The World's Largest Dog Breeds (2023)

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (1)

Dogs are man’s best friend since time immemorial. The man has used them to hunt for food as well as to provide security for his properties. During lonely times, dogs are a useful companion and having them around provides a psychological boost that helps in preventing depression. Dogs come in different breeds that also determines their size. The following breeds of dogs are among the world's largest.

10. Bernese Mountain Dog

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (2)

One of the four breeds from the Swiss Alps, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a large sized breed who was used as a farm dog but is currently used as a working dog. Bernese Mountain Dogs have a weight of 35-55 kilograms and 30-50 kilograms for male and female respectively. The height is 61-71 centimeters for male Bernese Mountain dogs and 56-66 centimeters for female. The lifespan of the Bernese Mountain Dog is 7-8 years and it has a double coat with a tricolor of rust, black and white. Cancer is the biggest killer of the Bernese Mountain Dog such as mast cell tumors.

9. Akita

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (3)

Originally bred in Japan, the Akita is a large breed of dog that has thick double coats which allow it to survive the cold weather. There are two kinds of Akitas, the American Akita and the Japanese Akita. American males weigh between 45–59 kilograms and stand at 66–71 cm, while females weigh 32–45 kilograms and stand at 61–66 cm. The Japanese Akita is a little lighter. The Akita is often intolerant towards dogs of the same sex and it needs a well-trained owner to handle the independent nature of this dog. The Akita is susceptible to autoimmune sensitivity to drugs, insecticides, and tranquilizers. The Akita is a good protection dog and it can participate in dog competitions.

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8. Black Russian Terrier

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (4)

Developed in Russia for use as a military dog, the Black Russian Terrier weighs about 50-60 kilograms if it's male and 45-50 kilograms if it's female. The height for males is 72-76 centimeters and 68-72 centimeters for females. Black Russian Terriers have a rough, thick, and slightly waved black coat that enables it to survive the cold conditions in Russia. Health concerns include hip and elbow dyslapsia, Hyperucosuria, and juvenile laryngeal paralysis. The Black Russian Terrier has a lifespan of 9-12 years.

7. Boerboel

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (5)

The Boerboel, also known as the South African mastiff, originates from South Africa where it was bred for guard purposes but was used for farm work as well. Boerboel dogs are known for their intelligence and energy as well as loyalty. The downside is that the Boerboel is quite aggressive and it has been banned or restricted in several countries due to the illegal dog fighting syndicate. The Boerboels have a weight of 60-80 kilograms and 50-65 kilograms for males and females respectively, and stand 60–70 cm tall. The coat of the Boerboel is soft, dense, short, smooth, and shiny. Colors range from faws, red, browns, brindle, piebald, and Irish markings, and the Boerboel can have a black mask. Health risks include dyslapsia and most recently juvenile epilepsy. The lifespan of Boerboel is ten years.

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6. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (6)

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a large heavy boned dog which has incredible physical strength. Many Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are used for purposes such as farm work. Loved for its calmness and enthusiasm, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a good watch dog as it can notice unusual surrounding and give a quick alarm. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has a weight of 60-70 kilograms for the male and 50-60 kilograms for females. The height for males averages 65-72 centimeters and 60-69 centimeters for the females. A tricolor is present in the head of the dog of black, rust, and white and it has a double coat. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has fewer medical problems but it is vulnerable to the Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus which if untreated can kill the dog. The GBV has killed many dogs and it is prone to deep-chested dogs. The lifespan of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog varies from country to country but it is usually between 10-11 years.

5. Caucasian Shepherd Dog

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (7)

Known as the Caucasian Ovcharka, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog has its origin in the Caucasus region. Heights for the Caucasian Mountain Dog is 72-75 centimeters for males and 65-70 centimeters for females. Weight is also different for male and female Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, 50-100 kilograms for males and 45-80 kilograms for females. The Caucasian Shepherd Dog's lifespan is 10-12 years. Health issues range from hip dyslapsia, obesity, and heart problems. The aggressive nature of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog causes it to sometimes snap at strangers without any warning.

4. Irish Wolfhound

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (8)

Gentle when stroked but fierce when provoked is the mantra used to describe the Irish Wolfhound. Irish Wolfhounds are loved for of their loyalty, patience, affection, and devotion. However, the Irish Wolfhounds would not be relied upon to protect your property but can be useful bodyguards as they can attack anyone attacking their master ferociously. Minimum weight and height for the male Irish Wolfhounds are 54 kilograms and 81 centimeters. For the female Irish Wolfhounds, the minimum weight is 48 kilograms and the minimum height is 78 centimeters. The lifespan of the Irish Wolfhound is between 6 to 10 years. Bone cancer and cardiomyopathy have been found to be the leading cause of death for the Irish Wolfhound breed. Hereditary intrahepatic portosystemic shunt also affects this breed.

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3. English Mastiff

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (9)

The mastiff is a breed of a large dog which is believed to have descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae in the 19th century. England is the origin of these large dogs. Mastiff dogs have a black mask on their faces, and their bodies are huge especially between the forelegs. Male mastiffs weigh between 68-113 kilograms and stand at 76cm, while the female mastiffs weigh between 54-82 kilograms and stand at 70cm. Mastiff dogs have a lifespan of 12 years. Mastiffs also suffer from hip dyslapsia and gastric torsion. Before purchasing a purely bred mastiff, tests must be done to check for dyslapsia among other flaws. Experts advise that the mastiff should be fed 2-3 times a day and be exercised more often to help avoid the risk of contracting gastric torsion.

2. Kangal

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (10)

The Kangal originated from Sivas, Turkey where it was used to protect the sheep from predators such as wolves, jackals, and bears. Today the Kangal is used in Namibia and Kenya by herders to ward off predators. Children love the Kangal due to its gentleness and loyalty as well as its devotion. Internationally there are different standards used to gauge the actual size of the Kangal. The measurements are the same in both sexes of the Kangal dog as well as their height, which ranges between 50-80 kilograms and between 77-86 centimeters. All Kangal dogs have a dark mask on their faces and black ears. Kangal dogs are not heavy which gives them agility in its guarding duties.

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1. Great Dane

The World's Largest Dog Breeds (11)

The Great Dane is the tallest breed of dog from Germany and it is popularly known for its gentleness as well as its giant like size. The Great Dane can weigh between 50-80 kilograms. The height of the Great Dane is 76-77 centimeters for the male and 71-76 centimeters for the female. The Great Dane has a lifespan of 8 years but some can live up to 11 years. Naturally, the Great Danes have flappy ears and have up to six acceptable coat colors of fawn and brindle, black and harlequin, mantle and blue. The Great Dane needs to be exercised daily to maintain its health. Dilated cardiomyopathy, as well as other congenital heart diseases, are found in the Great Dane.

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FAQs

What is the largest breed dog in the world? ›

The Great Dane is generally recognised as being the largest breed in terms of height – but Irish Wolfhounds and English Mastiffs as worthy contenders too.

What is the biggest American dog? ›

The Great Dane is the largest of dog breeds. Males can reach 32 inches in height and weigh up to 175 pounds, while females measure up to a height of 30 inches and can weigh between 110 and 140 pounds. While their size may be intimidating, these dogs make great family companions. They are sweet and loyal home guardians.

Is there a dog bigger than a horse? ›

English mastiffs have set the record for heaviest dog ever recorded. As size goes, English mastiffs need about as much room as a miniature horse.

What breed is Scooby Doo? ›

Scooby-Doo is a Great Dane. The character was designed by Iwao Takamoto, an animator at Hanna-Barbera. According to the American Kennel Club, Great Danes are "the mighty 'Apollo of Dogs,'" which is very unlike the silly and cowardly Scooby-Doo.

What dog has the strongest bite? ›

The Kangal is a large, muscular dog that typically weighs between 100 and 130 pounds. They have been trained to guard sheep and other flocks against giant predators such as wolves, jackals, and bears. The Kangal has a mighty bite, with a bite force of 743 PSI. It is the highest bite force of any dog breed.

What dog is bigger than a human? ›

Great Danes are known for being among the largest dogs in the world. In fact, the AKC revealed that when they stand on their hind legs, Great Danes are usually taller than most people. The typical Dane measures in at about 32 inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh up to 175 pounds.

What is the king of all dog breeds? ›

Hungarian dog breeds – komondor, the king of dogs.

What is the smartest dog breed? ›

  • Border collie. According to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man. ...
  • Poodle. ...
  • German shepherd. ...
  • Golden retriever. ...
  • Doberman pinscher. ...
  • Shetland sheepdog. ...
  • Labrador retriever. ...
  • Papillon.
Feb 23, 2023

What is the largest wolf dog breed? ›

1. Alaskan Malamute. Alaskan malamute is a huge dog and could weigh up to 45 kg. But don't be intimidated by its size, this breed of dog is really friendly.

What is a XL dog? ›

If you are a large dog lover, then you like breeds that weigh over 50 pounds and are over 24 inches tall, according to PetLife. If you are looking for even more to fall in love with, dog breeds coming in at 100 pounds and above get classified as a giant or extra-large breed.

What is the sweetest big dog? ›

Bernese Mountain Dog

One of the biggest sweethearts in the canine world is the Bernese Mountain Dog. These pups make excellent companion dogs thanks to their calm demeanor, affectionate nature and ability to adapt to just about any situation.

What are the huge fluffy dogs called? ›

The Bernese Mountain Dog, Samoyed, and Chow Chow are all big, fluffy dog breeds.

What is the biggest house dog? ›

The Great Dane has long held the record for the largest dog breed. Not only are they often the tallest breed—with Great Danes snagging Guinness World Records' title of biggest dog in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, and now, 2021.

What dog is bigger than a Great Dane? ›

Irish Wolfhound

Although Great Danes are generally larger in size, Irish Wolfhounds are known to be taller, standing around 35 inches tall on average – equivalent to the height of a donkey!

Can a woman breed with a dog? ›

This is because dogs and people have very different sets of instructions in their DNA. Their genomes are simply too different to come together and make something that will live. Their genomes cannot mix in any productive way.

What is the fastest dog? ›

It probably comes as no surprise that the fastest breed of all is the Greyhound. They are born to run, although are surprisingly lazy the rest of the time, and have an incredible top speed of 45mph.

Was there ever a giant dog? ›

Yes, the monstrous Epicyon haydeni was bigger than a Dire Wolf, bigger than a jaguar, in fact, nearly as big as a modern day African Lion, and is an exception to the rule, which I wrote in that answer. Although to be fair, these prehistoric Big Dogs weren't actually “dogs”, or Canis.

What breed is Clifford? ›

What dog breed is Clifford? Clifford is a Giant Vizsla. Although Clifford is over 10 feet tall and weighs A LOT (we don't know exactly how much because he broke the scale!), the average Viszla is only about 2 feet tall and between 45 and 65 pounds. The Vizsla breed originated in Hungary as a hunting dog.

What type of dog is goofy? ›

Anthropomorphic dog

What dog breed is Pluto? ›

bloodhound

What dog is closest to a wolf? ›

The Siberian Husky, originally and still used for sledding, is very similar to wolves. Overtime not only has the resemblance to wolves stayed similar, but the genetic composition has as well.

What dog bites harder than a lion? ›

The Cane Corso has a bite force of a massive 700 PSI. this PSI surpasses a lion (691 PSI) which is insane! This dog comes from Italy and is considered part of the mastiff family. Although they may be intimidating, these dogs are loyal and affectionate to their families.

What dog is least likely to bite you? ›

Labrador Retrievers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Newfoundlands are among the safest dog breeds that are least likely to bite, new research has found. While any dog can nip, these breeds are known for their particularly sweet-tempered spirit as long as they are treated right.

Do dogs see humans as big dogs? ›

The short answer to “do dogs think humans are dogs?” is no. Sometimes, they'd probably like us to roll in the mud with them and get as excited about the dog park. Beyond that, they probably don't think of us as tall hairless doggos with a source of dog treats.

What is a large vs giant dog breed? ›

Large breeds, classified as dogs who weigh between 51 and 90 pounds as full-grown adults, include German Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Great Danes, among many others. Dogs that weigh over 90 pounds at maturity are often considered giant breeds.

Which is bigger Kangal or Anatolian shepherd? ›

While both of these dogs appear similar enough to be the same breed, the Kangal is often larger and weighs more than the Anatolian shepherd. However, the size and weight differences for these dogs usually amounts to an inch and a few pounds, making the difference extremely subtle.

What dog cost $5000? ›

Tibetan Mastiff $3,000 – $5,000

Taking the top spot for the most expensive dog breed is the Tibetan mastiff.

Is there any dog bigger than a wolf? ›

The Irish Wolfhound grows larger than the wolf in both height and weight, given the fact that it was bred to hunt wolves.

What is the giant fluffy dog? ›

The Bernese Mountain Dog, Samoyed, and Chow Chow are all big, fluffy dog breeds. Even one of the Drummond dogs, Presley the German shepherd, are represented in this list!

Does a Kangal have a stronger bite than a lion? ›

While the Kangal is one of the largest guard dog breeds, it is still half the size of the average lion. Additionally, the lion has sharp claws and a larger jaw compared to the Kangal. However, the Kangal does have more bite force and agility compared to the average lion.

Which dog is bigger Kangal or Cane Corso? ›

The Kangal and the Cane Corso are both massive dogs. But the Kangal is bigger, at a maximum of 145 pounds compared to the Cane Corso's max of 110. Cane Corsos have short, silky fur, wrinkly muzzles, and pointed ears, while Kangals have thick, furry coats, and floppy ears.

Which dog breed is the smartest? ›

  • Border collie. According to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man. ...
  • Poodle. ...
  • German shepherd. ...
  • Golden retriever. ...
  • Doberman pinscher. ...
  • Shetland sheepdog. ...
  • Labrador retriever. ...
  • Papillon.
Feb 23, 2023

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