What Is the Largest Breed of Dog Known to Man?
Determining the largest dog breed depends on whether large is defined by height or by weight. Some breeds, such as the Irish Wolfhound, are lengthy; however, the heaviest of wolfhounds do not come close to the weight of the lightest of Saint Bernards.
Furthermore, overlap exists between various large breeds of dogs. A number fall into the 150 pound range, and a number of others fall into the 30 inch range. In fact, the tallest dog on record is a Great Dane measuring in at 42.2 inches tall, and the heaviest dog is a 343 pound English Mastiff.
In Terms of Weight
English Mastiffs are the heaviest breed of dog, with highs ranging from 175-250 pounds. On average, the males weigh between 180-200 pounds and the females weigh between 140-160 pounds. When measured to the shoulder, the English Mastiff is generally between 27.5 and 32 inches. The numbers may not seem startling; however, remember that these animals are much shorter than an average human adult, but the dogs' weights equal and exceed that of many people.
The runner-up for heaviest breed is the Saint Bernard, with males coming in at 150-200 pounds and females at 110-160 pounds. Overall highs are in the 150-200 pound area. Slightly shorter than the English Mastiff, Saint Bernards are usually measured between 27 and 30 inches. Unfortunately for these beautiful breeds, their mass takes a toll on their bodies and they are frequently prone to suffering from heart problems.
In Terms of Height
Averaging 32-34 inches tall for males and 30-32 inches tall for females, with highs of 35 inches, the Irish Wolfhound comes in as the tallest dog in the world. It is important to remember that the height is only measured at the shoulder. Therefore, when adding on the height of the head, this breed is well over three feet tall. Imagine an Irish Wolfhound standing on its hind legs!
Other breeds, including the aforementioned English Mastiff and Saint Bernard, also reach heights of over 30 inches. Great Danes, often incorrectly considered by many as the largest dog, averages 28-32 inches for females and 30-34 inches for males. They are close to the Irish Wolfhound, but slightly shorter. Newfoundlands are slightly shorter, but still towering at 28-30 inches for males and 26-28 inches for females.
The Saint Bernard, although still tall, is at the low end of the tallest breeds classifications. Males are usually 27.5 to 30 inches tall, while females can be as short as 24.5 inches and as tall as 27 inches, on average. A few of these tall breeds are on the lighter side of the scale, however. Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes only reach highs of 105-125 and 100-120 pounds respectively.
Like the heaviest breeds, the tall dogs also have their share of health problems. Heart disease, bloating, and dysplasia, particularly of the elbow and hip, tend to plague these animals.
No Single Answer
No one bread can be classified as the largest breed of dog. However, English Mastiffs, Saint Bernards, Irish Wolfhounds, Great Danes, and Newfoundlands are generally the five largest. Therefore, potential dog owners should realize that they cannot just go in search of the largest dog.
Furthermore, another important note is that these are only general guidelines. Akitas, Bloodhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Bukovina Sheepdogs, Kangal Dogs, and others also fall into the "large dog" category, and the biggest of their breeds could certainly exceed the heights and weights of the five aforementioned breeds in certain cases.