Q: Do Mastiffs / Great Danes Drool?
by admin ~ July 14th, 2008A: Yes, all dogs drool. The amount of drool certainly varies by size, breed, and specific characteristics of the individual dog. Dogs produce saliva when they are tempted with food or any appealing scent, or when they are panting or excited. Giant breeds will typically produce more drool than small breeds since their mouths are larger.
The size of a dog’s dewlap, the lower lip near the back of the mouth, can also be a factor in determining how drool-prone a particular dog can be. Dogs with larger dewlaps tend to be wetter-mouthed than dogs with a tighter lip. In Example A below, the dog has a larger dewlap. The dog in Example B has a smaller dewlap. Most mastiff-type breeds tend to have a larger dewlap.
Example A
Example B
A dog’s drinking habits can also contribute to a wetter mouth. Some great danes and mastiffs like to stick their entire face in the water bowl when they drink, and they walk away soaking wet, leaving a trail of water on the floor as they go. Other dogs are more delicate about drinking and don’t create as big of a mess. I’ve experienced both habbits with both great danes and mastiffs, and the level of drinking-related drool just seems to be up to the personality of your dog, whatever breed he or she may be.
So, can you live with it? Before you decide to adopt a giant breed, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. There is a stain on my kitchen ceiling 10′ in the air from a great dane shaking his head and flinging drool all the way up there. I usually hand out “drool rags” to guests, and sometimes get a funny look until one of the dogs uses their sleeve as a napkin and they find themselves covered in slime from wrist to elbow. Our friends and family, mostly poodle and cat people, still come over to our house though, and eventually most have come to love our giant breeds for the huge, lovable, drool-factories they are.
As a serious germaphobe, my friends are perplexed by my ability to deal with these slimy strings of slobber on a daily basis. For me, the rewards of giant breed ownership make dealing with the drool worthwhile. Plus, not all of my giant breed dogs are extreme droolers. In fact, my great dane has a dryer mouth than many of my friends’ labs and golden retrievers.  From time to time, I do find myself unknowingly walking down the street with a glob of white goo stuck to my clothes. Rest assured, it’s only dog drool. Over the years, I’ve gotten used to having drooling dogs in the house and have made some simple changes to accomodate, like converting to stain-resistant furniture and washable paint. In the end, it really is only dog drool. Once you get used to living with it, you barely notice it’s there.
If you’re unsure whether or not a giant breed dog is the right choice for you, please spend some time with one. Mastiffs and Great Danes are not for everyone. Dog shows are a great place to experience giant breeds in person. You can find a listing of upcoming shows and events on the AKC website.
