You’ve seen them on TV, in your neighbourhood, and at the dog park.
They are everywhere!
It doesn’t matter if you live in an urban area or a rural one. There is bound to be the heaviest breed near you.
But what exactly makes these breeds so heavy? We looked into it to find out.
The heaviest dogs on earth typically weigh anywhere from 100-250 pounds when fully grown, with males heavier than females.
Many of these breeds were initially bred for hunting large prey such as bears and wolves.
They needed to be strong enough to take down their prey without getting injured themselves.
These days though, heavyweight dogs are popular pets who have found fame on social media channels like Instagram and YouTube.
Aside from being big and robust, the heaviest dogs are known for their goofy personalities, making them irresistible to many people.
Did you know that the heaviest dogs can live up to an average of 10 years?
That’s pretty good compared to cats and other small animals who typically only live a few years. Even better, the heaviest dogs.
What is the world’s heaviest dog?
The world’s heaviest dog is a Great Dane- they weigh anywhere from 200 pounds to over 300 pounds.
The heaviest dog ever was a Great Dane called ‘Zeus’. He weighed in at an incredible 460 pounds. Zeus was so massive that he could barely walk and got around on his hind legs alone, even needing human assistance to get up and downstairs.
According to Guinness World Records, Zeus (November 22, 2008 – September 3, 2014) was a world record holder in the category of “Heaviest dog”. He was owned by Christine and Patrick Parker, who registered him with the International Database for Giant Dogs (IDDB).
Just before he died in 2014, Zeus weighed about 500 pounds. Guinness World Records retired the “world’s heaviest dog” category and named Zeus the last record holder when he died.
On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2008, Zeus was born in Ireland and was later brought to life with his new owners Christine Parker and her family in Leonia, New Jersey.
He weighed 118 pounds (53 kg) at that time. His mother, an English Mastiff, weighed 191 pounds (87 kg), and his father was a Great Dane, weighing 158 pounds (72 kg).
Zeus’ growth accelerated more than twenty-fold during his first year. By the time he was one year old, Zeus had weighed 220 pounds (100 kg).
His current weight of 500 plus pounds is estimated to be double that of any other dog living today.
During his first year, he underwent corrective surgery to fix a severe genetic condition called patella luxation.
Patella luxation occurs when the knee cap is dislocated and can cause lameness or arthritis later in life.
Zeus was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism, an endocrine disorder that can cause lethargy and obesity.
During his first year, it is reported that Zeus grew from birth up to 200 pounds (91 kg).
During the second year, he continued to gain weight but at a slower rate of 50 pounds (23 kg) a year.
The Parker family was referred to John Gamboa, DVM, of the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Dr Gamboa advised that Zeus’ diet be restricted and that he should lose some weight to avoid causing further damage to his knees.
At the time, there were no commercial diets designed for dogs as large as him, so Gamboa created one with a few simple ingredients such as brown rice, vegetables, eggs and various types of protein.
Dr Gamboa fed his new diet to Zeus, which helped slow the growth rate but didn’t stop it completely.
Later on, the Parker family decided they wanted to try another tactic to keep Zeus slim – physical activity.
They started taking him for long walks and runs twice a day, a routine he still follows today.
“It’s not helping him lose weight, but he does not gain as quickly or easily anymore,” Dr Gamboa says.
The heaviest dogs are known for their goofy personalities, which make them irresistible to many people.
The German Shepherds are a popular breed because of their intelligence, kind demeanour, and high energy.
Labradors are also a prevalent breed because they are also intelligent and friendly.
If you’re not sure what breed is best for you, consider the personality traits that you want your dog to have.
Weighing between 66-145 pounds (30-65 kg), these heavyweights often need an expert groomer to move their fur around so that it looks neat and clean.
Don’t be afraid to enjoy this hobby with your pup!
The heaviest dogs can live up to an average of 10 years – that’s pretty good compared to cats and other small animals who typically only live a few years!
The heaviest dogs can live up to an average of 10 years – that’s pretty good compared to cats and other small animals who typically only live a few years!
Usually, dogs are supposed to weigh between 18 kg and 30 kg.
But as you’ve probably noticed already, there are canines out there that look like they must be carrying around a small car in their fur.
So how much do the heaviest dogs weigh?
It’s not only fun to know these record-breaking pups but also interesting to see that the most severe dogs look pretty much like regular dogs, which is what makes them so unique.
A few of these giant pooches have entered our List of Heaviest Dogs in the World.
Some very large poodles and mastiffs to Saint Bernards and Leonbergers (even though their breed usually weighs around 50 kg).
Here are some of the heaviest dogs on earth.
1). Big Splash
Big Splash (aka George) lives with his owners in North Carolina, USA and weighs 140 lbs.
We hope that has no negative impact on the neighbours’ backyard pool! The Great Dane is still only a puppy, but he is already the heaviest dog in the world.
Big Splash is a very friendly and cuddly pup with an excellent appetite for playing fetch or just hanging out on his back.
But Big Splash wasn’t always this large. He didn’t even weigh 50 lbs when he was just two years old.
Now at four years of age, he has grown to a massive size of 140 lbs.
Big Splash’s owners say that he is healthy and eats about three large meals per day.
He eats Purina Dog Chow Puppy Dry Food for Giant Dogs, plenty of freshwaters, and his favourite Chicken Breast Dog Treats.
Generally, super-sized pooches like Big Splash are very friendly and have a high tolerance to pain.
2). Ralph, the wonder poodle
Poodles are brilliant and obedient dogs, which is probably why they have ranked #3 on our most intelligent dog breeds list.
Super-sizing adds more weight to their brains!
Big Splash’s owner said that her dog also loves swimming, but he was pretty good at it from day one, even though he only weighed 18 lbs when she got him from a breeder at three months old.
He grew so fast his owners had no choice but to keep plenty of toys around the house so that he wouldn’t destroy anything while trying to play with them (which isn’t a bad idea if you’re planning on getting such an active puppy).
Big Splash is still growing, and his owners wonder how much he will weigh when he turns 4.
He may soon become the world’s heaviest dog, but no one can say for sure yet!
These posts of super-sized animals have been taken from a website called “World’s Heaviest Dogs”, which has several pictures of these giant pups.
They even sell T-shirts with a big splash on them (see below).
3). Porkchop – The World’s Heaviest Poodle
And here you thought that only dogs could be significant and fat.
Well, meet Porkchop, the poodle who weighs a staggering 69 pounds!
He is the heaviest of all dogs in his breed, and he even has two other brothers who are almost as heavy.
Lucky for us, these three brothers were owned by an amiable woman named Colleen Simpson from Albertville, Alabama.
She got them when they were just eight weeks old, and they have been growing ever since.
So far, this one is the fattest among them, but we’re sure it won’t be long before Mr Tubbytoes get to that point too!
Be sure to follow this link if you want more information about how much do dogs grow at different stages: www.dogbreedinfo.com/poodles.htm.
These three poodles are exceptionally playful, even though Porkchop can only walk a few steps before he gets tired.
His favourite pastime is sleeping on his back in the grass just outside the house!
Despite his size, Porkchop is still super-friendly and loves to play with the other neighbourhood dogs that come close enough to sniff him through the fence.
4). Brandy – The Heaviest Dog Ever
Here’s another giant pooch who has entered our List of Heaviest Dogs in the World:
Brandy! This magnificent mastiff from Salt Lake City, Utah, weighs 282 lbs! That’s more than two grown men put together.
She was so huge that she could no longer fit through the front door, and her owner had to use a particular doggie door so that she could get in and out of the house.
Brandy’s owners say that she is very friendly and playful, but she can only walk for a few steps before getting tired, which means that they have to carry her everywhere they go with her.
When she was just eight weeks old, it took a big pickup truck to bring Brandy home from the breeder.
In 1994, another Great Dane named Giant George entered our list at #8 with 235 lbs.
Unfortunately for him, he lost this title a few years later after being diagnosed with bone cancer (giant breeds’ most common health problem).
Sadly enough, George passed away shortly after being operated on, but not before he got the chance to meet his hero: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
5). Lucy – The World’s Heaviest Pomeranian
This red and white bundle of fluff is named Lucy, and she hails from Lynnwood, Washington.
She weighs 23 pounds, but she might soon take Porkchop’s place at the top of our list thanks to her constant love for good food (she is even nicknamed “Food Lover” by her owners)!
This cute little diva knows that she looks adorable while posing for pictures with some of her favourite treats!
Conclusion
Our team has created this list of the world’s heaviest dogs to show you just how much variety there is in breeds and sizes when it comes to these furry friends.
By reading our blog post, we hope you’ve found out more about what makes a dog so unique – not only with its personality but also size!
If you have any questions or want help finding the perfect pup for your family, don’t hesitate to reach out.
