What Was the World’s Tallest Great Dane? Surprising Facts & FAQs
By Jessica Kim
Updated on
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Great Danes are known to be gentle giants that can grow to very large sizes. Currently, two Great Danes hold Guinness World Records for the tallest dog ever and the tallest living dog. It can get confusing because both dogs are named Zeus. Both dogs stand at over 40 inches tall and can reach over 7 feet tall when they’re on their hind legs. Let’s get to know each of these extraordinary dogs and other notable giant dog breeds.
The Tallest Dog of All Time
Zeus was a black Great Dane that lived in Otsego, Michigan. He was born on October 4, 2011 and grew to become 44 inches tall and could stretch to 88 inches when he stood on his hind legs. He weighed 155 pounds and could eat about 30 pounds of food every 2 weeks.
Zeus had a very gentle personality and was also a certified therapy dog. He would volunteer by visiting patients at a nearby hospital. He, unfortunately, lived a short life and passed away in September 2014 when he was about 5 years old.
The Tallest Living Dog
The current tallest living dog is another Great Dane named Zeus. He’s a 2-year-old merle Great Dane who currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas. His height is 41.18 inches, and he can easily reach past 7 feet tall when he’s standing on his hind legs.
Zeus can eat about 12 cups of food per day and also takes glucosamine supplements to support his joint health. Despite his large size, Zeus believes that he’s a lap dog and can often be found attempting to sit on his family members’ laps.
Other Tall Dogs
The category of Guinness World Record for tallest dogs is unsurprisingly dominated by Great Danes. Zeus’s predecessor was also a Great Dane. His name was Giant George, and he was 43 inches tall—just an inch shorter than Zeus. He was much heavier than Zeus and weighed 245 pounds and could eat about 110 pounds of food a month.
The record holder before Giant George is another Great Dane. His name was Titan, and he stood a little over 42 inches tall. Titan’s predecessor is also a Great Dane. He was a harlequin Great Dane that was just .05 of an inch shorter than Titan.
Tallest Dog Breeds
Great Danes are famous for being tall dog breeds, but there are many other giant dog breeds that make wonderful pets. Greyhounds and Scottish Deerhounds are comparable dog breeds that can grow very tall. Irish Wolfhounds also tend to have a taller average height than Great Danes.
While these dog breeds are known for being tall, there are other giant breeds that can be longer and heavier than Great Danes. The Guinness World Record for the longest and heaviest dog belongs to an English Mastiff named Zorba. He measured 8 feet and 3 inches from head to tail and weighed 314 pounds.
Final Thoughts!!
Great Danes are amongst the tallest dog breeds in the world. While they don’t have the tallest average height amongst giant dog breeds, several have grown especially tall to hold the Guinness World Record. While they may have an intimidating height, Great Danes are gentle and patient and often make excellent family pets and wonderful companions.
- See Also: 14 Tallest Dog Breeds: Pictures & Facts
Featured Photo Credit: Guinness World Records – All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
