Large dogs are often kept for security purposes because their deep barks and sheer size are enough to deter intruders from a property. But despite their menacing looks, most of the big breeds are loyal, affectionate, and obedient. Some of them have even earned the moniker “gentle giants”.

In this article, we will highlight some dogs that have made a name in the media over the years due to their massive size. Read on to learn more about some of the biggest dogs in the world in 2024.

The 2024 World Records for Biggest Dogs in the World

Big dogs are stunning, and their weight and height are compared to achieve the honor of the world’s biggest canine. While some breeds are expected to have standard height and weight measurements, others typically result in giant dogs.

1. Zeus (from Michigan)

In Otsego, Michigan,  a Great Dane named Zeus could reach 7 feet 4 inches by standing on his hind legs and was 44 inches tall. He was the tallest dog, as acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2013.

Despite his massive size and intimidating look, Zeus was surprisingly very docile. According to the owner, he was a lap dog who enjoyed stretching out over the family’s laps. Zeus’s reputation was well known in Michigan because he regularly visited hospitals and schools and also worked as a therapy dog.

People often told Zeus’ owner that he was a horse, not a dog, asking whether he had a saddle for riding him. The record for the tallest dog ever remains with him after he displaced Giant George (another Great Dane who died in 2013) by an inch.

Sadly, Zeus died in September 2014 at age 5.

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2. Giant George

Giant George is a Great Dane from Arizona who had held the title of the tallest dog in the world for several years before he was dethroned by Zeus. Giant George still deserves a spot on our list because of his impressive weight. The Great Dane had a length of 7 feet and 3 inches from nose to tail and weighed 245 pounds when measured in 2010.

Described as tall as two average Golden Retrievers stacked on top of each other, Giant George was the runt of the litter when his owners bought him. He would eat 110 pounds of food every month, with a typical meal consisting of dog food mixed with rotisserie chicken, yogurt, and rice.

Giant George mostly worked as an ambassador for lost dogs to encourage people to donate money to animal charities. Unfortunately, he lived for only 8 years and passed away in 2013, which is quite old for a Great Dane.

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3. Titan

Titan is a Great Dane from California who officially received the Guinness World Record title for the tallest dog in November 2009. This massive pup was gentle and affectionate and got along with dogs of all sizes. As he went for walks with his owner, children often mistaken him for a horse or cow.

Sadly, Titan struggled with several health issues, like epilepsy, and became deaf and blind. He had to go for chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture every 3 weeks.

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4. Gibson

Gibson is another worthwhile contender for the title of biggest dog in the world. Weighing 180 pounds, he was the tallest dog in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004.

Gibson lived a glamorous lifestyle and was even featured alongside TV celebrity hosts such as Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. He also served as a mascot of ForeverLawn and worked as a therapy dog.

Gibson’s pedigree name was a mouthful: Millennium of Rocky Dane Gibson Meistersinger. Sadly, he was plagued by ailments common in large dog breeds and succumbed to bone cancer in 2009.

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5. Zeus (from Texas)

Another dog named Zeus, a Great Dane from Texas, also holds a spot on the world’s tallest dog list. In 2022, the Guinness World Records confirmed that at just 3 years old, Zeus was about 41 inches tall and 7 feet 4 inches when standing on his hind legs, making him the tallest living dog at the time.

According to Brittany Davis, she was gifted this dog when he was 8 weeks old. He was among the largest puppies in a litter of five, and she recalls that he had the biggest paws she’d ever seen. He was born with a gray, white, merle, and brindle dam sire coat.

Unfortunately, Zeus passed away in 2023 from pneumonia after a lung cancer diagnosis.

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6. Major

Major is another Great Dane breed that deserves a spot on our list of big dogs. This massive dog was over 7 feet tall when standing on his hind legs at age 5. He was so large that he slept on adult-sized mattresses.

He was a contender for the tallest dog in the world but fell short by just a few millimeters. Major was genuinely sweet-natured and gentle toward his family members. He did a photoshoot with Disney, the smallest dog in Britain, which melted the hearts of many.

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7. Freddy

Freddy was a Great Dane from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, and he was officially designated as the tallest living dog in the world by Guinness Records in 2016. When measured, he was over 40 inches tall, but while standing on his hind legs, his height more than doubled to 89 inches. Unfortunately, this gigantic pup passed on in 2021 after his 8th birthday.

According to the owner, Freddy was the runt of his litter. However, he experienced a sudden growth spurt. Freddy and his sister, Fleur, chewed through 26 sofas by the time they were adults.

He might have been a destructive puppy, but he grew up to be a gentle dog who enjoyed spending time with his family and getting paw massages. However, his owner had to take him out for regular walks to reduce his pent-up energy because he could prove to be quite difficult to handle when too excited.

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8. Atlas

Aptly named Atlas, this dog was the only one in his litter and weighed 225 pounds. He also measures 40 inches and 3 feet 4 inches long from his paws to the withers. These measurements were taken while Atlas was only 6 years old, and he is on a fast track to getting certified as the tallest living dog in the world by the Guinness Book of Records.

He is about an inch over the current record holder, who measures 39.7 inches. Now that Zeus from #5 has passed away, Atlas could take the title. Atlas’ Guinness records are yet to be finalized because the review process for such a prestigious designation tends to be long and tedious and can last longer than 3 years.

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9. Hercules

While Great Danes might be unrivaled in height, they cannot hold a candle to the bulk of English Mastiffs such as Hercules. In 2007, photos of a massive dog standing as tall as a horse went viral on the internet. The enormous dog was Hercules, and he took the world by storm with his sheer height.

In fact, most people thought that the photos were a hoax and likely photoshopped to make the dog appear larger. Nevertheless, Hercules is still recognized as the heaviest living dog in the world by Guinness.

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10. Lizzy

As you may have gathered by now, there aren’t many female dogs that qualify for the list of biggest dogs in the world. However, the last confirmed official holder was a Great Dane named Lizzy from Florida. At 38 inches tall, the owner described Lizzy as a “show-stopper” due to the amount of attention she got from astonished onlookers whenever she ventured outside.

Not only did Lizzy have great looks, but she was also a sociable gentle giant who shared her home with a cat and two small Terriers. Unfortunately, she passed on in 2017, leaving the spot for the biggest living female dog in the world vacant.

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11. Aicama Zorba of La-Susa

Aicama Zorba is an old English Mastiff from London and is one of the largest dogs in the world in terms of weight and length. Besides garnering a weight of 315 pounds by 1989, Zorba’s expanse of 8 feet and 3 inches was measured from nose to tail in 1987, but the record’s entry was only confirmed in 2008. Even then, this record is yet to be broken.

He was so big that most people compared him to a small horse or donkey. He was also so tall that when he stood on his hind legs, he towered over most basketball players. The Mastiff’s waistline exceeded expectations for the breed, for which males only grow to about 230 pounds.

He was a guest on David Letterman’s Late Night TV show, and a few photos of the enormous dog survived on the internet, although his time was before social media’s advent.

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12. Boomer

Boomer was a Landseer Newfoundland who weighed 180 pounds and measured 7 feet long when the Associated Press profiled him in 2009. The dog didn’t achieve the formidable girths of some of this list’s contenders since he only stood 36 inches. He failed to meet the minimum height requirement for consideration by the Guinness Book of World Records, which is 40 inches.

According to his owner, Boomer could drink water from the faucet without hopping onto the kitchen counter. Boomer was notorious for knocking things off the counter with his tail due to his stature. He passed away in 2012.

Final Thoughts

Various dog shapes and sizes exist, from tiny lap and toy dogs to mighty gentle giants like Zeus and Atlas. However, some canines compete for the title of biggest dog in the world, defying expectations to reach outstanding proportions and capture records and the world’s admiration.

These colossal canines carry their sheer size, height, and weight, leaving onlookers in awe. Despite being gigantic, the pups are remarkably gentle and provide companionship for their lucky owners.

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Featured Image Credit: Yuri Nunes, Shutterstock