Prepare to be dwarfed! From gentle giants to lean, lanky protectors, we’re exploring the 13 tallest dog breeds that often tower over their human companions. These majestic canines, with their impressive stature and unique personalities, command attention wherever they go. Whether you’re seeking a loyal, furry friend or simply fascinated by the sheer scale of these breeds, prepare to be amazed by their height and heart. We’ll delve into their origins, temperaments, and what it takes to share your life with a dog who might just need to bend down for a hug.
Tall dogs are gorgeous. Little dogs are very sweet, but if you want a really big hug, you need a tall dog breed. I’ve lived with tall dog breeds most of my life, and the adult human-sized ones are really fun and make great family pets.
The tall dog breeds below are intelligent, affectionate, playful, and add joy to their owners’ lives. When you look at the large dog breeds, you see how special they are.
Of course, the only thing better than a large dog is a fluffy large dog. We’ve got you covered with these fluffy dog breeds. Many of the big fluffy dogs are livestock guardian breeds because they need to stay warm for their jobs.
Tall Dogs
No one will mess with you when you are in the company of a tall dog breed, except maybe to ask if they can pet your pooch. These dog breeds are mostly calm and enjoy walking, playing, and relaxing. These tallest dog breeds have long legs that don’t tire during hikes.
Here are 13 of the tallest dog breeds that make wonderful companions:
1. Great Dane
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 28-32 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 110-175 pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | Short hair in black, black and white, brindle, fawn, harlequin, mandle, merle, white, blue and white, blue brindle, chocolate, chocolate and white, chocolate brindle, silver, mandle merle, merlequin |
| LIFE SPAN | 7-10 years |
The first in the tallest dog breed category that we’ll explore is the Great Dane. They’re gentle giants that are friendly, patient, dependable, affectionate, playful, protective, energetic, and good with children. They need mental stimulation.
They were originally bred in Germany to fight boars and watch over their families. Fortunately, they only do the latter now.
The Great Dane isn’t from Denmark — where Great Danes are known as Deutsche Dogge, meaning “the German mastiff.” Despite their size, they can live in apartments because they are calm. As large dogs, they need a large fence if you have a yard.
When Great Danes stand up, they are taller than many people. The Great Dane is very sweet but won’t allow anyone to harm their family. As one of the tallest dog breeds in the world, they are imposing creatures that make great family dogs.
2. Greyhound
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 27-30 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 60-70 pounds |
| GROUP | Hound |
| FUR AND COLOR | Short fur inblack; black brindle; blue brindle; red; red brindle; white; white and black; white and blue brindle; white and red; blue; blue fawn; white and black brindle; white and blue; white; white and blue fawn; white and red brindle; black and white; blue, brindle, and white; red and white, black, brindle and white; blue and white; blue, fawn, and white; fawn; fawn and white; liver; liver and white; liver brindle; red, brindle, and white; white and fawn; white & liver, white and liver brindle |
| LIFE SPAN | 10-13 years |
Another in the tallest dog breed category is the Greyhound. Greyhounds are affectionate, athletic, good with other dogs, energetic, and they like kids. The American Kennel Club calls Greyhounds “independent, gentle, and noble.”
The Greyhound is an ancient breed whose history goes back 5,000 years to Egypt, where they were hunting dogs because of their speed. The Greyhound, a sighthound, was also adored by Alexander the Great and Russian Czars.
Greyhounds, one of the tallest dog breeds, are sweet, gentle, aerodynamic, and noble. Greyhounds make great family dogs.
The Greyhound was practically worshipped in antiquity and is raced in the present. Fortunately, many advocacy groups are working to free the greyhounds from greyhound racing.
3. Anatolian Shepherd
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 27-29 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 80-150 pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | Thick fur and undercoat in biscuit and white, brindle, fawn, blue fawn, gray fawn, red fawn, liver, white |
| LIFE SPAN | 11-13 years |
The Anatolian shepherd, a canine from Turkey and another of the tallest dog breeds. This big dog is good with kids and dogs and is protective. They were originally bred to protect livestock from predators, so it’s natural for them to want to secure your family and home.
Anatolian shepherds existed in the Bronze Age 6,000 years ago. The Anatolian is a devoted, responsive, smart, and adaptable pet.
A lot of working dogs are tall. Anatolians instinctively protect livestock and your family and will watch over smaller dogs and even your cat. Anatolian guardians need to make sure their dog knows that the humans are the alphas of the pack.
4. Great Pyrenees
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 25-32 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 85-100+ pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | Thick double waterproof coat in white, may have markings of gray, tan, reddish-brown, or badger. |
| LIFE SPAN | 10-12 years |
The American Kennel Club (AKC) calls the Great Pyrenees majestic. As a former Pyr mom, I heartily agree. The Great Pyrenees is smart, patient, kind, affectionate, protective, and good with children and dogs. The Great Pyrenees hails from the Pyrenees Mountains on the border of France and Spain.
It helps to be one of the tallest dog breeds when you’re protecting sheep from bears, wolves, and livestock rustlers. The great Pyrenees are calm but will quickly respond if they detect a threat.
They often ignore commands and need obedience training. Great Pyrenees dogs know they can get away with a lot because they’re gorgeous. They are easily recognizable with their large, cloud-like white coat.
5. Newfoundland
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 26-28 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 100-150 pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | Thick fur in black, brown, gray, white and black, beige, black and tan, white and brown |
| LIFE SPAN | 9-10 years |
The Newfoundland, one of the tallest dog breeds, is sweet, patient, devoted, affectionate, friendly, great with kids (known as nanny dogs) and dogs, and known as highly protective.
The Newfie, a working dog, has webbed feet and is a great swimmer. They helped Canadian fishermen bring nets to shore. The Newfoundland also helped Lewis and Clark hunt for food while they were exploring.
6. Neapolitan Mastiff
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 24-31 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 110-150 pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | Short hair in blue, black, mahogany, tawny |
| LIFE SPAN | 7-9 years |
Another of the tallest dog breed in the world list is the wrinkly Neapolitan mastiff. Neapolitan mastiffs are loyal, dignified, strong, and protective. Neapolitan mastiffs are droolers. The ancient Neapolitan mastiff dates back to 700 BC. They worked as gladiators, guardians, and war dogs in the Roman Empire.
The Neapolitan mastiff has loose skin that looks like wrinkles. They are very strong, mellow, and loyal. Breeders bred the Neapolitan mastiff as a guard dog initially, and they are still wary of strangers. Despite their size, Neapolitan mastiffs can live in an apartment because they are calm.
A mastiff named Zorba won a Guinness World Record for being the longest dog at 8 feet, 3 inches.
7. Scottish Deerhound
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 28-32 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 75-110 pounds |
| GROUP | Hound |
| FUR AND COLOR | Wiry coat in blue and gray, brindle, gray, gray brindle, black, black brindle, blue |
| LIFE SPAN | 8-11 years |
Scottish deerhounds, one of the tallest dogs, are affectionate, good with other dogs, dignified, gentle, and polite, making Scottish deerhound dogs good pets.
As coursers (canines that chase prey while hunting), Scottish deerhounds were originally bred from greyhounds. Scottish deerhounds are sighthounds that used to hunt 400-pound red deer and are known for their speed.
According to the AKC, the Scottish Deerhound was in Scotland before the Scots themselves arrived in the ninth century. The Scottish deerhound enjoys large fenced-in yards.
8. Saint Bernard
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 26-30 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 120-180 pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | They come in long and short coats in brown and white, mahogany and white, orange and white, red and white, brindle and white, rust and white, white and brown, white & orange, white and red |
| LIFE SPAN | 8-10 years |
Another of the tallest dogs in the world is the Saint Bernard. Saint Bernard is good with children, pretty good with other dogs, patient, affectionate, smart, and watchful. Saint Bernard’s history dates back to 1050 when a monk named Bernard of Menthon founded a hospice to help pilgrims going to Rome.
The Saint Bernard is muscular and able to withstand very cold weather in the Alps. Their thick fur looks like it would need a great deal of care, but they only need brushing once a week. When they blow coat in the fall and spring, there’s more fur to remove.
Like all canines, especially the tallest ones in the world, Saint Bernards need obedience training.
9. Black Russian Terrier
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 26-30 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 80-130 pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | AKC calls their fur “a tousled double coat.” They can be black, salt and pepper, black and tan, sable, or blue. |
| LIFE SPAN | 10-12 years |
The Black Russian Terrier, also on the tallest dog breed list, is playful, intelligent, protective from strangers, energetic, affectionate, easily trained, brave, and needs mental stimulation.
The Black Russian Terrier (BRT) also needs weekly brushings. The Black Russian terrier was originally bred in the 1930s by the Soviet government for their army. They were fence dogs that patrolled Russia’s borders.
BRTs were fast and strong enough to capture and hold down prisoners at Stalin’s prison camps. The AKC reports that in the mid-1950s, when the camps were closed, BRTs were given away to residents.
Fun facts: The BRT isn’t really a terrier; their massive head makes them look even taller, and BRTs are aloof with strangers.
10. English Mastiff
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 27-30 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 150-160 pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | Short double coat in tan with black mask and sometimes black ears |
| LIFE SPAN | 10-12 years |
Mastiffs appear in Egyptian monuments from 3000 BC. The Old English Mastiff, or English Mastiff, has been in England for 2000 years and was used as a guardian dog. The English mastiff needs socializing and training at a young age.
They can be friendly and affectionate, and they are watchdogs with massive heads and broad foreheads.
English Mastiffs, one of the tallest dog breeds in the world, are courageous, dignified, affectionate, good with children, and good-natured. Training an English Mastiff may be challenging.
One English Mastiff was 230 pounds, making it the heaviest dog.
11. Irish Wolfhound
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 30-32 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 105-120 pounds |
| GROUP | Hound |
| FUR AND COLOR | Wiry coat over soft undercoat in brindle, cream, gray, gray and brindle, red, red and brindle, red wheaten, silver, wheaten, wheaten and brindle, blue, white brindle, blue, white |
| LIFE SPAN | 6-8 years |
They stand at a minimum of 30 inches tall, so the Irish wolfhound is the tallest dog in the world. They are dignified, courageous, calm, affectionate, guardians, good with dogs, and pretty good with children. Irish wolfhounds are muscular and fast.
The Irish wolfhound is too nice to be a guard dog, but they are certainly a deterrent because people behave when they see the gigantic Irish wolfhound.
The AKC says that Irish wolfhounds were fearless wolf killers when they were first bred as sighthounds.
Other sighthounds ran faster, but the Irish Wolfhounds impressed hunters by being able to tackle large prey. Fortunately, they don’t have to run around murdering wolves anymore and can enjoy the good life.
12. Leonberger
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 25-31.5 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 90-170 pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | Long hair in yellow, red, reddish brown, sandy, and black masks — some with black ears |
| LIFE SPAN | 7 years |
Another of the tallest canines is the Leonberger. They are playful, friendly, gentle, affectionate, trainable, good with kids and dogs, and are watchdogs. Their waterproof coat sheds, so they need weekly grooming.
They also need mental stimulation because they are very intelligent dogs. They have a lion-like mane of fur around their heads.
These working dogs are from Germany, and the AKC describes them as “huge and powerful.” The Leonberger was originally bred to help in water rescue.
Heinrich Essig crossed a Newfoundland with a Saint Bernard for four generations, then added in a Pyrenean Mountain Dog to create the beautiful Leonberger.
13. Kangal Shepherd Dog
| DOG’S HEIGHT | 27-29 inches tall |
| WEIGHT | 80-150 pounds |
| GROUP | Working |
| FUR AND COLOR | Thick fur and undercoat in biscuit and white, brindle, fawn, blue fawn, gray fawn, red fawn, liver, white |
| LIFE SPAN | 11-13 years |
The Kangal shepherd dog, one of the tallest dogs, is actually the Anatolian shepherd. Kangal dogs are good with children and dogs. They were bred to protect sheep and goats from predators, so they protect your family and your home.
The Kangal shepherd dog existed in the Bronze Age 6,000 years ago. They are devoted, responsive, smart, and adaptable. Kangals are instinctive guardians that will watch over your family and home.
Make sure you train your Kangal so they know you are the alpha of the pack. People who are inexperienced with stubborn dogs shouldn’t adopt a Kangal.
Tips for Caring Your Tall Dog
The tallest dogs’ owners have to train and socialize them because a gigantic, out-of-control canine can easily hurt someone or break something. The tallest of canines need healthy food, love, exercise, and annual visits to the vet — as all dogs do.
They are also susceptible to joint issues, so make sure they exercise. Don’t let them run on hard surfaces or do high-impact exercises as growing puppies.
Taller dogs are prone to bloat, a serious health condition that occurs when the stomach fills with food, water, or air and swells until it presses on the lungs, making breathing difficult. The opening of the dog’s stomach is narrow, which prevents contents from getting out.
If the bloat is severe, the stomach twists over on itself (gastric dilation volvulus or GDV) and cuts off blood circulation to major organs.
Symptoms include panting, pacing, restlessness, shallow breathing, whining, excessive drooling, dry heaves, and collapsing.
Dogs with bloat must be rushed to the vet where they will be x-rayed, stabilized, hooked up to intravenous fluids, have other tests taken, may need an echocardiogram, and the vet will put a tube in the pup’s belly to pump it out. Sometimes surgery is necessary, but 80% survive.
FAQs
What Is the Tallest Breed of Dog?
The AKC says Irish Wolfhounds are the world’s tallest dog breed, although some sources cite the Great Dane as the tallest dog because of a Dane named Rocko, who could stand seven feet tall.
What Dog Is 30 Inches Tall?
Irish Wolfhounds stand at 30 inches.
Who Are the World’s Second and Third Tallest Dogs?
Great Dane and English mastiffs stand second and third tallest, according to the AKC height information above.
Final Thoughts
Tall dogs are as beautiful as they are intelligent, affectionate, playful, and protective. Small dogs are great, too, but some of us just adore the big ones. If you like a jumbo-sized canine and one of the above big dog breeds appeals to you, take a look at Petfinder or search for a rescue group for that particular breed.
When you adopt, you save the dog you take home and the pet that the rescue group can then take in.
Giant dog breeds command attention with their impressive stature, dwarfing many of their human companions. While their size brings undeniable charm and a powerful presence, potential owners must consider the unique challenges. From increased food costs and space requirements to breed-specific health concerns and the need for specialized training, responsible ownership of these gentle giants demands commitment and preparation. Thorough research and an honest assessment of one’s lifestyle are crucial to ensure a happy and healthy life for both dog and owner.