What Are the Largest Dog Breeds in the World? A Guide

If you're someone who loves large — or rather, giant — dogs, you'll want to check out this rundown of the world's biggest dog breeds. Adopting a large dog comes with plenty of upsides.

But you should also be aware of the downsides that come with their size. These affect not just their health, but also how manageable they are and the costs involved, many of which scale with size.

The Biggest Dogs by Height and Weight

Along with basic physical and behavioral traits, every dog breed standard sets two dimensions: weight, and height measured at the withers — the area between the front legs, at the highest point of the back. So dogs can be big because of their weight, their height, or both.

It's worth pointing out because, although both measurements are naturally related, a tall dog doesn't always look big, and vice versa. For example, a Rottweiler can seem big to us because of its build and weight, but it isn't very tall. On the other hand, there are taller dogs that look smaller because they're so lean, like Greyhounds.

Below, we'll go over the five heaviest dog breeds in the world, close to 100 kg, along with the five breeds whose tallest individuals reach nearly a meter at the withers.

Saint Bernard

The Saint Bernard

No doubt, when we think of big dogs, the Saint Bernard is one of the first that comes to mind. And rightly so — they easily reach 90 kg, and some individuals even top 100. They also stand over 70 cm tall. Associated with snow and movie fame, they're good dogs for children.

Tosa Inu

The Tosa Inu Breed

The Tosa Inu is a Japanese dog that can weigh over 90 kg, standing between 62-65 cm tall. These animals were used for fighting and retain a strong character that makes them unsuitable for first-time owners or homes with children or other animals. They need a lot of activity and stimulation.

The English Mastiff Breed

Weighing over 80 kg and standing over 75 cm tall, this Mastiff type is one of the biggest dogs in the world. Its origins are ancient, and it has always been dedicated to defending property. Today, it's still a good guard dog. It needs plenty of space and an experienced owner.

The Giant Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Mastiffs weigh over 80 kg and stand over 70 cm tall. Their thick coat also makes them look even bigger. In their native Tibet, their first role was tending livestock. Today they're found as companions and property guardians. Despite their heavy-looking build, they're very active dogs.

Characteristics of the Pyrenean Mastiff

These herding dogs defended sheep from wolf attacks. They weigh around 75 kg and stand up to 80 cm tall. With a strong, sturdy, powerful body, they excel at obedience and also make good guard dogs. They also retain a strong protective instinct toward their family.

Irish Wolfhound

Irish Wolfhound, the Tallest Dog

These dogs aren't as heavy as the ones we've mentioned so far, not exceeding 55 kg. Irish Wolfhounds, however, are considerably taller, reaching 90 cm in height. They were originally used for hunting wolves, but today they're found as companion dogs. They're good with children and other dogs.

Traits of the Komondor

The Komondor is a dog that catches the eye for its looks, since its coat falls in dreadlock-like cords. They're also tall dogs, up to 90 cm, weighing over 60 kg. Even though they might not look like it, they're herding dogs and good guardians. Their distinctive coat protected them from both the elements and wolves.

South Russian Shepherd or Ukrainian Shepherd

This furry giant reaches 90 cm in height and can weigh up to 75 kg. These dogs were used for tending livestock, a job they still do today, though they've branched out into security work and companionship too. They're not dogs for beginners, children, or city apartments.

The Tatra Shepherd Dog

This is a Polish herding breed that can stand up to 87 cm tall and weigh up to about 69 kg. They have an independent character and aren't easy to train, nor do they get along especially well with other dogs. Even so, they're affectionate when living with their owners. Their dense white coat stands out.

The Akbash Dog Breed

This is a dog of Turkish origin that reaches 86 cm in height and weighs around 55 kg. It has always been used for herding sheep. Because of this, it's not the best breed to keep in an apartment. It's also not especially easy to train, and isn't a breed that's particularly receptive to children or other dogs. It needs good socialization.