Large dog breeds: profiles from A to Z

Large dogs need space, a bigger food budget and training that starts early: you can no longer simply carry a 40-kilo dog away. Many large breeds also live less long than small ones; the entries explain the research.

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Large dog breeds in the encyclopedia (166)

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A quick comparison

Breed	Height according to the standard	For beginners
Afghan Hound	ideal: males 68 to 74 cm, females 63 to 69 cm	Generally unsuitable
Airedale Terrier	Males approx. 58 to 61 cm, females approx. 56 to 59 cm	With reservations
Akita (Akita Inu)	males 67 cm, females 61 cm, with a tolerance of plus or minus 3 cm	Generally unsuitable
Alaskan Malamute	desired working size: males 63,5 cm, females 58,5 cm; the standard recognises a natural range	Generally unsuitable
Old Danish Pointing Dog (Gammel Dansk Hønsehund)	males 54 to 60 cm (ideally above 56 cm), females 50 to 56 cm (ideally above 52 cm)	With reservations
American Akita	Males 66 to 71 cm, females 61 to 66 cm	Generally unsuitable
American Foxhound	males 56 to 63,5 cm, females 53 to 61 cm	Generally unsuitable
Ardennes Cattle Dog (Bouvier des Ardennes)	males 56 to 62 cm, females 52 to 56 cm, tolerance of 1 cm above or below	Generally unsuitable
Azawakh	Males 64 to 74 cm, females 60 to 70 cm; deviation of 2 cm tolerated	Generally unsuitable
Aidi (Aïdi, Chien de Montagne de l'Atlas)	52 to 62 cm; the standard does not distinguish between sexes	Generally unsuitable
Barbet (French Water Dog)	males 58 to 65 cm, females 53 to 61 cm, each with a tolerance of 1 cm above or below	With reservations
Borzoi (Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya)	desired: males 75 to 85 cm, females 68 to 78 cm	With reservations
Beauceron (Berger de Beauce)	Males 65 to 70 cm, females 61 to 68 cm	Generally unsuitable
Bergamasco Sheepdog (Cane da Pastore Bergamasco)	ideal: males 60 cm, females 56 cm, each with a tolerance of 2 cm above or below	With reservations
Bernese Mountain Dog (Berner Sennenhund)	Males 64 to 70 cm (ideal 66 to 68 cm), females 58 to 66 cm (ideal 60 to 63 cm)	With reservations
St Bernard (St. Bernhardshund - Bernhardiner)	males 70 to 90 cm, females 65 to 80 cm; larger dogs are not penalised if harmoniously built	With reservations
Billy	Males 60 to 70 cm, females 58 to 62 cm	Generally unsuitable
Black and Tan Coonhound	males 63,5 to 68,5 cm, females 58 to 63,5 cm; oversized dogs are not penalised if balanced and capable workers	Generally unsuitable
Blue Picardy Spaniel (Épagneul Bleu de Picardie)	Males 57 to 62 cm, females 55 to 60 cm; deviations of 2 cm above or below permitted but undesirable	With reservations
Bloodhound (Chien de Saint Hubert)	Ideal males 68 cm, females 62 cm, tolerance 4 cm above or below	Generally unsuitable
Bohemian Wire-haired Pointing Griffon (Český Fousek)	males 60 to 66 cm, females 58 to 62 cm	Generally unsuitable
Dogue de Bordeaux	males 60 to 68 cm, females 58 to 66 cm, with tolerance of 1 cm below and 2 cm above	Generally unsuitable
Bouvier des Flandres (Bouvier des Flandres-Vlaamse Koehond)	Males 62 to 68 cm (ideal 65 cm), females 59 to 65 cm (ideal 62 cm), tolerance 1 cm above or below	With reservations
Italian Pointing Dog (Bracco Italiano)	55 to 67 cm; preferred males 58 to 67 cm, females 55 to 62 cm	Generally unsuitable
Auvergne Pointer (Braque d'Auvergne)	Males 57 to 63 cm (ideal 60 cm), females 53 to 59 cm (ideal 56 cm); 2 cm above and 1 cm below tolerated	Generally unsuitable
Ariege Pointing Dog (Braque de l’Ariège)	males 58 to 65 cm, preferably 61 cm plus or minus 2 cm; females 54 to 63 cm, preferably 59 cm plus or minus 2 cm	Generally unsuitable
French Pointing Dog, Gascogne type (Braque Français - Type Gascogne)	Males 60 to 69 cm, females 58 to 68 cm	Generally unsuitable
Saint Germain Pointer (Braque Saint-Germain)	Males 56 to 62 cm, females 54 to 59 cm; 2 cm above tolerated in exceptional dogs	With reservations
Brazilian Tracker (Rastreador Brasileiro)	Males 60 to 65 cm, females 56 to 63 cm, tolerance approx. 1 cm	Generally unsuitable
Briard (Berger de Brie)	Males 62 to 68 cm, females 56 to 64 cm (tolerance plus 2 cm, minus 1 cm)	With reservations
Broholmer	Males around 75 cm, females around 70 cm	With reservations
Bullmastiff	males 64 to 69 cm, females 61 to 66 cm	Generally unsuitable
Italian Cane Corso (Cane Corso Italiano)	males 64 to 68 cm, females 60 to 64 cm, with a 2 cm tolerance above or below	Generally unsuitable
Castro Laboreiro Dog (Cão de Castro Laboreiro)	Males 58 to 64 cm, females 55 to 61 cm, each with tolerance of plus 2 cm	Generally unsuitable
Polish Greyhound (Chart Polski)	ideal: males 70 to 80 cm, females 68 to 75 cm; larger dogs permitted if type is maintained	Generally unsuitable
Chesapeake Bay Retriever	Males 58 to 66 cm, females 53 to 61 cm	With reservations
Artois Hound (Chien d’Artois)	males and females 53 to 58 cm, tolerance 1 cm	Generally unsuitable
Cimarrón Uruguayo	Males 58 to 61 cm, females 55 to 58 cm, each with 2 cm tolerance	Generally unsuitable
Clumber Spaniel	not specified in the FCI standard	With reservations
Rough Collie (Collie Rough)	males 56 to 61 cm, females 51 to 56 cm	With reservations
Smooth Collie (Collie Smooth)	males 56 to 61 cm, females 51 to 56 cm	With reservations
Curly Coated Retriever	ideal males 69 cm, females 64 cm	With reservations
Dalmatian (Dalmatinski Pas)	males 56 to 62 cm, females 54 to 60 cm	With reservations
Deerhound	Desired minimum males 76 cm, females 71 cm	With reservations
German Wire-haired Pointing Dog (Deutsch Drahthaar)	males 61 to 68 cm, females 57 to 64 cm	Generally unsuitable
German Shorthaired Pointer (Deutsch Kurzhaar)	Males 62 to 66 cm, females 58 to 63 cm	Generally unsuitable
German Longhaired Pointer (Deutsch Langhaar)	Males 60 to 70 cm (ideal 63 to 66 cm), females 58 to 66 cm (ideal 60 to 63 cm)	Generally unsuitable
Deutsch Stichelhaar	males 60 to 70 cm, females 58 to 68 cm	Generally unsuitable
Great Dane (Deutsche Dogge)	Males at least 80 cm, no more than 90 cm; females at least 72 cm, no more than 84 cm	With reservations
Boxer (Deutscher Boxer)	males 57 to 63 cm, females 53 to 59 cm	With reservations
German Shepherd Dog (Deutscher Schäferhund)	males 60 to 65 cm, females 55 to 60 cm	With reservations
Tibetan Mastiff (Do-Khyi)	Males at least 66 cm, females at least 61 cm	Generally unsuitable
Dobermann	males 68 to 72 cm, females 63 to 68 cm, middle size preferred in each	With reservations
Dogo Argentino	Males 60 to 68 cm (ideal 64 to 65 cm), females 60 to 65 cm (ideal 62 to 64 cm)	Generally unsuitable
Hungarian Wire-haired Pointer (Drótzörü Magyar Vizsla)	Males 58 to 64 cm, females 54 to 60 cm	With reservations
Drentsche Partridge Dog (Drentsche Patrijshond)	males 58 to 63 cm, females 55 to 60 cm; a few centimetres’ deviation acceptable if well proportioned	With reservations
English Foxhound	around 58 to 64 cm, without distinction by sex	Generally unsuitable
English Pointer	Males 63 to 69 cm, females 61 to 66 cm	With reservations
English Setter	males 65 to 68 cm, females 61 to 65 cm	With reservations
Transylvanian Hound (Erdélyi Kopó)	55 to 65 cm (no distinction by sex; harmony and overall impression decisive)	Generally unsuitable
Eurasier	Males 52 to 60 cm, females 48 to 56 cm (ideal 56 and 52 cm)	With reservations
Fila Brasileiro	males 65 to 75 cm, females 60 to 70 cm	Generally unsuitable
Finnish Hound (Suomenajokoira)	Males 55 to 61 cm, females 52 to 58 cm; ideal males 57 to 59 cm, females 54 to 56 cm	Generally unsuitable
Flat Coated Retriever	Preferred males 59 to 61,5 cm, females 56,5 to 59 cm	With reservations
French Spaniel (Epagneul Français)	Males 56 to 61 cm, females 55 to 59 cm; tolerance of 2 cm above and 1 cm below	With reservations
French White and Black Hound (Français Blanc et Noir)	Males 65 to 72 cm, females 62 to 68 cm, tolerance plus or minus 1 cm	Generally unsuitable
French White and Orange Hound (Français Blanc et Orange)	62 to 70 cm, tolerance 2 cm above the upper limit, without distinction between sexes	Generally unsuitable
French Tricolour Hound (Français Tricolore)	Males 62 to 72 cm, females 60 to 68 cm	Generally unsuitable
Spanish Greyhound (Galgo Español)	males 62 to 70 cm, females 60 to 68 cm; up to 2 cm above permitted with excellent proportions	With reservations
Gascon Saintongeois	Large variety: males 65 to 72 cm, females 62 to 68 cm; small variety: males 56 to 62 cm, females 54 to 59 cm; tolerance of 1 cm in each	Generally unsuitable
Golden Retriever	males 56 to 61 cm, females 51 to 56 cm	Suitable
Gordon Setter	males 66 cm, females 62 cm	With reservations
Great Anglo-French White and Black Hound (Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir)	Males 65 to 72 cm, females 62 to 68 cm, each plus or minus 1 cm	Generally unsuitable
Great Anglo-French White and Orange Hound (Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange)	60 to 70 cm, without separate male and female figures	Generally unsuitable
Great Anglo-French Tricolour Hound (Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore)	60 to 70 cm, without distinction between sexes	Generally unsuitable
Great Gascony Blue (Grand Bleu de Gascogne)	Males 65 to 72 cm, females 62 to 68 cm	Generally unsuitable
Grand Griffon Vendéen	males 62 to 68 cm, females 60 to 65 cm, tolerance 1 cm above or below	Generally unsuitable
Greyhound	ideal: males 71 to 76 cm, females 68 to 71 cm	Suitable
Griffon Nivernais	Males 55 to 62 cm, females 53 to 60 cm (the English version gives 1 cm tolerance)	Generally unsuitable
Greenland Dog (Grønlandshund)	Males 60 cm and above, females 55 cm and above	Generally unsuitable
Large Munsterlander (Großer Münsterländer Vorstehhund)	males 60 to 65 cm, females 58 to 63 cm, tolerance up to 2 cm above	Generally unsuitable
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund)	Males 65 to 72 cm, females 60 to 68 cm	With reservations
Halden Hound (Haldenstøver)	Males 52 to 60 cm (ideal 56 cm), females 50 to 58 cm (ideal 54 cm)	Generally unsuitable
Hamiltonstövare	males ideally 57 cm (permitted 53 to 61 cm), females ideally 53 cm (permitted 49 to 57 cm)	Generally unsuitable
Dutch Shepherd Dog (Hollandse Herdershond)	Males 57 to 62 cm, females 55 to 60 cm	Generally unsuitable
Hovawart	Males 63 to 70 cm, females 58 to 65 cm	Generally unsuitable
Irish Red and White Setter	desired: males 62 to 66 cm, females 57 to 61 cm	With reservations
Irish Red Setter	Males 58 to 67 cm, females 55 to 62 cm	With reservations
Irish Water Spaniel	Males 53 to 59 cm, females 51 to 56 cm	With reservations
Irish Wolfhound	desired minimum height: males 79 cm, females 71 cm; the aim for males is an average of at least 86 cm	With reservations
Yakutian Laika (Yakutskaya Laika)	Males 55 to 59 cm, females 53 to 57 cm	With reservations
Canadian Eskimo Dog	Males 58 to 70 cm, females 50 to 60 cm	Generally unsuitable
Kangal Shepherd Dog (Kangal Çoban Köpegi)	Males 72 to 78 cm, females 65 to 73 cm, each with a tolerance of 2 cm above or below	Generally unsuitable
Macedonian Shepherd Dog Karaman	males 65 to 68 cm, females 62 to 66 cm, with 2 cm above or below allowed	Generally unsuitable
Karelian Bear Dog (Karjalankarhukoira)	Males 54 to 60 cm (ideal 57 cm), females 49 to 55 cm (ideal 52 cm)	Generally unsuitable
Karst Shepherd Dog (Kraski Ovcar)	Males 57 to 63 cm (ideal 60 cm), females 54 to 60 cm (ideal 57 cm); up to 2 cm above is tolerated	Generally unsuitable
Caucasian Shepherd Dog (Kavkazskaïa Ovtcharka)	Males preferably 72 to 75 cm, minimum 68 cm; females preferably 67 to 70 cm, minimum 64 cm	Generally unsuitable
Kazakh Tazy	Desirable height: males 63 to 70 cm, females 58 to 65 cm; a deviation of 2 cm is acceptable if proportions and overall harmony are maintained	Generally unsuitable
Komondor	Males at least 70 cm, females at least 65 cm	Generally unsuitable
Wire-haired Pointing Griffon (Griffon à Poil Dur Korthals)	Males approx. 55 to 60 cm, females approx. 50 to 55 cm	Generally unsuitable
Kuvasz	Males 71 to 76 cm, females 66 to 70 cm	Generally unsuitable
Labrador Retriever	males 56 to 57 cm, females 54 to 56 cm (ideal height in the standard)	Suitable
Landseer, European Continental Type (Landseer, Europäisch-kontinentaler Typ)	Males averaging 72 to 80 cm, females averaging 67 to 72 cm; minor deviations tolerated	With reservations
Leonberger	Males 72 to 80 cm (recommended midpoint 76 cm), females 65 to 75 cm (recommended midpoint 70 cm)	With reservations
Hungarian Greyhound (Magyar Agár)	Ideal height: males 65 to 70 cm, females 62 to 67 cm; harmonious proportions matter more than centimetres	With reservations
Hungarian Vizsla (Rövidszörü Magyar Vizsla)	Males 58 to 64 cm, females 54 to 60 cm	With reservations
Malinois, Belgian Shepherd Dog (Chien de Berger Belge)	Average males 62 cm, females 58 cm; tolerance 2 cm below and 4 cm above	Generally unsuitable
Majorca Mastiff (Perro Dogo Mallorquín, Ca de Bou)	males 55 to 58 cm, females 52 to 55 cm	Generally unsuitable
Majorca Shepherd Dog (Ca de Bestiar)	Males 66 to 73 cm, females 62 to 68 cm; 1 cm deviation accepted	Generally unsuitable
Maremma Sheepdog (Cane da Pastore Abruzzese Maremmano)	Males 67 to 73,5 cm, females 62 to 70 cm	Generally unsuitable
Mastiff	Not specified in the FCI standard (size desirable, but only alongside quality and health)	Generally unsuitable
Neapolitan Mastiff (Mastino Napoletano)	males 65 to 75 cm, females 60 to 68 cm	Generally unsuitable
Central Asian Shepherd Dog (Sredneasiatskaya Ovtcharka)	males at least 70 cm, females at least 65 cm; greater height desired	Generally unsuitable
Newfoundland	Average males 71 cm, females 66 cm	With reservations
Old English Sheepdog (Bobtail)	males 61 cm and above, females 56 cm and above; type and balance matter more than size	With reservations
East Siberian Laika (Vostotchno-Sibirskaïa Laïka)	Males 57 to 64 cm, females 53 to 60 cm	Generally unsuitable
Otterhound	Males approx. 69 cm, females approx. 61 cm	Generally unsuitable
Burgos Pointing Dog (Perdiguero de Burgos)	males 62 to 67 cm, females 59 to 64 cm	With reservations
Pharaoh Hound	males 56 to 63,5 cm, females 53 to 61 cm	With reservations
Picardy Sheepdog (Berger de Picardie)	males 60 to 65 cm, females 55 to 60 cm; tolerance of 1 cm above or below	With reservations
Picardy Spaniel (Epagneul Picard)	Males 57 to 62 cm, females 55 to 60 cm; 2 cm above or below allowed but undesirable	With reservations
Canarian Warren Hound (Podenco Canario)	Males 55 to 64 cm, females 53 to 60 cm; 2 cm above or below permitted in either sex if basic type is correct	Generally unsuitable
Ibizan Hound (Podenco Ibicenco)	males 66 to 72 cm, females 60 to 67 cm; well-proportioned dogs close to the standard measurements accepted	Generally unsuitable
Poitevin	Males 62 to 72 cm, females 60 to 70 cm	Generally unsuitable
Polish Hound (Ogar Polski)	Males 56 to 65 cm, females 55 to 60 cm	Generally unsuitable
Polish Hunting Dog (Gończy Polski)	males 55 to 59 cm, females 50 to 55 cm	Generally unsuitable
Polish Tatra Shepherd (Polski Owczarek Podhalanski)	Males 65 to 70 cm, females 60 to 65 cm	Generally unsuitable
Porcelaine	Males 55 to 58 cm, females 53 to 56 cm (exception up to 60 cm possible for otherwise excellent stud dogs)	Generally unsuitable
Portuguese Pointing Dog (Perdigueiro Português)	Males 56 cm, females 52 cm, each with 4 cm tolerance above and below	Generally unsuitable
Presa Canario	Males 61 to 66 cm, females 57 to 62 cm	Generally unsuitable
Pudelpointer	Males 60 to 68 cm, females 55 to 63 cm	Generally unsuitable
Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées)	Males 70 to 80 cm, females 65 to 75 cm; very typical dogs allowed an extra 2 cm	Generally unsuitable
Pyrenean Mastiff (Mastín del Pirineo)	Minimum males 77 cm, females 72 cm; males over 81 cm and females over 75 cm desired, no upper limit	Generally unsuitable
Rafeiro of Alentejo (Rafeiro do Alentejo)	Males 66 to 74 cm, females 64 to 70 cm	Generally unsuitable
Rhodesian Ridgeback	desired males 63 to 69 cm, females 61 to 66 cm	Generally unsuitable
Giant Schnauzer (Riesenschnauzer)	Males and females 60 to 70 cm	Generally unsuitable
Rottweiler	Males 61 to 68 cm (correct size 65 to 66 cm), females 56 to 63 cm (correct size 60 to 61 cm)	Generally unsuitable
Romanian Bucovina Shepherd (Ciobănesc Românesc de Bucovina)	males 68 to 78 cm, ideally 71 to 75 cm; females 64 to 72 cm, ideally 66 to 68 cm; tolerance of 4 cm below	Generally unsuitable
Romanian Raven Shepherd Dog (Ciobănesc Românesc Corb)	Males 70 to 80 cm, females 65 to 75 cm; males below 65 cm and females below 62 cm disqualified	Generally unsuitable
Romanian Carpathian Shepherd Dog (Ciobănesc Românesc Carpatin)	Ideal males 65 to 73 cm, females 59 to 67 cm, each plus or minus 2 cm; overall impression matters more	Generally unsuitable
Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog (Ciobănesc Românesc Mioritic)	males at least 70 cm, ideally 75 cm; females at least 65 cm, ideally 70 cm; males under 68 cm and females under 63 cm disqualified	Generally unsuitable
Russian Black Terrier (Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier)	Males 72 to 76 cm (not below 70 or above 78 cm), females 68 to 72 cm (not below 66 or above 74 cm)	Generally unsuitable
Saarloos Wolfhond (Saarlooswolfhond)	Males 65 to 75 cm, females 60 to 70 cm; slightly greater height allowed	Generally unsuitable
Saluki	averaging 58 to 71 cm, females proportionately smaller	With reservations
Samoyed (Samoiedskaïa Sabaka)	ideal: males 57 cm, females 53 cm, each with 3 cm tolerance above or below	With reservations
Schillerstövare	Males 53 to 61 cm (ideal 57 cm), females 49 to 57 cm (ideal 53 cm)	Generally unsuitable
Swedish Elkhound (Jämthund)	males 57 to 65 cm (ideal 61 cm), females 52 to 60 cm (ideal 56 cm); other measurements lead to disqualification	Generally unsuitable
Italian Rough-haired Segugio (Segugio Italiano a Pelo Forte)	Males 52 to 60 cm, females 50 to 58 cm (2 cm above or below tolerated in excellent dogs)	Generally unsuitable
Estrela Mountain Dog (Cão da Serra da Estrela)	males 65 to 73 cm, females 62 to 69 cm, tolerance of 2 cm above	Generally unsuitable
Siberian Husky	males 53,5 to 60 cm, females 50,5 to 56 cm	Generally unsuitable
Sloughi	Males 66 to 72 cm, females 61 to 68 cm (ideal height 70 and 65 cm)	With reservations
Wirehaired Slovakian Pointer (Slovenský hrubosrstý stavač (Ohar))	Males 62 to 68 cm, females 57 to 64 cm	Generally unsuitable
Slovakian Chuvach (Slovenský Cuvac)	Males 62 to 70 cm, females 59 to 65 cm	Generally unsuitable
Spanish Mastiff (Mastín Español)	Males at least 77 cm, females at least 72 cm; above 80 and 75 cm respectively should be sought, without an upper limit	Generally unsuitable
Spinone Italiano	Males 60 to 70 cm, females 58 to 65 cm	With reservations
South Russian Shepherd Dog (Yuzhnorusskaya Ovcharka)	Males not below 66 cm, females not below 62 cm; greater height desirable if the body remains well proportioned	Generally unsuitable
Thai Ridgeback Dog	ideal: males 56 to 61 cm, females 51 to 56 cm, tolerance plus or minus 2,5 cm	Generally unsuitable
Tornjak (Bosnian and Herzegovinian-Croatian Shepherd Dog)	Males 65 to 70 cm, females 60 to 65 cm, tolerance plus or minus 2 cm	Generally unsuitable
Tosa (Japanese Mastiff)	at least 60 cm for males and 55 cm for females; the standard gives no upper limit	Generally unsuitable
Transmontano Mastiff (Cão de Gado Transmontano)	Males 75 to 85 cm, females 68 to 78 cm	Generally unsuitable
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (Ceskoslovenský Vlciak)	Males at least 65 cm, females at least 60 cm	Generally unsuitable
Weimaraner	Males 59 to 70 cm, females 57 to 65 cm	Generally unsuitable
White Swiss Shepherd Dog (Berger Blanc Suisse)	Males 58 to 66 cm, females 53 to 61 cm; typical dogs slightly above or below these heights are not excluded	With reservations
West Siberian Laika (Zapadno-Sibirskaïa Laïka)	Males 55 to 62 cm, females 51 to 58 cm	Generally unsuitable
Wetterhoun (Frisian Water Dog)	Ideal height males 59 cm, females 55 cm	Generally unsuitable
Šarplaninac (Jugoslovenski Ovcarski Pas-Sarplaninac)	Average males 62 cm, females 58 cm; males below 56 cm and females below 54 cm not admitted for breeding	Generally unsuitable

Still unsure which breed suits you?

Our free breed quiz asks ten questions about your everyday life and suggests three breeds. Our book takes a more thorough look: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). If your puppy is already on the way, the free Puppy Starter Pack supports you through the first weeks. To see your dog on the wall, explore our dog portraits from your own photo.

The profiles are based on FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) breed standards; health and lifespan information comes from the studies cited in each entry. Size categories follow our own classification: average male height at the withers up to 40 cm small, over 40 to 55 cm medium-sized, over 55 cm large; where the standard gives no height, classification is by weight.

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