7 Friendly Large Dog Breeds: Big Dogs, Bigger Hearts

There are countless family-friendly dog breeds out there, but some stand out for their remarkable loyalty, gentle nature, and protective instincts. After all, who doesn’t love the idea of snuggling up with a lovable, gentle giant who brings both comfort and security to your home?

If you’re thinking about welcoming a large dog into your life, it’s important to consider a few key things before making that commitment. First, think about your budget—big dogs come with big appetites and sometimes bigger vet bills. You’ll also need to make sure your home has enough space to accommodate their size and energy.

Temperament is another crucial factor. A large dog that is affectionate, loyal, and naturally protective will be a wonderful companion and family guardian. At the same time, be aware that some large breeds are more prone to health conditions like hip dysplasia or hypothyroidism, so regular vet care and preventive attention are a must.

And of course, training matters—a lot. A well-trained large dog is a joy to have around, whether you’re hosting guests or out on a walk.

With all that in mind, we’ve rounded up seven large dog breeds that are not only friendly and loving but also perfect for families who are ready for a little extra fur—and a whole lot of heart.

Family Large Dog Breeds

1. Golden Retriever

Breed Overview

• Breed Group: Sporting group

• Temperament: Friendly

• Shedding Level: High

• Health Issues: Hip dysplasia, ear infections, hypothyroidism, and hot spots

Having a height of 21.5 to 24.5 inches, Golden retrievers are medium to large-sized dogs. They are one of the most popular dog breeds in America. It was originally bred to retrieve birds and other game shot by the hunters. It is a gentle and devoted fellow that can be easily trained.

Their smiling faces and happy-go-lucky nature make them one of the friendliest dogs. A Goldie is a well-behaved pet that performs well around children and other dogs. It also gets along well with other pets. You can take your Golden Retriever to a local park without worrying about how it will behave.

Do you know? America’s former president owned a Golden Retriever named Liberty Hume.

Golden Retrievers have a silky and lustrous double coat. The coat has a stunning golden color. They are highly energetic dogs with a strong and muscular build. Goldies require 2 hours of exercise every day.

Physical activity includes long walks, lots of running, and exercise. They make ideal pets for active families.

2. Labrador Retriever

Breed Overview

• Breed Group: Sporting

• Temperament: Friendly

• Shedding Level: High

• Health Issues: Heart problems, ear infections, hip and elbow dysplasia, exercise-induced collapse

Labrador Retriever is another large dog breed highly sought for its friendliness. Labs have an outgoing personality and a welcoming disposition, due to which they might not be traditionally considered a good guard dog, but make wonderful family pets.

Labrador Retriever generally love everybody they come across, be it young kids or strangers. Having a puppy-like enthusiasm, Labs love to swim and participate in other family activities. There love for playing fetch can be undoubtedly associated with their retriever heritage.

Due to these traits, Labradors make it to the list of friendly large dogs. According to PetMD, Labs usually have a height of 21 inches and weigh around 55 to 80 pounds. They are highly active dogs that need two hours of exercise everyday.

Their playful nature makes them ideal pets for active households.

3. Boxer

Breed Overview

• Breed Group: Working dogs

• Temperament: Friendly

• Shedding Level: Moderate

• Health Issues: Cancer, heart disease, and hypothyroidism

Boxers are large dogs having a height of 21 to 25 inches. Boxers are curious and playful pets. With consistent training and socialization, Boxers make the friendliest family dogs. Boxers are popular for their “kidney bean dance,” which is when they wiggle and try to kiss you, but from a distance.

Boxers have fearless personalities, a protective nature, and acceptance of unfamiliar faces. But they will definitely bark to let you know about a potential danger. They get along well with other dogs but do best with the dogs of the opposite sex.

Boxers are smart dogs that can be easily trained. However, too much repetition will make them feel bored. Boxers are very active dogs and need two hours of vigorous exercise every day. Different types of boxers include:

• German boxers

• Fawn boxers

• Brindle boxers

• English boxers

• American boxers

• Reverse brindle boxers

• White Boxer

• Boxador

4. Irish Setter

Breed Overview

• Breed Group: Sporting group

• Temperament: Friendly

• Shedding Level: Moderate

• Health Issues: Joint problems, epilepsy, bloat, and hypothyroidism

Originally bred as a hunting dog, the Irish setter is a large-sized gundog hailing from Ireland. They are friendly and sweet-natured dogs, often described as “redheads with a heart of gold.” Irish setters are playful and intelligent dogs with an athletic build.

According to WebMD, these high-energy dogs are a perfect match for active families. Irish Setters need a lot of exercise, ideally two hours a day, including running and playing. They are well-suited for houses with large spaces and do not do well in apartments.

Irish Setters stand around 25 to 27 inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to 70 pounds. They have a medium length coat having extra fur around ears, chest, stomach, and back of legs. They have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.

5. Newfoundland Dog

Breed Overview

• Breed Group: Working dogs

• Temperament: Friendly and docile

• Shedding Level: High

• Health Issues: Bone cancer, bloat, heart disease, hip and elbow dysplasia

Having a weight of 130 to 150 pounds and a height reaching up to 28 inches, Newfoundlands are one of the biggest dog breeds. Despite their imposing size, they are gentle and good-natured. Newfoundlands are trustworthy and watchful “nanny dogs.” They have strong affinity for kids.

Do you know? It is believed that J. M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, based the character “Nana” on his own Newfoundland.

Originating from Newfoundland, Canada, this breed served as an all-purpose water dog. Due to this historical lineage, Newfoundlands are natural swimmers with webbed paws. The American Kennel Club explains that these dogs have a flat and coarse outer coat.

Coat colors can include grey, brown, black, and black-and-white. Newfoundland dogs have moderate energy levels. They need an exercise of 30 to 60 minutes every day to stay healthy and happy. They are vulnerable to developing certain health issues, including hip dysplasia, gastric dilatation-volvulus, and bone cancer.

6. Great Dane

Breed Overview

• Breed Group: Working dogs

• Temperament: Friendly and gentle

• Shedding Level: Moderate

• Health Issues: Bloat, wobbler syndrome, happy tail syndrome, and heart disease

With a giant and muscular build, and a friendly expression on face, Great Danes are the true “gentle giants.” They have an innate desire to please everyone around them, be it humans or other pets. Friendliness, courage, dependency, and alertness are the behavioral traits of this breed.

According to Britannica, Great Danes are sociable. They are not only affectionate with their loved ones, but also become friends with strangers and other dogs very easily. In German, Great Danes are known as “Deutsche Mastiffs.”

Great Danes are playful and quickly respond to training. They have a short coat that can be black, fawn, brindle, harlequin, bluish grey, or brindle. They are fairly low-energy pups and need two hours of daily exercise to stay in shape.

7. English Bulldog

Breed Overview

• Breed Group: Non-sporting group

• Temperament: Friendly

• Shedding Level: Moderate

• Health Issues: Breathing issues, hip dysplasia, allergies, and obesity

English Bulldog is a medium to large dog breed with a relatively large circumference. They have a height of around 16 to 17 inches and weigh around 50 to 54 pounds. Due to their square and muscular build, they might appear intimidating. But in fact, they are the most loyal canines on Earth.

English bulldogs are sociable and gentle companions that display a friendly temperament. Due to their dependable and affectionate nature, they make excellent family pets. These laid-back pups do not love anything more than sitting on a couch and lounging with their owner all day long.

Make sure to give these couch potatoes 30 to 40 minutes of regular exercise every day. Otherwise, they will put on extra weight. However, English Bulldogs are brachycephalic, due to which they are vulnerable to developing respiratory problems. So keep yourself prepared for expensive vet bills.

Conclusion

Numerous large breed dogs are gentle, having a friendly disposition. Such breeds not only protect you and your loved ones, but are also fun to be around. If you are planning to adopt a friendly large breed, consider training them properly to turn them into paw-fect pets. Shower your pup with all the love they need!