Top 10 Biggest Dogs - Amazing Breeds In The World
Dogs truly are a man's best friend. After all, what’s not to love? They’re fantastic companions and loyal to the core. Just read our story about Greyfriars Bobby if you weren’t convinced of a dog’s dedication to its human.
If you’re a canine enthusiast, you’ve probably wondered about giant dog breeds before! We’ve created a list of the top 10 biggest dogs. From Saint Bernards to Irish Wolfhounds, let’s look at these dogs and what makes them special. We love all dogs - but these puppies sure do stand out!
Top 10 Biggest Dogs
Did you know that there are over 190 different recognized dog breeds? Today, we’re focusing on the gentle giant dog breeds in the world.
1. Saint Bernard
Weight Range
Male: 139 - 179 lbs
Female: 119 - 139 lbs
Height
Male: 27 - 29 in.
Female: 25 - 27 in.
Why We Love Them
A Saint Bernard is the first breed on our list of the top 10 biggest dogs. Besides its size, you can usually spot this giant dog thanks to its beautiful thick red and white patched coat. Often it will also have dark, mask-like markings over its eyes and large floppy ears.
Another distinctive feature of a Saint Bernard is its jowls, which make the dog drool often. As with most big dog breeds, Saint Bernards take longer to mature and often don’t reach their true size until they’re two or three years old.
This breed is well known for its fantastic personality. The big dogs are loving and instinctively friendly. People often call them gentle giants because of their soft, easy-going temperament.
Generally speaking, Saint Bernards are wonderful with children and get along well with other animals. They’re also incredibly social and thrive when engaging with members of the family or other animals.
2. Newfoundland
Weight Range
Male: 130 - 150 lbs
Female: 99 - 119 lbs
Height
Male: 28 in.
Female: 25 in.
Why We Love Them
Newfoundlands are large, broad dogs. They’re well known for their love of water, as well as for their docile temperaments.
Their coats are commonly black, white, or brown - or a combination of the three. Their undercoats are quite soft and dense, which means they need brushing throughout the year.
Newfoundlands require lots of food and fresh water, especially during their first year. In fact, a pup can gain as much as 99 lbs within its first year. After that, their metabolism tends to slow down. Experts always advise Newfoundland owners to watch their pet’s diet carefully.
3. Great Dane
Weight Range
Male: 99 - 130 lbs
Female: 99 - 130 lbs
Height
Male: 32 in.
Female: 30 in.
Why We Love Them
Great Danes are huge, powerful, and graceful. Growing to 32 inches, they may be the tallest dog breed in the world! If you’re having trouble picturing a Great Dane - think of Scooby-Doo, who was the famous companion of Shaggy Rogers in the animated series.
The dogs have massive heads with large, prominent eyebrows and floppy ears. Depending on their breeding, you find a variety of striking coat colors, including fawn, brindle, harlequin, blue, and mantle.
Much like Saint Bernards, Great Danes are gentle giants - playful and loving. They get along well with children and other animals and are best suited to large families.
Despite being giant dogs, Great Danes tend to think of themselves as lap dogs. Don’t be surprised if you find one in your space trying to share the couch with you.
4. Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Weight Range
Male: 110 - 150 lbs
Female: 80 - 120 lbs
Height
Male: 29 in.
Female: 27 in.
Why We Love Them
The Anatolian Shepherd is one of the biggest dog breeds in the world. This giant dog is incredibly intelligent and independent. While quite protective, the Anatolian Shepherd is also known to be calm, friendly, and affectionate.
If you’re in the market for this giant dog, we suggest visiting a reputable breeder and choosing a pup that is quite social. The pup’s litter mates and parents are a great indicator of temperament.
These puppies should be enrolled in obedience classes. You should also introduce them to other dogs and animals at a young age. This can increase their social skills, which is crucial as they tend to be quite independent.
5. Leonberger
Weight Range
Male: 100 - 150 lbs
Female: 90 - 140 lbs
Height
Male: 30 in.
Female: 27 in.
Why We Love Them
Leonbergers are large dogs with long bodies and slightly shorter legs. This giant dog breed is known for its large mane and adorable floppy ears.
Like most of the top 10 biggest dogs, Leonbergers take a while to reach maturity. They tend to be fully grown at around three years old.
Leonbergers have either a straight or wavy coat with a dense undercoat. This means you must brush them often to maintain their coat.
The breed is also generally quite active and thrives with people who lead an outdoor lifestyle. Regular walks, backpacking, and hiking are ideal for maintaining energy levels.
6. Neapolitan Mastiff
Photo credit: Wikimedia
Weight Range
Male: 150 - 200 lbs
Female: 120 - 175 lbs
Height
Male: 31 in.
Female: 29 in.
Why We Love Them
The Neapolitan Mastiff is known for its droopy face and massive size. If you’re looking for the largest dog breed - Neapolitan Mastiffs are sturdily built. They are known for their sleek coats of dark gray or black.
Personality-wise, this dog is quite protective. They will always be on guard - even when they’re resting. Typically, the breed can be quite strong-willed and stubborn, so it’s best to socialize them from a young age. This is especially true if you’re planning on having them around other animals or young members of the family.
Like most large breeds, the Neapolitan Mastiff requires quite a bit of exercise, so regular walks and runs are a must.
7. Landseer
Weight Range
Male: 130 - 150 lbs
Female: 100 - 120 lbs
Height
Male: 32 in.
Female: 29 in.
Why We Love Them
This might be one of our favorite top 10 biggest dogs! Landseers are large, with shaggy coats. The dogs have thick, wavy, water-repellent outer coats and dense undercoats. Interestingly, Landseers that live indoors lose their undercoats .
This giant breed generally has a fantastic temperament. They are patient, friendly, and quite gentle - perfect for families with children.
As with the other dogs on this list, Landseers need big, open spaces. A spacious backyard where they can stretch their legs and play is a must!
8. Tibetan Mastiff
Weight Range
Male: 100 -160 lbs
Female: 75 - 125 lbs
Height
Male: 26 in.
Female: 24 in.
Why We Love Them
You’d be forgiven for doing a double-take at a Tibetan Mastiff, thinking it was a bear. With thick dark fur and large manes, they look pretty striking!
Having their origins as herd dogs that protect livestock in the Tibetan mountains, this breed can run relatively fast (up to 20mph over short distances). They are also excellent guard dogs and come across as somewhat watchful and aloof.
Although they’re good around the home and with their family, they may be intimidating to strangers. They need a decent amount of exercise, although they prefer it to be unstructured and at their own pace.
Because of their thick coats, Tibetan Mastiffs aren’t suited to warmer climates.
9. Irish Wolfhound
Weight Range
Male: 120 - 155 lbs
Female: 105 - 135 lbs
Height
Male: 32 in.
Female: 30 in.
Why We Love Them
Irish Wolfhounds are scruffy-looking dogs and can intimidate people with their height. They’re fast and athletic - which shouldn’t come as a surprise since they were bred to run down and hunt large animals.
Their wiry, scruffy coat works well to withstand cold, damp climates.
Irish Wolfhounds are incredibly sweet and gentle. They enjoy a good walk and are also perfectly content curled up on the carpet.
10. Bernese Mountain Dog
Weight Range
Male: 88 - 119 lbs
Female: 68 - 99 lbs
Height
Male: 25 in.
Female: 24 in.
Why We Love Them
Bernese Mountain Dogs are gorgeous, tri-colored canines with strong, muscular builds. They are alert and generally good-natured. However, they require obedience training and socialization at a young age.
This breed is quite strong and thrives when kept physically active. A large backyard is a definite requirement. Bernese Mountain Dogs are incredibly loyal and do well in smaller, close-knit families.
Conclusion
We love all dogs, and these top 10 biggest dogs sure do have our attention! If you were curious about amazing, large dog breeds, we hope you’ve found what you were looking for.
Despite the large size, most dogs on this list are gentle giants that thrive with families. They’re all fantastic breeds to consider if you’re thinking of adding a large, furry friend to your family. Getting a dog is a big commitment, so do your homework before taking the leap.
For more interesting stories on the wonderful and unique animals that live in our world, go to Phreeque.com.