9 breeds · updated Oct 2026

Best giant dog breeds

Giant breeds are gentle presences with a big shadow: a dog that rests its head on the kitchen counter, fills the back seat and turns heads on every walk. Many are surprisingly mellow indoors, but a giant is a serious commitment in space, strength and planning.

This list covers every breed in our giant size class, heaviest first. Check the energy, drooling and general health ratings on each profile, because they tell you more about daily life than size does. Drool, in particular, surprises many new owners.

Giant breeds also tend to have shorter lives. Research on companion dogs finds that larger dogs live shorter lives on average, so plan for senior care earlier than you would with a small breed. Large, deep-chested dogs are also at higher risk of bloat, a sudden emergency in which the stomach swells and can twist. Learn the signs now, ask your vet about prevention and choose a breeder who health-tests the parents.

  1. 1

    Mastiff

    Working · Giant · 120–230 lb (54–104 kg)

    The Mastiff is a calm, dignified giant that typically weighs 120 to 230 lb (54 to 104 kg) and stands at least 27.5 in (70 cm) at the shoulder. Mastiffs are gentle, deeply loyal family dogs, but their size, dro…

    Energy level
    Drooling
    General health
  2. 2

    Saint Bernard

    Working · Giant · 120–180 lb (54–82 kg)

    The Saint Bernard is a giant, gentle working breed from the Swiss Alps, famous for patient, calm companionship. It needs space, firm early training and a tolerance for drool, and its size means a shorter lifes…

    Energy level
    Drooling
    General health
  3. 3

    Great Dane

    Working · Giant · 110–175 lb (50–79 kg)

    The Great Dane is one of the tallest dog breeds, standing at least 28 in (71 cm) at the shoulder and averaging 110–175 lb (50–79 kg). Despite the size, most are gentle, affectionate couch companions, but they…

    Energy level
    Drooling
    General health
  4. 4

    Leonberger

    Working · Giant · 90–170 lb (41–77 kg)

    The Leonberger is a giant, lion-maned working dog from Germany that stands 25.5 to 31.5 in (65 to 80 cm) tall and can weigh 90 to 170 lb (41 to 77 kg). It is gentle, confident and devoted, but it sheds heavily…

    Energy level
    Drooling
    General health
  5. 5

    Anatolian Shepherd Dog

    Working · Giant · 80–150 lb (36–68 kg)

    The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a massive Turkish livestock guardian that stands 27 to 29 in (69 to 74 cm) and weighs 80 to 150 lb (36 to 68 kg). It is loyal and calm with its family but wary of strangers and in…

    Energy level
    Drooling
    General health
  6. 6

    Newfoundland

    Working · Giant · 100–150 lb (45–68 kg)

    The Newfoundland is a giant, gentle water-rescue dog with a famously sweet nature. It is patient with children and devoted to its family, but it drools, sheds heavily and needs a cool home with room to spread…

    Energy level
    Drooling
    General health
  7. 7

    Bullmastiff

    Working · Giant · 100–130 lb (45–59 kg)

    The Bullmastiff is a massive, calm English guardian, 24 to 27 in (61 to 69 cm) tall and 100 to 130 lb (45 to 59 kg), bred from Mastiffs and Bulldogs. It is loyal and gentle with its family, and needs early tra…

    Energy level
    Drooling
    General health
  8. 8

    Great Pyrenees

    Working · Giant · 85–120 lb (39–54 kg)

    The Great Pyrenees is a calm, white livestock guardian standing at least 25 in (64 cm) and weighing roughly 85–120 lb (39–54 kg), bred to protect flocks in the mountains. It is gentle with its family and very…

    Energy level
    Drooling
    General health
  9. 9

    Irish Wolfhound

    Hound · Giant · 105–120 lb (48–54 kg)

    The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest breed the AKC recognizes, with males at least 32 in (81 cm) tall and 120 lb (54 kg), and a gentle, dignified nature to match. It makes a calm, loving housemate, but its giant…

    Energy level
    Drooling
    General health

How we ranked them

Every breed in our giant size class qualifies. We rank them by the upper end of each breed's typical adult weight range, heaviest first. Weights come from our breed profiles, which draw on breed standards and breed clubs. Typical ranges are only a guide, hybrids vary most, and individual dogs can fall outside them, so rely on your vet to judge your own dog's healthy weight.

See how we research and rate breeds.

Before you choose

Choose the breeder carefully and ask which health tests the parents have passed. OFA hip and elbow evaluations are a good place to start, and the CHIC program records dogs that have completed every screening their parent breed club recommends.

Talk to your vet about bloat. Feeding smaller meals, slowing down fast eaters and avoiding heavy exercise right before or after meals are commonly advised, and your vet can discuss whether a preventive stomach-tacking surgery (gastropexy) makes sense for your dog. Our page on bloat and GDV covers the warning signs.

Plan the practical side before you bring a puppy home: a roomy vehicle, sturdy bedding and a lot of towels. Build manners early with rewards, because a pulling giant is hard to hold. If you want the same gentle feel at a smaller size, compare the large dogs list or our calm dogs.

Frequently asked questions

How long do giant dogs live?

Shorter than smaller dogs on average, though it varies by breed. A study of companion dogs seen at three US clinics found that larger dogs tended to have shorter lifespans, and researchers are still working out why. Check the life span range on each breed profile.

Are giant dogs good for apartments?

Some are calm enough indoors, but space, stairs, elevator rules and lease size limits are real hurdles. A quiet giant that gets daily exercise can cope, but most do better with room to stretch out.

Do giant breeds drool a lot?

Some do and some barely at all. Drooling ratings vary between giant breeds, so check each profile if dry floors matter to you.

What is bloat and why does it matter for giant breeds?

Bloat (GDV) is a life-threatening emergency in which the stomach swells and may twist, and large, deep-chested breeds are most at risk. Unproductive retching, a swollen belly and restlessness mean you should go to a vet or emergency hospital immediately.

Sources

  1. AKC: Why Do Small Dogs Live Longer Than Large Dogs?
  2. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology: Lifespan of companion dogs seen in three independent primary care veterinary clinics in the United States
  3. Washington State University Veterinary Hospital: Gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV) and bloat in dogs
  4. OFA: Get started with health screening

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