat-Coated Retriever is a cheerful, black or liver retriever with a sleek, feathered coat, known for lifelong puppy-like enthusiasm. Read the Flat-Coated Retriever profile.
11. Spinone Italiano
The Spinone Italiano is a large, shaggy Italian pointing and retrieving dog with a gentle, patient nature and a distinctive wiry, bearded look. Read the Spinone Italiano profile.
12. Greyhound
The Greyhound is the fastest dog breed, a tall, lean sighthound from Britain bred to chase game and race, and a quiet, gentle house dog. Read the Greyhound profile.
13. Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher is a sleek, fast German guard and working dog valued for intelligence, loyalty and a strong bond with its family. Read the Doberman Pinscher profile.
14. Great Dane
The Great Dane is one of the tallest dog breeds, a gentle and dignified German giant with a short coat and a relatively short life. Read the Great Dane profile.
15. Saint Bernard
The Saint Bernard is a giant Swiss Alpine dog, calm and good-natured, famed for mountain rescue work and for a heavy build that drools and sheds. Read the Saint Bernard profile.
How this list was made
Large breeds (typically over 60 pounds), scored on children, trainability and first-time owners together, highest first. The ratings come from the breed profiles on this site, which rate each breed as a whole. Individual dogs differ, so use the list to decide which profiles to read, then meet the breed before you choose.