Lifestyle4 min(s) read
Published 14:53 26 Sep 2019 GMT
There's a good reason why Beethoven was such a successful movie: the St. Bernard who starred in it was huge! What could be better than a large dog? They're perfect for cuddling because there's a whole lot more of them to love! Large dogs also make great guards too. So we're going to give you the lowdown on the 25 largest dog breeds in the world. Even if you haven't got room for one yourself, we can all appreciate their giant doggie goodness together...
[post_page_title]Komondor[/post_page_title]
The Kmondor is one of the largest dog breeds in the world and from this picture, it's easy to see why! Does it look like anything you'd find around your house? Because it's also sometimes known as 'mop dog'. This colossal animal can weigh up to 130 pounds and reach a staggering height of 32 inches...
[post_page_title]Greater Swiss Mountain[/post_page_title]
This dog isn't just beautiful to look at, it's huge too! What's even better is that these dogs are known for being great with children! It's no wonder that these huge dogs have the word mountain in their name - they are mountainous compared to your average pooch. They can weigh up to 125 pounds and reach a height of 28 inches.
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[post_page_title]Boerboel[/post_page_title]
Well, I did say that giant dogs would make perfect guards and this breed was bred exactly for that purpose. However, despite its job, they're also super friendly towards humans so I could still have one as a pet... These dogs aren't just friendly, though, they're also very territorial. That's why they're such great guard dogs. They can weigh up to 220 pounds (so they're the heaviest big dog yet!) and reach a height of 28 inches.
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[post_page_title]Landseer[/post_page_title]
St. Bernard's are known and loved for their beautiful brown and white coats, and this breed isn't too dissimilar in terms of appearance. But it has a white and black coat instead - a bit like a furry cow! Landeers, amazingly, are known for their heroic qualities, and many have reportedly saved people from drowning. They can weigh up to 149 pounds and reach a height of up to 31 inches!
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[post_page_title]Dogo Argentino[/post_page_title]
Now, this breed looks like a guard dog you could trust. Thankfully, like most other big pooches, they're actually really friendly... This giant pooch was bred to hunt - namely wild boar. But it was created from a number of other breeds including the Great Dane. They can weigh up to 99 pounds and reach a height of up to 27 inches.
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[post_page_title]Russian Black Terrier[/post_page_title]
Whilst there's dog breeds out there who've got beards like the schnauzer, few have beards as impressive as the one sported by this particular bread. These dogs are also interesting because of their origins. They were bred in Russia as working dogs in the 1940s and 50s and created from 17 different breeds! They can weigh up to 130 pounds and reach a height of 30 inches.
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[post_page_title]Tosa Inu[/post_page_title]
Crossbreeding to create new types of dogs is nothing new. But I'm sure that you'll agree that crossbreeding giant dogs has the potential to create some of the most incredible pooches the world has ever seen... The Tosa Inu is a cross of various breeds known for their size including the St. Bernard and the Great Dane. They can weigh up to a staggering 200 pounds and reach a height of 32 inches!
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[post_page_title]Akbash[/post_page_title]
Giant dogs are often compared to bears, and this particular giant dog looks like a polar bear. Originating in Turkey, these gorgeous pooches were bred to guard and herd animals like sheep. They can weigh up to 140 pounds and reach a height of 34 inches. I could cuddle one of these dogs all night long...
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[post_page_title]Kangal[/post_page_title]
This breed of dog - amazingly - was bred to hunt WOLVES. Kangals are colossal pooches which also come from Turkey. These giant dogs can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour and it certainly seems plausible looking at their powerful legs. They can weigh up to 145 pounds and reach a height of 30 inches.
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[post_page_title]Anatolian Shepherd[/post_page_title]
This dog breed has been a contender for the biggest living dog in the world. Like other dogs on this list, this pooch originates from Turkey. But what makes them particularly great candidates for being pets is the fact that they can live three years longer than other giant dogs - so if you want a huge dog for longer, this could be the pooch for you! They can weigh up to 150 pounds and reach a height of 31 inches.
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[post_page_title]Cane Corso[/post_page_title]
If this breed looks familiar to you, that's because it is. So you'd be forgiven for mistaking this breed for the Neapolitan Mastiff that played Hagrid's beloved pet dog Fang in the Harry Potter series... The Cane Corso is a close relation of the Neapolitan Mastiff. However, as hard as it is to believe when you look at this picture, it's actually smaller than its relation. But it can still weigh up to 110 pounds and reach a height of 28 inches!
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[post_page_title]Kuvasz[/post_page_title]
Whilst it's easy to compare the Komondor to a sheep on a first glance, this dog looks more genuinely like a sheep than it does - albeit a sheep that's been recently sheered! It's a dog you wouldn't want to get dirty... The Kuvasz, however, doesn't just look like a sheep. It's used to herd them too. The sheep probably think it's a larger member of their flock. These dogs can weigh up to 115 pounds and reach a height of 30 inches.
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[post_page_title]Bully Kutta[/post_page_title]
There are some giant dogs that just have a formidable look about them and this breed is definitely one of them. Just look at how muscular its body appears to be! It's certainly not an animal I'd like to get chased by... This incredible pooch is also called a Pakistani Mastiff. They're known for their friendly personalities too! They can weigh up to 210 pounds - that's TWICE the weight of the Kuvaz - and reach a height of 35 inches.
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[post_page_title]Tibetan Mastiff[/post_page_title]
The Tibetan Mastiff, contrary to its name, isn't a mastiff. It can more accurately be described as being a mountain dog. These incredible pooches can weigh up to 160 pounds and reach a height of 33 inches. It's certainly a dog that you'd expect to roar rather than bark. No one would mess with you if this was your pet...
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[post_page_title]Bernese Mountain Dog[/post_page_title]
Doesn't this dog look beautiful? Its fur coat is simply gorgeous. This giant pooch would make the all of the other dogs in the park jealous of its looks, never mind its colossal size! The Bernese Mountain Dog isn't just a good looking animal though. They're known for being friendly both to humans and to other pets. These giant pooches can weigh up to 120 pounds and reach a height of 70 cm.
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[post_page_title]Caucasian Shepherd[/post_page_title]
This dog looks incredibly friendly, however, it's one of the less friendly giant pooches on this list. As indicated by its name, these dogs are shepherds who herd livestock. They're also one of the longest living large dog breeds. They can weigh up to 198 pounds and reach a height of 28 inches...
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[post_page_title]Irish Wolfhound[/post_page_title]
These naturally old-looking dogs certainly aren't suitable to be lapdogs that's for sure! However, they have often got very quirky personalities, so they'd still make great pets... Irish Wolfhounds are an incredibly old breed and were first recorded living in Ireland in 7000 BC. They have a surprisingly low weight of up to 120 pounds for their size, but can reach a colossal height of 34 inches!
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[post_page_title]Leonberger[/post_page_title]
Remember the bear dogs that I mentioned at the beginning of this article? Well, this is exactly what they looked like! Can you believe that someone would have THREE of these huge dogs as pets?! Just like the 'mop dog', they too have a pretty awesome nickname and are also known as 'gentle lions'. These gentle lions can weigh up to 150 pounds and reach a height of 14 inches. If you want one of these as a pet, you're going to have to invest in a big doggie bed!
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[post_page_title]St. Bernard[/post_page_title]
This breed is probably the most famous type of giant dog in the world, and there's no doubt that the classic movie Beethoven from 1992 inspired many families across America to get one as a pet! Who could blame them?! St. Bernard's are simply gorgeous animals, and they've got amazing personalities too. That's why a St. Bernard was cast in the heroic role of Beethoven! They can weigh up to 264 pounds and reach a height of 35 inches.
[post_page_title]English Mastiff[/post_page_title]
It's clear that some of the dogs on this list are bigger than others, but this is one of the biggest. The English Mastiff is an incredible dog. It even impressed Ceaser when the Romans came to Britain, who was won over its strength and loyalty. These dogs can weigh up to an incredible 343 pounds and reach a height of 36 inches. If you want one of these giant pooches, you're going to have to spend a lot on dog food...
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[post_page_title]Newfoundland[/post_page_title]
The dogs on this list have been bred for a variety of reasons, but this only one that's has been bred to work alongside fishermen thanks to its amazing swimming abilities. To this day, these giant pooches are everyday heroes, saving people who've gotten into trouble in the water. They can weigh up to 260 pounds and reach a height of 29 inches. So if you live by the sea and you're looking for the perfect doggie companion, I think that a Newfoundland dog is the perfect pet for you!
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[post_page_title]Dogue De Bordeaux[/post_page_title]
This dog breed has been around for thousands of years, but despite the breed's longevity, these dogs don't live for very long and has an average lifespan of around six years... This giant pooch has had a lot of jobs over the years, ranging from hauling carts to being a simple guard dog - both of people and livestock. They can weigh up to 150 pounds and reach a height of 26 inches.
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[post_page_title]Scottish Deerhound[/post_page_title]
It's hard to believe that a head that small belongs to a body that big. This huge pooch originated in Scotland, and these massive animals were bred to hunt deer, so it makes sense that they're so big! The Scottish Deerhound, just like the other giant pooches on this list, is also known for being a very friendly dog. It can weigh up to 95 pounds and reach a dizzying height of 31 inches.
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[post_page_title]Neapolitan Mastiff[/post_page_title]
Ten points to Gryffindor if you can remember the name of this dog in Harry Potter... It's a Neopolitan Mastiff! Oh, and it was a Neapolitan Mastiff that played Hagrid's giant dog Fang in the Harry Potter movies. These dogs can weigh up to 130 pounds (woah!) and reach a height of 31 inches.
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[post_page_title]Great Dane[/post_page_title]
This breed of dog is so big that these dogs have regularly been given the prestigious title of being the world's BIGGEST dog. The dog who held the title in 2014 was a dizzying 112 cm tall! Originating in Germany, Great Dane's are giant pooches which are well-known for their colossal size. They can weigh up to 198 pounds and reach a staggering height of up to 84 inches!
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