As of: February 12, 2024, 2:54 p.m
By: Anna Heyers
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Dogs, like people, come in a variety of sizes.
Get to know the largest dog breeds in the world here.
1 / 10Great Danes are among the largest dog breeds ever.
Females have a shoulder height of at least 72 to 82 centimeters, while males have a shoulder height of at least 80 to 90 centimeters.
They were once bred as guard and protection dogs, but their gentle, patient nature also makes them ideal family dogs.
© Julia Moll/Imago
2 / 10The Irish Wolfhound is similar to the Great Dane in size but also in temperament.
Males have a withers of up to 86 centimeters, females up to 71 centimeters.
In the past they were used to hunt deer and wolves.
© Westend61/Imago
3 / 10The Scottish Deerhound looks extremely similar to the Irish Wolfhound, but is a little smaller overall (male: max. 76 cm shoulder height).
It was mostly used to hunt deer and is considered to be docile, intelligent and gentle.
© G. Lacz/Imago
4 / 10The Landseer is considered the original form of the Newfoundland and not only grows huge (males: height between 72 and 78 cm at the withers, females: 67 to 72 cm), but also loves the water and his family.
He even has small flaps of skin between his toes, which make him an ideal swimmer and therefore water rescue dog.
His gentle and patient nature also makes him ideal as a therapy dog.
© Gerard Lacz/Imago
5 / 10Just like the Landseer, the Newfoundland is also a perfect water rescue dog.
With their size of up to 71 centimeters at the shoulder (females: max. 66 cm) and their overall very strong physique, they can pull loads in the water and on land.
Supposedly their ancestors were part of the crew on Viking ships, mated with the dogs of European settlers and the gentle Newfoundland giants emerged.
© blickwinkel/Imago
6 / 10The English Mastiff grows to between 76 and 90 centimeters tall (males), bitches up to 75 centimeters.
He has a patient and gentle nature, but is also very personable.
This makes him an ideal guard and protection dog.
Keeping it is subject to strict regulations in many federal states in Germany, as it is on the list of dangerous dogs there.
© Nature Picture Library/Imago
7 / 10The Kangal is called Coban Köpegi in his native Turkey and is a popular livestock guard dog there.
He defends his herds from all kinds of predators and is completely absorbed in this task.
Unfortunately, in the city or as a normal family pet, he often has behavioral problems.
The maximum size is around 80 centimeters (withers) - for males and females.
© Berkay/Imago
8 / 10Similar to the Kangal, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog is also a herd protector.
He comes from France and protects his herd from animal threats in the mountains.
They are intelligent and always make their own decisions.
This makes them ideal for their job, but as an owner you could quickly become overwhelmed.
© gebut/Imago
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9 / 10 Even the puppies of the Leonberger breed are a bit reminiscent of bears.
When fully grown, the males grow up to 80 centimeters tall, the females up to 75 centimeters.
The breed is comparatively young: in the 1940s (19th century) the St. Bernard and Newfoundland breeds were crossed with each other.
The result is a courageous family dog with guard dog characteristics.
© Danita Delimont/Imago
10 / 10 St. Bernard dogs, or St. Bernard dogs, became known to the general public especially through the cult film “Beethoven”.
Males have a maximum height of up to 90 centimeters, females can easily reach 80 centimeters.
In the Valais Alps they were used as rescue dogs.
Some of them still do this job, others enjoy their life as couch potatoes and family dogs.
© Cavan Images/Imago
Dogs can be as different as their owners.
They are available in miniature versions, for example Maltese (like Stan and Oli), Papillons or Pomeranians, in handy medium sizes such as Golden Retrievers, Dalmatians or German Shepherds, or as (usually) gentle giants.
No matter which specimen you choose, purebred or mixed breed, always make sure that it comes from a reliable breeder or a certified organization.
This is the only way to minimize later suffering and a lot of frustration.