The largest dog breeds

Introduction

Meeting a giant dog can leave few people indifferent. Some admire the strength and power of the animal, others wonder how the owners manage to feed the giant, and others are afraid to even approach this beast. Representatives of giant breeds can weigh more than 60 kg, which sometimes exceeds the weight of their owners, and their size and strength really make the blood run cold in the veins of particularly impressionable natures.

Deerhound

This “baby” in adulthood weighs about 55 kg with an average height of 80 cm. Another name for the breed is the Scottish deerhound. Since ancient times, the dog was valued for the fact that during hunting it could independently catch and kill a mature deer.

Komondor

A shaggy giant with a strong character. The appearance of the Hungarian Shepherd can make you smile – their thick fur looks more like dreadlocks, gets into your eyes and flutters comically while running. But this is a good camouflage that helps them blend in with a flock of sheep, and then suddenly and fearlessly attack a predator that has crept up on the flock.

Great Pyrenean Mountain Dog

The Pyrenean weighs 55-80 kg, and is 72-81 cm tall. It is probably the largest dog among the herding breeds – individuals are known to have reached 100 kg. It does not use its strength to have the last word, and in general, it prefers to avoid conflicts. It is also known for its kind and soulful look.

Russian Black Terrier

A service breed bred to guard territories by Soviet cynologists. Their weight is from 50 kg, and the height at the withers can reach 70 cm. Outwardly they resemble schnauzers. Rumors about their aggressive nature are greatly exaggerated, with proper training they become excellent companion dogs.

Kuvasz

The breed is rare in Russia, but quite popular in Europe. Kuvasz has a friendly character, but often demonstrates a love for excessive independence. An excellent shepherd and an uncompromising owner. To raise this dog, you will need experience and patience.

Irish Wolfhound

One of the largest dog breeds in the world. The wolfhound’s build resembles a greyhound with a hard, sparse, disheveled coat. Because of their pronounced love for humanity, they rarely make good guards – they are silent and balanced good-natured. But when hunting a large animal, they become a merciless enemy to a wolf or deer.

Kangal

The shepherd dog originates from Turkey. Researchers believe that the history of Kangals goes back several thousand years. According to legend, these large and fearless animals are capable of dealing with even a bear.

Neapolitan Mastiff

A dog with excellent guard qualities. The Neapolitan is recognized by its pronounced “flews” – hanging folds of skin on the muzzle. This is a fierce bodyguard, capable of mercilessly dealing with any offender of the owner, but in a home environment it is restrained and friendly. The enemy prefers to retreat, having seen the powerful and brutal dog from afar. Due to its slightly squat build, it does not reach the title of “the largest dog breed”.

Newfoundland

A soft-hearted giant, for whom the greatest pleasure is serving a person and the praise of the owner. Newfoundlands are friendly and moderately active, love to swim, get along well with children. An already large dog, it looks indecently huge because of its thick, shaggy “fur coat”.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

A giant breed of dog – their average weight is 70 kg, and their height is 80 cm. Phlegmatic creatures with a stubborn character, so it is not easy to teach them commands and achieve unquestioning obedience. The thoughtfulness and slowness of the Sennenhund borders on outright laziness. However, at a young age, they enjoy participating in active games. They are indifferent to other animals.

Other Largest Dog Breeds

A dog with thick, long hair and a black mask on its face. Noble, reasonable animals that know their own worth. They do not get into fights, are rarely interested in other animals, will not fussily get underfoot, insist on communication or bark over trifles. At the same time, the Leonberger is a friendly and playful friend.

Saint Bernard

Weight not less than 70 kg, average height 80-90 cm. The calling of these giants is search and rescue work, they successfully find lost travelers or those buried under rubble. The homeland of the dog is considered to be the mountains of Switzerland, so St. Bernards are hardy, tolerate low temperatures well, and are well oriented in any terrain. Affectionate and devoted companion dogs.

Central Asian Shepherd Dog

A powerful and proud dog with a pronounced guard instinct. The official name of the breed is the Central Asian Shepherd. The best way for a stranger to get along with an Alabai is not to try to set foot on the territory that the owner has entrusted the dog to guard. Owners are required to begin training the shepherd as early as possible. At the same time, physical punishment or rudeness are unacceptable. Despite its physical strength, the Alabai has a delicate mental organization and is very touchy.

Tibetan Mastiff

A charismatic and sociable giant. A shaggy creature, more reminiscent of a lion or a bear and capable of causing primal horror in those who are not aware of his reserved character. Unbreakable stubborn, their upbringing is best entrusted to an experienced owner or dog trainer.

Pyrenean Mastiff

Another mastiff with thick fluffy fur and impressive dimensions. Like its Tibetan brother, the Pyrenean is a good guard, for which its spectacular, intimidating appearance works successfully. The main qualities are attentiveness, courage and independence.

Tosa Inu

The largest dog in Japan, even in its homeland it is more often seen in photos than on the streets. They were bred to participate in dog fights, so they have a high pain threshold. A difficult breed to maintain, which certainly requires a leading owner who understands the nuances of dog training.

South African Boerboel

A muscular athlete from whom no intruder will escape. Despite its size, the dog is capable of developing maximum speed from the first seconds, not to mention the strength of its iron grip. It has a bright, sometimes even explosive temperament, so mistakes in training and socialization are unacceptable. Monster dogs of the Boerboel breed are known, weighing more than 100 kg.

Great Dane

The largest dog in the world is a representative of this breed. The height of a male named Zeus exceeded 111.7 cm. The dog ate 14 kg of food daily. Before his ascent to Olympus, this title belonged to another Great Dane – George. Surprisingly, the title of the largest dog in the world in 2022 was again received by a male of this breed and named Zeus, with a height of 104.6 cm at the withers.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog

The oldest giant breed of dogs. They have an impulsive character and are well aware of their strength. Formidable guards who will not back down from the most fierce enemy. Caucasians have an unruly nature, so you will have to learn to negotiate with them, you cannot allow your authority to fall in the eyes of the dog.

English Mastiff

A male English Mastiff named Aikami Zobra received the honorary title of the largest dog in the world. The big guy weighed more than 155 kg. Dogs of this breed often lead the ratings as the largest. This is due to their original purpose. The English Mastiff was bred for cruel entertainment – fighting with bulls, bears and even lions.

Maintenance of large breed dogs

If you are seriously considering purchasing a large breed dog puppy, there are some things to consider when keeping such an animal.

The most obvious condition for a happy life of a pet of impressive size is space. The best option would be a country house with a large fenced area. For some furry friends, an aviary will be suitable, others will feel comfortable only in a house next to a person.

It is also worth considering that it is not so easy to feed an animal the size of a small horse. Saving food or trying to replace it with a lower-quality analogue is strictly prohibited. To maintain physical health and activity, the dog must have a complete diet.
Another possible reason for a real headache for owners is grooming. The requirements for shaggy giants are the same as for miniature fluffies. It’s all about the scale of the problem.

As a rule, treating a large dog in a veterinary clinic is more expensive. The consumption of medicines and auxiliary materials increases, and physical manipulations are easier to carry out with an angry dachshund than with a struggling mastiff. It is important to remember that the average life expectancy of large dogs is several years shorter than that of small ones. Most owners have a hard time coping with the loss of a pet; they want to delay this moment as long as possible.

It is necessary to take care of regular physical activity. Most large breeds are service dogs accustomed to work. Without proper exercise, health and mental problems may arise. To prevent the accumulated energy from being directed into a destructive channel, you can engage in dog sports with your pet, learn new commands, organize hikes or long walks.

It is dangerous to neglect the education and socialization of a large dog. Even if you are sure that representatives of this breed grow up not only as giants, but also as affectionate kind people – training is necessary. Mistakes made during the training process can result in serious problems in the future.

Conclusion

A giant dog is not only a source of additional problems. Such a friend can become a loyal protector – ill-wishers are unlikely to risk approaching if a furry monster lives behind your fence. But contrary to stereotypes, not every large breed has an aggressive character. Most of them sincerely love communication with people and are ready to serve the owner’s family faithfully and truly. In addition, there should be a lot of a good dog.