Large breed dogs, large breed puppies: list, description and features

Every dog ​​lover has their own preferences regarding the characteristics of their pets or the dogs they would like to own. Give some fluffy Spitz dogs, while others cannot live without flat-faced pugs. Still others don’t care what breed, as long as it’s more expensive and more prestigious.

And then there are those who want grandeur – they like it if their four-legged friends are huge and majestic. There are many breeds whose representatives inevitably want to give way. Animals that are among the 10 largest dogs in the world command respect both for themselves and for their owners. All doggies are not for the weak. People without income will also have a hard time with such dogs - they eat well and a lot.

But most of the participants in the rating will be excellent bodyguards. Some impudent person will think ten times about attacking a girl if she is guarded, for example, by a Tibetan mastiff.

For your attention, the top 10 are the largest dogs in the world, the weight of which starts from almost fifty kilograms, and the height – from 60 cm. Let us note that compiling such “hit parades” is impossible with absolute infallibility. Time passes, and the situation changes. In addition, you need to take into account the difference between “serialists” and record holders. A specific representative of a particular breed may suddenly amaze the canine world with its dimensions, but its other “colleagues” may lag significantly behind the giant.

The top was based on the average between the size and weight of the dogs. An animal can be very tall, but thin and light. And vice versa, the dog may not reach the competitors at the withers, but be noticeably heavier.

We invite you to get acquainted with the largest dogs in the world - the photos will help you evaluate how big and beautiful the participants in the top are.

German dog

The breed is giant in size, one of the largest dog breeds. Height at the withers for males is 80-90 cm, for females 72-84 cm. Weight ranges from 50-80 kg. Types of coat color: black, fawn, brindle, blue, merle. The Great Dane has the following qualities: friendly, sociable, loyal to its owner and a good bodyguard.

The average lifespan of a Great Dane is 5-7 years and is considered a breed with poor health

German Shepherd

The article talks about the most popular large breed dogs. One of the first positions on the list is occupied by the German Shepherd. Puppies of large breed dogs are cute and affectionate. But before you buy a cute baby, you need to learn as much as possible about the breed.

The German Shepherd is a versatile dog. The breed was bred at the end of the 19th century in Germany. Initially, she was conceived as a shepherd, with developed protective qualities and a very strong psyche. Selection work made it possible to obtain such a dog: smart, loyal, understanding the owner at a glance.

In terms of intelligence and socialization, the shepherd dog occupies a leading position among other breeds. Large breed puppies have specific needs. It is better to take them from their mother at the age of 2.5-3 months. And as soon as the pet appears in the house, they begin to work with it. Of course, education starts small. The German Shepherd puppy is inquisitive, and if you conduct classes in the form of a game, he will grasp everything on the fly. There is no need to tire your pet while he is still small; exercise several times a day, but only for 5 minutes.

You should not allow a puppy to do things that would be prohibited to an adult dog. This rule applies to any breed of dog. Puppies of large breeds know how to elicit pity. Make unhappy eyes and beg for pieces from the table. They can brazenly climb onto a sofa or bed and quietly curl up into a ball in the hope that they will not be noticed. It looks cute, but only while the shepherd is small. And this must be stopped. An adult dog lounging on the sofa no longer seems cute. But it won’t be possible to drive it away; the animal will not understand why it is prohibited from doing what was allowed before.

As already noted, a shepherd is a large dog. Descriptions of the breed often emphasize the fact that it requires intense physical activity. This is not a couch pet, but a hard worker, so a 15-minute walk won’t get rid of it.

The dog is examined daily, the eyes, ears and mouth are checked. Dirt from the ears is removed with a cotton swab, the eyes are wiped, if necessary, with a damp swab. And an apple and special treats will help in the fight against plaque and tartar. They can be purchased at pet stores.

Leonberger

Large shaggy dog ​​with a balanced temperament. Perfect for the role of a security guard and family member. The height of a male is 72-80 cm, that of a female is 65-75 cm. Weight is 59-77 kg for a male, and 45-59 kg for a female. This breed is characterized by good nature and love for people, and is also a good companion.

• Read also:  Siberian Husky: everything about the breed from A to Z, main features

Leonbergers are family dogs, they get tremendous pleasure from games and communication.

The largest shepherd dog of the Estrela breed

The second name of this breed is the Portuguese Mountain Shepherd. The Iberian Peninsula is considered its homeland, where it protects sheep herds.

Estrels are absolutely not suitable for city life. Outside of Portugal, few have heard of these brave beauties. The Almeido family from Torres Vedras, Fatima and Jose, have been breeding them for 20 years. All the most powerful individuals came out of their nursery. But it’s difficult to meet a Portuguese person outside the country. When purchasing a puppy from a kennel in our country, you need to understand that it is unlikely that you will be able to get a purebred dog.

The standard for the Portuguese was established only in 1934. The Estreli still do their shepherding work in their homeland. There are no shortage of wolves in the mountains, but predators do not risk tangling with brave and intelligent four-legged guards. The name of the largest Portuguese cannot be named, since hardworking shepherds have more important things to do than weigh themselves and measure their height.

Estrela Shepherd

English Mastiff

The largest of the mastiffs. Despite its impressive size, this dog is gentle and good-natured. The weight of a male is about 72 kg, that of a female is 68 kg. Height at the withers, for a male - from 76 cm, for a female - from 69 cm. The English Mastiff is an excellent guard. Distinguished by calmness, stubbornness, dominance in character. Colors include black, fawn, fawn, apricot, dark fawn and silver fawn.

It has a strong attachment to its owner and loves to cuddle together.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog

A breed of large guard dogs, also called the Caucasian wolfhound. Height is above average, reaching 75 cm at the withers. The weight of an adult male is on average 50-70 kg, females - from 45 kg. He is friendly only towards family members, and treats strangers with distrust. The Caucasian wolfhound is quite aggressive, has a lightning-fast reaction and will always defend its owner.

Caucasian Shepherds get wound up very easily and are quite furious when angry.

The largest dog breed in the world: top 15

Abnormally giant breed of dog - English Mastiff

So, the best indicator in dog gigantism has remained for many years in the English Mastiff breed. This breed several centuries ago acquired the title “The largest breed of dogs in the world” and has not given up its position all this time. It is worth noting that representatives of this breed are distinguished by a real English character: calm and measured, with a beautiful heavy gait, and at the same time capable of turning from a good-natured animal into a bodyguard or guard of territories in a second. Fearless and huge, stern and strong - ideal representatives of dogs whose roots go back centuries, because records were found about this breed of dog even before our era.

Today, the most gigantic representative of this breed is considered to be Aikama Zorba from La Susa. She lived a long life and competed in hundreds of competitions and exhibitions. No one has yet outgrown her size records, but the breeders hope that her descendants will still surprise the world community. The height of the giant representative was 94 cm at the withers, and the weight category was within 155 kg, and the maximum weight was 155.58.

Another giant and famous representative of the breed is the male Hercules, who has incredible volumes - 127 kg! He is simply abnormally gigantic and his best photos were with luxurious bodybuilders. Compared to the giant dog, even the largest representatives of humanity looked very ordinary.

English Mastiff - family photo

Spanish Mastiff

Wondering what is the largest dog breed in the world? The Spanish mastiff confidently catches up with its English counterpart and regularly steps on its heels. These giant representatives, in addition to their size and pretty nature, attract attention with their edges, and especially with their beige-brown color. And, despite the fact that Spanish mastiffs are also black, brindle and brick, it is the beige-brown ones that have won the love of Internet users.

The Spanish Mastiff breed was originally bred by breeders as a farmer's assistant, so the breed was valued for its impressive size, docile nature, ease of training and, of course, the ability to protect vast territories from uninvited guests.

Today this breed is not so common on farms as in families with small children, and the mastiff is a reliable companion for a lonely person, because it is a giant furry friend!

Spanish Mastiff

Saint Bernard

Well, if we talk about St. Bernards, they have gained mega-popularity thanks to Hollywood films about huge villas, friendly families and their big and kind dogs. Of course, the St. Bernard in the review of the largest dog breeds in the world is only in bronze place, but this breed is probably the most recognizable. The reason for this is the luxurious color, long soft fur and incomparable intelligent eyes, as well as a unique good-natured character.

The descendants of the Saint Bernards were working dogs living at the foot of the Alps, and when the question arose about breeding a breed of rescue dogs, they got a good-natured, brave breed of dog that can withstand sub-zero temperatures, and also knows how to find and save people in the snow.

Saint Bernard

Saint Bernards are powerful, large dogs, distinguished by enormous strength and the ability to drag a person for several hours! This is an excellent rescuer whose love for people is inherent in genetics. Saint Bernard Benedictine is considered the heaviest dog in the world and weighs 166 kilograms 400 grams. But when his brother Major F stretched, he reached a unique size - 259 cm! Beauties and nothing more!

Pyrenean Mastiff

Another breed of mastiff was bred in the Spanish city of Aragon. In the list of the largest dog breed in the world, the Pyrenean Mastiff is in fourth place, but the docile nature and intelligence of the dogs of this breed have made the Pyrenean Mastiff a favorite breed of people who need a companion. This breed was created as a herding breed, but Pyrenean Mastiffs are excellent guide dogs, nannies and friends.

Another trump card of the Pyrenean Mastiffs is that they are ideal bodyguards. You can go out with such a friend at any time of the day, because unlike people, they sense danger in advance, and also understand without a single word how passersby are feeling.

Pyrenean Mastiff

German dog

Huge, harsh, fast and dangerous - that's all about the Great Dane. The smooth-haired breed especially successfully emphasizes muscularity, strength and power. This breed is not in first place in the list of the largest dogs in the world, but its representative Zeus is considered one of the tallest dogs in the world, his height at the withers reached 111.8 centimeters and when he wanted to drink, it was enough for him to approach the sink like a man and open the tap with your paw.

The only disadvantage of Zeus was his thin body constitution. Due to his parameters and active lifestyle, he simply did not have time to gain weight, and the tall dog was very slender, in the weight category up to 70 kg.

German dog

The Great Dane breed, despite all the severity, is very affectionate and needs constant human attention. It is worth noting that some individuals cannot live without an owner for more than a few days, even if there are enough people in its environment.

In our country, the most common breed of Great Dane is black, but the breed also includes bright harlequins, interesting brindle colors, as well as chocolate combinations.

Tibetan mastiff

In our review, the largest dog breed in the world, an honorable sixth place is occupied by the favorite breed of Tibetan monks - the Tibetan mastiff, which is also one of the oldest breeds of purebred dogs. Tibetan mastiffs served as guard dogs in Tibetan monasteries for a long time and were inaccessible to the whole world. Over time, the monks allowed this breed to accompany travelers in the Himalayas, and a little later, Tibetan mastiffs were taken all over the world, and their beauty was admired not only at exhibitions, but also in aristocratic kennels.

The Tibetan Mastiff is not just a huge dog, it is a huge fluffy dog ​​that can accelerate at decent speeds just to greet its owner first. And if the owner is in trouble, it is impossible to stop the mastiff; he is ready to sacrifice the life of his owner.

Tibetan mastiff

An important feature of Tibetan mastiffs is their pedantry towards cleanliness, bordering on that of a cat. This breed will not be able to sleep if its coat is not brushed and combed. It is also worth adding that this breed is one of the most expensive to this day.

Newfoundland

The luxurious, powerful Newfoundland breed was used for a long time in the north of Canada as a labor force for fishermen, and only years later they paid attention to it as a domestic, family breed, a favorite of children and a travel companion. Newfoundland is the dream of many, because the breed is distinguished by its good nature, easy-going, conflict-free disposition and luxurious color from black to chocolate with white splashes. This is not the largest breed of dog in the world, but we can definitely say that the Newfoundland is a leader among other dogs in endurance and the ability to drag loads.

The irreplaceable Newfoundlands have won love due to their unique ability to drag loads that exceed their weight category tens of times. Newfoundland named Barbara Allens Dark Hans lived in the USA and back in 1989, at the next competition, the champion managed to simultaneously drag 2289 kg on concrete, while the dog’s weight reached only 44 kg !

Newfoundland

Another advantage of Newfoundlands is their high intelligence and the ability to make their decisions without human commands. It is this breed that will independently rush to the aid of a complete stranger or animal; it is this dog that is capable of throwing itself from a bridge into a river if it notices a drowning person. The Newfoundland is a breed worthy of respect and devotion from us humans.

Boerboel

The Boerboel is a representative of sultry Africa, which by its very appearance is capable of dominating and suppressing those around it. Strong and brave, smart and cunning, the Boerboel is a true friend for those who want to remain under the protection of their four-legged comrades. The Boerboel is included in the list of the largest dogs in the world, but due to the fact that the breed is not recognized by all cynological federations, this breed does not have the official status of giant dogs.

The Boerboel breed is distinguished by grace and plasticity, power, strength and lightning-fast reaction, as well as excellent endurance, but this breed requires an equally active and hardy owner, since the dog requires good care and daily exhausting training, supplemented by long walks. The Boerboel breed cannot remain alone, and if it is not busy guarding the territory with its owner, it should snore calmly at his feet.

Boerboel

Moscow watchdog

Due to the fact that the USSR sought to surpass the entire bourgeois world, in the 50s of the last century, breeders were given a task. A few years later, breeders introduced a new breed to the heads of the USSR - the Moscow Watchdog. This fluffy beauty is in ninth place on the list of the largest dog breeds in the world.

Representatives of the breed are sociable and get along well with both adult family members and love to play long games with children. The dog is also hardy, easy to train, has excellent characteristics and is a recognized assistant in the protection of yards, cottages and farms. When danger arises, they go to the end, without fear; on the contrary, their instinct is not to retreat.

The secret of the origin of the Moscow Watchdog would seem to lie on the surface, but it seems that Soviet breeders left something a secret, because after them many tried to cross the Caucasian Shepherd Dog with the St. Bernard and the Russian Hound, but this did not produce any results.

This breed is very demanding to care for, and there are also serious diseases in the breed. She requires careful attention and high-quality balanced nutrition.

Moscow watchdog

Leonberger

The Leonberger is one of the largest dog breeds in the world and was created by German breeder Heinrich Essig, who also served as mayor of his beloved town of Leonberger for most of his life. Accordingly, when one dream came true (the appearance of a cherished new giant breed), he realized another - he increased the recognition of his city by naming the dog breed Leonberger.

When breeding the breed, St. Bernards and Newfoundlands took part in crossing again, and some Pyrenean shepherds were added. The mixture of these breeds turned out to be interesting and brought the quality and characteristics of the dogs to a new level.

When breeding the breed, Heinrich indicated that the breed lives up to 9-10 years, has a very friendly character and is easy to train. If a Leonberger is adopted by a family, he chooses the owner himself, but is friends and gets along with everyone. It can remain for a long time without its owner if there is a familiar environment and a beloved family nearby.

Leonberger

It is worth noting that the breed was bred as protectors of houses, yards and farms. But during the breeding process, a pleasant bonus was discovered - the breed has high intelligence and is capable of making individual decisions, which is especially good in extreme situations.

Central asian shepherd dog

True Asians who won their love thousands of years ago and during all this time have not lost their leading position among the preferred giant breeds in Asia. The Central Asian Shepherd is one of the largest dog breeds in the world, as well as the most common breed in Asian countries.

The breed was developed by natural selection, and only a few centuries ago the breed began to be purified and brought to uniform standards. Currently, the dog is intended not only for home entertainment, but also as a reliable guard of any trusted territory. Her character is flexible and gets along well with families, but her element is endless fields, huge courtyards, etc.

Please note that the Central Asian Shepherd has undergone centuries-old natural selection, and is therefore very resistant to diseases, unlike artificially bred breeds. This is what made it one of the favorite breeds in Russia.

Another interesting fact about the breed: the dog appears massive, stately and clumsy. This opinion exists only until you see how the dog behaves during training, games and, of course, in dangerous situations. She is fast, graceful and knows how to fight to the last.

Neapolitan Mastiff

If we add the category of the cutest dog to the ranking of the largest dog breed in the world, then this place will probably be taken by the Neapolitan Mastiff, also called Mastino Napoletano. An ancient breed, which was first recorded in the southern part of the Apennine Peninsula, it was actively used on the territory of the peninsula as a guard dog, and also as a guard.

The rough constitution with soft, plush folds is loved by dog ​​breeders and is considered one of the cutest large dog breeds.

Neapolitan Mastiff

The breed is very playful and requires constant attention from its owners. Gets along well in a house with a lot of children.

Irish Wolfhound

A photo shoot of children walking with their beloved Irish wolfhounds caused a lot of noise online and was actively discussed as fake. But there really is the largest breed of greyhound in the world, and it goes by a terrifying name - the Irish Wolfhound.

It is this breed of hunting greyhounds that is the only one that is among the largest dogs in the world, and some of their representatives are truly terrifying in size.

The breed was created by chance; on an Irish farm, in a kennel, the lord's baiting dogs brought litter from new giant dogs brought by the Celts. The result amazed the local nobles so much that they began to breed the breed, as it combined a large, strong dog and an ideal hunting stalker.

Over time, the size of the dogs began to gradually decrease, and it was decided to purify the breed, and today, if greyhounds do not reach the standards, they are rejected from the breed.

Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound breed has a dual character. When hunting, her instincts kick in and she turns into an ideal pursuer. In life, the Irish Wolfhound is a very affectionate and calm dog that loves to be paired with other dogs and spend time with its owner. Recommended for families with children, as wolfhounds can play around in children's games for hours, keeping an eye on and keeping the kids occupied.

Kuvasz

Another ancient giant dog breed is the Kuvasz, and it ranks fourteenth on the list of the largest dog breed in the world. It gained maximum popularity in Hungary in the Middle Ages, and at the same time had the status of a royal one, and it was only allowed to be owned by royalty, as well as those close to them with the written permission of the king.

Kuvasz

The life of the breed ranges up to 11-12 years, and the size is slightly inferior to its predecessors.

Kuvasz are the easiest to care for and unpretentious in nutrition, while the breed is famous for its courage and ability to make individual decisions from the pack, as well as high devotion to its owner.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog

Probably the most beloved and widespread breed in the vast post-Soviet space is the Caucasian Shepherd Dog. Unpretentious in care, affectionate with loved ones and stern with uninvited guests. It is these qualities that have won the hearts of millions of dog breeders.

The breed is ancient and comes from the Caucasus. The massive constitution and luxurious edges create the impression of massiveness and threat, but the breed is very easy to train and gets along well with other animals.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog

Another plus is that the largest breed of dogs in the world perfectly acclimatizes to any climate and is able to live in outdoor conditions, both in heat and during frosts.

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Neapolitan Mastiff

A large, massive dog with a menacing appearance, but loyal and obedient. The Neapolitan is very friendly, kind and caring towards his owner. He is also jealous and in this case can show aggression. The mastiff's weight ranges from 50-70 kg, height - 60-68 cm in females, and 65-75 cm in males.

Neapolitans need an experienced dog breeder who can competently teach them the rules of behavior

Dogue de Bordeaux

French breed of large sizes. In the area of ​​the animal's muzzle there are a large number of folds, symmetrically located on both sides. The height of a dog with a constant “sad” expression on its face can reach 68 cm.

Read Top 20 cutest dogs in the world with photos

The most common color of the Bordeaux breed is brownish chestnut. Great Danes have a thick coat and thin hair. The color of the fur on the ears of animals is darker than on the rest of the body. To maintain the health of your Great Dane's coat, you need to brush your dog with a rubber brush at least 2-4 times a month. It is also recommended to clean the folds on the face with a damp cloth after each meal.

Tibetan mastiff

A large dog with a very distinctive coat. Tibetans are very intelligent and independent, they have a loud bark, but do not like noisy companies. Despite their menacing appearance, they are very friendly and loyal dogs. The mastiff's height is 61-66 cm, and its weight reaches 64-78 kg.

Mastiffs need regular exercise

Chow chow

Made in China. A powerful animal with a harmoniously built body, the height of which can reach a maximum of 56 cm. The most striking feature, in addition to the fluffy thick fur, is their blue tongue.

Brown Chow Chows are more difficult to describe than other colors. The color of the coat varies from sand with a gray tint to brown with a coffee tint. On top, the brown fur gives a reflection of matte silver. The hair never shows stains. The cover is a single color. The Chow Chow's muzzle is covered with a mixture of light and dark hairs. The eyes of the Chow Chow breed of this color are brown.

Read TOP hairless and hairless dogs - 9 breeds with names

Your pet's thick coat requires constant care on a daily basis.

Irish Wolfhound

A large breed of hunting dog bred to kill wolves. The height of males is at least 79 cm, females - 71 cm. Weight - at least 54.5 kg for males, 40.5 kg for females. The Irishman is characterized by high intelligence, peacefulness and a gentle character. He is lenient towards children and will not tolerate aggression towards his owner.

Not “friendly” with domestic cats and other small animals. It is most often impossible for an Irishman and a cat to live in the same house.

Alabai is the largest shepherd breed

In the world ranking of giant dogs, the Turkmen wolfhound (the second name of the breed) is in eighth place of honor. They are surpassed in height only by Turkish Kangals.

The pet of a breeder from the Stavropol Territory, Alexander Khudyakov, gained fame as a giant among them. The dog giant's nickname is Bulldozer . Now he weighs 130 kg. His descendants are lagging behind, although 90 kg is already significantly ahead of recognized standards.

Alexander claims that the dog's enormous weight is not the goal. The animal must maintain proportions, be healthy and muscular, and not obese. Therefore, running 10 km with weights is daily exercise for his Alabais.

The largest Alabai Bulldozer

Newfoundland

A big, powerful and fluffy dog. Very smart and friendly. The Newfoundland has a passion for water; it is also called a diver. He is able to dive, swim for a long time and save drowning people. Their height is 66-71 cm, and their weight is 54-68 kg.

A large house outside the city with a body of water nearby is ideal for keeping a Newfoundland. You can't put him on a chain.

What makes the biggest dogs attractive?

The size of a dog is determined by its height and weight. Representatives of large breeds are considered to be animals whose height (height at the withers) exceeds 50-55 cm and weighs more than 55-60 kg. The parameters of individual individuals of different breeds may differ from these indicators. What attracts such pets? It’s hard not to pay attention to the large, beautiful animal, walking decorously and proudly next to its owner. And these are not all the advantages of giant pets. What else do their two-legged friends value them for?

• The biggest dog is the smartest dog. The owners of such animals are sure of this, and the latter, in turn, willingly prove that they are indeed very smart;
• The next point follows from the previous point - they successfully learn commands and obey the owner;
• The largest dogs are loyal, patient, loving to the whole family in which they live, friends;
• A large shaggy friend is always ready to rush to protect his person. Even if the character of the first is mild, his dimensions will force anyone who wants to attack the second to seriously think about whether it is worth it, and, most likely, to abandon his unreasonable idea;
• Giant pets lend themselves well not only to training, but also to education. They are balanced, mentally stable, usually calm;
• Their large size does not prevent them from being dexterous, active, mobile, and well-developed physically.

Are you already interested in having such a four-legged friend in your home? Check out the ranking of the 10 largest dogs to choose which pet is right for you and your family in all respects.

Alabai

It is also called the Central Asian Shepherd Dog. In Russia, the alabai is common as a guard and protector. His height is on average 65-70 cm, weight - 40-50 kg. Alabai has a strong character (accordingly, he needs to be educated from a very early age), as well as fearlessness and willfulness. He is very touchy, so you shouldn’t offend him, the way to his heart is through respect.

Scottish Deerhound

This tall, handsome man, lean and slender in appearance, is an excellent hunter. The breed is considered ancient and one of the most respected of all times. Her homeland is Scotland.

Description of the standard:

• Height – 70-80 cm regardless of gender;
• The fact that representatives of the breed are slim and athletic is also indicated by how much they weigh - 40-50 kg (both males and females);
• The coat is of medium length and thickness and has a gray (both light and dark shades), sand or gray-tiger color;
• The head is flat;
• The height of the animal's paws is above average. The tail is of medium length, can be either curved or straight, and the pronounced chest is voluminous;
• The muzzle of the Scottish Deerhound is elongated, often with a mask, the ears are set high, of medium length, hanging;
• The eyes have black outlines, color - from light brown to dark brown;
• Life expectancy is on average 10-11 years.

The four-legged character is calm, quiet, and friendly. Therefore, he is a faithful, loving family member who will find a common language with everyone - both adults and children. But because of such a soft character, they cannot be called good watchmen. The animal tries to please the person, but needs training so that the owner does not lose contact with the pet.

The peculiarity of animal care is that it is minimal and, in fact, without any special features.

The cost of a Scottish Deerhound is $400-$1500.