What management consideration for large dogs is emphasized as a more actionable metric than minor height discrepancies?
The compatibility between the owner's activity level and the breed’s high energy demand
While physical size differences are often debated, the text strongly suggests that focusing on energy compatibility is a far more practical and actionable metric for potential owners, especially when considering breeds with high drive like the Elkhound and GSD (whose mix is described as having a 'tremendous motor'). A restless, energetic, large dog that lacks sufficient daily physical and mental exercise risks developing destructive behavior indoors. Therefore, matching the breed's high energy requirements to the owner's commitment to exercise is deemed more critical for successful integration into a family setting than obsessing over a marginal difference in height or mass.
