Introduction
Largest dogs have always been valued for many qualities: excellent watchmen, defenders, shepherds, hunters, bloodhounds, and even babysitters. But first of all, they are good and loyal friends. We will talk about the top 20 largest dogs in the world that you won’t believe exist.
Top 20 largest dogs Breed in a list:
1. Leonberger
Leonberger is truly a gentle giant, and he is undoubtedly playful and friendly, tremendously calm, confident, and good-natured. Many are reminded of the king of the jungle, always graceful and powerful. There are other reasons the Leo is likened to a lion, bred to be the perfect family companion. Although they may sound like the clear choice, this breed is not for everyone. Grooming, training, and exercise all require a high amount of effort. Leonberger’s height is usually from 65 to 80 centimeters, and the weight varies from 45 to 77 kilograms.
2. Hungarian Commodore
Hungarian Commodore is a powerful guardian and beloved pet, best suited for the experienced dog owner. Their temperament is calm and quiet until they sense danger and spring into action, fiercely guarding their home and loved ones. Thanks to their thick and long white coat, they can easily disguise themselves in a sheep’s flock. By nature, calm and affectionate, representatives of this breed will be a devoted companion to their master. The average height of Hungarian Commodore starts from 65 centimeters and can reach 80 centimeters. This dog is usually on the heavy side, with a weight of around 50 kilograms on average.
3. Akita
Another giant on our list of the biggest dogs in the world is the Akita, a breed born in Japan. This particular breed became world-famous after the movie about Hachiko, a faithful friend who waited for his owner for nine years until his death. The original goal of Akita Inu is to hunt bears, boars, and deer. These dog representatives are excellent guards, best suited to a one-dog household. Akita can be a good family dog in the right hands. The average height of the dog reaches 61 to 70 centimeters, while its average weight varies from 40 to 52 kilograms.
4. Borzoi
This breed of ideal hunter, whose roots go back to the 17th century, is graceful, slender, tall, and fairly muscular. Borzoi has qualities indispensable for hunting breeds: an excellent sense, sharp vision, instantaneous reaction, and high speed that can reach up to 60 kilometers per hour. It is a pliable and calm dog that can become aggressive at the sight of the beast. Due to being relatively skinny, these dogs are not so heavy and weigh from 42 to 52 kilograms. However, it’s the height that’s the reason they’re on our list, with an average height from 75 to 87 centimeters.
5. Irish Wolfhound
Irish Wolfhounds are considered the tallest dogs in the world. Initially bred to pull men off horses and chariots in battle, today this breed is a popular family companion, with owners taking advantage of the breed’s intelligence for use in hunting and obedience competitions. Irish Wolfhounds do well with children and are friendly with other animals. Their friendly behavior makes them poor guard dogs, but their size generally intimidates potential intruders before they realize the dog only wants to play. This breed is usually around 85 centimeters in height and 55 kilograms in weight.
6. Turkish Kangal
The Kangal dog is perfectly trainable, devoted to protecting its owners and their property. They get along well with other pets, love children, and sometimes even act as a babysitter. Kangals are one of the strongest dogs in the world, and in some countries, they are still used to protect cattle from wolves and cheetahs. The cons of this breed are that they require a great deal of exercise, and the immense size makes apartment living virtually impossible. Kangal’s average height is 71 to 81 centimeters, while it weighs 43 to 65 kilograms.
7. Scottish Deerhound
The Scottish Deerhound is another representative in the top of the world’s most massive dogs. The Deerhound was bred to hunt red deer by coursing and deer stalking until the end of the 19th century. This also explains why these pets are brilliant, with lightning-fast reactions, high speed, and endurance. Deerhounds are friendly and gullible and are not the best when it comes to guarding. They have a calm temperament and good memory, so they can be easily trained. Despite their skinny, tall, and lightweight appearance, these dogs have an average height of 70 to 80 centimeters and can sometimes reach 65 kilograms in weight.
8. Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is a large working dog that was initially bred to help pull fishing nets and lumber in Newfoundland. Newfoundlands are powerful water-making dogs with a gentle heart. The breed makes a great family companion, as Newfoundlands are incredibly kind with children and have an instinct to watch out for their family. Newfoundlands are intelligent dogs with a strong desire to please their owner. This combined with their work ethic makes the dog easy to train and an ideal companion for any family. This beast is from 63 to 75 centimeters and weighs around kilograms.
9. Great Dane
Another one of the biggest dog breeds in the world is the Great Dane, commonly called the “gentle giant.” This dog was initially bred to hunt wild boar. While the breed’s giant size is often intimidating, the Great Dane is actually very well-mannered, sweet, affectionate, and gentle with children. Great Dane size can make it difficult for them to be ideal house dogs, so training is necessary. Great Danes are frequently considered the tallest dogs in the world, which is no surprise since they can be up to 110 centimeters in height and weigh 75 kilograms.
10. Kuvas
This breed represents a brave animal that will fight to the death for its owners or a protected area. Therefore, they are fantastic guards with watchdog skills. Kuvas is bred in Hungary to protect cattle. These are proud dogs who should be treated with respect, and they will repay with boundless loyalty. These dogs are not recommended for first-time owners. Kuvas are unpretentious but freedom-loving, so a tight apartment is not a good option for them, especially considering the fact that their average height starts at 66 centimeters and can even reach 76 centimeters, while their weight can be as much as 62 kilograms.
11. Pyrenees Mastiff
Originally bred to protect livestock and sheep, the Great Pyrenees makes an excellent guard dog for families and property. The breed’s trademark is their elegant white coat, which helps the breed blend into sheep herds, making it more difficult for predators. Like many guard dog breeds, Great Pyrenees are free thinkers, which makes the breed more challenging to train. Untrained Great Pyrenees quickly become uncontrollable, which can be a disaster considering the breed can often exceed 75 kilograms in weight and 80 centimeters in height.
12. Bernese Mountain Dog
This Russian breed holds the ninth position in the top of the world’s most massive dogs. This dog is an excellent watchman and guard who will never give up on danger. The dog is loyal to all family members—balanced but inclined to make independent decisions. That’s why the Bernese Mountain Dog needs training; otherwise, an adult animal will not be easy to cope with. The average height of this beast reaches 58 to 66 centimeters and can have a weight from 38 to 50 kilograms.
13. Central Asian Shepherd
The Central Asian Shepherd dog is a large-sized pure breed native to Russia, Kazakhstan, and other Asian countries. Dogs of this breed are often the biggest in existence and are typically used as livestock and personal guardians. Depending on lineage, a CASD’s temperament can range from calm to aggressive. These dogs require little to moderate grooming and maintenance and are exceptionally healthy. The average height of this particular dog is from 65 to 75 centimeters, while the weight can range from 40 to even 80 kilograms.
14. Caucasian Shepherd
The Caucasian Shepherd is another representative of one of the most ancient breeds from distant centuries before Christ. Caucasian Shepherds do not know fear, are resolute, and do not trust strangers. They are smart and good guards who like to show their own morals and character, and therefore they must be trained from puppy age. Otherwise, it will be challenging to change the nature of the dog later. A thick coat allows dogs to live outside even in cold climates. Caucasian Shepherds usually reach around 75 centimeters in height and 80 kilograms in weight.
15. Boerboel
The Boerboel is primarily a guarding dog that originated in South Africa during the mid-1600s. The name roughly translates to “farm dog.” This breed was indeed a protector to the early Dutch and British settlers in the Cape area. The best match for this breed is an experienced owner with a nice yard and plenty of time to spend with them each day. Supervision is recommended for this breed at all times, and it may not be legal to own one in your area. Boerboels are generally healthy and typically live for around 10 years. Boerboels can be 70 centimeters tall and weigh about 90 kilograms.
16. Saint Bernard
Saint Bernard is widely known as one of the biggest dogs in the world with a tender heart. Originally bred to rescue travelers and guard travel lodges in the Swiss Alps, Saint Bernard is a gentle, intelligent, muscular dog. Despite the breed’s giant size, they prefer being indoors with their family. This can be a love-hate relationship, as Saint Bernards are very friendly, easy-going, and generally happy to lie down and sleep while their family does their thing. These massive dogs have an average height of 65 to 85 centimeters and can weigh 110 kilograms.
17. Spanish Mastiff
The Spanish Mastiff is one of the heaviest dogs in the world, and they’ve been around for a couple of thousand years or more. They are easily distinguished by their size and their two massive hairy folds of skin that hang off their neck. While they are not fully recognized by the American Kennel Club, they’ve been assigned to the working dog group in the AKC’s foundation stock service since 2008. Spanish Mastiffs usually reach around 87 centimeters in height and 115 kilograms in weight.
18. Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is a purebred dog that was initially bred to be a guard dog for property and livestock. Despite being a guard dog, the Tibetan Mastiff is a companion breed that develops close bonds with their owners and wants to be with their family as much as possible. Due to the breed’s protective instinct, they are not familiar with children, are wary of strangers, and can easily become territorial. Because of these potential issues, the Tibetan Mastiff is often not recommended for new dog owners. Both the height and weight of the Tibetan Mastiff can reach 85 centimeters and 90 kilograms.
19. Neapolitan Mastiff
These giants are the most protective of canines and frequently winners of “ugliest dog” competitions. The beastly, grotesque look of the Neo is meant to send trespassers away on their heels. They are not friendly towards strangers, are not the best choice for other pets, and are not hypoallergenic. Mastinos are, however, easy to groom and exercise, plus very loving and loyal to their owner or family. You will never forget the folds and wrinkles, drool, and lumbering run of a Neapolitan Mastiff. The average height of this beast is from 60 to 75 centimeters, while the weight can be 50 to 75 kilograms.
20. English Mastiff
Number one on our list of the biggest dogs in the world is the English Mastiff. Initially bred for war, this giant Mastiff is one of the most massive and oldest dog breeds in the world. While the Mastiff’s ancestors were fierce war dogs, the Mastiff today has a docile, kind-hearted temperament. Mastiffs make fine companions for anyone who can accommodate their great size and doesn’t mind a little drool slung here and there. If you’re looking for a 90-centimeter dog that weighs as much as 120 kilograms and has lots of love to give, this may be the pooch for you.
Conclusion
So, which dog is your favorite and why? Which one do you think really deserves to be on the list? Let us know in the comments.