Top 10: Manly Dogs
Credit: iStockPhoto.com
Having a pet is almost as common as having furniture. While it isn’t fair to compare a pet to your favorite La-Z-Boy chair, pets are the all-encompassing fixture of a good man’s household -- they are fun, intelligent and both a traditional and contemporary symbol of a happy individual. Dogs provide all this and more; a guy will never go wrong with a faithful friend by his side -- especially if it’s one of our top 10 manly dogs.
Let’s make a distinction: “manly dogs” doesn’t translate to mean “macho dogs.” Manly dogs are not necessarily aggressive or wild by nature. Manly dogs are measured by their physical presence (a combination of size, strength, endurance, agility, and appearance), intelligence and personality. These will be used as our three gauges, measured out of a score of 10, and the better the synergy between the three, the manlier the dog. So, let’s take a look at 10 manly dogs a guy can own.
Number 10
Bulldog
Taking a turn toward a smaller breed, the Bulldog is a pint-sized tough guy, or at least they’re designed to look that way. This dog looks like a mix of a pug and a Mastiff. Bulldogs can look simultaneously peeved and happy, and they have lovable and quirky personalities that are a significant departure from the other manly dogs seen here.Having a Bulldog as a pet is a surefire way to win friends and impress women; their bullish looks and saggy skin folds provide lots of laughs and their relatively poor conditioning, due to their heavyset, makes for some hilarious outings at the park when tossing a stick around. Still, they are just as dedicated to their territory as any other breed, and their dedicated companionship and ability to inspire are perfect reasons for their use as the official mascot of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Intelligence: 5
Personality: 8
Physical presence: 4
Number 9
Husky
The Alaskan Husky is not so much a breed or a type as much as it falls into its own category, that of traditionally being a sled dog. Majestic in their presence (deep chest and muscular all around) and durable by nature, the Husky is part and parcel of being out in the wild -- and that truth becomes vividly clear when you consider that these manly dogs have a strain of genes from one of the most well-known carnivores -- the wolf.Huskies are extremely adaptable and love pushing their bodies to the limit. Huskies are natural competitors and they need lots of activity, which makes them less-than-desirable urban dogs. However, they are excellent in the country and they can also tussle with anyone who tries to mess with their owner. Reliability and durability are the Husky’s defining traits.
Intelligence: 7
Personality: 4
Physical presence: 8
Number 8
English Mastiff
The word “mastiff” evolved from the English word “masty,” which meant powerful. That should be enough indication that this dog means business. Centuries ago, these manly dogs were used in the sport of bear baiting in England; that’s because they were one of the strongest breeds, able to stand up to one of nature’s most vicious beasts.The English Mastiff is a broad, thickly built canine that has come to represent most of the breeds within the Molosser type. Their powerful bodies are only eclipsed by their trademark patience, grace and displays of undying loyalty to their owners -- no matter the stranger, the Mastiff will only approve if the owner approves first.
Be ready to keep in shape when you own one of these manly dogs; they need an ample amount of activity to avoid lazy behavior.
Intelligence: 6
Personality: 6
Physical presence: 7
Our list of manly dogs continues with some really tough breeds… Next Page >>
