The largest dog breed

The Largest Dog Breed Exposed

 

The largest dog breed is an unending fascination for us dog lovers. Bigger dogs surely cost more, and ones that belong to the largest dog breed definitely cost more in terms of food and upkeep. However, their impressive size is well… impressive to say the least. The largest dog breed in the world tends to be the mastiff. Mastiffs are defined as wide, short muzzle – renown from their history of being used for both fighting and hunting. Some of these mastiff breeds literally can tower over people, and deserve our respect as part of the largest dog breed around.

Where do mastiffs come from? Well, there are two theories here. One is that the name mastiff actually comes from ancient Greek tribe known as the Molossian tribe. The Molossian tribe used mastiffs for hunting in their daily lives as well.  People who counter this theory say that the Molossian dog was not a mastiff at all. Rather the Molossian dog was more akin to a greyhound.

The second largest dog breed theory of where the largest dog breed came from is an ancient dog known as the Alaunt. The Alaunt is thought to have looked similar to the Caucasian ovcharka, and descended from the Sarmatian mastiff. This theory could hold more water for the largest dog breed origins, considering that the Sarmatian mastiff is actually a close relative of the Caucasian ovcharka.

Regardless of their history and which theory is actually correct, mastiffs are the largest dog breed in the world. Almost all of their breeds (which there are many) outweigh and tower other breeds. As with most, the largest dog breed has a diverse look. Everywhere from Saint Bernards to the exotic lion-dog known as the Tibetan Mastiff, if you have not seen the Tibetan Mastiff you need to Google it right now. Not only is the Tibetan Mastiff massive, but it is also hailed as the most expensive dog in the entire world. Recently, a Chinese man acquired the most expensive Tibetan Mastiff ever sold for 1.5 million dollars.

Though the Tibetan Mastiff is a terrifying sight for any intruders trying to break into your home, out of the mastiff bloodline they are not the largest dog breed. The largest dog breed title goes to their cousin the Pyrenean Mastiff, who happens to look much cuter and friendlier and in fact actually is. The Pyrenean Mastiff was originally used for guarding flocks of sheep from bears and wolves in the Pyrenean Mountains. A Pyrenean Mastiff is massive with average height of 33 inches and weight around 220 lbs. In other words, a Pyrenean Mastiff was a wolf’s worse nightmare; these dogs are so big that they can scare away bears!

Though they are the largest dog breed around and cost more to maintain its upkeep between food and grooming, the Pyrenean Mastiff is one of the most family-friendly of the largest dog breeds that exist out there. Typically, they are lazy dogs until it is time to go to work, and though they can be aggressive when needing to defend their flock or owners, they typically use aggression as a last resort

That is just a quick run through some of the largest dog breeds in the world.