People’s tastes and preferences differ when it comes to the size, type, or breed of dog they like. While some love the chocolate lab type, others would rather go for fluffy lapdog curled up next to them. People always love to go for breeds that reflect their own style and personality and when it comes to height, length, or weight it all comes down to what you want or like.
What’s the Tallest Dog in the World?
When it comes to height, according to the Guinness World Records (GWR) the tallest dog is the great Dane. He is a sleek, long-legged breed that has held the height record for the tallest dog for more than two decades. He was the tallest dog ever in the Guinness World Records history, who stood at 3 feet, 8 inches (1.1 meters) tall from the ground to the withers (the ridge between the shoulders of his front legs). The great Dane known as Zeus lived in the U.S. and died in 2014.
Currently
The current record holder of the tallest dog in history is another great Dane known as Freddy who resides in Essex, England. As at when he was measured for Guinness World Record in 2016, he stood at 3 feet, 4 inches (1.1 meters) from the ground to withers, but when he stands on his hind legs (though not an official GWR measurement), he’s more than 7 feet (2.3 meters) tall.
According to its owner, Freddy was the ‘runt of the litter, when he was a puppy. And speaking of official measurements, GWR measurements are all carried out by a professional veterinarian. Thus to be eligible for a GWR, dogs must be at least 1 year old and should possess a vet-certified ‘clean bill of health’. For now, the famed records keeper no longer accepts claims for the heaviest or lightest pets.
This is because according to Amanda Marcus, the public relations manager with Guinness World Records North America, Inc., explained that in the majority of cases, at the forefront of the owner’s mind, ‘she says’ ‘they had however become increasingly concerned that owners would potentially be encouraged to either overfeed or underfeed their pets, in a bid to be recognized.
Thus to avoid any undue suffering to any animal, we have ended our interest in such records’.
The Longest Dogs in the World
The longest dogs are known to be Irish Wolfhounds, even though they are not the prettiest dogs. Now when it comes to length, they are tough to beat. Three different Irish wolfhounds have held the title of the longest dog at GWR since 2006, with the most recent being a hound named Farrell who was 7 feet, 9 inches (2.4 meters) from nose tip to tail tip.
The longest dog ever recorded for GWR happened to be an English mastiff who measures an incredible 8 feet, 4 inches (2.5 meters) from nose tip to tail tip.
The Biggest Dogs Overall
A typical male mastiff stands at least 30 inches (76 centimeters) from the ground, and has the tendency of weighing between 160 and 230 pounds (72 and 104 kilograms). Now these are not in any way lapdogs, rather they are strong and heavy and are literally bred for battle and can have an intimidating presence
Mastiffs are not the only heavy hitters in the world. Saint Barnard and Newfoundland, are both working breeds and are large powerful dogs. Saint Barnard males can weigh anywhere from 140 to 180 pounds (63 to 81 kilograms) and stand up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) high. Newfoundlands, also known as ‘Newfies’, are typically 130 – 150 pounds (58 – 68 kilograms), and can stand up to 28 inches (71 centimeters) high. Both Saint Barnard and Newfie are gentle giants who are strong, dependable family dogs. Because of their strength and their heavy coats, both breeds were traditionally used for rescue operations: Saint Bernards in the treacherous snows of the Swiss Alps and Newfoundlands in the frigid water of the North Atlantic.
Taking Care of Big Dogs
Big dogs are not for every household, because of their size. They come with special challenges as regards their care, training, and feeding. Most large dogs, require lots of exercise and activity. Thus if you own one, you should be prepared to walk them and clean up after they have messed up.
Big dogs also require more living space, and you may have to pay for training in order to help your large canine companion become a hospitable housemate.
Note also that caring for a big dog comes with a cost of its own, so plan ahead for food, vet care, etc., for your big dog.
