The Top 15 Biggest Dogs in the World

Key Points

• The biggest dogs are mastiffs, which originate from ancient Roman war dogs and can be 160 to 230 pounds. The biggest dog ever was an English mastiff that weighed in at 343 pounds.
• The Boerboel is the second biggest dog breed, at 150 to 220 pounds. They’re also one of the strongest, initially bred by farmers in South Africa to kill leopards and baboons.
• At 120 to 180 pounds, Saint Bernards come in third. They have been used to help rescue people stranded in the mountains.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what is the biggest dogs in the world? Before you can make a list, you must define what you mean by biggest. While some dog breeds are exceptionally tall, if you specify the biggest dogs in the world as the heaviest, then here is your final tally. In compiling this list, only breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club were considered. Then, we made the list based on the lowest weight acceptable for a male of that breed. Here are the biggest canines in the world. Where there was a tie, the greater lowest acceptable weight was given the higher placing.

#15 Biggest Dog Breeds: Dogue de Bordeaux – 99 to 110 Pounds

Male Dogue de Bordeaux weighs 110 pounds while females weigh 99 pounds. Arguably, this canine has the largest head of any breed in the world. This breed originated in the Bordeaux region of France during the 14th century. People often use it to guard livestock and pull heavy carts.

Learn more about Dogue de Bordeaux.

#14 Biggest Dog Breeds: Bernese Mountain Dog – 70 to 115 Pounds

Bernese mountain dogs weigh between 80 and 115 pounds while bitches weigh between 70 and 95 pounds. The jet black, clear white, and rust colors are a hallmark of this breed. These dogs initially bred in Switzerland, love the cold weather. They often make great family dogs, but many get attached to one member of the family.

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Learn more about the Bernese mountain dog.

#13 Biggest Dog Breeds: Irish Wolfhounds – 105 to 120 Pounds

Male Irish Wolfhounds weigh about 120 pounds while females weigh about 105 pounds. This dog will appear even bigger because it stands 3 feet tall. While they were initially bred in Ireland to drag men out of chariots and off horses, they make wonderful obedience training dogs. They are also often used as rescue canines because of their height and eagerness to please.

Learn more about Irish wolfhounds.

#12 Biggest Dog Breeds: Bullmastiffs – 100 to 130 Pounds

Bullmastiffs dogs should weigh between 110 and 130 pounds while bitches should weigh between 100 and 120 pounds. This breed was developed in England to ward off poachers on large country estates. This breed has an inherited instinct to knock strangers to the ground and pin them there until told to release. Therefore, early socialization is a must.

Learn more about Bullmastiffs.

#11 Biggest Dog Breeds: Black Russian Terrier – 80 to 130 Pounds

All black Russian terriers should weigh between 80 and 130 pounds. This dog stands about 30 inches tall at the shoulders, and this breed looks even bigger because of how it carries its massive head. This canine was bred to patrol the Sibrian mountains, and it loves cold weather.

Learn more about Black Russian Terriers.

#10 Biggest Dog Breeds: Neapolitan Mastiff – 110 to 150 Pounds

Male Neapolitan mastiffs should weigh 150 pounds while females should weigh 110 pounds. Nonetheless, the Neapolitan mastiff has many wrinkles and drooping lips. It also has a very prominent head.

These dogs are very protective in their temperament, which poses an intimidating presence for strangers. Their history can be traced back to an ancient Roman dog that may have fought alongside soldiers and graced amphitheaters like the Colosseum.

Learn more about Neapolitan mastiffs.

#9 Biggest Dog Breeds: Newfoundland – 100 to 150 Pounds

Male Newfoundland dogs should weigh between 130 and 150 pounds while bitches should weigh between 100 and 120 pounds. While most of the world’s heaviest dogs were bred to guard livestock, the Newfoundland was produced to help commercial fishermen. Additionally, early explorers often used this breed. Lewis and Clark reportedly had a Newfoundland named Seaman with them on their journeys. One of the largest Newfoundlands on record is Tiempo, who tips the scales at 178 pounds when just three years old.

Learn more about Newfoundlands.

#8 Biggest Dog Breeds: Anatolian Shepherd – 80 to 150 Pounds

Male Anatolian shepherds weigh between 110 and 150 pounds while females weigh between 80 and 120 pounds. Breeders initially developed this bred in the Kangal region of Turkey to live with livestock as their protector. Yet, the gentle nature of the Anatolian shepherd makes it a great family dog.

This breed stands about 30 inches tall at the shoulders. Despite its large size, this dog can run up to 30 miles per hour. Its skin is so firm that a wolf bite will not rupture it. Additionally, this canine’s unique coat keeps it warm in the winter and cool in the summer while repelling moisture.

Learn more about the Anatolian shepherd.

#7 Biggest Dog Breeds: Tibetan Mastiff – 70 to 150 Pounds

The American Kennel Club says that male Tibetan mastiffs should weigh between 90 and 150 pounds while females should weigh between 70 and 120 pounds. This breed can make excellent watchdogs as their weight and height, which is usually around 26 inches at the shoulders, make them intimidating. If you are looking for an independent dog who may have trouble seeing you as the pack leader, this breed may be for you.

Learn more about Tibetan mastiffs.

#6 Biggest Dog Breeds: Caucasian Shepherd – 77 to 170 Pounds

The Caucasian shepherd dog can weigh between 99 and 170 pounds. This dog from the Georgia, Russia area is often used there as prison guard dogs. These dogs have beautiful long coats. Especially on males, the coat should form a mane and look like the dog is wearing pants around its back legs. Males are often shorter than bitches and have a more muscular build.

#5 Biggest Dog Breeds: Leonberger – 90 to 170 Pounds

According to the American Kennel Club, male Leonbergers should weigh between 110 and 170 pounds while females should weigh between 90 and 140 pounds. Most stand about 30 inches tall at the shoulder. This breed has a unique lion-like mane around its neck and chest. Water rescue teams often use them because of their water-resistant coat. They also are used to herd animals and as watchdogs because of their size.

#4 Biggest Dog Breeds: Great Dane – 110 to 175 Pounds

The American Kennel Club’s standard says that the Great Dane should weigh between 140 and 175 pounds while females should weigh between 110 and 140 pounds. While there are heavier breeds, a Great Dane named Zeus was one of the tallest dogs in the world. Zeus stood 44 inches at his shoulders, and he was 7-feet 4-inches tall when standing on his back legs.

Learn more about Great Danes.

#3 Biggest Dog Breeds: Saint Bernard – 120 to 180 Pounds

Saint Bernard dogs should weigh between 140 and 180 pounds while bitches weigh between 120 and 140. Since males should stand a minimum of 27.5 inches tall at the shoulder, this dog has a massive appearance. People developed this breed to rescue Alpine mountaineers. The face of a Saint Bernard has an amiable appearance with a wrinkled brow and a short muzzle.

Learn more about Saint Bernards.

#2 Biggest Dog Breeds: Boerboel – 150 to 220 Pounds

Boerboels weigh between 150 and 220 pounds, with no difference given between males and females. Farmers in South Africa often used this breed after initially developing them to kill leopards and baboons. This dog is known to be a little aggressive, so good socialization is a must if you get a dog of this breed.

#1 Biggest Dog Breeds: Mastiff – 160 to 230 Pounds

The largest dog ever in the world as of 2021 was an English Mastiff, a breed recognized as mastiffs by the American Kennel Club. This dog named Aicama Zorba weighed 343 pounds. Typically, however, male mastiffs weigh 160 to 230 pounds while females weigh 120 to 170 pounds. These dogs should stand about 30 inches tall at the shoulder, with females being slightly shorter.

Learn more about mastiffs.

If you love big dogs, then think about the jobs you want the dog to do before deciding which of these breeds is suitable for you. There are many different factors to keep in mind when choosing to adopt a big dog, including the amount of available space and the amount of food that the dog will eat. Consider their height and size as some are thinner, taller or shorter than others. They can make excellent watchdogs and loyal companions.

15 Biggest Dogs in the World Summary

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