The biggest ones

The biggest ones

From XXS to XXL. For all preferences and needs, there are dogs of all sizes, with a much bigger range than in any other species. In this article, we are going to cover are the biggest ones. OnlyDogs.info,

classifies dogs into 5 size categories: miniature, small, medium, big and giants. But, this classification is arbitrary, because there may be different criterions to establish if a breed belongs to one category or another. In our case, we opt to weight differentiation, in a very likely way as it is done in many sports, like boxing. But, to decide which the biggest breed, this criterion may not be the best, due to taller breeds are not the heaviest.

The dog’s height is not measured up to the top of the head, but up to the withers range. The withers are the highest point of the shoulder blade, where the neck rises. In that way, a dog with a height of 60cm up to the withers range will have its occiput (a bone with the shape of a bump between the ears) up to 90cm.

Beyond the fact that there may have existed some specimen exceptionally tall or heavy which was registered sometime in some breed, the intention of this article is to order things according to the usual rate levels. Most of the breed’s standards impose minimum and maximum heights and weights.

It is important to clarify the fact that the giant size is something really difficult for the breeders to reach, and if a meticulous process of selection is not done, it disappears gradually. For example, it is typical to see much bigger Rottweilers in exhibitions than the ones that are seen around the streets.

It is also important to keep in mind that there seems to be an inversely proportional relationship between size and health. On an average level, bigger dogs live less, almost the half of what a normal or small size dog does. Moreover, they usually have a lot of puppies in every birth, and during the first months of life, they will have an elevated growth rate, that will require a very careful diet so they have a normal development. A giant dog will demand more controls. It is important to keep that in mind when you decide to adopt one.

The tallest ones

The Guinness World Record of the tallest dog is owned by a Great Dane, called Zeus, which was about 112cm up to the withers range. But as we said before, we do not want to take into account exceptional cases. However, Great Danes are among the tallest dogs, and it is one of a few breeds that not only establish the maximum standard size limits, but also they suggest that a taller dog is more desirable.

In general, the Sighthounds are the highs owners. Actually, there are Sighthound genes in the Great Dane. The Borzoi and the Deerhound usually overcome the 80cm. Nevertheless, both breeds weigh less than 40kg.

But obviously, the tallest –on average rates- are the Irish Wolfhounds. Even though the standard imposes a maximum of 86cm, it is difficult to find specimens far from that limit. They are also really heavy, with a weight around 60kg. Those are real giants among hounds.

Dogs with a height of 70cm and over

• Great Dane
• Borzoi
• Scotish Deerhound
• Irish Wolfhound

The heaviest ones

Zorba, an English Mastiff, has the record of heaviest dog, with almost 143kg of weight. In a scale, there would have been needed 70 Chihuahuas to equal its weight. Zorba was also exceptionally tall, with 94cm of height. The specimens of this breed rarely overcome the 75cm, even when the standard does not specify maximum or minimum heights, we can definitely consider then between the heaviest ones.