What are the biggest  in the world? From strong English Mastiffs to powerful Bernese Mountain Dogs, numerous giant pups will hog the whole sofa — and protect their owners. Some dogs are heavier than others due to their bone structures, while other large breeds are long and slim.

Whether you are looking for a new dog to adopt or are simply curious, get ready to fall in love with these big dog breeds.

What are the biggest dogs in the world?

The biggest dog breed in the world is the English Mastiff – in both weight and height! English Mastiff stands between 27-35 inches tall and weighs around 200-230 pounds, on average.

Top 10 giant dog breeds

While some might find them overwhelming due to their big size, giant dog breeds make perfect families’ pets. See 10 of our favorite big dog breeds.

You will absolutely fall in love with our list, please keep reading till the end we have a great bonus.

1- Big Dog Breed

As we said previously, English Mastiff is standing between 27-35 inches tall and weighs around 200-230 pounds, the  is among the biggest dogs in the world alive today – in both weight and height. Known throughout history for its fearsome beginnings, this breed came from ancient war dogs and now warms sofas around the world and makes loving family members.

When they’re not snuggled up with their favorite humans, this giant dog breed is also used for security purposes such as military and police work thanks to their high intelligence.

2. Irish Wolfhound

With an average height of 83cm, the Irish Wolfhound is unmistakeably a giant. Unlike most sighthounds who are on the leaner end of the scale, the Wolfhound is both tall and broad.

Though their history goes back as early as the 1^st Century A.D., the modern Irish Wolfhound’s roots lie more recently in the 19^th Century, when Captain Graham revived the breed, using Scottish Deerhounds, Borzoi, Great Dane and Pyrenean Mountain Dogs.

Once they reach adulthood, this massive and shaggy-coated breed is usually a truly gentle giant, however as puppies and juveniles they are boisterous, clumsy and frankly, enormous. Despite this, few people seem to have only one Irish Wolfhound!

3. Saint Bernard

Few people are unaware of the St Bernard, and if you say ‘giant breed’ this is the one many people will bring to mind most readily.  With a breed average height of 80cm, and a weight range from 70 to 90kg, they truly are a behemoth of a dog. The ‘Saint’ part of their name comes from their origins in a Swiss monastery at Great St Bernards Pass, high in the mountains. The monastery was a hospice and refuge for travellers, and though initially the St Bernard was used as a protection dog, they soon became useful as companions and rescuers.

The modern St Bernard still possesses the presence to ward off strangers harbouring ill intentions, though once introduced to someone as a friend they are affable and easy-going. Their main aim in life is to be a lap-dog, no matter their size!

Expect a dog that remains a lumbering clumsy puppy well into their third year, and while you have a choice in coat length, the drool is non-negotiable!

4. Newfoundland

Newfoundlands or ‘Newfies’ are another of the better-known giant breeds, particularly famous for their love of water. This passion is usually first seen in puppies who try to get in their water bowls, or repeatedly tip the bowl up so they can wallow in the puddle!  On average, the Newfoundland is 71kg, and stands 78cm at the shoulders, making them a truly massive dog.

Their love of water should be no surprise – the Newfoundland originates from the island of Newfoundland, Canada, where they worked as sled and cart dogs pulling heavy loads, and as water dogs, retrieving heavy nets from the water (and of course, humans who fell overboard).

Their heavy, oily and weatherproof coat meant they could survive the extreme low temperatures and wind chill, even whilst wet, and their huge, webbed feet made them effective swimmers with great traction on wet, icy, slippery ground.

Today, they are still used for water related dog sports, carting and of course as steady, adorable and enormous companions. An interest in outdoor swimming will make life with a Newfoundland much more fun – as will be diplomacy when your Newfie ‘rescues’ swimmers who do not want to be rescued.

5. Dogue de Bordeaux

On the smaller end of the giant breed scale, the Dogue de Bordeaux or ‘Dogue’, also known as the French Mastiff, is nonetheless still a pretty hefty, sizeable dog. Known for their reddish fawn colouration and their smiling, heavily wrinkled face, this Molossor breed’s history is very mixed!  From farm work, war dog, hunting dog and pit fighting, bull baiting dog and guard dog, and now most commonly, companion and show dog, the Dogue has turned a paw to most doggy roles in their time!

Dogue de Bordeaux have an average breed height of 63cm, and average weight of 48kg, whilst still makes them an impressively large dog, but a little easier to house than many. Being on the smaller side, they mature at around 2 years old, and are more agile and faster, and will require more exercise and physical activity. Great for owners who want a big but still active dog.

6. Leonberger

The Leonberger is one of the more glamorous giant breeds, with their reddish gold coat and a striking black mask, they do resemble a glorious, majestic lion. And they’re meant to, as the Leonberger was created by crossing St Bernards, Newfoundlands, and Pyreneans Mountain Dogs, with the aim of creating a majestic, lion-like dog.

Leonbergers come from Leonberg, Germany, and were selectively bred to resemble the heraldic lions of the town’s motif by the then Mayor of Leonberg, Heinrich Essen.  They served as farm and guard dogs as well as companions to the wealthy and noble (one look at their food bill will explain why this was!) and are easily capable of fulfilling the same roles today.

Almost dying out during the World Wars, where numbers dropped to 5 post WWI and 8 post WWII, they are now increasing in number and popularity due to their steady nature and attractive appearance. Weighing an average of 40kg, and standing around 72cm tall, you’ll want a big home and garden (and bank balance) to house this magnificent mutt!

7. Anatolian Shepherd

This giant livestock guarding and droving breed has its roots in protecting livestock from predators, and in assisting people in moving livestock from pasture to pasture across the Central Anatolian Plateau.

The Anatolian Shepherd, as described by the Kennel Club, stands at 71-81cms high with a weight of 50-59kg. In their native land however, they are still a working dog with far more emphasis being placed on working ability than on appearance, and each area has its own preferences.

While recognised by both UK and US Kennel Clubs, these are still dogs with a strong history of protection against both animal and human threat to their own familiar people and livestock. Their nomadic lifestyle, often protecting livestock independently of any owner, meant they had to make their own call on what constituted a threat and take appropriate action. This means they’re a big, heavy and athletic, and a very tough dog to live with and train, and should be considered specialist, for those living on large, securely fenced properties with prior livestock guardian breed experience – and few visitors.

8. Neapolitan Mastiff

The huge Neapolitan Mastiff is a surprisingly quiet dog, and though often a little slow to react, this should not be mistaken for a lack of intelligence. They just like to think things through properly!
Famous for their heavy, loose skin falling in dramatic wrinkles, with the appearance of a dog wearing a skin several sizes too big, they still fully believe themselves to be lapdogs.

Their origins lie in Southern Italy, where they were bred for protecting homes and the loose skin designed to make it hard for a predator, human or animal, to grab hold of them. Standing around 68cm tall on average and weighing around 60kg, the Neapolitan Mastiff should be lean and hard under a loose skin, with breeders now attempting to scale back extreme wrinkling for the good of the breeds health. They have a hard, shiny coat that is surprisingly weather resistant, and comes in a variety of blues, black, fawn, brown and brindle.

Despite their size, as puppies the Neapolitan is very bouncy and active, and although they slow down as they mature, this is one of the more active giant breeds. They do need a decent steady walk, and plenty of training to be enjoyable to live with, and you really do have to like drool, because it will be everywhere!

9. Great Dane

One of the tallest of the breeds and frequently featured in the Guinness Book of Records for their height, the Great Dane is a well-recognised giant breed.

There is no upper height limit for Great Danes, but at around 18 months the minimum height for females is 71cm, and for dogs 76cm. On average they weigh around 50kg, and this should be a lean, fit dog, not a soft, overweight dog, as those long bones have a lot of work to do!

Family loving, goofy and slightly ridiculous even, (remember Scooby Doo was a Great Dane!) but their origins lie in Germany, as boar hunting dogs who were also capable of protecting the estates of the wealthy and noble. Keep this in mind if strangers enter your property, or if wildlife starts running – as your Great Dane certainly hasn’t forgotten.

As with all the giant breeds, expect them to behave like puppies well into their third year, and to be awkward to transport, expensive to feed and capable of producing an outstanding quantity of drool! Like many dogs, they are often short-lived.

10. Deerhound

Though not the smallest of the giant breeds, possibly the lightest in weight, the Deerhound stands around 76cm tall on average and weighs about 42kg, with females being smaller and lighter and males being taller and heavier.

More recently bred to take down deer and hold them until a human hunter could finish the job, the Deerhound has written records going back 500 years or more. Their true original job was catching wolves, which survived in Scotland until at least 1680 and possibly into the 18thC.

These days with both deer coursing and wolf hunting a thing of the dim and ever more distant past, the Deerhound remains, virtually unchanged from the dog they were centuries ago.

Tall and lean, resembling an oversized greyhound with a dense shaggy, somewhat wiry coat, and an aristocratic look that can turn to a goofy grin of pure silliness in seconds. They love their family and trusted visitors, but are generally standoffish with strangers, although never rude nor aggressive.

They do take time to mature and are large, clumsy, idiotic puppies for some time, but the mature sensible Deerhound is an excellent family companion for the sighthound-experienced home.