10 large and in charge giant dog breeds

Dogs: they’re pretty wonderful, right? There’s nothing quite like snuggling up with your four-pawed pal, especially if you’re the proud pet parent of a giant doggo! After all, one of the best things about giant dog breeds? There's just so much more to love!

We’re celebrating these colossal canines with a round-up of some of the world's most giant breeds of dogs. Some of the gentle giants in our article reach over 2 feet in height - and tip the scales at well over 100 pounds! Now, that’s a whole lot of cute doggy goodness.

So, big dog fans: rejoice! And join us as we explore the below 10 dog breeds - and be sure to scroll down further for more facts and fun about these mighty giants!

Giant dog breeds

• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Great Dane
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• Black Russian Terrier
• Saint Bernard
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Irish Wolfhound
• Great Pyrenees 
• Anatolian Shepherd
• English Mastiff

Bernese Mountain Dog

Affectionately known as the Berner, the Bernese Mountain Dog is famous for its loyal and lovable nature. Originally bred to be a working dog, these brainy canines are easy to train and forever eager to please their humans. They are known for being incredibly sweet, and have a puppy-ish and playful demeanour that extends well into adulthood.

Despite their giant size, these gentle doggos make for a great family pet and are even good around small children. It really is no wonder these beautiful mountain dogs are one of the most popular, gentle giant dog breeds around!

Breed facts

Origin: Switzerland

Height: Males: 64 - 70 cm, Females: 58 - 66 cm

Weight: Males: 38 - 50 kg, Females: 36 - 48 kg

Character: Lovable, affectionate, good-natured

Lifespan: 6 - 10 years

Great Dane

Ruh-Roh… Raggy?! The Great Dane, also known as the Apollo of dogs, is one of the most recognised and well-known giant dog breeds in the world.

Made famous by the popular cartoon, Scooby Doo, Great Danes have an incredibly big heart - and even bigger appetites! They are easy-going and friendly in nature, but can be notoriously protective of their family and homes - making them great watchdogs to boot (despite what Scooby's timid nature may have you believe).

Breed facts

Origin: Germany

Height: Males: 76 - 86 cm, Females: 71 - 81 cm

Weight: Males: 54 - 90 kg, Females: 45 - 59 kg

Character: Friendly, easy-going, protective

Lifespan: 8 - 10 years

Dogue de Bordeaux

The Dogue de Bordeaux's main claim to fame? Their incredibly large head. Yep, in fact, they have the largest head of all the canines on our giant dog breeds list. They're also one of the oldest French dog breeds, meaning these big boys (and girls) have a lot to bark about!

You only need to take one look at the Dogue de Bordeaux's expressive, kind face to instantly fall in love with them. Better still, they are incredibly loyal and devoted, but be warned: they are stubborn doggos, which means training is a must!

Breed facts

Origin: France

Height: Males: 60 - 67 cm, Females: 57 - 65 cm

Weight: Males: 54 - 65 kg, Females: 54 - 65 kg

Character: Loyal, devoted, stubborn

Lifespan: 5 - 8 years

Black Russian Terrier

Despite their name (I mean, ‘terrier’ doesn’t really scream ‘giant’, does it?), the Black Russian Terrier is a mighty dog. Courageous and confident, this hardy dog breed is a real powerhouse of a pooch that will benefit from an experienced yet loving pet parent.

Originally bred as a guard dog by the Soviet government in the 1930s, these loyal pooches are brave and incredibly protective of their families, but can be wary of strangers.

Breed facts

Origin: Russia

Height: Males: 66 - 72 cm, Females: 86 - 70 cm

Weight: Males: 45 - 68 kg, Females: 36 - 59 kg

Character: Loyal, protective, brave

Lifespan: 10 - 11 years

Saint Bernard

Beethoven, is that you? Hailing from the Swiss Alps, the hardy Saint Bernard is probably one of the most popular giant fluffy dog breeds around! Ever gentle, loving and patient, they've even earned themselves the nickname 'nanny dog' due to their great way with children. Eager to please, these giant gentles are easy to train and get on with just about everyone they meet (good news for dog sitters!).

Don’t let their size fool you, though - these gentle giants are probably one of the cuddliest dogs you’ll ever meet, and would happily lean and cuddle up with you for hours (should you be able to withstand their sheer size and weight, of course).

Breed facts

Origin: Switzerland

Height: Males: 70 - 90 cm, Females: 65 - 80 cm

Weight: Males: 64 - 82 kg, Females: 54 - 64 kg

Character: Gentle, loving, patient

Lifespan: 8 - 10 years

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Affectionately known as 'Swissies', the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a strong working dog with a real sweet streak. Originally, they were bred to herd cattle, pull carts and serve as a watchdog. Today, they’re one of Switzerland's oldest breeds, and while their cart-pulling days are mostly behind them, they still enjoy keeping busy and active.

Their affectionate and gentle giant nature means they’re great family dogs, best suited to active and experienced pet parent families. 

Breed facts

Origin: Switzerland

Height: Males: 65 - 72 cm, Females: 60 - 68 cm

Weight: Males: 60 - 70 kg, Females: 50 - 60 kg

Character: Alert, active, good-natured

Lifespan: 10 - 11 years

Irish Wolfhound

The wiry-haired Irish Wolfhound is one of the world's tallest dog breeds. Today, with its noble appearance and sweet, gentle nature, it's almost hard to believe they were originally bred as a ferocious war and hunting dog, used to keep the wolf population in Ireland at bay!

While the Irish Wolfhound is fairly low-maintenance (compared to his giant dog counterparts), they need a large home ideally with a big, fenced-in garden area (to keep them from chasing away the local wildlife - and neighbourhood cats…). Keep in mind, Irish Wolfhounds have a relatively short lifespan - around 6 to 8 years on average - and are prone to a number of health concerns. Arguably, the only bad thing about these charming pups, really.

Breed facts

Origin: Ireland

Height: Males: 86 - 89 cm, Females: 81 - 86 cm

Weight: Males: 63 - 81 kg, Females: 52 - 63 kg

Character: Sweet, good-natured, easy-going

Lifespan: 6-10 years

Great Pyrenees

These mighty mountain dogs are gentle, affectionate and incredibly hardworking and brave. Their large build and beautiful thick white coat gives them an almost majestic quality, and easily sets them apart as one of the most recognisable of all the giant white dog breeds.

A robust training regime is definitely needed to keep this intelligent and independent doggo under wraps, but don't worry - you'll be rewarded for all your time and effort with bucket loads of love and affection. A guard dog by heart, the Great Pyrenees (otherwise known as Pyrs) are a vocal breed and have a deep, loud bark that may not be for everyone.

Breed facts

Origin: France

Height: Males: 70 - 82 cm, Females: 65 - 74 cm

Weight: Males: 50 - 54 kg, Females: 36 - 41 kg

Character: Affectionate, brave, fearless

Lifespan: 10-12 years

Anatolian Shepherd

The mighty Anatolian Shepherd - what to say about these ancient and noble dogs? These colossal cuties have a strong, domineering nature - they were bred as livestock guardians, and even today are still used to guard flocks from predators. They're fiercely loyal, protective and devoted, and will take pride in watching over their family - believe us when we say these giant dogs will be a friend for life.

But, new pet parents should beware: these powerful pooches aren't the easiest dog to take care of by any means - they have a stubborn streak and require an experienced pet parent or trainer to keep them in check.

Breed facts

Origin: Turkey

Height: Males: 74 - 81 cm, Females: 71 - 79 cm

Weight: Males: 50 - 65 kg, Females: 40 - 55 kg

Character: Intelligent, brave, independent

Lifespan: 10-13 years

English Mastiff

Of course, we had to save the biggest doggo ‘til last: the mighty and noble English Mastiff! Tipping the scales at 200 pounds (at the top end), the English Mastiff is officially the largest dog breed. Ever heard the name 'Zorba'? He was an English Mastiff who entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 1987 - and weighed an eye-watering 343 pounds!

Despite their size, the English Mastiff (or just 'Mastiff', as its recognised by the AKC) are mellow, affectionate and emotionally sensitive to those around them. They're also incredibly loyal to their humans. Their guard dog nature can mean they are wary of strangers, though, and it's important to make sure this large breed is socialised at an early age.

Breed facts

Origin: England

Height: Males: 70 - 91 cm, Females: 70 - 91 cm 

Weight: Males: 73 - 100 kg, Females: 54 - 77 kg

Character: Affectionate, protective, good-natured

Lifespan: 6-12 years

Recently welcomed home your own Mastiff pup? Find them the perfect moniker with our list of the most popular Mastiff dog names.

Find the best large dog crate for your giant pooch

Dog crates can be incredibly helpful when it comes to dog training - but it can be hard to find one that fits your industrial-sized canine. Check out our top picks for the best dog crates for large dogs here.