Big dog breeds may look intimidating at first, but most are anything but fierce. Many are gentle, affectionate giants, sometimes a little lazy, but always full of love. These oversized fur babies will steal your heart in an instant and leave a lasting mark on your life.
It’s true that giant breeds can come with challenges. They need more space, eat more food, and are prone to health issues like hip dysplasia and arthritis. They grow from fluffy puppies to massive marshmallows in no time, and sadly, their lifespans are often shorter than those of smaller dogs.
But when you experience the unconditional love of a giant dog, even for a shorter time, it’s worth every moment. So, let’s take a look at these incredible gentle giants and what makes them so special!
Heaviest Dog Breeds That Weigh The Most
1. Great Dane
If you are in the market for the biggest dog breed ever, then the Great Dane is the only one who’ll fit the bill. These massive giants can weigh as much as 175 pounds and reach a height of 30 to 32 inches.
Whenever this majestic pup tries to hug you, it’ll feel like you are hugging another tall human. These pups are quite loving and affectionate and were originally bred to be hunting dogs for large game like wild boar, deer, and bears.
But nowadays this large breed of dog is chilling in modern homes. Pawlicy Advisor states these mastiff-sight hound hails from Germany and have also been used in the development of the strong boxers (not the humankind but furry ones).
Great Danes have incredible guarding and protective instincts because they have served as guard dogs for German nobility, but would rather prefer being pampered and cuddled with because they have contributed just too much and want some peace and solitude now.
But don’t just give them all the credit because their strong and tall ancestors, the English mastiff and the Irish wolfhound, are giving you a side eye for just giving all the attention to the great Dane or Deutsche Dogge
2. Leonberger
The Leonberger is another massive-sized pup on the list who is known for its German origin and unique talents and attributes. Because Germany just has too much to offer to the world, they developed a giant breed to leave a giant paw print on the history of the world.
But let’s not talk about the talented Germans; their pups can speak for themselves. The Leonberger is a giant dog breed, whose name is derived from the city of Leonberg in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
PetMD says this thick double-coated giant pooch is an elegant dog but with a dramatic presence and a lion-like mane. But of course, why wouldn’t it be when it is a proud and capable family dog, working dog, and search and rescue dog all the same time? But their extent of the talent of this pooch doesn’t end here. It also has webbed feet and can swim, run, and almost fly in the air (just joking).
The Leonberger is completely exceptional, an outstanding pup who, if well socialized and trained, can prove as a self-assured, confident, and obedient doggo who is loving towards family members and children. Marvellous protectors that are robust, loyal, and intelligent, a Leonberger is a force to be reckoned with.
3. Newfoundland
Looking for a mighty dog breed that can beat your swimming record? You just reached the right place just in time. The newfie is an exceptional swimmer and water rescue dog that can even bear icy water because of its webbed feet and thick double coat, which is water-resistant.
Hailing from Newfoundland, Canada, this excellent family dog is extremely friendly, caring, and gentle; the Newfoundland is known for taking care of kids in an adorable way.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), Newfoundlands are also called nanny dogs. These pooches just love to share some family time, will adore your babies even more than you, and protect them from all harm.
Moreover, these pooches also make great playmates and exercise partners who’ll happily accompany you on your runs and jogs in the morning. They prefer spending time in the outdoors and are only a bit bigger than a golden retriever, with an average weight of 130- 150 pounds and a height of 25 – 28 inches.
4. Irish Wolfhound
Here comes the pup who is among the tallest dog breeds of them all, the Irish wolfhound. This pup was originally bred for hunting wolves in Ireland, but when the last wolf died. The number of these incredible pooches also dwindled, but thankfully, they were revived and are still a big part of our human lives.
PDSA says the Irish Wolfhound is a massive dog breed that needs care and proper handling; they need bigger spaces to live and love to play in a big, fenced yard. This dog was a favorite of the coursing hunters and has also been honored by being declared the regimental mascot of the Irish Guards.
These large sighthounds have left such a big mark on the world that they have inspired poetry, literature, and mythology. These pooches can dispatch game caught by other swifter hounds easily. Nowadays, an Irish wolfhound rests in a big mansion with its owner and loves to relish the luxury of modern living.
These pooches who used to love hunting down wolves now love to comfort of fluffy couches and relaxing beds, hence make sure they exercise their muscles and stretch their long legs from time to time, or their health would decline.
5. Saint Bernard
This theatrical hero is often fought over by the Swiss and the Italians, each debating that this pooch is theirs to own. But in reality, it originated near a hospice located near the Saint Bernard pass, which lies right in the middle of the Italian and Swiss Alps. These mountain rescuers are venerated for their noble job, amidst the harsh climates and dangerous avalanches.
Orvis mentions they are seen as the hope of life for the stranded alpine hikers and monks who believe these pooches will even risk their lives to bring them to safety, and they do. But did you know Saint Bernards almost got extinct because of their highly demanding jobs among the white death? We bet you didn’t and were still taking these beautiful, heavy pooches for granted.
But just to bring to your knowledge, these pooches were revived with the help of several breeds, including the mighty mountain guardian, the great Pyrenees, whose blood was used to bring the Saint Bernard back from the dead.
Nowadays, the Saint Bernard enjoys life in the countryside by chilling beside the campfire and contemplating his life choices.
The life expectancy of this fluffy dog breed is 8 to 10 years, and this pooch has a weight of 120- 180 pounds (Oh, he’s a heavy big dog) and has a height of 32 to 37 inches.
6. Bernese Mountain Dog
This tricolored puppy will cost you a fortune, and you might even have to leave them some of your inheritance. The Bernese Mountain dog is a unique pup that has a weight of 80 to 115 pounds.
These pups belong to the Sennen Hund family of Swiss mountain dogs and are known to be quite a friendly and gentle breed, standing at a height of 25 to 28 inches, even though they come from high mountains.
Omlet explains that these pups might even make friendly dogs that socialize with the enemy, aka strangers, if they are well socialized from a young age. And although they belong to the working dog group, where every dog is high on energy and always ready to work. These Bernese Mountain dogs love to chill on the couch and sleep on your bed with the air-conditioning on high.
The Berners can end up taking life too easy; hence, make sure to remind them of who they are and what they were born to do. Or else they’ll destroy their health and turn into troublemakers, and become difficult to manage. Otherwise, these pups make great house dogs and family pets.
7. Scottish Deerhound
This scraggly-looking breed of dog might not be the most handsome pup there is, but it is the most faithful and loving pooch. This large dog breed is one of the most popular Scottish hunting hounds that were originally bred for hunting deer.
VCA Animal Hospitals says this hound of the highlands makes a wonderful family pet for active families that appreciate its friendly and gentle nature. This pup needs a lot of exercise to keep it in shape and also thrives in spacious homes with a big yard. This large breed has an average weight of 85 to 110 pounds and a minimum height of 30 inches.
The Scottish deerhound doesn’t like being left alone because they form strong bonds with their family, are so friendly that they even behave well with strangers, and are rarely aggressive (and there goes your dream of making it a guard dog).
These polite pups that are the “Royal Dogs of Scotland” are a majestic coursing hound and are a majestic pup who is also one of the tallest dog breeds in the world, standing at a height of 32 inches.
These pups are an ancient breed that was originally bred to hunt the giant wild red deer of Scotland. Scottish Deerhounds have a crisp coat which comes in many shades, of which the dark blue-grey coat is the most famous.
8. Dogue de Bordeaux
If someone asks you to define this majestic creature in four words, just say muscular pup, wrinkly skin. This dog is an enigma, and if you search for the Dogue de Bordeaux on a search engine, it would say this pup is a fascinating breed of dog that is known for its ugliness, strength, loyalty, and affection. This pup is a very large dog breed that needs a lot of help in maintaining a healthy weight and well-being.
Purina says the Dogue de Bordeaux is also called the Bordeaux mastiff or French mastiff. This pup is extremely muscular and tough. These giant dog breeds came into being because of the Romans, who used their ancestors in warfare, notably they walked beside Julius Caesar’s legions and entered France, where these ancient dogs were bred with the local breeds available in that region to give rise to the Dogue de Bordeaux.
This old and impressive dog, which has been used for many purposes from guarding, hunting, pulling carts, and even fighting. These pups are a brachycephalic breed; hence, they are prone to BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome).
These not-so-adorable pups are adored because they are sensitive and gentle souls. If provided with training and socialization from a young age, you can subdue their stubborn nature.
However, Dogue de Bordeaux is not an ideal pet for everyone; they need a lot of exercise, training, space, and attention. They are also heavy droolers and need constant grooming and proper health care. The Dogue de Bordeaux has a height of 23 to 27 inches and an average weight of 120 to 140 pounds.
9. Great Pyrenees
Did someone mention anything about the huge dogs? When the noblest of them all is sitting at the bottom of the list. The great Pyrenees is offended, and you do not want to take a challenge from this one in particular because he is known for tearing down wolves and bears.
These giant breeds originated in the Pyrenean mountains of the Basque Country, which lies between Spain and France. These friendly pooches have an interesting history where they started as sheep herders and livestock guardians in the mountains of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, but eventually migrated westward to a beautiful land of high waterfalls, rough terrain, and steep cliffs, much like Simba from The Lion King.
These pups became famous as the great mountain dogs in the royal courts of France for their protection skills, strength, and beauty, and were also honored with the title of Royal Dog of France in 1675 by King Louis XIV.
Another amazing fact that you should know about the Great Pyrenees is that they are nocturnal and will often be heard barking in the dark, to keep intruders and predators away.
Conclusion
If you are still with us till the end and are wondering which dog is the heaviest, largest, or tallest pup in the world right now? Then let us tell you about a great Dane named Zeus that holds the world’s tallest dog title and is an impressive height.
However, the current reigning champion for the world’s largest breed is owned by a dog named Kevin who stands at 3 feet, 2 inches tall. Furthermore, the heaviest dog breed in the world is an English mastiff named Aicama Zorba, which weighed an astonishing 343 pounds and was recognized by the Guinness book of World Records in 1987 for its weight.
P.S. All the largest breeds of dog are more susceptible to illnesses, hence it is advised to take health insurance and take your large dogs to the vet every few weeks or when they seem too lazy to get them checked for all things concerning. Big breeds usually don’t live longer, but deserve loving and caring homes just like all the other dogs on the planet.
If you have enough financial strength, try giving these big dogs a loving home. Preferably, adopt a pooch from a local shelter rather than buying an expensive pup from an ethical breeder, because there are many abandoned dogs available in shelters that are waiting for a caring owner to choose them.
