Dogs as we all know can be as small or as large as their genetics allow. For some of these dogs, however, they’re not just large but extremely large. We’re talking more than 150 pounds of mass with outstanding heights of over 27 inches.
The top kinds include the English Mastiff recorded as the heaviest dog breed in the world, Leonberger, Swiss mountain dog, Newfoundland, Tibetan, and Neapolitan Mastiff, Saint Bernard, among others.
As huge as they are, these dogs are very loving and caring. They have kind personalities and can be great family dogs as well. Following is a list of the world’s largest dog breeds, including record-holders like Aicama Zorba and Zeus. Find out more, below!
What is the Biggest Dog in the World?
The Guinness book of records awards Aicama Zorba,an English Mastiff the title of the heaviest dog breed in the world with an average shoulder height of over 27 inches and a weight of 150 to 250 pounds. As a record holder, this English mastiff has an outstanding mass of 343 pounds being the biggest dog in the world.
The second title for the largest canine goes to a Saint Bernard breed named Benedictine. She records an incredible mass of 366 pounds being the heaviest Saint Bernard ever to exist.
Other giant pooches known to have existed include Zeus who’s the tallest dog ever recorded with a height of 44 inches and a mass of 155 pounds.
Other Largest Dog Breeds in the World
St. Bernard
The first spot goes to Saint Bernard bred in the Swiss and Italian mountain Alps of Switzerland and Italy. They have a height of 36 inches and a weight of 200 pounds. This beast that boasts a huge mass of even up to 250 pounds on an average was used for mountain rescue aiding to walk through the heavy snow.
Their work was to clear paths and aid in rescue operations in very snowy and dangerous paths. They could be used to search for lost and avalanche victims especially in the tough mountainous terrains.
Generally, they have a sweet and calm temperament, very gentle, friendly, and loving around children and other pets. As the years went by, now they’re family pets and opposed to rescue dogs.
Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is the oldest mastiff ancestor, native to Tibet in China. Dir the longest time, they have been used to patrol and safeguard livestock in the Himalayas back a thousand years ago. After some years, they were moved to Europe where they were interbred into what we see as the dense, thick furred 160-pound dog.
With a long lifespan of 14 years, this 26-inch dog is very high maintenance that doesn’t just play family pet with anyone. They need assertive owners who know how to deal with them, who understands their needs like regular exercise and trains them accordingly. This mastiff can double as a family pet and a guard dog as they have a protective and loving temperament, but can be very territorial as well.
Leonberger
A very noble breed with a tawny coat, stiff appearance, sturdy physique, but a charming personality. Same as the Mastiff above, they too are high maintenance and need a great deal of attention. It has a height of 28 inches and a massive of 165 pounds(could be heavier).
As a working dog, they’re very active including swimming, therapy work, tracking, weight pulling, among others. They also seem to enjoy playing in their water bowls, dunking their heads in, coming up slobbering, and trailing it through the house.
Ideally, they’re great pets, very calm and steady, athletic to say the least, and not as aggressive to strangers. That doesn’t mean it won’t produce its powerful deep throat bark in sight of an intruder.
Newfoundland
With its dark dense haired coating on its entire body, the Newfoundland also fits the list with a mass of 200 pounds and a height of 30 inches. This very large canine is one of the most adorable breeds out there with a spontaneous love for water earning the spot for the best swimmers.
This highly intelligent breed has so much to offer including water rescue, fisherman working dog, aiding in hauling of lines and nets, and restoring falling items from off the boat.
Their thick double coat keeps them warm in the water even when it’s freezing. Undoubtedly, they’re very loving and affectionate, protective especially with children. Earning them the gentle giant title.
Keeping them active and happy is not a hard task as long as they can swim occasionally, regular exercises, and take daily walks.
Neapolitan Mastiff
A male Neapolitan Mastiff weighs up to 200 pounds may be more earning a spot as one of the largest dog breeds. They feature loose wrinkled skin on their face and neck, plus hanging jowls adding more mass to its look.
The neo is a great family pet that loves to play around and enjoy human company. They’re great around kids but it’s probably best to keep them monitored around smaller children. They’re very strong-willed and stubborn making them hard to train and manage especially if you’re a new owner. Double playing as a guard dog, they’re very protective and territorial.
Boerboel
From the great lands of South Africa, the Boerboel with a Dutch meaning of farm dog is yet another giant dog with a height of 27 inches and a mass of 220 pounds. The perfect companion and watchdog and family could ask for.
They have a sweet temperament, kind and loyal to its owners, protective with its strong territorial instinct, and caring to the young ones.
They are very intelligent and obedient as the Golden Retriever, making them great guard dogs with attention to socializing and obedience training.
They’re very aggressive especially towards strangers so be sure to introduce them to this large fellow.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Similar to Saint Bernard, the Greater Swiss Mountain dog originates from the Swiss Alps of Switzerland. They’re working dog working to guard the farm and toil as a herder pulling heavy carts. You can already guess how huge they are. They have a height of approximately 30 inches and a heavy mass of 165 pounds or more.
They’re strong, sturdy, and heavy-boned to aid with a great deal of fame work as has been their nature since a long time ago.
From the Swiss breed dog group, this Greater Swiss mountain dog is the oldest and the largest of them all, awarded in many contests including multiple sports disciplines.
They’re very agile canines, intelligent, sociable, and have a strong affinity for children and adults.
Unfortunately, because of their huge size, they aren’t great for apartments. Also because they have really deep barks and the regular need to exercise and stay fit. Even as a puppy, they are quite heavy and should be monitored around babies and small kids.
What’s most fascinating about this breed is that their puppies have three long years of puppyhood. How cool is that!
Dogue de Bordeaux
Very similar to the Neapolitan Mastiff is the Dogue de Bordeaux or what most people call the French/ Bordeaux Mastiff. This is one of the oldest French canines characterized by its heavy mass of 180 pounds and a height of 27 inches. The dog has a very masculine stature with a broad and powerful chest, not to mention its overly big head.
The French Mastiff plays many roles including a guard dog and working dog used to haul and pull heavy objects. Unfortunately, for such an adorable breed, they have one of the shortest lifespans as is noted with many other giant breeds.
Nevertheless, they’re sweet being, very intelligent and energetic. They enjoy daily walks and outdoor activities. Snoozing and cuddling on the couch as well is also one of its favorite activities.
Why do Dogs Grow Massive & Huge?
The first answer is genetics. Naturally, certain breeds are known by their enormous sizes as seen from the list above. Saint Bernard won’t be the breed we all know if it wasn’t born with its sturdy stature built to help as a rescue dog.
Larger dogs are said to have longer growth phases than smaller dogs like Chihuahuas and Affenpinschers. As that normal puppy takes a year on average to grow into adulthood, the large dogs will continue to grow even up to 24 months. Their growth plates take longer to develop which then makes them develop slower.
As a puppy, the larger breed will weigh heavily even up to 70 pounds, that’s the first clear sign that your dog will grow to one massive canine.
Their growth plates developed their bones from flexible tissue into hard bone for about 18 months after which the tissue becomes calcified and finally the bone is at its final size.
Large breeds continue to grow even more massive as they build on fat and muscle giving them a bigger appearance than the ordinary dog.
Pros of Giant Dogs
- Giant dogs are sure to chase away any strangers just by looking at them. They offer security and act as great watchdogs.
- Most giant dogs can be rescue dogs to help you when and if you need them. Say Saint Bernard or the Greater Swiss mountain dog, they can easily pull you out of danger in search of rescue.
- Giant dogs are often energetic hence will keep you active throughout. As you take them out for their daily exercises you keep yourself fit as well.
- Most giant dogs often have big personalities. They’re gentle, loving, caring, protective, and friendly. They’re loyal to owners and fairly easy to train.
- They’re great companion dogs that’s would love to cuddle you and keep you warm with their enormous mass.
Cons of Massive Dogs
- Expensive to maintain.- giant dogs are not apartment-friendly and therefore they need a huge space to accommodate them. Furthermore, they come with increased costs of upkeep including food, home supplies, and medical expenses.
- Large dogs are prone to medical issues including orthopedic problems hence you should be ready for the vet visitations.
- They naturally have a shorter lifespan of between 10 to 15 years.
- They’re rough players and aren’t the best family pet choice if you have small children. Their weight makes them an overwhelming choice even for first-time owners.
- Being giants you can expect everything to be giant – more hair shedding, more drooling, and more cleanup time.
