A: Trivia Geek's Answer Is

1) Mastiffs
In weight alone, the Mastiffs are truly the largest of the dog breeds, and several have held world records. Zorba, an

English Mastiff, is credited with being the heaviest dog ever at 343 pounds.

There are several types of Mastiffs from wrinkly to smooth, short coated to fluffy, but they are all generally gentle, protective and slightly lazy. They have been bred for centuries as guard dogs, but rely on intimidation rather than outright attack. Mastiffs tend to drool excessively, and this, along with the challenges of bathing a large dog, can give them a very doggy odor. Five of the more common Mastiff breeds are:

- The Mastiff (or Old English Mastiff) can reach 30 inches, 160 pounds. The Mastiff has a long history as a guardians and dogs of war, and tends to guard silently rather than barking, and by trapping an intruder rather than attacking.

- The Neapolitan Mastiff can reach 30 inches and 165 pounds – larger males can reach 200 pounds, and are considered to be as old as the English Mastiff. They tend to drool even more than the other Mastiffs, and have excessively loose skin, especially on the head, neck and shoulders.

- The American Mastiff is a cross between the English Mastiff and the Anatolian Mastiff (sometimes called the Anatolian Shepherd). They can reach 36 inches, and weigh over 200 pounds. This isn’t an AKC breed, but there is a breed club that sets and maintains the standards. The American Mastiff allegedly is healthier and has a drier mouth than the Mastiff breeds, but this is debated by fans of the older Mastiff breeds.

- The Bullmastiff is the “dainty” member of the Mastiff family – they are usually no taller 27 inches and tend to weigh less than 130 pounds. As with the other Mastiffs they are loyal, affectionate family-oriented dogs.

- The Tibetan Mastiff (reaching 28 inches, 170 pounds). They have heavy coats and prefer to be outside in cooler climates, and tend to be more active, independent and protective than the other Mastiff breeds.

2) Irish Wolfhound – 28 to 35 inches tall, 90 to 150 pounds
Mon Ami von der Oelmühle, holds the record as the world’s longest dog measuring 92 inches (over 7.5 feet!) from his nose to the tip of his tail. Even a “normal” Wolfhound is impressive, and most can look you in the eye when they stand on hind legs and put their paws on your shoulder! They are incredible docile sighthounds, and after the morning run, they prefer a soft bed by a warm fire.

3) Great Dane – 28 to 34 inches tall, 100 to 200 pounds
The Guinness Book of World Records record Gibson, a Great Dane as being the world’s tallest living dog – he’s 42 inch tall at the withers. Like the Wolfhound, most typical Danes, although shorter than Gibson are still large enough to rest their chin on the kitchen counter. Their short coat is easy to groom, but finding a tub big enough for a bath may be a problem.

4) Saint Bernard – 25 to 27 inches tall, 110 to 200 pounds
If you live in a cool climate and don’t mind a bit of drool, Saint Bernards are gentle and loyal and can be very large. Because of their heavy coats they do need regular grooming, but brushing generally suffices as the natural oils help keeps them looking clean.

5) Leonberger – 27 to 31 inches tall, 100 to 170 pounds
The Leonberger’s thick coat make them appear heavier than they really are, but they are still quite large dogs. They are watchful and protective, especially of children, and tend to be intimidating rather than aggressive. They do shed heavily and require regular grooming to keep the hair under control.

6) Dogue de Bordeaux – 23 to 30 inches, 120 to 145 pounds
Made famous by the movie “Turner and Hooch”, the Douge (also called the French Mastiff) is a massive red mountain with a wonderful temperament – if you can tolerate large quantities of drool and excessive snoring. While they make excellent watchdogs, they are also good with children and are loyal, obedient and patient family members.

7) Newfoundland – 25 to 29 inches tall, 100 to 150 pounds
Bred with the size and strength to pull boats out of cold northern waters, the Newfie is a natural lifeguard and is happiest in or near the water and in a cold climate. They are a social dog, intelligent, patient and great with children, but good watchdogs too, putting themselves in harms way rather than attacking intruders. They do require daily brushing and grooming can be a major job with such a large quantity of fur.

Great Pyrenees – 25 to 32 inches tall, from 85 to 120 pounds
The Great Pyrenees is large enough to defend a flock from wolves and bears, and have a strong instinct to guard and defend. As with the Newfie, grooming can be a problem.

9) Anatolian Shepherd – 26 to 30 inches tall, 90 to 150 pounds
The Anatolian is another flock guarding breed large enough to defend the herd against wolves. Unlike some of the other giant breeds, Anatoilians are somewhat more athletic, need daily exercise and do best when they have a job. They are natural guard dogs and if their impressive size doesn’t stop intruders, they may attack, but only as a last resort.

10) Rottweiler – 22 to 27 inches tall, 85 to 130 pounds
Despite the bad reputation, Rottweilers are actually excellent dogs and undeserving of the bad press they receive. Rotties are loyal, obedient, protective, and even-tempered, and do well with other pets and children if properly socialized. There two general types – the German tends to be sorter and heavier, the American tends to be taller and leaner.

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