9 Contenders for World's Biggest Dog Breed

While various dogs have been proclaimed the world's biggest dog over the years, the Guinness Book of World Records does not maintain a category for this title. However, several breeds of dogs are widely recognized as being some of the largest canines of all. Take a look at these contenders and find out just how big they are.

Great Danes are a perfect example of a large breed in terms of both height and weight. They can weigh up to 200 pounds and stand up to 3 feet tall. These dogs typically have very gentle dispositions, in spite of their massive size.

Saint Bernards weigh as much as Great Danes, but they are not quite as tall. They typically stand between 25 and 28 inches tall, which makes them quite beefy in stature. This breed is known for its lovable, gentle nature and extraordinary sense of smell.

Mastiffs typically weigh between 150 and 200 pounds, and they are about 30 inches tall when fully grown. Like Great Danes and Saint Bernards, these sizable canines tend to be quite gentle even though they are very large.

Bull Mastiffs are not as large as Mastiffs. They typically weigh 130 pounds or less, and they stand about 27 inches tall at their full height. They are also quite gentle by nature, yet they can be very protective of their human families. They are often trained as guard dogs.

Irish Wolfhounds are nearly as tall as Great Danes, often reaching 34 inches in height. They typically weigh 150 pounds or less. Irish Wolfhounds are sight hounds that love to chase just about everything that catches their eye. They can make great family pets, but make sure they have plenty of room to run.

A Bernese Mountain Dog can weigh up to 110 pounds and stand up to 27 inches tall. These large canines often appear even larger than they really are because they have a thick, double coat of hair. In spite of their size, they have calm, gentle personalities and make great family pets.

Great Pyrenees are among the tallest of all canines, but they don't typically weigh as much as some of the other large breeds. Full grown Great Pyrenees stand up to 32 inches tall, but they typically weigh 100 pounds or less. These powerful and gentle sheep dogs often look much heavier than they really are thanks to their fluffy, double coats.

Newfoundland dogs typically weigh in near the 150 pound mark and stand up to 28 inches tall. They are good-natured canines that are quite strong, love swimming, and need their thick coats brushed regularly.

Rottweilers are beefy canines that have an undeserved reputation for being rather vicious. Weighing in at up to 130 pounds of pure muscle and standing up to 27 inches tall, Rottweilers can certainly appear menacing. That's one of the reasons they are popular choices for police dogs. However, they are actually loving and highly intelligent dogs that make loyal pets. They can also be trained as therapy and service dogs.

As you can see, there are a number of very large dog breeds. Some are extremely tall, while others are quite heavy, but each is one of the world's biggest dogs in its own way.