What are the pros and cons to owning each of these dogs: a great dane, an english bulldog and a jack russell?

Question

Me and my boyfriend are talking about getting a dog, but aren't sure which one we want. I like English Bulldogs and Great Danes, but he wants a Jack Russell. It would help us out if we could see the pros and cons to owning each breed. Thanks =)

Answer 1

Great Danes would probably have the best temperament of the three ... very laid-back and loyal dogs. If you don't want a dog on your furniture, though, don't get a Dane. They WILL go on the couch. Period. Danes have a shorter lifespan (on average) than the other 2. Danes live an average of 8-10 years, Bulldogs will usually go about 12-14 years, and JRTs up to 16+ years.
English Bulldogs are a vet's dream because they ALWAYS have medical issues. Breathing problems, bone/joint problems, skin issues, eye issues, ear issues, you name it. I know vets who have literally told me that when someone gets a Bulldog, it's like the vet hit the jackpot. They also tend to overheat quickly and breathe LOUDLY (increasingly so as they age).
Jack Russells are cute little things, but have TONS of energy, as most terriers do. They are more difficult to train, are constantly in motion, tend to be yappy little dogs. They're cute and sweet and can be great companion dogs, but are a lot of work to keep occupied.
None of your options require much in the grooming department except maybe a good shampoo and brushout every couple of months (the usual nail trims and ear cleaning, too). Bulldogs have the facial folds and the lip flews that you'll have to keep clean.
Cost-wise ... Danes will cost you way more to feed (7-9 cups of food a day is not unusual), Bulldog will cost you in vet services, and JRT will cost you in training.
I'm not trying to convince you one way or the other. This is just my input for you to use as you will. Best of luck in making a decision that is best for YOU.

Answer 2

Great Dane: A very awesome breed. They are sweet, calm when grown, and intelligent. The only bad side is their size. if you cannot house a Great Dane with can be at least 30" at the shoulders (35" or more, usually) and tip the scales at 200 pounds or more. They also don't have a very long lifespan. The average is 9 years, but some Danes can live to be 13 with proper care. Being such a giant dog, they have a lot of genetic diseases. Hip Dysplasia, Wobbler's Syndrome, Bloat and many more. Other than their medical problems, they are wonderful dogs.

English Bulldog: Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn! If a bulldog doesn't want to do something, he will not do it. They snore like a 250 truck driver, too. They are a breed that does need to so socialize and properly trained as they were the original bull baiting and dog fighting breed. They can be aggressive if left to their own devises, and you don't want to break up a bulldog fight. The extremely strong and difficult to move since they are low to the ground and very compact. On the good side, they are loving, funny, and you'll get a lot of looks walking down the street (if he decides to walk.)

Jack Russell: Very hyper! All terriers are hyper because they were bred to run fast to catch vermin. If you don't give your Jack enough exercise and enough mental stimulation he'll be bouncing off the walls. They are good escape artists too, so don't leave him alone in a backyard to run off that energy. Now, they are very smart and can be trained to do anything. They are small and don't eat nearly as much as a Dane or Bulldog, but they do need as much or more exercise than one.

Answer 3

Research which breed suits you the best, not which you like the look of the most. If you do your homework, you will find out about the characteristics of each breed. There is no such thing as a pro or con of any breed. Every breed was created for a purpose, it is just a case of fitting the right purpose to the right owner. A Bulldog would be hopeless if you wanted to hunt small game; likewise, a Jack Russell is a bad choice for a calm laid-back house dog.

Answer 4

With a Jack Russel, they require a lot of attention and exercise. If deprived of these things, plan on your house being destroyed. A Great Dane does need at least an acre for a back yard to run around in and they require a lot of love, and attention. Eng. Bulldogs are cool, but ugly and as they get around 6 to 8 you will possibly have problems with its health. Any dog you get will have to have training. Before you get one, make sure that you have time for a dog. It isn't a part time thing. I have had to help people retrain their dogs many times, because the dog took over the house. I myself prefer the Tibetan Mastiff. I know, that is a big dog, but they are the original breed of the Mastiffs, intelligent, only shed once a year, great with kids and you would have to be suicidal to break into my house. Marco Polo talked of them killing a snow leopard. Anyway, If you have a lot of property, Great Dane or a Mastiff. Small yard? Jack Russel if you are going to work with the dog constantly and train it properly

Answer 5

Hmmm... I personally REALLY love English Bulldogs, and that would be my choice. I like them because they are not too large, and they are very lovey. I also Really love those wrinkles. But they can have some health problems, like breathing problems due to such a short snout. I also think Great Danes are wonderful, but do you have the room and money to take care of such a large dog? And I think a jack russel would Not be the best choice. They are cute, but they have a TON of energy, and if they don't get the exercise they need they can become destructive. But if you want a dog for agility, and have the time and energy for such a hyper dog, and want to work with obedience, they Can be good dogs. This is just my opinion that i have through my experiences. Try researching all the breeds and decide together.

http://dogbreedinfo.com/jackrussellterrier.htm
http://dogbreedinfo.com/greatdane.htm
http://dogbreedinfo.com/bulldog.htm

Answer 6

Hey! There are pros and cons for each one... They are all 3 great dogs. You just have to decide which con you can live with the easiest.
Let's start with english bulldogs. They are really sweet dogs. The cons with this breed is skin problems. They get allergies and ear problems as a general rule. They also have those lovely wrinkles that you'll have to clean out regularly. If you fail to do so, they can get oily which leads to sores which leads to infentions. But.. this is super easy to prevent. All you need is the right type of cloth.
Great danes.. very very awesome dogs. They don't seem to know they're huge though and need to be trained well. Not really as slobbery as you would expect either lol. Also, if you choose to get a great dane please please please talk to your vet about a condition called "bloat" It's a very deadly and painful condition that can happen to larger breed dogs, especially great danes. But with the right precautions it can be prevented also.
Jack russells... very hyper. takes a lot of training and a lot of attention... and let me stress LOTS of ATTENTION! They are extremely athletic and love to run.
No matter what your choice, there are cons involved. All 3 would make excellent pets. Whatever you decide, talk to your vet about common characteristics of the one you choose. He/she will be the most helpful at helping you prevent the cons =) Hope I helped and good luck with your new baby.

Answer 7

Of course, the smaller the dog [most of the time] the less food they eat. Sound sensible?

One of the cons of owning a Great Dane is a stomach turning disease. It occurs frequently in dogs with deep chests. I think Danes are the most beautiful dogs... but they do require lots of room to run and play.

A Jack Russell is very hyper. I have a Rat Terrier and she is a handful, but very loving.

I can honestly say that I haven't had much interaction with English Bulldogs. Some apartment complexes don't allow them. I do know that. [I think it is a ridiculous rule... but that is another conversation].

Answer 8

Jack Russells are a nice dog, but they have a lot of energy, can be very stubborn and strong willed,have a tendancy to be barkers, need lots of exercise and need a "job" or they will make their own and get into mischeif.
An English Bulldog is also a nice dog, but they can be a bit snappy, have a lot of skin issues, can't take extreme heat or cold

Danes are nice dogs as well..they don't require a lot of space despite their size, they don't need a lot of exercise, their life span and health aren't issues if you buy one from a responsible breeder (same with the other 2 breeds you asked about),they aren't heavy shedders, they do need (as do all dogs) proper socialization and training, their spay/neuter costs a little more, food costs a little more (but they aren't huge eaters especially if fed a good quality food),they don't do well in real cold weather, they need to be house dogs, they are very social, some do drool

Answer 9

I am not keen on the bulldog idea but I would say the great dale is a good dog .Its awfully big so its going to be very costly to feed or even do medical care because they cost more on meds and stuff also they don't live as long because of there size .They are smart and train easily .A jack Russel is very active and payfull .They can get themselves into some trouble .They are more affordable to take care of and because they are so active and small they live longer .I myself would go with the Jack Russel .

Answer 10

I would go with either the Bulldog or the Dane. Even though they are big and they cost more to feed and medicate, they are very laid back and sweet dogs. Also, they will not need as much exercise as the Jack. Jack Russels are smaller, so they are cheaper to feed and medicated, but they are very hyper and they tend to have behavioral problems (such as separation anxiety, destructive behavior, and aggression).