The Biggest Dog Ever Recorded Weighs More Than You

There are some truly gigantic dog breeds out there. From the Anatolian shepherd which was bred to protect livestock and weighs around 150 pounds, to the cane corso which is believed to have descended from the guardian dogs of ancient Greece, some breeds of dog can reach surprisingly impressive sizes. Others, however, can be comparatively miniature. In fact, dogs differ in size more than any other mammal on the planet, which is just one example of the incredible genetic diversity in dogs. 

In 2023, the world's smallest dog was verified by Guinness as two-year-old Chihuahua Pearl who measured just 3.59 inches in height, 5 inches in length, and weighed 1.22 pounds. By comparison, in 2024, Kevin the Great Dane was listed as the world's tallest dog, measuring 3 feet, 2 inches from his feet to his withers. Prior to Kevin, another Great Dane by the name of Zeus had actually claimed the title of the world's tallest dog ever standing at more than 3 feet, 8 inches tall.

But even Kevin can't compare to the largest dog ever recorded. This colossus of a canine claimed the record of the longest and heaviest dog ever recorded back in the 1980s and weighs more than most human beings.

The largest domestic cat breed can reach a staggering size, but it doesn't come close to the biggest dog ever recorded. Guinness lists the longest and heaviest dog ever as "Aicama Zorba of La-Susa." This giant canine was an Old English mastiff owned by Londoner Chris Eraclides. Back in 1987, Zorba was recorded as measuring 8 feet, 3 inches from nose to tail. But his weight was arguably even more stunning, with the Mastiff coming it at an incredible 343 pounds.

A British original, the mastiff is an old breed (ancient cultures loved their dogs, too) which has always been known for its size. Indeed, Julius Caesar was so impressed with the beasts that defended Britain upon his invasion that he took some back with him to Rome, where they were forced to fight in arenas. Mastiffs were also used in medieval England as big-game hunters, guardians, and war dogs, fighting with the British in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. While the breed is much calmer today than its battle-ready forebears, it retains its massive size, and is known as the largest dog breed in existence — though some breeds such as Great Danes can be taller. As such, it's not surprising to learn that the largest dog ever recorded is a mastiff.

Even still, mastiffs are typically expected to reach heights of between 30 and 36 inches and weights of between 170 and 230 pounds, making Zorba a remarkably massive example of an already giant breed.