Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but few will argue that the members of the top 10 largest dog breeds tend to stand out the most. Nothing catches attention like seeing someone walking down the street holding the leash of an animal the size of a small horse.

These giants are chosen as pets for a number of reasons, but most often it is for their fierce loyalty and comparatively mild manners. Dogs this size originally were prized for their guarding abilities – whether it be cattle, sheep, or humans – and to this day those qualities have made them some of the best family animals available.

Shiloh Shepherd

The smallest of our top 10 largest dog breeds, the Shiloh shepherd is an offshoot of the better-known German shepherd but considerably larger. These animals stand 26 to 30