Like Big Dogs? Then You'll Love These Puppies

These big dogs will melt your heart before they get huge.

Biggest Dog Breeds as Adorable Puppies

Some people are drawn to the largest dog breeds. There's something majestic about big dogs that has endeared them to dog lovers for centuries.

But before they get to those awe-inspiring heights and weights, they're cuddly, adorable puppies just like all dogs. And when you see pictures of these large dog breeds, they're sure to melt your heart.

Keep in mind that even though they're cute like other puppies, larger dog breeds can't necessarily be treated like other puppies. Larger breeds have a reputation for being more difficult to train than smaller breeds, so you'll want to start laying that groundwork the moment you bring them home.

Saint Bernard

One thing you'll need to understand with a Saint Bernard is they have no concept of personal space. Not when they're puppies and not when they're fully grown.

These dogs will think they're a member of your family from the moment they step into your house — and they'll want the affection that goes with that.

One good thing about Saint Bernards as they get older is they don't need (or want) a lot of exercise. They also have great temperaments, but you'll need to start their socialization and training at the earliest age possible.

Saint Bernard Puppy Overview

Temperament: Playful, charming, inquisitive

Height: 12-15 inches (puppy), 28-30 inches (adult)

Weight: 13-20 pounds (puppy), 140-180 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 8-10 years

All puppy measurements are for 2 months old. Breed information was sourced from theAmerican Kennel Club.

English Mastiff

Considered the largest breed in the world, English Mastiffs can easily pass 200 pounds when they're full-grown, which will have them outweighing most members of any given household.

The English Mastiff loves kids, but you've got to be really careful about training them properly when you have them around kids. These gentle giants don't know their own strength and can bowl little kids over when they're playing.

You need a lot of patience with an English Mastiff puppy. They grow faster than almost all dogs and mature slower than almost all dogs as well.

English Mastiff Puppy Overview

What's better than one English Mastiff puppy? Three English Mastiff puppies.

Temperament: Courageous, dignified, good-natured

Height: 12-15 inches (puppy), 27 inches and up (adult)

Weight: 29-33 pounds (puppy), 160-230 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 6-10 years

Great Dane

Great Danes have a great reputation for being easy to train, so you'll want to start that training as early as possible — which means taking advantage of the precious few months where this giant actually looks its age.

Great Danes are going to want to be lapdogs no matter what the age, so you might as well enjoy the times as a puppy when they can actually fit in your lap. One training key for Great Danes as puppies is not letting them jump on people.

If you get a Great Dane into maturity, and it's used to jumping on people, it's your dry-cleaning bill that will suffer.

Great Dane Puppy Overview

One Sad Great Dane puppy — Great Dane puppies are only sad when they can't be cuddled up in your lap.

Temperament: Friendly, patient, dependable

Height: 13-18 inches (puppy), 28-32 inches (adult)

Weight: 15-30 pounds (puppy), 130-175 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 7-10 years

Neapolitan Mastiff

The Neapolitan Mastiff is one of the most intimidating large dog breeds you'll find — and just like other giant dogs, when you see one as a puppy, you're going to melt.

One important thing to remember about Neapolitans when they're puppies is watching how much exercise they get. They'll want to play and run all the time, but take into account how fast they're growing and hold them back a bit.

Another smart trick for Neapolitan puppies? Have them around as many other dogs as you can. They'll need a lot of help socializing.

Neapolitan Mastiff Puppy Overview

Newborn Neapolitan Mastiff — This little nugget is going to be a big, big dog one day.

Temperament: Loyal, dignified, watchful

Height: 12-14 inches (puppy), 24-31 inches (adult)

Weight: 25-35 pounds (puppy), 120-150+ pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 7-9 years

Tibetan Mastiff

If you're lucky enough to bring a Tibetan Mastiff puppy home, you'll probably know the training needs to start right away.

Even though they were originally bred to protect Himalayan villages from all types of invaders, the Tibetan is now just as content to be a watchdog and lounge around the home.

Keep in mind that Tibetan Mastiffs should be indoor dogs and because they're so difficult to train, you won't want to leave them alone in the house until they're at least 3-5 years old.

Tibetan Mastiff Puppy Overview

Tibetan Mastiff Puppy in Snow — This Tibetan Mastiff puppy is just playing in the snow like a good boy ... such a good boy.

Temperament: Independent, reserved, intelligent

Height: 12-14 inches (puppy), 24-28 inches (adult)

Weight: 25-40 pounds (puppy), 100-150 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 10-12 years

Newfoundland

One of the cool things about Newfoundlands is they are dogs meant to be in the water — they even have webbed feet. That being said, if you get a Newfoundland puppy, you'd better be ready for the mess that comes with it.

Mainly, that comes from their propensity to drool and be messy eaters. This won't get any better as the puppy gets older.

Newfoundlands are almost impossible to train after they reach about 1 year old, so make sure you put the work in with training when they're puppies.

Newfoundland Puppy Overview

Temperament: Sweet, patient, devoted

Height: 12-14 inches (puppy), 26-28 inches (adult)

Weight: 15-20 pounds (puppy), 100-150 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 9-10 years

Cane Corso

The Cane Corso is a majestic dog that traces its lineage back to ancient Rome. It's also one of the cutest puppies you'll ever lay your eyes on.

These dogs, because of their breeding, are going to be naturally wary of strangers as they get older. It's really, really important that a Cane Corso gets to socialize with as many people and animals as possible when they're puppies.

These aren't affectionate dogs, either. They'll want to be by you, but they're not wanting to cuddle. If that's your thing, you should probably get a Saint Bernard.

Cane Corso Puppy Overview

Temperament: Affectionate, intelligent, majestic

Height: 12-15 inches (puppy), 23-28 inches (adult)

Weight: 30-40 pounds (puppy), 90-110 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 9-12 years

Irish Wolfhound

No dog on this list's behavior and appearance are further apart. Irish Wolfhounds look ripped straight from a Sherlock Holmes novel, and their name is no play on words. They were actually able to hunt down wolves.

But these dogs are laid back and loving. They have great temperaments from the time they're puppies and on. One thing, while they're not going to grow to their full height and weight as quickly as some other "giant" dog breeds, their teeth definitely will.

That makes for some pretty good puppy pics with those big ol' chompers.

Irish Wolfhound Puppy Overview

Temperament: Courageous, dignified, calm

Height: 20-22 inches (puppy), 30-35 inches (adult)

Weight: 20-23 pounds (puppy), 100-150 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 6-8 years

Dogue de Bordeaux

These short-nosed beauties make some of the cutest puppies we've ever seen. The Dogue de Bordeaux faces are incredibly expressive and can be downright hilarious.

Because of that short nose, make it a practice early on to keep them inside when it's too hot outside, just like having an English Bulldog.

Also known as a French Mastiff, raising a Bordeaux takes a lot of discipline because they are notoriously strong-willed dogs. And they're no different as puppies.

Dogue de Bordeaux Puppy Overview

Temperament: Affectionate, loyal, courageous

Height: 12-14 inches (puppy), 23-27 inches (adult)

Weight: 35-45 pounds (puppy), 90-140 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 5-8 years

Great Pyrenees

You'll understand the true nature of a Great Pyrenees puppy when it tries to stretch out its vocal cords in some really cute ways. But not so cute for your neighbors as it gets older.

If you're looking for a guard dog for you and your family, you're not going to do better than a Great Pyrenees. They're known for being incredibly protective of children especially and are very gentle around the smaller humans we love.

These types of dogs are bred to spend a lot of time alone, so the more you socialize and train them rigorously as puppies the better.

Great Pyrenees Puppy Overview

Temperament: Smart, patient, calm

Height: 12-15 inches (puppy), 25-32 inches (adult)

Weight: 35-40 pounds (puppy), 85-100+ pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 10-12 years

Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain puppy — Someone, please, come show some love to this Bernese Mountain Dog.

The Bernese Mountain Dog takes a long time to grow into its maximum height and weight, sometimes up to two or three years, so don't worry if your puppy goes through some awkward phases.

We think that's really the best thing about Bernese Mountain Dogs when they're puppies. They're kind of short and squatty looking at 2 months old, and we love it.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are loyal and easy to be around and are really one of the easier dogs to train out of the larger breeds.

Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy Overview

Temperament: Good-natured, calm, strong

Height: 12-14 inches (puppy), 23-28 inches (adult)

Weight: 12-24 pounds (puppy), 85-115 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 7-10 years

Scottish Deerhound

The "Royal Dog of Scotland" was originally bred to stalk giant deer and has the speed to do so. They come from the same family as the Greyhound.

Scottish Deerhounds have as much energy as any of the larger dog breeds, and even as a puppy, you're going to want to wear them out with play unless you want to find your favorite pair of slippers torn to bits.

Just like a Great Dane, you're going to have to be extra rigid on not letting your Scottish Deerhound puppy jump on people. They'll be well over six feet when they're fully grown.

Scottish Deerhound Puppy Overview

Scottish Deerhound Puppy in Sweater — Dressing your puppy in a sweater is always a bold choice.

Temperament: Gentle, dignified, polite

Height: 14-20 inches (puppy), 28-32 inches (adult)

Weight: 30-40 pounds (puppy), 80-110 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 8-11 years

Rottweiler

This is the runt of the litter with giant dog breeds, but they're just as cute as any big dog as a puppy, and you'll grow to love the distinctive waddle of baby Rottweilers, who have a reputation for being highly intelligent and easy to breed, although their popularity in the United States has led to some disintegration in their bloodlines.

Rottweilers are strong and healthy and durable. Movies and television shows have given them a reputation as fierce dogs, but the truth is that it boils down to ownership.

Rottweiler Puppy Overview

Rottweiler puppy taking a bath — Rottweiler puppies need a lot of baths.

Temperament: Good-natured, devoted, obedient

Height: 10-12 inches (puppy), 22-27 inches (adult)

Weight: 15-20 pounds (puppy), 80-120 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 8-10 years

Leonberger

You won't be able to do much better for a companion than a Leonberger, who will be the cuddliest puppy you'll ever have.

They will keep that same sweet demeanor as it gets older, but don't let the Leonberger's sweet nature fool you. Because they're intelligent and easy to train, they can be kind of needy and don't want to be alone too much.

The Leonberger's unique coat — you'll love the lion's mane — means they also need a lot of exercise no matter what time of year it is. So look out for your Leonberger when it starts to get hot.

Leonberger Puppy Overview

Leonberger puppy sleeping — This Leonberger puppy needs a nap.

Temperament: Friendly, gentle, playful

Height: 12-15 inches (puppy), 25-32 inches (adult)

Weight: 30-40 pounds (puppy), 100-170 pounds (adult)

Life expectancy: 6-8 years

Komondor

Known as the "mop dog" because of how its hair looks when it's fully grown, Komondors are one of the more unique dogs you'll find on this list.

One thing to remember about Komondors is the work for socializing them needs to be put in right away. They're intelligent dogs and stubbornly independent if you let them be. They really don't need you, and if you don't insert yourself into their everyday lives right away, you're in for a long haul.

Make sure you take lots of pictures of your Komondor puppy as it gets older. That hair really is a wonderful thing to behold.

Komondor Puppy Overview

Three Komondor puppies in a row is a sight for sore eyes.

Temperament: Loyal, dignified, brave

Height: 12-15 inches (puppy), 25-27 inches and up (adult)

Weight: 20-40 pounds (puppy), 80-100 pounds and up (adult)

Life expectancy: 10-12 years

Related: Most Trainable Dog Breeds