Looking for a dog with a little more substance than your average Chihuahua or greyhound? These beautiful dogs are categorized as giant breeds. Some can even put a pony to shame! You have to see it to believe it.
All of the dogs featured in this list were bred to do a specific job, from guardian to draft animal to hunting by sight. This accounts for their formidable strength and size. Sit back, relax, and learn a little something about some of the most colossal canines on the books.
Great Dane
The Great Dane hails from Germany, where mastiffs and wolfhounds were interbred to create a big, strong dog to hunt down boar. Danes are among the tallest dogs, ranging from 28 to 34 inches high on average, and can weigh up to 200 pounds. Zeus, the Guinness record holder for tallest dog, was an astonishing 44 inches tall and 155 pounds.
Saint Bernard
St. Bernards are native to the Alps—Northern Switzerland and Italy. Famous for rescuing lost travelers in the dangerous Great St. Bernard pass, these noble dogs range from 26 to 35 inches tall, and weight between 140 and 260 pounds.
English Mastiff
The English mastiff is a big beautiful hunk of dog originally bred for the fighting ring. Mastiffs are the heaviest breed of dogs, with the biggest on record being Zorba, who weighed in at 343 pounds. Average mastiffs are 28 to 36 inches tall and can weigh anywhere from 120 to 250 pounds.
Neapolitan Mastiff
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The English mastiff’s Italian cousin is a lighter weight and wrinklier version of the classic. Natural guardians, Neapolitan mastiffs range from 26 to 31 inches at the shoulder and weigh in at up to 155 pounds.
Newfoundland
World-famous for water rescue and aiding fisherman with hauling nets and lines, the Newfie is the only dog on this list with a waterproof double coat and webbed toes for ocean swimming. Newfoundlands (and their black-and-white cousin the Landseer) weigh in around 120 to 150 pounds. They stand an average of 28 inches.
Dogue De Bordeaux
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This handsome and ancient French mastiff is talented at a range of skills, including guarding, carting, and protecting livestock. This lighter mastiff weighs in at 125 to 150 pounds, and stands a sturdy 23 to 27 inches.
Black Russian Terrier
Not really a terrier, the black Russian terrier sports a black fluffy double coat kept trimmed like a schnauzer’s. This breed was created quite recently, pulling from the best of 17 breeds. These included the Airedale, schnauzer, rottweiler, Newfoundland, and ovtcharka to create an all-around working dog with natural guarding instincts and the strength for carting. The BRT stands 26 to 30 inches high, and weighs in at 100 to 132 pounds.
Leonberger
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The lionlike Leonberger is a beautiful mashup of the Saint Bernard and the Newfoundland. These handsome dogs excel as watchdogs, cart-pullers, and at search and rescue. These German do-gooders stand up to 31 inches at the shoulder and weigh up to 170 pounds.
Irish Wolfhound
Wirehaired and lanky, the Irish Wolfhound was originally used to, you guessed it, track and hunt wolves. The wolfhound and Great Dane go toe-to-toe for height, though a Dane currently holds the title. Wolfhounds average 32 to 34 inches in height, and weigh in from 110 pounds up to 180 pounds.
Featured image: Landseer Newfoundland with Pony