New Delhi: The world’s tallest living dog is a two-year-old American Great Dane from Bedford, Texas, in the United States of America, the Guinness World Records announced Wednesday. It’s a grey and brown male standing at 1.046 metres (3 feet 5.18 inches), and is named Zeus. The gentle giant came to stay with Brittany Davis of Bedford when it was an eight-week-old pup. Interestingly, the tallest dog ever (male) was also a grey Great Dane with the same name, Zeus, who was from Otsego in Michigan, USA, and passed away at the age of five in 2014.
Brittany got her Zeus as a gift from brother Garrett who made her “lifelong wish come true”.
Zeus was born to a grey and white merle sire and brindle dam, and was the largest pup among a litter of five.
"He's been a big dog since we got him, even for a puppy. He had huge paws," Brittany told Guinness.
Though Great Danes were originally bred for hog hunting, Brittany said Zeus has a quite laid-back nature.
"Zeus would be absolutely terrified of a hog. He’s scared of rain, so hogs are out of the question," she said.
Zeus usually spends his days walking around the neighbourhood, sleeping by his window, and roaming farmers’ markets in the locality.
"Everyone knows him, and the vendors all know him. He gets extra treats and lots of attention," Brittany said.
He definitely attracts specific comments due to his size. "The comment that we hear most often is 'Wow, that’s a horse!,' 'Can I ride him?' or 'Does he have a saddle?'"
At home, Zeus has three Australian Shepherd siblings and his feline sister, Penelope.
A Well-Behaved Gentle Giant
According to Brittany, Zeus is usually “well-behaved” but his big size means he gets into even bigger trouble.
"He likes to steal the baby’s pacifier off the counters and any food left on the counters is definitely free reign for him," she told Guinness.
"His water bowl is a sink, and he loves to jump onto the fence and talk to the neighbour's dogs next door."
Brittany has a word of caution for those interested in owning a large breed, and that is feeding them can be quite expensive and one should be prepared to spend money on dog food.
Great Danes usually have a shorter life span than other dogs due to their big size, but Zeus is in good health. Brittany said the vets are “impressed with how healthy he is”.
It was a family gathering where someone shared the idea to approach Guinness World Records as they thought Zeus could be taller than the former tallest dog living (male).
"...once we measured him, we realized he probably was," Brittany said.
The previous tallest dog, Zeus from Michigan, measured 111.8 cm (44 in) from foot to withers, and reached a height of 7 feet 4 inches when standing on his hind legs, according to Guinness.