Big dog breeds like the Great Dane or Irish Wolfhound often inspire awe. There’s even a couple of biggest dog in the world Guinness World Records. If you’d like to know more about the most recent tallest dog Kevin and other giant dog breeds with record titles, keep reading…
When it comes to determining who’s actually the biggest dog in the world there are two answers.
- Biggest dog in the world by height
- Biggest dog in the world by weight
Giant dog breeds often excel in one of these two ways, so it makes perfect sense to measure their largess accordingly. Find out more.
In this article
- Tallest dog Kevin, dies after earning Guinness record
- Predecessors to the tallest dog Kevin
- Great Dane is the w orld’s tallest dog ever
- Biggest dog in the world by weight
- The top 10 biggest dog breeds in the world
- Things to consider about big dog breeds
- Giant dog breed health concerns
- Why should you switch to PD Insurance?
Tallest dog Kevin, dies after earning Guinness record
The record holder for Tallest Living Dog was announced in June ’24 as Kevin, a Great Dane from Iowa. Sadly, just days after being newly minted as the biggest dog in the world, the three year old giant fell ill and passed away after unplanned surgery.
Kevin measured a massive 97cm tall from his feet to his shoulders (withers) and a more than two meters when standing. Here’s a video of this big dog in action:
Predecessors to the tallest dog Kevin
Prior to the Tallest Living dog being Kevin, the ‘World’s Tallest Dog’ and ‘Tallest Living Dog’ Guinness World Record holders were also Great Danes. It just so happens they were also both named Zeus!*
Perhaps Zeus, meaning the supreme god of ancient Greek mythology, sums up the personality of the biggest dogs in the world? Seems fitting for these giant dog breeds to have such glorious names packed with history. Let’s take a look at both these big doggy pals.
Great Dane is the world’s tallest dog ever
Zeus the Great Dane was crowned in 2012 and 2013 as the ‘World’s Tallest Dog’ according to Guinness Book of World Records. This fabulously giant dog from Otsego, Michigan, measured in at 112cm in 2011 and died in September 2014 at the age of almost 6 years.
Previous tallest living dog passes away in 2023
Sadly, the World’s Tallest Living dog before Kevin passed away due to bone cancer.
This grey and brown American Great Dane was whose name was also Zeus was born in Bedford, Texas in November 2019. When the Guinness World Record holder for ‘Tallest Dog Living (male)’ was awarded to him he stood at 105cm (3 ft 5.18 in).
Sadly, Zeus number two passed away in September 2023 during the early hours of the morning with his head gently resting in mum Brittany’s lap.
The record is now once again open for new contenders as we bid farewell to the gentle giant Zeus. That’s one hefty dog mountain they’ll need to surpass. Zeus leaves a legacy that’s helpful to any future owners of big dog breeds.
Can’t quite picture what a 105cm dog looks like? Luckily, there are videos of the biggest dog in the world, so you don’t need to use your imagination:
A few tips we can learn from Zeus about owning big dog breeds
Zeus was the largest pup in a litter of five. He lived at home with his three miniature Australian Shepherd siblings. Zeb was his favourite brother and he loved wrestling with him.
Feeding big dog breeds
Those interested in owning a large breed should be prepared to spend quite a bit of money on dog food, says Brittany Davis (Zeus’s mom). Zeus was fuelled by six cups of large breed dog food in the morning and six cups in the afternoon. Occasionally, this colossal canine enjoyed a fried egg and ice cubes, his favourite treat.
Here’s more about pet food, since feeding your big dog breed the right portion and type of food is important for their health and longevity:
Pet proofing for dogs big and small
The baby’s pacifier was one of Zeus’ favourite things to steal off the counters. But as you can imagine, any food left on the kitchen counters was also fair game.
Dogs often have interesting ‘habits’ like stealing food off counters or chewing your furniture to shreds. This might be enough to motivate you into pet proofing your home (and knowing how to pet proof your car)! And while you wait for them to grow out of the baby stage, here’s our puppy teething survival guide.
Biggest dog in the world by weight
Some dogs are naturally heavier than others, obviously. But because of a rise in obesity, diabetes in dogs, and other weight-related health issues, there’s no longer a title awarded for the heaviest dog in the world by Guinness World Records.
When there was one, the Saint Bernard and Old English Mastiff were jointly recognised for the title.
If you own one of these giant breeds, you’ll need to make sure your budget covers ‘big dog stuff’. Big dog beds, big dog toys and food tend to come with bigger price tags than small ones. After all, you’re basically feeding and sheltering a small pony! 😂
The top 10 biggest dog breeds in the world
Without further ado, here are the top 10 big wigs of the dog world:
1. Great Dane
2. Irish Wolfhound
3. English Mastiff
4. Saint Bernard
5. Leonberger
6. Newfoundland
7. Anatolian Shepherd Dog (Kangal)
8. Pyrenean Mountain Dog
9. Scottish Deerhound
10. Hungarian Kuvasz
Things to consider about big dog breeds
If you’re thinking of getting one of the biggest dogs in the world – even if not THE biggest – make sure you understand their specific needs. It’s important to realise they need the correct nutrition to support their large frame as they grow, for a start. Most importantly, your vet can advise you on a good diet.
Your big dog’s health can also be boosted by fresh whole foods like sweet potato, celery and cauliflower (to name a few) that are full of live enzymes. Moreover, whole foods contain fibre, which aids digestion and improves stool quality.
Why not give our what can dogs eat and what bones can dogs eat articles a read. Also learn about things that can poison your pet (food, plants and more). Meanwhile, a sneaky way to get your fussy fur kid to eat their veggies is to make a big deal out of it. Dogs are very intuitive creatures, often taking their cues from their hoomans. If you’re excited about that carrot stick, they’ll be too!
Giant dog breed health concerns
Generally speaking, it’s worth being aware that the biggest dog breeds tend to have a shorter lifespans overall than small dog breeds. There are a few health conditions you may want to research for this giant dog breeds so you can take preventative measures.
- Musculoskeletal conditions
By and large, hip dysplasia in dogs is more common in bigger breeds, as is arthritis in dogs and cruciate ligament problems.
- Eye conditions
Look out for entropion too, something that occurs when the eyelids in dogs roll inwards or outwards. As a result, the eyelashes constantly rub against the cornea, irritating it. The disease is not exclusive to large breed dogs, but it’s nevertheless important to be aware of. Recurring conjunctivitis and other eye infections, and eye ulcers are all likely symptoms of entropion.
- Injuries
If your giant Great Dane excitedly jumps up at someone or your Saint Bernard tugs hard on the lead while you’re walking them, there could be injuries aplenty. So, puppy training is a non-negotiable with giant breeds. Perhaps you should look into third party liability pet insurance too.
Why should you switch to PD Insurance?
Why not? Our award-winning dog insurance plans keep it real, like your big ‘ole pup. They’re simple and low in cost yet full of value, with quick claims and no lock-in contracts.
Is your gentle giant already insured elsewhere? We’ve got you. We’ll pay money towards your switching fee your current insurer charges and waive any waiting periods if your pet has been insured for 12 months or more. Nothing to lose, plenty to gain…
When you buy an award winning online PD Insurance policy (whether it’s for the biggest or littlest dog in the world) we’ll also give you one or more months of FREE pet insurance. Click below to get a quote.
*At the time of writing