Do you know who was the biggest dog in history? Do you know what breed this dog was? To answer these questions this post will talk about the biggest dogs in the world. Topics such as the breed history of these dogs, physical and behavioral characteristics will be addressed.
Who is the longest dog in the world?
Zeus the Great Dane was named the tallest dog in the world by Guinness World Records in 2011 at 1.118 m (44 in) tall. Zeus lived in Otsego, Michigan in the United States with his tutor Denise Doorlag and her family.
Zeus was a very gentle, docile, and easygoing dog. He was a certified therapy dog who visited people at hospitals. Sadly, Zeus passed away in September 2014. He was five years old at the time.
Freddy, another Great Dane, is the most recent dog named as the tallest in the world by Guinness World Records in 2016. Freddy broke the world record by Guinness World Records in 2016 with 103.5 cm (3 ft 4 inches) from foot to withers and 226 cm (7 ft 5.5 inches) tall at the hind legs.
Freddy lived in Essex, England, with his tutor Claire Stoneman, and her family. The gray dog was affectionate, docile, playful and a furniture wrecker, according to its tutor. Sadly in 2020 Freddy died. He was 8 and a half years old.
Brief description of the Great Dane breed origin
The Great Dane is a breed resulting from the crossing of the breeds “Bullenbeißer” (ancestral German bulldog) and the “Hatz and Saurüden” (intermediate dogs between a robust English Mastiff and a fast and agile greyhound).
Due to his gigantic bearing, he was bred to serve as a hunting dog. However, today he is characterized as an excellent companion dog.
About the Great Dane
The Great Dane is a breed originally from Germany, the breed has strong and powerful appearance, but it is a very obedient and gentle type of dog.
Physical characteristics
The Great Dane has very robust physical attributes for being a large dog. It has a long body, with a well-defined and proportional silhouette. It is a super resistant and muscular dog, with long and strong legs and paws.
Head elongated, narrow, striking, but not wedge-shaped; expressive, finely chiseled. With drooping ears when not on alert. The eyes are oval and dark in color. On the muzzle, the thick lips are quite apparent.
The Great Dane’s coat is short, thick, smooth, and shiny. It can be found in three color varieties:
- Golden and Brindle;
- Harlequin and Black;
- Blue.
Behavior/temperament
Affectionate to your tutors, they can be reserved in front of strangers. When required it is self-confident, courageous, easy to handle and a docile companion and family dog, with a high threshold of excitement and no aggressive behavior.
The Great Dane dog requires many daily activities to stay healthy. Therefore, physical exercises are essential. This breed needs walks two to three times a day.
Health care
In general, the Great Dane is a very healthy and hardy breed. Genetically, this breed may have hip dysplasia, bone malformation. Their physical composition can lead to bone changes that result in a lot of pain, in addition these dogs can feed very quickly and in large amounts which can result in stomach diseases. As it is a slightly clumsy dog, it can end up injuring its tail from hitting it on furniture so much.
Genetic diseases such as hip dysplasia and bone malformations make it necessary to regularly evaluate the animal with a veterinarian. Animals with these pathologies should not breed. And tutors who want to buy an animal of the breed, must buy from kennels that seek genetic improvement.
As for reproduction, few reproductive problems are reported. Before having an animal of the breed, it is essential to consult the veterinarian and regularly accompany the animal with exams and consultations.
Breed care
Great Danes should only be brushed once a week. Their short coat does not need to be clipped. It is not a breed that has a constant shedding so it doesn’t get too dirty in the house with its fur
Baths in this breed are indicated with specific shampoos for dogs and neutral shampoos. Bathing should be done very carefully, especially to avoid getting water into the ear. The animal must always be very dry after bathing to avoid the growth of microorganisms that can lead to dermatitis.
As for nail clipping, it is indicated to cut the dog’s nail once or twice a month. Cutting the nails prevents the animal from getting hurt or even hurting the tutor.
Dogs of this breed must brush their teeth every 48 hours with a dog specific toothpaste. Constant brushing of the dogs teeth helps prevent tartar from forming and the resulting problems.
Benefits of owning a Great Dane dog
Great Dane dogs have many qualities for people looking for playful, sweet and affectionate dogs. Below we will talk about some qualities of the breed.
- Playful and affectionate;
- Large Dog;
- Intelligent;
- It is an active dog and can be used as a guard dog.
They are excellent family dogs and a good breed for families. Because they are very playful and docile, they can get along well with children, but you must be careful because their giant size can end up hurting the child in some games.
The Great Danes are very intelligent, they easily learn new commands, it is indicated that start training the dog from the puppy stage.
They are very intelligent and energetic dogs, so they need daily physical activity. They are dogs that don’t bark much but can show furniture destroying behavior.
The Great Danes are dogs that socialize easily with their owners and are reserved with visitors. Which makes them good companion dogs and good guard dogs.
Conclusion
In this blog post we were able to find out a little more about the longest dog in the world and its breed. Themes such as the Great Dane’s physical characteristics, in addition to its calm and friendly temperament, make it an excellent companion dog.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Longest dog in the world
How big is a Great Dane dog?
The size of the dogs is measured by the height of the withers, to the Great Dane’s males the minimum is 80 cm, not to exceed 90 cm. And females at least 72 cm, must not exceed 84 cm.
How long does a Great Dane live?
The Great Dane usually lives between eight and 10 years, depending on its genetics and care.
Does the Great Dane bark a lot?
No. Dogs of this breed only bark when it’s really necessary because of their gentle and calm nature that makes them very silent, and when they do, they bark with great majesty.
Reference
CBKC – Brazilian Canine Cynophilic Confederation, 2015 Official Breed Standard: Great Dane. Available at: https://cbkc.org/application/views/docs/padroes/padrao-raca_44.pdf, Accessed 6th Jan 2022.
The Guinness book of world records. (2016). Stamford, CT: Guinness Media.
Pictures from pixabay.com
