Are you searching for the perfect combination between two of your favorite large dog breeds? Chances are, there are puppies from such a hybrid that you have been looking for available.
Many have preferred hybrid breeds because of the excellent combinations of desired characteristics of two pure breeds that can successfully be combined into one perfect dog.
Also, mixed-breed dogs are less prone to genetic and hereditary health issues than many purebred ones, which come from limited gene pools.
If you are searching for a large-sized hybrid breed, then the good news is that there are many excellent options to pick from. We have listed some of them below.
In case you don’t care about the lineage of your mixed breed pup, you can still find a lot of lovely dogs in the shelters and elsewhere which are looking for forever homes too.
Read on for everything you need to know before adding a big mixed-breed pup to your family.
The Most Popular Large Hybrid Dog Breeds
Chusky – Chow Chow And Siberian Husky
These gorgeous large-sized hybrids between two intelligent dog breeds are preferred for their beautiful coats and great looks.
Chuskies are usually very loving and caring companions, which are always alert and very social.
Keep in mind that your Chusky may be a tad overprotective, so early socializing and training is essential.
These hybrid dogs usually are heavy shedders, so they need regular brushing. Plus, they thrive better in colder climates.
Labradoodle – Labrador Retriever And Poodle
This is one of the first and most popular intentionally created hybrid dog mixes.
Labradoodles can vary in size, but they can be large-sized if one of the parents is a Standard Poodle. In fact, they can reach a height of 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder and a weight of 50-65 lbs.
They are incredibly smart, fun-loving, energetic, and friendly. Best of all, most of them are considered hypoallergenic, so they are suitable for allergic people.
The first Labradoodle was intentionally created as a guide dog for a blind person with a dog allergy.
Goldendoodle – Golden Retriever And Poodle
These mixed dogs are mostly intentionally created in order to produce family-friendly, intelligent, and low-shedding large pups.
These playful, loyal and social dogs can reach a height at the withers of 20-24 inches and a weight of 50 to 90 lbs.
Rotterman – Rottweiler And Doberman
These big German dog breeds are among the most popular guard and working dogs worldwide. The two breeds have similar colors, and both are highly intelligent, loyal, and brave.
Usually, the hybrid pups from these two breeds will look like either one or the other parent, but some have a medium build, which is between the Rottweiler’s much stockier build and the lean build of the Doberman Pinscher.
They are loving, and loyal animals, superb guard dogs, and can get along with children and other pets if trained and socialized properly.
The Rotterman can reach a height of 23 to 28 inches at the shoulders and a weight of 70 to 120 lbs.
It is crucial that you train and socialize your hybrid pup in a firm and consistent manner in order to have a well-rounded, well-behaved dog without aggressive or dominant tendencies.
They are energetic pups, so they need rigorous daily exercise.
Pyredoodle – Great Pyrenees And Poodle
These beautiful hybrid dogs can combine the intelligence of the Poodle and the sweet and calm nature of the giant Great Pyrenees dog.
With the proper care, training and socialization, the Pyredoodle can be a perfect family dog, which is kind and friendly with kids too.
Boxapoint Boxer And German Shorthaired Pointer
These mixed dogs are usually very intelligent, highly active, and can become well-behaved and balanced family companions with the proper, timely training and socializing.
They are eager to learn and will love exercising, running, and spending time with you outdoors.
Goldador – Golden Retriever And Labrador Retriever
This is a mix between the most popular dog breed in the USA and the most beloved family dog. The Goldador usually is a very friendly dog who is happy to meet anybody or any dog. These hybrid pups are loyal and intelligent and can reach a height at the withers of 21.5 to 25.5 inches and a weight of 55 to 85 lbs.
Saint Dane – Saint Bernard And Great Dane
This mixture between two of the tallest and biggest dogs is preferred by people who want to add a true gentle giant to their families.
These large-sized pups are loyal, protective of the family and children, and can be superb companions given that they have been trained and properly socialized.
Irish Mastiff – Irish Wolfhound And English Mastiff
These very large and highly active mixed dogs are another mix between some of the tallest and biggest dog breeds of all.
A dog from this crossbreed can reach a whopping 31-36 inches at the shoulders and will weigh at least 110 lbs.
Both large breeds are known to be laid-back and gentle, but due to their large size, the Irish Mastiffs are suitable for people with big fenced outdoor spaces and large enough uncluttered homes. These pups can be very clumsy and get overexcited until they reach adulthood. So, there may be better choices if you have very small kids.
Bernedoodle – Bernese Mountain Dog And Poodle
These pups are loyal, gentle, and yet very smart and sometimes goofy, making them perfect family dogs and companions for all types of owners.
Most of them will inherit the low shedding characteristics of their Poodle lineage and thus can be considered hypoallergenic.
The Standard Bernadoodles who have a Standard Poodle as a parent tend to be more energetic and require more exercise and space than the small-sized ones, which can live happily in smaller apartments.
Golden Saint – Golden Retriever And Saint Bernard
This is another wonderful combination between two large and popular breeds, which usually results in gentle giant mixed breed pups.
Even though they can get quite large, these pups are generally calm and loving and can thrive well even in an apartment without a backyard.
They are great with kids but can shed quite a lot, so you will need to brush your pup on a regular basis.
Labmaraner – Labrador Retriever And Weimaraner
These hybrid pups are also known as Weimardors and are another family-friendly large mixed dog breed.
They are social, loving, and crave human companionship, so they are not suitable for people who are out of home all day long or for very long hours.
The Labmaraners are intelligent and easy to train, even by first-time dog owners.
Husky And German Shepherd
These beautiful crossbreed pups will usually grow to a height of 20 to 26 inches at the shoulder and a weight of 35 to 88 lbs.
They are highly intelligent and very energetic, and powerful dogs that are very loyal to their owners and families.
They require a lot of mental and physical exercise to stay happy.
German Shepherd And Labrador Retriever
This hybrid between the friendly and affectionate Labrador and the loyal and protective, hardworking German Shepherd produces pups that are smart, loyal, and affectionate.
They have an average height of 20 to 27 inches at the withers and a weight of 60 to 95 lbs. and have high energy levels, so they are more suitable for active owners.
How To Find Out More About The Lineage Of Your Dog?
Since mixed breeds and the adoption of pups from unknown lineage have become so popular, many dog parents are eager to find out more about the genetic pool and the lineage of their furbabies.
With a reliable breed identification DNA test, you can learn more about your pup’s ancestry, which can help you understand its traits better and find out the potential genetic health issues it may have inherited.
Here are two of the best dog breed identification kits you can buy.
Embark Breed Identification Kit
- Tests 230,000 different genetic markers
- Includes testing for more than 350 dog breeds
- Trace the ancestry of your pet down to 5%
- Find cousins and other relatives of your furbaby
- You can upgrade for a health screening test included for 215 health issues
- Test your pup for more than 20 genetic traits
Embark Breed Identification & Health Screening Kit
- Test your pup’s lineage for more than 350 breeds
- Added health screening for genetic diseases included in the test and cost
- Test for more than 215 different potential health issues
- Find relatives of your pup and connect with them
- Test for 35 genetic traits
What You Should Know Before Adding A Large Crossbreed Dog To Your Family
Adopting a dog is a big responsibility, so carefully consider all the pros and cons of owning a large hybrid dog.
Also, not every mixed breed is suitable for every owner or family, so please, take the time to do your research on the different traits, energy requirements, and other characteristics of the different large mixed dog breeds.
Some questions you may want to ask yourself include the following:
- Do you have the space for the dog – indoors and outside?
- Is there enough space without clutter for your pup to move around in your house?
- Are you prepared to provide your large pet with the exercise it needs – every day – rain or shine?
- Can you afford to feed, care for and provide preventive and veterinary care for a large pup?
- Do you have the time and patience to train, socialize, groom, and clean after your large pup?
- Are there any traits that you are looking for?
- Is your pup suitable for your household (consider young children, allergic people, and other factors)?
Tips For Being A Responsible Owner Of A Large Hybrid Dog
Before adopting a new big dog, make sure that you are ready for:
- Having the time and the patience to exercise it, walk it, train it, socialize it, groom it and care for it
- Being prepared to pay for high-quality dog food suitable for your pup’s size, breed, age, and health
- Having the budget for the costs for tick and flea treatment, vaccines, prophylactic tests, regular veterinary checkups, dental cleaning, and when needed for costs for veterinary treatment and medication
- Accept the fact that your dog may not become as big or look exactly how you pictured it when it grows up
- Ensuring that you can find a suitable pet sitter or boarding home for your large pup if you need to go away for a while
- Having the money to pay for other accessories and things for your large pup often cost more than those for smaller dogs. Think dog beds, leashes, harnesses, collars, bowls, toys, treats, supplements, shampoos, toothpaste, etc.
FAQ About Large Mixed Breed Dogs
What are the biggest hybrid breeds?
While there can never be a guarantee that all puppies from a hybrid breed litter will have the same size, height, color, and traits, there are some mixed breeds that are more likely to reach a large or giant size than others.
Some of the largest hybrid dogs are those bred from Anatolian Shepherds, Bullmastiffs, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Black Russian Terriers, Irish Wolfhounds, St. Bernards, Leonbergers, Mastiffs, Tibetan Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, and other giant and biggest dog breeds.
How predictable is the size of a hybrid dog?
There is no 100% guarantee that a puppy from a crossbred litter will have a certain height, weight, color, coat type, and traits because the genes it inherits from one or the other parent can differ.
So, it is rather unpredictable unless you adopt an adult dog that has reached maturity and its adult size and weight.
I want a big dog that looks like a bear – what breed should I choose?
Some giant dog breeds resemble fluffy and large or small bears. Some of them include the Leonberger, the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Tibetan Mastiff, the Great Pyrenees, Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, and many more giant dog breeds.
Final Words
Please, remember to check your local animal shelters for any large mixed pups that are looking for a forever home before buying a hybrid dog.
If you do want to buy it, then choose a responsible and reputable breeder who tests their dogs for health issues and ensures that any unfavorable or undesired traits have been bred out as much as possible.
Also, for everyone’s sake, please consider the time, space, costs, efforts, commitments, and other potential inconveniences associated with having a sizeable dog before adding one to your family!
Good luck with your choice, and enjoy your new furry friend!