The 15 Biggest Dogs in the World | Canine Weekly (2023)

Are you curious about what’s considered the biggest dog in the world?

There are certainly manyhuge dog breedsin the running. Because of this, it’s difficult to really pinpoint one specific breed as the largest dog in the world.

Some of the largest dogs are tall, some are heavy, some have huge impressive coats. The physical traits of the breeds compiling the list are vast. So because there are so many ways to categorize these largest dog breeds, this list will always be up for debate.

Below, we’ll take a look at the biggest dog breeds(it’s not really a competition though).

World’s Biggest Dogs

Tibetan Mastiff

Did you know that experts think the Tibetan Mastiff is the oldest ancestor of all the Mastiff breeds?

While Tibet is so remote that it’s difficult to know for sure, it’s thought that theTibetan Mastiffhas been patrolling the Himalayas and guarding livestock for thousands of years.

Early travelers to Tibet may have received the dogs as gifts and brought them to Europe and the Middle East to develop their own giant dog breeds.

The Tibetan Mastiff’s dense fur and thick mane help the dog look even larger than his 150-pound frame, making for quite the imposing figure.

And while they can make great family pets, they need an assertive owner who understands how to work with a giant dog that has a mind of his own that doesn’t always include minding his master.

They can be good pets, but you must know that they are high-maintenance dogs who require a lot of work.

One great thing about the Tibetan Mastiff is that they have a longer lifespan than most of the other largest dog breeds, living an average of 10-14 years.

Thanks to their history as a guard dog, they can become very territorial, so they aren’t the right dog for people who like to have a lot of guests in their home. Additionally, their daily walking route should be varied regularly, so they don’t perceive the route as part of their territory.

A common theme with many of the biggest dogs is that they have very specific needs and requirements. These features, like the ones listed above, are very important to know before you decide whether they are the right dog for you.

In order to own one of these beasts, it is only fair that you are able to give them all that they need for a happy, healthy life!

Neapolitan Mastiff

While the Neapolitan Mastiff looks a bit like a giant Pit Bull that has melted in the sun, the Neapolitan Mastiff is an ancient giant dog breed that served as war dogs, gladiators, and guardians in ancient Rome as far back as 700 BC.

Also known as the Mastino, its ancestors date back as far as 3000 BC. This huge breed has a lot of history, which many dog owners may appreciate.

A strong competitor as the largest dog breed, male Neapolitan Mastiffs can weigh up to 200 pounds or more, and their loose skin and hanging jowls make them look that much more impressive in size.

Don’t let their size intimidate you, though – Mastinos make great family pets who will happily lounge around unless somebody threatens their family members. Neapolitan Mastiffs do great with older children, but their sheer size makes them a hazard around smaller kids.

Also known as the Neo, the Neapolitan Mastiff isn’t the right breed for everybody. They drool – A LOT – and they’re prone to passing gas.

They also do best with a yard to patrol and an experienced owner who knows how to deal with a large, stubborn dog. This breed is not a Golden Retriever who will happily obey every command. So as long as you go in knowing what to expect and the amount of work required, this could be a great breed for you.

Scottish Deerhound

Though not the biggest dog breed around, the Scottish Deerhoundcan grow to be up to 32 inches tall and weigh as much as 110 pounds. They may not be heavyweights, but they’re strongenough to bring down stags in the Scottish highlands!

These dogs are tall and slender but have some serious power. They’re very athletic and are able to run swiftly and jump great heightswith tremendous grace.

The Scottish Deerhound carries itself in a calm and stately manner and is generally undemanding of attention. At least, once they’re adults.

Sporting a short ragged coat, they are well behaved, easy to train and enjoy being around other dogs. Seeing as they are a breed not big on barking, they don’t make for the greatest guard dogs. However, their other traits may make them great family dogs! So if you’re looking for a calm, gentle giant, then this might be the breed for you.

Komondor

A strong candidate in our search, this extra-large breed looks like it carries its great size in its coat alone. But even if you were to shave off the big bulky coat of ropes, you’d find a serious working dog with tremendous strength.

The Komondorwas bred to guard livestock. So if you happen to have a bunch of livestock that needs protecting, then the Komondor’s got you covered.

Komondors arecalm and, for the most part, quiet. They do, however, tend to use their impressively loud bark mostly at night. This is not its most desirable feature.

And since these largest dogs were bred to watch over the livestock, it is naturally territorial and can be become fiercely protective of its family. That means it’s not too crazy about the idea of outsiders such as guests, other kids or other animals outside the family circle.

So if you own a Komondor, be sure to socialize them properly from a young age, so that they do not become unnecessarily aggressive toward strangers.

Komondors are not especially playful, but they are remarkablyagile and quick to react. They also need a moderate amount of exercise.

They tend to be “too much dog” for most people, but for those who can establish themselves as the alpha early into the relationship, the Komondor can be asteady and dependable friend.

Great Pyrenees

With its impressive size, it’s easy to think that the Great Pyrenees is the largest dog on the planet. It is not the case though, and that dog is further down our selection.

What it is is ahuge and rugged dog that can look like a big white bear. It is a mellow and quiet breed that needs long daily walks, well balanced byopportunities to stretch out and lounge.

These dogs love the snow and will happily pull a cart or a sled or carry a backpack on romps through the snowy woods. A working dog, the Great Pyrenees likes to feel useful.

Similar to the Komondor, they were bred to guard livestock. So the Great Pyrenees is also patient with its own family but can get overprotective when neighbors, their kids, or their pets take it upon themselves to join in the fun. So once again, proper socialization from the time they are a puppy is quite vital with this breed.

These tall dogs have a deep and impressive bark that it likes to exercise at night. They also have a tendency to roam.

What they lack in silliness and playfulness, they make up in seriousness and steadiness. And for some of them, a lot of saliva. These can be great dogs but are likely not what you are looking for if you are a first-time dog owner.

READ MORE: 17 Big White Dogs You Can’t Help But Love

Anatolian Shepherd

Coming in at up to a sizeable 150 pounds the Anatolian Shepherd is definitely deserving of its inclusion on our list of largest dogs. One of the biggest dogs in the world, this tall breed is native to Turkey and is known for its endurance and agility.

The Anatolian Shepard has a thick neck and a large, round head. They tend to be affectionate, smart, loyal and protective. But with that protectiveness comes a suspicion toward strangers. They like to keep their family safe, so make sure to introduce them to plenty of strangers so that they don’t view everyone as a threat.

This large dog will carefully monitor and watch strangers that enter its circle, but will not get aggressiveunless provoked. They will also bark a lot in this situation.

Don’t let the large and rugged frame of this dog fool you. The Anatolian Shepard is graceful and athletic, an impressive feat for a dog of its size.

Tosa Inu

It may not be the biggest breed, but it could be the least well known. The TosaInu is in the mastiff family and is a study in opposites.

On the one hand, this massive breed is quiet, calm, and chilled. But the moment it’s aroused, it becomes an energized and active powerhouse.

This heavy breed possesses immense power and it loves weight pulling. Some TosaInus have been known to pull more than 3000 pounds. This comes as less of a surprise when you consider its bulky, muscular frame.

The TosaInu is happy and friendly with people – especially when it knows it’s not the alpha. It does tend to have animal-aggression though, which can be problematic for the other four-legged members of the family.

Newfoundland

Withan average height of 30 inches and weighing between 130-145 pounds,the massive Newfoundland could be considered by some as one of the biggest and tallest dog breeds in the world. It’s also certainly among the strongest.

With their black coat, broad and massive head, strong neck, deep chest, and long legs, they can appear intimidating. The reality is that behind all of that size and power is a social, intelligent and steady-tempered dog.

The Newfoundland is sensitive to its master’s voice and is easily trained. They are protective and devoted to their family,and very rarely bark.

And they love kids. They just need to be supervised around small children because of their giant size. If you are searching for the perfect large dog for your family, the Newfoundland certainly warrants your consideration.

Leonberger

This noble breed with its tawny coat is calm and steady, yet bold and athletic.

The Leonberger is a workingdog that enjoys swimming, tracking, therapy work, and weight pulling. Strangely enough, though, the Leonberger is not a fetcher, as it is not inclined toward this activity.

A loyal and lovingdog who thrives on being part of the family, it can be discriminating with strangers though rarely aggressive. And its deep throaty barkwould scare off any would-be intruder.

Though a Leonberger will do well with humans, they tend to have dog aggression. Especially if the other dog is also a Leonberger of the same gender.

This is a breed that needs to learn how to heel because it is powerful enough to pull its human owner right off his or her feet. So be mindful of these behavioral traits if you are considering this breed, as they can be a lot to handle sometimes.

And Leonbergerslove to play in their water bowls, dunking their heads in, coming up slobbering and trailing it through the house. Just be aware that they can be messy!

Greyhound

With its long and sinewy body,the Greyhound is not the biggest dog breed, but it’s certainly one of the most dignified.

In fact, this shiny-coated breed moves so lightly, quietly and gracefully, it’s often likened to a cat.

The Greyhound is definitely the fastest dog breed. They were bred for a long time to be race dogs, with their ability to outrun a horse in a sprint. They’re short distance sprinters though and are easily tired after that burst of energy.

This breed is sensitive and prefers peaceful environmentswith soft-spoken people. They alsoprefer the company of their quiet owner overpeople they don’t know approaching them.

Generally speaking, Greyhounds will fare well with medium or large dogs, but because of their heritage, they are inclined to chase cats andlittle dogs. They can be trained to not do this, however.

Sometimes the Greyhound can be touch-sensitive so training must be done taking that into consideration. They rarely bark and are not aggressive.They will freeze when challenged or attacked. Greyhounds are certainly unique dogs, but they could be a great dog for you if you enjoy their quirky traits.

So in spite of their imposing size, theydo not make ideal guard dogs.

Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound can be calm, goofy, and playfuldepending on the situation. But across the board, this gentle giant with a wiry coat and a whiskered face is easygoing and reliable.

In those first three years, Irish Wolfhounds can be gawky and clumsy. This can be a potentially destructive time, but the payoff is worth it.

Most members of this dog breed are friendly and actually expect to be petted. The Irish Wolfhound isn’t hard-wired to be a guard dog, but this a good thing, considering that it’s pretty close to being the biggest dog breed in the world.

The Irish Wolfhound is usually good with other animals but does loveto chase, tackle, and then pounce on anything that moves rapidly. And it does need to be regularly exercised.

Thesweet and sensitive nature of this breed makes iteasy to train. However, Irish Wolfhounds respond better topositive rewards than heavy-handed jerking.

A relaxed, friendly breed, the Irish Wolfhound could be a perfect choice if you are looking for a huge dog on the lower end of the maintenance scale.

Shiloh Shepherd

TheShiloh Shepherd looks similar to a German Shepard. And that makes sense.

This breed was developedin the 1960s from selected German Shepherd lines carefullycrossed with a few other breeds. The result was theShiloh Shepherd.

Though not the biggest dog ever, the Shiloh Shepherd is larger than the average German Shepherd. Ittends to have a calmer andgentler nature than the German Shepherd.

The Shiloh Shepherd isn’t a vigorous breed, but they are known for their stamina. They need a lot of daily walksand some playful romping to stay fit.

Unlike the German Shepherd, Shiloh Shepherds almost never participate in protection dog sports. They love to swim, pull carts and sleds, and have been used in Search and Rescue efforts though.

A Shiloh Shepherd can be longhaired and shorthaired. Additionally, its intelligent and easy-going nature makes it an agreeable big dog breed.

Saint Bernard

Saint Bernards were once thought to be the biggest of dog breeds. Though that’s no longer the case, this breed is still impressively huge.

That being said, in spite of their majestic size,Saint Bernards do not like to be left alone. They crave companionship and if they are left alone for too long they can become depressed and even destructive.

This giant dog breed needs a lot of exercise, although it won’t always appear to want to rise from its lounging spot. The Saint Bernard is chilled out and accepting of pretty much every human.

There can be some dog aggression though, which could be dangerous since the Saint Bernard is so massive and powerful. Because of this, effective socialization around other dogs is key from the time your St. Bernard is a puppy.

And when it comes to drooling, slobbering, and snoring, the Saint Bernard holds the top spot.

Great Dane

Also in the running for the biggest dog is the Great Dane. Coming in as thetallest dog breed ever, this humungous breed is well known for its towering height of up to 3 feet tall and weighing up to 200 pounds.

Great Danes were originally developed to be hunting dogs. But they can also remarkably sensitive and gentle – qualities not generally associated with a hunting dog.

There’s no way around it though. The affectionate and charming Great Dane is sweet and playful and loves to be around itsfamily.This makes it well suited to be a therapy dog as well.

The tall Great Dane does well around children and they do need a moderate amount of exercise to maximize their lifespan. Though not watchdogs, their size alone serves to deter possible intruders. Who wouldn’t be intimidated by a large Great Dane in their way after all?

So What is the Biggest Dog in the World?…

English Mastiff

In terms of sheer mass, theEnglish Mastiff is considered the biggest dog ever! Although it has an average shoulder height of 27-33 inches tall, it can weigh between 150-250 pounds.

In fact, the Guinness World Record holder for heaviest dog belongs to the English Mastiff breed.

The heftiest English Mastiff on record tipped the scales at343 pounds!

Yet it hasn’t let its size go to its head. The biggest dog ever is calm and quiet and likes to spend ample time lounging and stretching.

It is important to provide plenty of exercise to help your English Mastiff live longer, even if it would prefer to stay in its resting position. While they can be mildly stubborn in matters like this, they’re generally good-natured and will respond.

Like the St. Bernard, this other gentle giant needs companionship. And the English Mastiff is big on snoring, slobbering and drooling, so their companions need to be amenable to this.

Wrapping Up the World’s Largest Dogs

We hope you have enjoyed our list of the 15 largest dogs in the world. While it is tough to define “biggest” dog, be it by heaviest, tallest, widest, or simply the strongest, these dogs all offer something that makes them big in their own way. One thing is for sure, small dogs have nothing on these guys.

When deciding to bring a big dog into your home, make sure you do all the proper research. These massive dogs often come with their own massive list of needs and requirements.

They are often a lot of work and are not for everyone. But if you are willing to put in the time and effort to meet their needs, we think you will find that any big dog can be an excellent companion.

Do you have a dog breed you’d like to see in the running for the world’s biggest dogs? For example, do you think the stocky and powerful Dogue de Bordeaux should be on our list? Let us know in the comments below!

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