Biggest Dog Breeds — Everything You Need To Know

There’s a lot to love about big dogs, isn’t there? While some people might find big dog breeds intimidating, because of their size, they’re often anything but — every dog is different, but so many are big, gentle softies!

Ownership of a large dog breed brings different challenges and responsibilities to that of being a pet parent to a small pup. To start with, big dogs have big appetites and need larger quantities of food, but also need a specialist type of diet to ensure they’re getting the right amount of nutrients. It’s important to choose the right food for large breed puppies, and, later, for large breed adult dogs.

Unfortunately, big dog breeds are also prone to certain health conditions that smaller dogs may be at lower risk of. Among those issues are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, arthritis, gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) — which is often known simply as bloat — and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Large breeds typically have shorter lifespans, too.

For all that, big dogs can make truly wonderful pets, displaying bags of affection and loyalty. If you’re considering bringing a large breed home, you might be interested in reading our recommendations for the top big dog breeds for families, and the best large dog breeds for first-time dog owners.

So, which are the biggest dog breeds in the world? Though exact weight and height can vary with every individual dog, so it’s difficult to pin down a definitive top 10, here’s a list of the biggest dog breeds — with some key information about each, too.

Weight range: 120-230 lbs
Height range: 27-30 inches

Weight range: 150-200 lbs
Height range: 23-27 inches

The Boerboel hails from South Africa, with its name closely linked to its size — pronounced ‘Bor-Bull’, the ‘bull’ part means ‘big’, while ‘Boer’ translates to ‘farmer’ in the Afrikaans language. This is a big farm dog, in other words. A Mastiff-type, the Boerboel is a powerful breed — stocky and muscular, at up to 200 lbs it’s one of the biggest dog breeds by weight.

The Boerboel excels as a watchdog and guard dog, whether that be a farm or a home. They make a devoted pet, if trained and socialized properly, and are known to be affectionate with their family and good with young children — just be mindful of the rule not to leave them unattended with little ones. They don’t mix so well with other dogs though, and will be naturally suspicious of strangers.

Read up on the Boerboel with our breed profile.

Weight range: 90-170 lbs
Height range: 25-32 inches

Leonbergers are large — males can be as heavy as 170 lbs, making them one of the biggest dog breeds by weight you’ll find. Originating in Germany, the Leonbergers is sometimes known as the ‘Gentle Lion’ due its easy-going temperament but also its appearance. It has a thick coat (which needs a lot of care) and males sometimes have a lion-like mane; it does have a passing resemblance to the King of the Jungle.

This is a powerful dog, though it moves with a relaxed manner and is generally friendly, mixing well with children and enjoying family life. Leonbergers have also been used as therapy dogs, such is their affectionate nature.

Recognized as a breed by the AKC in 2010, they tend to live only to around seven years of age.

Our Leonberger breed profile has more information on this giant breed.

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Weight range: 99-130 lbs
Height range: 28-34 inches

With males capable of standing up to 34 inches tall, the Great Dane is one of the biggest dog breeds by height in the world. This gentle giant is also among the most popular dogs in the USA, having consistently been ranked in the top 20 breeds, according to registration statistics from the American Kennel Club (AKC).

The Great Dane is a gorgeous-looking dog; large and lumbering, but also rangy, with long, lean limbs, and a handsome face. Their temperament is very placid and friendly, so they make for perfect family pets — providing you have enough space for this big beast to thrive in.

Sadly Great Danes have a shorter lifespan than many breeds, at between 8-10 years. These dogs can experience some serious health issues, including GDV, which is the leading cause of death in Great Danes.

Read up on the Great Dane in our breed profile.

Weight range: 105-120 lbs
Height range: 30-32 inches

With females reaching a minimum of 30 inches and males at least 32 inches, the Irish Wolfhound is one of the biggest dog breeds by height. Unlike some of the other breeds on our list though, it doesn’t have a large or muscular build — the Irish Wolfhound is long and lean, and when standing upright on its hind legs is likely to tower over most humans.

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Weight range: 110-200 lbs
Height range: 21-24 inches

The imposing Tosa Inu is the biggest of dog breeds from Japan; Inu simply means ‘dog’ in Japanese. This is a heavy dog, with Tosas bred in the US tending to be bigger still than those bred in its native Japan — capable of weighing 200 lbs or more.

The Tosa has a controversial past as a fighting dog, and those associations may still linger; this is a breed that’s banned, or restricted, in a few countries (though not in the USA). A Tosa can be a family pet, if trained and socialized correctly, and in the right environment — it can be loyal, protective and affectionate. But, it’s certainly not a dog for the novice pet parent.

Weight range: 100-150 lbs
Height range: 26-28 inches

Hailing from Canada, the Newfoundland was bred to serve as a water dog — including rescuing those who had come into difficulty while swimming — and has a physique and coat created for that task. They have webbed feet, and their coat is water repellent; their powerful build allows them to not only swim for long distances but also to do so pulling someone along.

These are big, heroic dogs, then. Even if not used for working purposes, Newfoundlands — Newfies — still love to swim and stay active. In warmer weather, they may struggle after too much exercise, so don’t let them overheat. That thick coat needs brushing at least twice a week to avoid it matting. Another point — Newfoundlands are big eaters, and messy drinkers, so expect a fair amount of spillage and drooling!

Read our breed profile on the Newfoundland to learn more.

Weight range: 85-100 lbs
Height range: 25-32 inches

Compared to other breeds on our list, the Great Pyrenees isn’t that heavy — males might weigh around the 100 lbs mark — but it’s tall. Capable of standing to 32 inches, it’s one of the biggest dog breeds by height. 

Originating in the — you’ve guessed it — Pyrenean Mountains that lie between France and Spain, the Great Pyrenees was bred to work alongside shepherds in cold and snowy conditions. Hence, it has a double coat to cope with low temperatures.

These are generally calm, gentle dogs and though they’re typically friendly, they also make excellent guard dogs. They love being a family pet, and get along well with children and other pets provided they’ve been socialized. Beware though — the Great Pyrenees does have a loud bark!

Read our Great Pyrenees breed profile.

Weight range: 120-180 lbs
Height range: 26-30 inches

The phrase ‘gentle giant’ could almost have been conceived especially for the Saint Bernard. This is a big ‘ol softie of a dog — one of the biggest dog breeds around, and one known as a genuine people-pleaser.

The Saint Bernard has a lovely, warm temperament and is very affectionate with its human family, including young children too. It’s a bit more wary of other dogs, especially strangers, and though easy-going, is an excellent watchdog and protector.

These are intelligent dogs, and should be trained when still a puppy when they’re smaller and therefore easier to handle. They can be quite stubborn, so need to know who’s in charge from an early age (and it’s not them).

The AKC officially recognised the Saint Bernard as a breed in 1885.

Our breed profile on the Saint Bernard has more detail — it’s essential reading.

Weight range: 80-150 lbs
Height range: 27-29 inches

The Anatolian Shepherd is an ancient breed of dog that originated in Turkey — it’s also one of the biggest dog breeds, which can weigh up to 150 lbs in the case of males. It’s a tall dog, too, standing up to 29 inches in height.

This is a very smart dog, bred to guard farm livestock from predators. It’s not a particularly bulky animal — it’s slender and agile instead, and has a double coat that can either be medium or medium long.

The Anatolian is protective by nature and alert; it can be quite a serious dog, though, and may even come across as aloof and independent instead of affectionate with its human family. It needs a moderate level of exercise.

Read the Wag! guide to the Anatolian Shepherd.

Big dog breeds need plenty of food — but they also need the right type of food. Find the perfect diet for your pup by visiting Dog Food Advisor — our online partners have lots of dog food brand reviews and loads of useful advice.