Updated at: 15-09-2023 - By: petstutorial

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but some breeds stand out for their immense height. From the towering Great Dane to the elegant Saluki, these dogs are sure to turn heads wherever they go.

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However, measurements can vary within breeds, so when discussing the tallest dogs, it’s essential to lay down some ground rules.

You are reading: Top 12 Tallest Dogs

In this article, we’ll rank twelve of the tallest dogs in the world based on official measurements from dog associations and secondary sources on individual dogs.

To avoid receiving conflicting data from different sources, we’ll limit sources of information to the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) metrics. Without further ado, here are the top 12 tallest dogs.

Top 12 Tallest Dogs

Great Dane

The Great Dane is a large-sized dog breed that originated in Germany. It is one of the two largest dog breeds in the world, along with the Irish Wolfhound. The Great Dane was originally bred to hunt wild boar, but over time, the ferociousness necessary to track down such a large animal was bred out of them.

Today, they are known for their gentle nature, loyalty, intelligence, and trainability. The Great Dane is a giant, powerful dog with a square body and a long rectangular head. The muzzle is deep, with a pronounced stop, and the nose is black or blue/black on blue Danes or black spotted on the harlequins.

The dark, deep-set eyes are medium in size, and the medium-sized ears are set high and either cropped or left natural.

The Great Dane is typically a swift, alert dog noted for courage, friendliness, and dependability. It has a massive square-jawed head and body lines that give it an elegant appearance. Its short coat is black, fawn, brindle, blue-gray, harlequin, or mantle.

Great Danes are gentle, sweet, affectionate pets who love to play and are relaxed with children. They have a great desire to please, which makes them easy to train. They are reliable, trustworthy, and dependable, and they make good watchdogs.

Irish Wolfhound

Today, they are known for their gentle nature, loyalty, intelligence, and trainability. The Great Dane is a giant, powerful dog with a square body and a long rectangular head.

The muzzle is deep, with a pronounced stop, and the nose is black or blue/black on blue Danes or black spotted on the harlequins. The dark, deep-set eyes are medium in size, and the medium-sized ears are set high and either cropped or left natural.

Scottish Deerhound

The Scottish Deerhound is a large breed of sighthound that originated in Scotland. It was once bred to hunt red deer by coursing. The Scottish Deerhound is similar in appearance to the Greyhound, but larger and more heavily boned with a rough coat.

The minimum desirable height at the withers of males is 30 inches (75-80 cm) or more, and the height of females is from 28 inches (71 cm) upwards. The Scottish Deerhound is one of the tallest sighthounds, with a harsh 3-4 inch (7.6-10 cm) long coat and mane, somewhat softer beard and mustache, and softer hair on the breast and belly.

The Scottish Deerhound is gentle and extremely friendly, with a bearing of gentle dignity. It is a true sighthound that has been bred for centuries to hunt by sight, and it is known for its docile and eager-to-please nature.

The Scottish Deerhound is affectionate toward everyone, including family, friends, and strangers alike. It loves children and usually does well with other dogs, although the larger the better.

With its long legs, it enjoys a nice jog with a human companion, but afterward, it is happy to laze around on the sofa and snooze in a sunny spot.

Neapolitan Mastiff

The Neapolitan Mastiff, also known as the Mastino Napoletano, is a giant working breed from Italy. It is a muscular dog with short fur and wrinkly skin, and it has long, floppy jowls that droop from its face.

The breed was originally used as a guard dog, and its imposing size and protective nature make it an excellent watchdog. Despite its intimidating appearance, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a gentle giant that makes an excellent family dog. It is known for being great with kids and is just as protective as it is loving toward its owners.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a low-maintenance and easygoing companion that requires minimal grooming. It is a loyal and affectionate breed that loves its family unconditionally.

However, it can be wary of strangers and may require early socialization and training to prevent aggressive behavior. Overall, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a loyal, protective, and loving breed that makes an excellent companion for experienced dog owners.

Leonberger

The Leonberger is a giant dog breed that originated in Leonberg, Germany. It is a muscular and elegant dog with a balanced body type, medium temperament, and dramatic presence.

The Leonberger has a striking black mask that adorns its head and projects the breed’s distinct expression of intelligence, pride, and kindliness. It has a generous double coat that is straight and moderately soft, and it comes in lion-yellow, golden to reddish-brown, with a black mask.

The Leonberger is a gentle giant with a lively nature, and it is known for being brave, intelligent, steady, affectionate, and highly trustworthy. It is a well-balanced dog that has incredible patience, even with the most obnoxious children.

The breed is a seasonally heavy shedder, and it requires brushing at least once a week. The Leonberger is a dog that needs a good deal of exercise, attention, and space, but with the right pet parent, it can be a friend like no other.

Kangal Shepherd Dog

The Kangal Shepherd Dog is a traditional Turkish breed of large livestock guardian dog. It is also known as the Turkish Kangal Dog. The breed name derives from that of the town and district of Kangal in Sivas Province, the easternmost province of the Central Anatolia Region in central Turkey.

The Kangal Shepherd Dog is not as heavy as some other mastiff breeds, allowing it greater speed and agility than larger dogs. The dogs can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h (35 mph).

The Kangal is a traditional flock guardian dog, kept with flocks of sheep to protect them from predators such as wolves, bears, and jackals. The breed is known for its strength, speed, and courage, and it prefers to intimidate predators but will take a physical stand and even attack if necessary.

The Kangal Dog has a reputation for being gentle and protective towards children, but it also has an independent streak and will need a human who is very experienced in dog training.

The breed is not for novice dog owners. The Kangal Dog is noted for its solid temperament and aggression towards humans is not typical of the breed.

Romanian Bucovina Shepherd

The Romanian Bucovina Shepherd Dog is a breed of livestock guardian dogs native to the historical Bukovina region in Romania. It is a natural breed with its origin in the Carpathian Mountains, and special attention for the development of the breed arose in the regions of northeastern Romania, in the region of Bucovina.

The breed is closely related to other livestock guardian breeds of the region, such as the Greek Shepherd, Tornjak, or Šarplaninac.

The Romanian Bucovina Shepherd is a huge dog with a body slightly longer than the tall, powerful lower limbs and a horizontal, muscular back. It has a thick, long coat that requires daily thorough brushing to avoid matting, shedding continuously throughout the year.

The breed is known for its loyalty, total dedication, and strong personality, making it an excellent watchdog.

The Bucovina Shepherd is an extremely rare breed of dog that is not well known outside of Romania. It is a Mastiff-type breed developed by the ancient Romans. The breed is adaptable and can adjust to most temperatures, but it may require a professional groom to trim its coat during hot summers.

Bathing is on an ‘as needed’ basis, and it is recommended to use a special dog shampoo to avoid stripping the natural protective and waterproof oils from the dog’s coat.

Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees is a large breed of dog that originated in the Pyrenees Mountains of France and Spain. It is a thickly coated, and immensely powerful working dog bred to deter sheep-stealing wolves and other predators on snowy mountaintops.

The Great Pyrenees is a calm, well-mannered, and loyal breed that makes an excellent family pet. The average height of a Great Pyrenees is 27-32 inches (69-81 cm) for males and 25-29 inches (63-74 cm) for females, but some Pyrenees can grow as tall as 40 inches.

The breed has a thick, white coat that requires regular grooming to prevent matting and shedding. The Great Pyrenees is a mellow companion and a vigilant guardian of home and family. It is a breed that is known for its patience, intelligence, and loyalty.

While the Great Pyrenees is a large breed, it is not the tallest dog in the world. However, it is still an impressive and majestic breed that makes a wonderful addition to any family.

Spanish Mastiff

The Spanish Mastiff is a giant breed of dog that originated in Spain. It is a purebred working dog with an old history of serving as a guardian for sheep and livestock.

The breed is known for its imposing size and protective nature, making it an excellent watchdog. Males in this breed are 70 to 85 centimeters (28 to 33 inches) tall at the withers, and range from 50 to 70 kilograms (110 to 150 pounds), while females are at least 65 centimeters (26 inches) and weigh 40 to 60 kilograms (88 to 132 pounds).

The Spanish Mastiff is a very large and powerful dog, similar in appearance to other mastiff breeds. It has a large, powerful head, and a serious and vigilant expression.

The breed is known for being affectionate, protective, and alert, making it a great family pet. However, it requires an experienced dog owner who is knowledgeable in training and socialization to prevent it from becoming overprotective and aggressive.

Overall, the Spanish Mastiff is a loyal, protective, and loving breed that makes an excellent companion for experienced dog owners.

Anatolian Shepherd

The Anatolian Shepherd is a large breed of dog that originated in Turkey. It was bred as a shepherd’s companion and livestock guardian, with specific traits to resemble the size and color of livestock they defended so predators wouldn’t detect them among the flock.

The breed is known for its imposing size and protective nature, making it an excellent watchdog. The average height of a male Anatolian Shepherd is 29 inches (74 cm), and the average weight is 110-150 pounds (50-68 kg). Females are slightly smaller, standing at 27 inches (69 cm) and weighing 80-120 pounds (36-54 kg).

The Anatolian Shepherd is a muscular and powerful dog with a short fawn coat and a black mask. It has a calm and friendly temperament with its family, but it won’t hesitate to leap into action if it perceives a threat to its family or flock.

The breed is loyal, alert, and capable of great speed and endurance. It is intelligent, alert, and easy to train, but it is not a dog for beginners.

The Anatolian Shepherd requires an experienced dog owner who is knowledgeable in training and socialization to prevent it from becoming overprotective and aggressive.

Greyhound

The Greyhound is a large breed of dog that is known for its sleek and athletic build. The breed has a narrow head, long legs, and a muscular rear end, which gives it an aerodynamic appearance.

The average height of a Greyhound is between 26 to 30 inches (66 to 76 cm) for males and 27 to 30 inches (69 to 76 cm) for females. The weight of a male Greyhound is typically between 65 to 85 pounds (29 to 38 kg), while females weigh between 60 to 70 pounds (27 to 32 kg).

Greyhounds are known for their calm and friendly temperament, and they make excellent family pets. The breed is also known for its speed and agility, which makes it a popular racing dog.

Greyhounds have a short and easy-to-maintain coat, which requires minimal grooming. Due to their size and strength, adoption groups recommend that fences be between 4 and 6 feet tall to prevent Greyhounds from jumping over them.

Overall, the Greyhound is a large and athletic breed that makes a wonderful companion for experienced dog owners.

Saluki

The Saluki is a medium-sized breed of dog that is known for its grace, speed, and athleticism. The breed has a long, narrow head, large eyes, and drop ears, and it has a deep-chested, long-legged body typical of sighthounds.

The average height of a Saluki is between 23 to 28 inches (58-71 cm) for males and females, with females being slightly smaller. The breed typically weighs between 35 to 70 pounds (13-30 kg).

Salukis have a short, smooth, silky coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. The breed is known for its gentle and dignified nature, and it makes an excellent family pet.

Salukis are sighthounds, which means they hunt by sight more than scent or sound, and they are capable of great speed and endurance. The breed has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years.

Overall, the Saluki is a medium-sized breed that is known for its grace, speed, and athleticism, and it makes a wonderful companion for experienced dog owners.

FAQS

1. What is the tallest dog breed?

The tallest dog breed is the Irish Wolfhound, which can stand nearly 35 inches at the shoulder and weigh up to 180 lbs.

2. What is the difference between dog height and withers height?

Dog height is traditionally measured at the withers, which is the highest point of the shoulder blades. This measurement is used to determine the height of a dog breed.

3. Are tall dogs good family pets?

Yes, many tall dog breeds make excellent family pets. However, it’s important to note that some breeds may require more training and socialization than others to prevent aggressive behavior.