Top 10 Largest Dog Breeds
Whether you’re an experienced puppy parent looking to adopt another pup or it’s your first time looking to raise a canine companion, large dogs are a popular choice for many people. While some fluffy giants might be perfectly suited to first-time pet parents, others require care and training from a more experienced owner. In this article we’re going to look at the 10 Largest Dog Breeds, learning a little bit about each one as we go along.
Great Dane
The Great Dane is one of those iconic dog breeds, famous for its unique coat, muscular build and, of course, its large size. Originating as a hunting dog in 14th-century Germany (surprisingly not Denmark!), the Great Dane was bred for strength, loyalty, and its appearance, making it the perfect companion to German aristocrats. While this beautiful animal can be trained very well, at first it can be difficult to control so it might not be the ideal pet for families with young children. However, after socialization and training, the Great Dane will get on well with other pets and older children in the home. Male Great Danes can grow up to 31 inches tall, weighing in around 50 to 82 kilograms, while females are typically slightly smaller in both height and weight.
In fact, the largest dog in the world was a Great Dane named ‘Giant George’ who was a massive 43 inches tall and weighed a whopping 111 kilograms!
If you’re interested in adopting a Great Dane, you’ll be happy to know that it requires minimal grooming and rarely suffers from medical conditions. However, this athletic breed requires lots of physical and mental stimulation through playing and exercising. So, if you’re athletic and can give this dog the correct amount of exercise, training, and care then you might be the perfect match!
Leonberger
The Leonberger breed is a beautiful, caring and affectionate breed that isperfectly suited to family life with small children and other pets.
Dating back to the mid-19th century, the Leonberger was allegedly bred to resemble a lion on the coat of arms of its hometown, Leonberg, Germany. This fluffy giant is famous for its huge size and its gorgeous looks. The Leonberger has a black mask while the rest of its body can be brown or a combination of both colors and it has a thick double fur coat. Male Leonberger dogs typically weigh between 54 to 77 kilograms and grow up to around 32 inches while females weigh between 50 to 61 kilograms, growing up to 30 inches tall.
Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound truly is an ancient dog, dating back to around 1500 B.C! Legend says that the Irish Wolfhound (amongst other large dog breeds) were brought to Ireland in 1500 B.C. where they became strong hunting animals. In 391 A.D. the Irish Wolfhound was documented as being present in Rome after being gifted by the Irish. Since this dog loves to exercise and to go on exciting adventures, it needs to be cleaned thoroughly and regularly, especially since its thick, rough coat can easily become matted and dirty. This appearance makes it strikingly similar to the Deerhound, another one of the massive dog breeds in this list.
This athletic giant can grow up to 32 inches tall, possibly making it one of the largest dog breeds in the world. Male Wolfhounds weigh between 54 to 70 kilograms while females weigh just less, around 48 to 61 kilograms. Despite this dog’s giant size and origins as a hunting dog, they are caring and gentle animals that can make the perfect addition to any family, even ones with young children or small animals.
Newfoundland
The Newfoundland proves that giant dog breeds are some of the friendliest dogs in the world. Despite its huge size, this fluffy doggo is as perfectly suited to family life as it is working for various organizations. Known for its loyalty, patience and its high intelligence, the Newfoundland is one of the most affectionate and easy-going dogs out there. In fact, this gentle giant is widely regarded as being the most intelligent dog in the world! Due to its large bulky size, the Newfoundland is often misunderstood as being a lazy or slouchy dog but this couldn’t be further from the truth. This precious pup requires lots of physical stimulation through exercise and even loves to swim.
Although the breed might look slouchy or even overweight, it is in fact a strong, powerful and athletic dog breed. Instead, its thick, fluffy and heavy coat is one of the main reasons why the breed might be misunderstood as being overweight. On average, the Newfoundland grows between 26 to 28 inches tall and weighs around 54 to 68 kilograms. While it isn’t quite as tall as some other dogs in this list, it’s worth keeping in mind that this dog is longer than it is tall and its bone and muscle weight makes it weigh around the same as others.
Saint Bernard
Saint Bernard is one of those famous dogs with a strikingly identifiable appearance which means it’s unlikely to be confused with any other breed. This huge dog is much like the Newfoundland, albeit with a different appearance. Both breeds are built for the cold weather, with thick furry coats and a general intolerance for warmer climates. They share a similar lifespan (8 to 10 years) and are strong powerful dogs that work well in a family home and as search and rescue dogs. This fluffy giant is perhaps most famous for its coat which can be either short or long with brown patches around the eyes and ears, separated by a line of white fur which stretches from the top of the head to around the muzzle. While some Saint Bernard dogs have brown over the rest of their body, others can be entirely white or a combination of both.
While male St Bernard dogs grow up to 30 inches tall and weigh around 64 to 82 kilograms, females are typically smaller, growing to 28 inches and weighing between 54 to 64 kilograms. Despite its massive size, the St Bernard doesn’t require too much exercise other than a few short walks or runs dispersed throughout the day. This beautiful breed could be perfectly suited to new pet parents or experienced owners, so long as it receives the correct care, exercise and love it deserves.
English Mastiff
The Mastiff is a strong, robust and loyal breed that has endured the test of time as man’s best friend. While the breed itself has diversified into several new types of breed, the original Mastiff dates back to Caesar’s reign when it was used as a war dog. Over time the Mastiff has been a pet to nobles, fought in wars and used as a hunting dog for large games. While the Mastiff has faced many troubles over the years, including almost being wiped out entirely in England, it has remained a popular canine companion to pet parents all over the world.
With a short but thick coat, strong, muscular body and dark mask, the Mastiff is one of those instantly recognizable dog breeds whose appearance you could never forget. You can expect an average male English Mastiff to grow at least 30 inches tall and weigh around 68 to 113 kilograms. Female English Mastiffs grow noticeable shorter at around 28 inches and weigh around 54 to 77 kilograms.
Scottish Deerhound
The Scottish Deerhound has become a popular pet in recent years after being reserved solely for nobility and members of the Upper Class for most of its history. The breed was the perfect hunting companion to the Upper Class due to its large size and weatherproof coat.
Perhaps the most iconic aspect of this breed (other than height, of course) is its blue-grey coat which is usually a few inches long and is coarse or wiry. This protects it in Scotland’s harsh weather conditions and is partly the reason why the breed thrived there. In adulthood, male Scottish Deerhounds grow up to 32 inches tall and weighs up to 50 kilograms while females typically grow up to 28 inches and weigh around 43 kilograms.
Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog looks quite similar to the Saint Bernard, albeit with a longer coat which is often more varied in color. Unlike the Saint Bernard, the Bernese Mountain dog typically has larger patches of black, brown and white covering its body with spots and shades varying depending on each dog.
This breed, originating in the Swiss Alps during the 19th century, is famous for being a loving, caring, loyal and clever doggo. With its caring personality and eager-to-please attitude, the Bernese Mountain Dog fits perfectly in the family home as it does working for various organizations in its native Switzerland. Average male dogs grow around 26 inches tall and weigh up to 75 kilograms, while females grow to around the same height, they weigh slightly less, at a maximum of around 65 kilograms.
Dogue de Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux, or French Mastiff as it’s often called, is widely believed to have originated in France; however, because the breed is so old no one can be quite sure. Although the breed is popular in France and likely developed there, the exact ancestry of the breed remains a mystery. Like most of the giant dogs in this list, the French Mastiff has been used as a hunting dog, guard dog and pet over its long history. Despite it’s hunting ability, the breed is famous for being a loyal, affectionate and sensitive personality who requires thorough training and care from an experienced puppy parent. If you’re new to dog care or have a busy schedule then I’m afraid the Dogue de Bordeaux might not be an ideal choice for you.
This giant dog has a short but thick coat which is usually brown, tan or fawn (or a combination) and some can be found to have a dark mask that contrasts the rest of its coat color. Male and female French Mastiffs typically grow around 23 to 26 inches tall with males weighing up to 50 kilograms and females weighing slightly less, around 45 kilograms.
Cane Corso
At last, but not least, in our list of 10 big dogs is the Cane Corso whose large, muscular and powerful appearance is heightened by a short, thick and dark coat. Originating in Italy as a war and hunting dog, the Cane Corse is a popular Mastiff-type dog breed in its native Italy and across the world. While this powerful breed is prone to a few health conditions faced by most large dog breeds, a thorough exercise routine, nutritious diet, and adequate health care provisions are usually enough to keep this breed fit and healthy. The Cane Corso doesn’t require much grooming to keep its good looks either. With a short coat, the breed simply requires a brush and bath from time to time and its minimal shedding makes it perfect for apartment living too, just make sure they receive enough exercise if they don’t have access to a large backyard.
Despite its hunting origins, this giant canine companion can fit into family life with small children and other pets if it receives correct training and socialization. Fully grown adult male and female Cane Corso dogs grow between 24 and 27 inches tall and weigh around 40 to 50 kilograms; however, females typically grow and weigh less than males.
Take a look at our review of the Best Dog Food for Cane Corso for more options.
Final Thoughts
Now that we’ve reached the end of our list of the top 10 largest dog breeds, you should hopefully know a bit more about these wonderful, big dogs. If you’re interested in buying or adopting one of these beautiful breeds, be sure to follow up with more research to make sure you’re suited to your ideal canine companion. We hope you’ve enjoyed this article and that you’ve learned some new fascinating facts about these giant dog breeds!
Source:
- Top 10 Large Dog Breeds – PetMD
