The tallest dog breeds to ever exist are the Great Dane and the Irish Wolfhound. The Great Dane is the world record holder for the tallest dog, measuring in at an astounding 43 inches at the shoulder. The Irish Wolfhound is a close second, standing 42 inches tall at the shoulder.
These massive dogs are truly impressive to behold, and their size is only surpassed by their gentle nature and loving dispositions. If you’re looking for a giant furry friend, these two breeds are sure to fit the bill!
There’s no denying that some dog breeds are just big— really big. And while size doesn’t necessarily dictate personality or even health in dogs, it can be an impressive trait nonetheless. Here are seven of the tallest dog breeds to ever exist, based on average height.
Great Dane: 28-34 inches (male), 26-32 inches (female) Irish Wolfhound: 30-32 inches (male), 28-30 inches (female) English Mastiff: 30-34 inches (male), 27-32 inches (female)
Neapolitan Mastiff: 24-31 inches (male), 23-29 inches (female) + Saint Bernard: 27.5-35.5 inches(male), 25.5 – 31.5 inches(female) German Shepherd: 24-26 inches(male), 22–24inches(female)
Table of Contents
11 Biggest Dogs in the World
What are the Tallest Dog Breeds to Ever Exist
There are many tallest dog breeds to ever exist, but the most notable ones include the Great Dane, the Irish Wolfhound, and the Scottish Deerhound. The Great Dane is often considered to be the tallest breed of dog, with some dogs measuring up to 32 inches tall at the shoulder. The Irish Wolfhound is another very tall breed, with males standing up to 34 inches tall at the shoulder.
The Scottish Deerhound is also a very tall breed, typically reaching heights of 30-32 inches at the shoulder.
Leonberger
- Max Height: 31 inches
- Breed Type: Working dog
- Origin: Germany
- Life Expectancy: 8-9 years
Great Pyrenees
- Max Height: 32 inches
- Breed Type: Watchdogs
- Origin: Pyrenees Mountains
- Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
Borzoi
- Max Height: 33 inches
- Breed Type: Speed
- Origin: Central Russia
- Life Expectancy: 7-10 years
Spanish Mastiff
- Max Height: 33 inches
- Breed Type: Guard dogs
- Origin: Spain
- Life Expectancy: 10 years
Scottish Deerhound
- Max Height: 35 inches
- Breed Type: Hunting
- Origin: Scotland
- Life Expectancy: 8-11 years
English Mastiff
- Max Height: 37 inches
- Breed Type: Family dog
- Origin: United Kingdom
- Life Expectancy: 6-12 years
Irish Wolfhound
- Max Height: 37 inches
- Breed Type: Sighthound
- Origin: Ireland
- Life Expectancy: 6-10 years
Great Dane
- Max Height: 44 inches
- Breed Type: Hunting dogs
- Origin: Germany
- Life Expectancy: 8-10 years
How Tall Do These Dogs Get
There are many different types of dogs, and they come in all shapes and sizes. But how tall do they really get? The average height for a dog is about 18 inches.
However, there are some breeds that can get much taller than that. For example, the Great Dane is one of the tallest breeds and can grow to be over 3 feet tall at the shoulder! Other giant breeds include the Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound, and Neapolitan Mastiff.
But not all dogs are giants. Some breeds stay quite small, like the Chihuahua or Toy Poodle. These “toy” breeds typically only grow to be about 6-9 inches tall.
And then there are miniature versions of popular larger breeds like the Miniature Schnauzer or Dachshund. These varieties usually max out at around 12-15 inches in height. So, as you can see, there is a lot of variation when it comes to a dog’s height!
But no matter how big or small your pup may be, they will always be loved just the same.
What are Some of the Tallest Dogs in History
While there are no definitive records of the tallest dogs in history, there are certainly some contenders for the title. Some of the breeds that have been known to produce exceptionally tall dogs include the Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound, and Neapolitan Mastiff. These breeds have all been known to produce individuals measuring over 7 feet in height from paw to shoulder, and some even taller!
The Great Dane is perhaps the best-known of these towering breeds, and has been recorded as reaching heights of up to 7 feet 4 inches tall! The Irish Wolfhound is another breed with a reputation for size and has been known to reach heights of over 7 feet when fully grown. The Scottish Deerhound is another large breed that can sometimes grow to be taller than 6 feet in height.
Finally, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a massive breed that can weigh over 200 pounds and stand as tall as 3 feet at the shoulder! So, if you’re looking for a dog that’s sure to turn heads (and possibly tip them over), any one of these four breeds would be an excellent choice. Just be prepared for lots of food bills and plenty of vacuuming!
Top 10 Tallest Dog Breeds
In the world of dogs, there are many things that come into play when discussing height. But for today, we’re going to focus on the 10 tallest dog breeds. From the Great Dane to the Irish Wolfhound, these are some of the biggest and best pups around!
1. The Great Dane is one of the most popular tall dog breeds and can weigh up to 200 pounds! 2. The Irish Wolfhound is another large breed that can reach heights of over 7 feet! 3. The Neapolitan Mastiff is a massive breed with adults weighing in at over 150 pounds.
4. Saint Bernard is a classic giant breed that’s been popular for centuries! They typically weigh between 140-200 pounds. 5. The Anatolian Shepherd is a working dog bred to protect livestock from predators like wolves and bears.
They can grow to be quite large, with some individuals reaching weights over 200 pounds! 6. The English Mastiff is another ancient breed with origins dating back to Roman times! They’re one of the heaviest breeds, with adult males averaging around 190 pounds or more!
7. The Scottish Deerhound is a gentle giant known for being sweet and loving with their family members. While they don’t usually exceed 75-85 pounds, their tall stature makes them appear much larger than they actually are!
Big Dogs
Most people think of big dogs as being lazy and not very active. This is not the case at all! Big dogs are just as active as any other size dog, they just need more space to run around.
They are also very friendly and make great family pets.
Largest Dog Breeds by Weight
There are a number of large dog breeds, many of which weigh in at over 100 pounds. The following is a list of the 10 largest dog breeds by weight, according to data from the American Kennel Club. 1. Saint Bernard: 170-260 pounds
2. Neapolitan Mastiff: 150-200 pounds 3. Newfoundland: 140-180 pounds 4. Great Dane: 120-200 pounds
5. Leonberger: 120-170 pounds 6. Tibetan Mastiff: 110-180 pounds 7. English Mastiff: 155-250 pounds
8. Irish Wolfhound: 115-180 pounds 9. Scottish Deerhound: 110-175 pounds
Conclusion
The tallest dogs ever recorded were both Great Danes. The first, named Zeus, was 44 inches tall at the shoulder and weighed 155 pounds. The second, named Titan, was 42.25 inches tall and weighed 165 pounds.
Both dogs were owned by American Kennel Club members and their heights were verified by veterinarians.