[nagdu] Really big dogs

[Robert Hooper]

Well then, with the average king shepherd about 30 inches at the withers and weighing in between 120-140 pounds, I'm guessing that would qualify to you as OMG. But to put things in perspective, I go regularly to a house that contains both a St. Bernard and an English mastiff, so there you have it. The mastiff (extremely adorable and loveable) can curl up nicely in a corner and be as unobtrusive as a rug. I think it largely depends on the dog. Also, dogs are den-loving creatures, so they are well accustomed to fitting into smaller places. I plan to visit the breeder and examine an adult dog to see how prohibitive its size may be to guide work. Bailey is already quite a large dog, so I am well used to either fighting him for leg room, or using him as a foot stool when need be. I believe that the king shepherd's height is due largely to long legs, and its weight to heavy bones and muscle. Once again, if you wish to learn more about the King, visit the website:
http://www.kingshepherd.com
It is very accessible. Just click "standard" to get a very in-depth description of the breed.
Alright, midterm time. I will talk later. 
Sincerely,
Robert Hooper
Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology; Department of Neuroscience
572 Stinchcomb Drive #3
Columbus, Ohio 43202
(740) 856-8195


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 12:26 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Really big dogs

I prefer a tall dog.  Monty is 26  inches at the shoulder or very close to that.  He was just at the vet and weighed in at 78 pounds.  That is a lower weight for him.  He's usually in the 80 to 82 range, but he looks really good.  I'm crediting the new food and the added longer routes this summer.

anyway what I wanted to say is that lifestyle does play a part in how often a dog will need to fit into tight spaces.  I think it also depends on the dog though.  If you have a tall dog that is leggy, I think it's easier for them to curl up and fit into small spaces.  I do think there is a limit though.  A 110 pound dog is absolutely huge.  I like me a big dog, but I think that would be too big for me to deal with on a daily basis.

I guess for me there's big and then there's OMG!

Julie




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