Dogs
15 Dog Breeds That Start Small But End Up Gigantic
As puppies, you'd never know just how GIGANTIC these dogs will be.
Ashley Fike
02.23.18

Who doesn’t love a puppy? They’re so squishy, cuddly, and so small they fit right in our hands! But as we all know, puppies grow up to be dogs. These breeds, however, grow up to be big dogs. Really, really big dogs.

Here are 15 dog breeds go from a teeny, tiny puppy to a gigantic horse of a dog.

If you’re looking to adopt a puppy, do your research to make sure you don’t unknowingly bring a small Great Dane or Newfoundland puppy home. These dog breeds are absolutely wonderful, but there’s no way around it – they’re massive.

1. Great Dane

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Pinterest

They start off itsy bitsy, but Great Danes can weigh from 100-200 pounds, and stand 32-inches high at the shoulder. When on their hind legs, they are taller than most people!

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Petcha

2. English Mastiff

Mom.me
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Mom.me

English Mastiffs are irresistibly cute, and equally adorable dogs, but don’t forget that Mastiffs range in weight from 120-230 pounds when fully grown!

Vet Street
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Vet Street

3. Neopolitan Mastiff

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Pinterest

The wrinkles and rolls of a Neopolitan Mastiff are almost too cute to handle. All you want to do is squish them and cuddle them, right?! Well, I hope you’re looking for a giant cuddle buddy because this breed has a shoulder height of up to 30 inches and can weigh over 130 pounds.

Elelur
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Elelur

4. Newfoundland

Ranker via Imgur
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Ranker via Imgur

If there’s ever a puppy that looks like a fluffy teddy bear, it’s a Newfoundland. They certainly stay fluffy as they get older, they just end up looking like…a regular bear. Newfoundlands can weigh from 100-150 pounds.

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Pinterest

5. Dogue de Bordeaux

All Big Dog Breeds
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All Big Dog Breeds

Get outta here with those baby blue eyes and strawberry blonde fur! Dogue de Bordeaux puppies are out-of-control cute, not to mention beautiful dogs. Very big, beautiful dogs. This breed can reach a weight up to 140 pounds.

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Vet Street

6. Cane Corso

Shipley Cane Corso via YouTube
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Shipley Cane Corso via YouTube

This Italian protector dog is a wonderful companion, and they love to chill out. So, even when they reach a weight of over 100 pounds, they still think they’re lap dogs and love to cuddle.

PetMD
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PetMD

7. Great Pyrenees

AKC
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AKC

Great Pyrenees puppies are basically little fluffy balls of fur. They’re absolutely precious. When they grow up, they are quite majestic and are known to be very affectionate. Males can reach a shoulder height of 32 inches, weighing around 115 pounds.

Luv My Dogs
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Luv My Dogs

8. Bernese Mountain Dog

kodeblue24 via YouTube
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kodeblue24 via YouTube

Talk about a loyal, loving breed. The Bernese Mountain Dog ticks all the boxes if you’re looking for a furry best friend. Just remember that these big pups are fluffy and small as puppies, but reach weights of around 100 pounds.

Vet Street
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Vet Street

9. Tibetan Mastiff

Believe it or not, there’s actually a dog underneath all of that fur. As a puppy, the Tibetan Mastiff is pretty much the sweetest thing you’ll ever lay eyes on. When they get older, they are just as incredible looking, but in an entirely different and intimidating way. Oh, and the males weigh up to 160 pounds.

Paw Culture
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Paw Culture

10. Black Russian Terrier

Terrific Pets
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Terrific Pets

Black Russian Terriers are lively and very full of energy, and this doesn’t just apply to when they’re puppies. This gorgeous dog breed is just as hyper even when they’ve reached a weight of 100-150 pounds!

101 Dog Breeds
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101 Dog Breeds

11. Leonberger

DogLib
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DogLib

Legend has it that the Leonberger was bred as a ‘symbolic dog’ that would mimic the lion in the town crest. Fearless like a lion, the Leonberger is very brave, but they are also very loyal and obedient. This German dog breed is absolutely huge and can weigh up to 160 pounds!

Reddit
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Reddit

12. Irish Wolfhound

Wikimedia
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Wikimedia

This sweet-tempered dog has the face of an old man since the day they are born. The wire-haired breed is patient, loving, and really, really big. They can be almost 3-feet-tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 180 pounds.

Dog Time
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Dog Time

13. Scottish Deerhound

Pet Guide
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Pet Guide

Similar looking to the Irish Wolfhound, the Scottish Deerhound is just a bit smaller in stature – but not much. This unique looking dog breed averages around 80-100 pounds.

Pet Guide
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Pet Guide

14. Saint Bernard

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Pinterest

Probably one of the most popular large dog breeds, the Saint Bernard puppy was every child’s dream after seeing the movie Beethoven. However, as we all know, dogs don’t really get much bigger than this. Saint Bernards can have a shoulder height of 3 feet and weight over 250 pounds!

Vet Street
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Vet Street

15. Anatolian Shepherd

Shepherds Rest
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Shepherds Rest

Many people aren’t familiar with this large dog breed, but the Anatolian Shepherd originated in Turkey and makes a wonderful farm dog with a very long lifespan. Blonde with black faces, the puppies are so sweet. As adults, this breed can weigh up to 140 pounds.

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All Dogs World
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All Dogs World
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