The tallest dog in the world is the Great Dane: photo and height

History of the breed

The Great Dane is a working breed belonging to the Molossian group of dogs. The ancestors of the Great Dane appeared on the territory of Europe during the Great Migration. Strong and heavy dogs were brought with them by the nomadic people of the Alans, who filled the expanses of Western Europe in the 3rd-5th centuries.

The Alans settled on the territory of the Apennine Peninsula and modern Germany. The ancestors of Great Danes were used during battles and for protection. They were considered formidable war dogs.

Crossing alien mastiffs with the Irish Wolfhound and the English Greyhound led to the emergence of a new subspecies. Its representatives became more mobile, so they began to resort to their help in driven hunting of large game, in particular bears. Such activities were common only among the upper classes of society, so the breed was considered aristocratic. Over time, these dogs began to be bred as companions.

Among those who put a lot of effort into the development of the breed, it is important to mention Count Viderd de Sanclair. The name “Great Dane” was given to the descendants of Molossian dogs in 1878. Before that, “Great Dane” was the name given to large and strong dogs that were not representatives of a specific breed.

At the same time, a committee of breeders was created in Germany to breed animals of this type. The first breed standard appeared in 1880. Interestingly, since 1965, the Great Dane has been considered the symbol of the American state of Pennsylvania.

LiveInternetLiveInternet

Today I heard on the radio that a woman got herself a dog, which has rapidly grown to a very large size, and when she walks with it, they often ask: what kind of animal is this? This dog is huge! I was very interested in this and this is what it turned out to be: The largest dog in the world

George (blue dane) is a dog that became famous and made its owners famous due to its impressive size. Despite the fact that the dog is only 4 years old, it already weighs about 110 kg. The length of the paw is about 110cm, and the total length of the dog (from tail to nose) is 221cm. Its length is slightly less than the height of the tallest person!

On February 22, 2010, the owners from Arizona (USA) received a response from the Guinness Book of Records... And now their dog can officially be called the largest dog in the world. George started living with his current owners only at 7 weeks of age. They never expected it to become so huge! When there was not enough space in their old house for such a huge dog, they were forced to move.

Interestingly, the dog consumes more than 50 kg of dog food every month.

The American expert, after meeting with George, said that this is undoubtedly the largest dog he has ever encountered in his entire 45 years of work experience.

Top 10. The world's largest dogs.

1. English Mastiff

An ancient English breed of Great Dane, the largest Great Dane in Europe and the largest of the mastiffs, its weight reaches 113 kilograms. Originally used as a guard dog and also for baiting large animals.

2. Great Dane

Giant size dog breed. In terms of size, it is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. The height of Great Danes at the withers: males are at least 80 cm, females are at least 72 cm, and weight can be up to 90 kg. The Great Dane's character is calm, but it is worth remembering that these dogs, not realizing their physical size, can easily be knocked to the ground.

3. Irish Wolfhound

A breed of hunting dogs of enormous size. The Irish Wolfhound has remarkable growth and impressive appearance, very muscular, strong but elegant build, with light and swift movements. The height of an adult male is from 79 centimeters at the withers, weight is from 55 kilograms.

4. Scottish Deerhound

A breed of hunting greyhound dogs for baiting - unarmed deer hunting. It is better suited than other dogs to catch and kill red deer. Male height is from 76 centimeters, weight is 45-50 kilograms.

5. Leonberger

Large breed of dogs. The name of the breed comes from the name of the city of Leonberg in southwestern Germany. Its creator is the mayor of the city, Heinrich Essig, who was engaged in breeding, brought together Landseers with St. Bernards, and then mixed in the blood of a Great Pyrenees mountain dog. The height of a male dog starts from 72 centimeters.

6. Newfoundland

A popular dog breed originally used as a working dog in Canada. These are large dogs with long, thick black or brown hair and a thick undercoat; white spots are allowed on the chest and paws. The Newfoundland has membranes between its toes. In the CIS, the Newfoundland is called a diver, this is incorrect; the variety of Newfoundland bred in the USSR is called a diver. The height of a male dog starts from 71 centimeters, weight from 68 kilograms.

7. St. Bernard

A breed of large dogs. There are two varieties: short-haired and long-haired. According to one version, like the English Mastiff, it descends from Tibetan mastiffs, which were brought to Europe and crossed with local dogs. According to another version, these are Roman fighting mastiffs, which the Romans brought with them to the Alps during their campaigns of conquest. The height of a male dog starts from 70 centimeters.

8. Caucasian Shepherd Dog (Alabai - Central Asian Shepherd Dog has the same size)

The oldest of dog breeds, it has existed for more than three thousand years. This dog is above average height. At the withers, its height reaches: in females, according to the standard, from 62 cm, in males from 65 cm, but, as a rule, these dogs are much taller and reach a height at the withers of more than 70 cm. The height of a male dog starts from 65 centimeters.

Physiological characteristics of the breed

The Great Dane is distinguished by its massive build, well-developed bone structure, expressive head and aristocratic posture. Its appearance harmoniously combines balance, nobility and proportional lines.

The body of males usually fits into a square, while females are more stretched out. According to the current standard, the height of males at the withers (the highest point on the animal’s spine) must be at least 80 cm, and that of females – 72 cm. Moreover, the length of the back should not greatly exceed the height at the withers. The dogs' weight ranges around 90 kg.

Representatives of the breed are characterized by a long and large head with a wide bridge of the nose. The dog's ears are set high, their edges close to the cheek. The neck is high and long. The withers are muscular. The limbs are strong and straight. The paws are closed in a ball, which gives them a resemblance to felines.

The Great Dane's tail is set high and tapers to a point. When the dog is relaxed, the tail is lowered, and when excited it rises noticeably. The dog's coat is short and shiny.

As for color, the standard distinguishes:

black (deep black, white spots possible);
brindle (gold with clear black stripes and a black mask);
white with black spots (pure white with torn black spots);
fawn (gold, black mask welcome);
blue (steel blue, white areas possible).

The eyes and claws of representatives of this breed are usually black. Light eyes are found only in blue and marbled Great Danes.

The biggest dog in the world

George
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest dog in the world is currently considered to be a blue Great Dane named George. Typically, individuals of this dog breed weigh no more than 60-70 kg, but the weight of this dog is as much as 114 kilograms! His height is 2 m 13 cm, and his length from nose to tail is 221 cm!

According to the pet's owner, Dave Nasser from Arizona, the animal was brought into the house by his wife Christy - at that time the puppy was only seven weeks old. However, even then he had outstanding dimensions.

George continued to grow and the couple's daughter began to ride him like a pony. Despite its gigantic size, the record holder is very loyal and kind, although it takes up a lot of space and also knocks down many objects along its path. He loves to sleep on his owners' bed, leaving practically no room for them to sleep. The funny thing is that George is afraid of small dogs (such as Chihuahuas) and swimming in the pool for fear of drowning. And in general the pet is quite cowardly.

The pet eats a lot - every day he gobbles up to several kilograms of food. Despite all the difficulties, Dave and Christy love George, because thanks to him they visited, in particular, the Oprah Winfrey show, and also got into the Guinness Book of Records.

By the way, the dog has his own website and page on Facebook.com

Bulldozer

Another record holder is a wolfhound named Bulldozer. This name was given to the dog by its owner Alexander Khudyakov - when he saw the trail left behind by an unusually large puppy walking through freshly fallen snow, he immediately formed an association with construction equipment. The weight of the Bulldozer, meanwhile, reaches 130 kilograms, so it should be included in the Guinness Book of Records.

The dog is famous for its magnificent character. So, the wolfhound is simply unshakable - the neighbor boys simply love to ride him, but if he doesn’t want to do this, then there is no way to force him. But the guys are unable to move 130 kg of weight. Why, guys, not even every adult man can move him... At the same time, the Bulldozer never attacked or bit anyone.

Of course, the dog has excellent physical characteristics. True, he does not participate in battles, but he is an excellent household guard and saves livestock from attacks by predators, for example, a jackal or a wolf.

Over the eight years of his life, Bulldozer has won so many awards that they barely fit on the top shelf of the closet. The now middle-aged dog eats about one kilogram of meat and a pan of porridge per day. Alexander also walks with him every day.

Over the course of his long life, by dog standards, the huge dog produced a considerable number of offspring, all of them champions. For example, granddaughter Elita is the Russian champion in conformation, and Yars is the Russian champion in testing. True, the weight of the “relatives” is much lower, but still very considerable - about 90 kilograms.

English Mastiff

If we talk about breeds, the English Mastiff takes first place here. It is believed that the ancestor of this beautiful breed is the Tibetan Mastin, which lived in the territories of such states as Babylon, Ancient Egypt, Assyria and Ancient Greece. Not long ago, during archaeological excavations near the city of Nineveh, scientists discovered a vase that was created in 612 BC - it depicted a large dog in armor, very much reminiscent of today's mastiffs. The same breed of dog, clad in chain mail, was used by Alexander the Great in the war against the Persians.

Already in the 11th century AD, these dogs were used to supervise slaves, hunt and military service. Moreover, the cost of the dog was enormous - 20 hounds and greyhounds were given for one such pet!

Today, the mastiff is a fairly expensive dog that requires appropriate care.

It is distinguished by its volumetric, angular head, which creates the impression of massiveness and a large body. Six is short. The color can be varied - from peach to dark; there is a black mask on the face. The eyes are small, but widely spaced. The ears are quite large and normally lie on the cheeks. The neck is of medium length, muscular. The teeth are strong, sharp, the fangs are powerful. The tail is quite thick, and when excited it rarely rises above the level of the back. The paws are large.

The average weight of a dog is about 70-75 kilograms, some specimens reach 100 kg (such cases are very rare). Height - 70-80 cm. Life expectancy is on average 8-10 years, but some individuals live up to 17 years.

German dog

The next step up is the Great Dane breed. Some specimens of this breed can reach a height of up to 80 cm at the withers, females are slightly smaller. The weight of some individuals is about 100 kg!

Despite their appearance, Great Danes have an unusually good-natured character, they are loyal to their owner and love children. But they treat strangers quite reservedly. By the way, this breed loves to hug, but holding such a “dog” is extremely difficult even for a strong man, not to mention women or children.

The color can be very different, but there are three main groups: blue, black and marbled, brindle and fawn.

Irish Wolfhound

Irish Wolfhounds are a hunting breed. The height of males can reach 80 cm, females - 70 cm, but the weight is no longer amazing - up to 60 kg. The wolfhound, although muscular, has an elegant physique.

This breed was developed by the Irish Celts, who were interested in large dogs. True, they were interested in breeding a smooth-haired breed, but the wire-haired ones eventually began to predominate, probably due to local climatic conditions.

Deerhound

The full name of the breed is Scottish Deerhound or Deerhound. As you might guess, it was bred for the purpose of unarmed deer hunting.

It is believed that these dogs appeared in the 16th century AD. At the same time, there is evidence that deerhounds appeared before our era. In Scotland, at first this breed was bred exclusively by local nobility for deer hunting. Only after the dog became known outside its homeland did it become much more popular.

The maximum height of deerhounds is 72 centimeters, and their weight does not exceed 45 kilograms. The body is powerful and lean, muscular. The most popular colors are brown, sand and gray.

Deerhounds are excellent hunters. They are able to instantly respond to the slightest rustle. They are very active, they need to be constantly on the move, but they practically do not show aggression.

Leonberger

Leonbergers were bred in the German city of the same name, in honor of which they received their name. The creator of the breed is Heinrich Essig, born at the beginning of the 19th century. He crossed three breeds: the Serbernard, the Landseerva and the Pyrenean mountain dog, resulting in the Leonberger - a strong and brave dog.

Leonbergers have a balanced character and are great with children. At the same time, they are very strong dogs, capable of guarding anything. Therefore, by the way, these dogs are often used as guards.

The height of some males can reach 75 cm and weight 80-90 kg.

Newfoundland

A fairly popular breed of dog today, which at one time was used exclusively as a working dog in Canada. Its homeland is the island of Newfoundland, in honor of which it received its name.

These dogs are not just incredibly beautiful, they are also very smart. Scientists believe that Newfoundlands are capable of making independent decisions in various situations. This probably happened due to the fact that the inhabitants of the island once used dogs in a variety of circumstances: some helped carry heavy loads, others looked after children, others were just four-legged friends... Therefore, if you need a dog that will perform If everything you say is unquestioning, then the Newfoundland is at least not the best choice, because the dog may ignore your request or simply fulfill it in his own way. But in critical situations, he almost always makes the right decision.

Interestingly, Newfoundlands are completely devoid of aggression. They don’t even know how to bite properly, although you wouldn’t say that when looking at a dog...

The maximum height of males reaches 71 cm, and weight is about 70 kg.

Great Dane character

The Great Dane is a watchman, companion and bodyguard. His basic traits are balance, calmness and goodwill. But if there is a threat to the owner, the attacker will be in trouble, especially since Great Danes are distrustful of strangers. However, you can safely go to public places with them.

Great Danes are quite active; they enjoy playing chase and fetch. Dogs of this breed can be considered homebodies. They can lie on the floor for hours, changing their location from time to time. Great Danes are happy to show off their height by leaning on their owner's shoulders with their front paws.

They are known to be good-natured and loyal pets. This is an easy to manage companion. Great Danes treat all family members well and willingly play with children. But it is better not to leave very young children alone with a Great Dane puppy. A 5 month old puppy often weighs more than a 5 year old. While playing, he may unwittingly harm the baby.

Great Danes are not aware of their size and strength, which means that the consequences of some of their actions should not be considered deliberate sabotage. When playing with a person, they can easily knock him down, which also should not be perceived as aggression. These wise dogs are not at all prone to groundless displays of aggression.

Great Danes understand well when it is better not to disturb their owner. At the same time, they are very sociable and require a lot of attention. At a young age they are often hyperactive and not always obedient, but proper training turns them into ideal family pets.

Maintenance and care

Since the dog is big, the first thing it needs is space. There is no point in getting a Great Dane if you are the owner of a small apartment. It is also not customary to keep this aristocrat on the street. In the Russian winter, the short coat of the Great Dane is a weak protection against the cold.

At the same time, the coat of these dogs does not require special care. This means there is no need for frequent bath procedures. Taking a bath requires thoroughly rinsing off the shampoo. The fact is that detergent residue can have a bad effect on your dog’s coat. Regular walks, at least an hour a day, are especially important for the dog.

Great Danes are quite smart, so any owner can teach them basic commands. But when getting a dog of this breed, be prepared for the fact that they live no more than 6-10 years.

Origin of the breed

Despite the fact that many are sure that the Great Dane is a purely European breed, this is not entirely true. The history of the Great Dane breed begins in Tibet, where its ancestors lived. Local tribes bred them to guard their livestock. From these animals came many breeds, among which the most famous are Asian Shepherds and Tibetan Great Danes. Tibetan Danes are the ancestors of Great Danes. Over time, ancient Great Danes began to be used as fighting dogs - strong and quite aggressive.

By the first century AD, Great Danes had already spread to India, China, Mesopotamia, and Europe and became popular fighting dogs used by Germanic tribes, the Romans, the Scythians, and the Greeks. On the territory of modern Germany there were the most Great Danes. In the 10th century, ancient German hunters created the book “Geoponics”, in which seven species of mastiff dogs were described. Among them were dogs that specialized in hunting bears and boars - distant descendants of the Tibetan Great Danes. They were the direct ancestors of modern Great Danes. Since the 15th century, they have changed several names: Great Dane, Old German Mastiff, Bullenbeiser. Great Danes were used for guarding and baiting wild boars and bulls. Great Danes became the basis for the breeding of Great Danes.

The Germans actively improved the breed by crossing the Great Dane with local Great Dane breeds. At first, Great Danes were called “Ulm dogs”, since their selection was carried out by specialists from the German southern city of Ulm. In 1863, two types of Great Danes were presented at an exhibition in Hamburg - the Ulm Great Dane and the Great Dane.

In 1871, breeders began crossing Ulm and Great Danes into one gene pool to create the Great Dane breed. In 1879, Great Danes were recognized as the national breed of Germany.

In the 20s of the 20th century, the Great Dane received the title of “Apollo among dogs.” Today, Great Danes are popular not only in Germany, but throughout the world, including Russia.

Representatives of the breed included in the Guinness Book of Records

Great Danes are consistently included in the list of record holders. Not every breed can do this. Let's take a look at some of the Great Danes that have the honor of being included in the Guinness World Records list.

Nova

Male Great Danes are usually taller than females, however, for a long time the Great Dane Nova was considered the tallest dog in the world. Relying on its hind legs, it reached a height of 1.80 m . At the same time, her weight was 70 kg.

Nova lived with her owner Ann Supley in Addison (Illinois, USA). Ann loved to walk her pet in a Superman cape. Despite her impressive dimensions, Nova was afraid of unfamiliar small relatives. At the same time, she loved to play with children and was known as an excellent nanny.

Zeus

In 2013, the Great Dane Zeus was named the tallest dog. His height at the withers was 111.8 cm, and when standing on his hind legs - 2.24 m . Let us remember that the first indicator is measured from the withers to the floor. There lived a dog in a small town in Michigan (USA). The daily ration of a Great Dane consisted of 14 kg of food.

According to the giant's owner Kevin Dorlag, Zeus had an unfailing good nature. True, when the Great Dane grew up, it was difficult for him to understand why now he was not allowed to sit on his owner’s lap. Thanks to his owners, Zeus was highly socially active. In many schools and hospitals he was not only a welcome guest, but also an indispensable assistant.

In public places, Zeus did not just demonstrate his size, he took part in the socialization of children, in particular, he helped kids overcome their fear of animals. In addition, he was used for canistherapy. This is a popular rehabilitation method using specially trained animals.

Zeus died in 2014, by which time he was 5 years old.

Freddie

Currently, the tallest Great Dane in the world lives in Essex (UK). Freddie's height is 2.28 m . If the Great Dane stands on its hind legs, it will tower over its owner Claire Stoneman by 61 cm. The giant weighs more than 90 kg. Freddie lives with Claire, her family and the Great Dane Fluer.

It is not difficult to guess that the Great Dane eats an impressive amount of food. According to the owner, his favorite treats are buttered toast and fried chicken. It costs more than one thousand dollars a year to feed a dog.

Claire walks with Freddie for at least 40 minutes every day. Moreover, the walk takes place early in the morning, this way it is possible to avoid collisions with small dogs, which are often frightened by the size of the Great Dane. Claire understands that if an unpredictable situation arises, she may simply not be able to keep her pet.

A sudden encounter with a Great Dane can frighten anyone. However, if you have no evil intentions there is nothing to worry about. Size has no effect on the friendly nature of these giant dogs.

Other breed record holders

Just a couple of years before Zeus, a dog named George was entered into the Book of Records. It was also a Great Dane, only blue. He lived with a couple from Arizona, USA. The owners claimed that they did not expect to raise a giant dog at all when they bought themselves a 7-month-old puppy.

And the Great Dane grew up to be a huge dog with a height of 110 cm at the withers and a record weight for the breed of 111 kg. The owners claimed that he eats more than 50 kg of dry food per month and sleeps in a separate oversized bed. The dog died at the age of 7, the reasons for his death are unknown.

Before the record holders Great Danes, a dog of the Great Dane breed named Major was entered into the Book. He weighed about 108 kg and was 109 cm tall. Unfortunately, such huge pets do not live too long. All record holders died before reaching 10 years of age.

Great Danes are very friendly. Even dogs with huge sizes can be affectionate and obedient. The owners of the record holders for height were convinced of this, who noted that they had never seen a kinder dog. Despite their huge parameters, these pets almost always behave carefully, aware of their destructive strength and power. Owners remember their pets, who are remembered by the whole world, with constant love and longing.