From the tallest dog ever measured to the oldest dog whose age was independently verified, these record-holders push the boundaries of what dogs can be. Records change over time as new dogs are measured and verified ā these reflect the most recent widely reported Guinness World Records titles.
Tallest Dog Ever
The title of tallest dog ever recorded belongs to Zeus, a Great Dane from Michigan, who measured 3 feet, 5.18 inches (104.5 cm) at the shoulder ā standing over 7 feet tall on his hind legs. Great Danes dominate the "tallest dog" record category almost by default; their breed standard alone puts males at 30ā32+ inches at the shoulder, taller than most breeds' absolute maximum.
Smallest Dog Ever
The record for shortest dog ever measured (by height) went to Miracle Milly, a Chihuahua from Puerto Rico, who stood just 3.8 inches (9.65 cm) tall ā small enough to fit inside a standard teacup. The record for shortest dog by length went to Heaven Sent Brandy, another Chihuahua, at just 6 inches nose-to-tail. Chihuahuas hold both major "smallest dog" categories, reflecting their status as the smallest recognized breed by weight.
Oldest Dog Ever
The longest-lived dog with an officially verified age is Bobi, a Portuguese rural dog (CĆ£o de Castro Laboreiro) who lived to 31 years and 165 days, confirmed via Portugal's national pet database that recorded his birth in 1992. Before Bobi's record was verified in 2023, the longstanding record belonged to Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog who lived 29 years and 5 months back in the 1930sā1940s. Large-breed longevity like Bobi's is unusual ā smaller breeds generally live longer on average, making his record especially remarkable.
Fastest Dog Breed
The Greyhound is the fastest dog breed, capable of reaching speeds up to 45 mph (72 km/h) in short bursts ā fast enough to outrun a car in a residential zone. Their entire body is built for speed: a deep chest for large lungs, a flexible spine that extends their stride, and minimal body fat. The fastest recorded speed for an individual racing Greyhound is around 41.7 mph in official race conditions, though top-end estimates for the breed's absolute sprint capability go higher.
| Category | Record Holder | Breed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallest dog ever | Zeus | Great Dane | 3 ft 5.18 in at shoulder |
| Shortest dog ever (height) | Miracle Milly | Chihuahua | 3.8 in tall |
| Shortest dog ever (length) | Heaven Sent Brandy | Chihuahua | 6 in nose-to-tail |
| Oldest dog ever (verified) | Bobi | CĆ£o de Castro Laboreiro | 31 years, 165 days |
| Fastest breed | ā | Greyhound | Up to 45 mph |
| Longest ears | Lou | Black and Tan Coonhound | 13.5 in (left ear) |
| Longest dog tongue | Mochi | St. Bernard | 7.3 in |
More Remarkable Records
Guinness World Records also tracks dozens of trained-skill titles ā fastest dog to pop 100 balloons, most tricks performed in one minute, longest skateboarding dog jump, and more. Many of these records are broken and re-broken every year as new dogs (and their trainers) push the limits, so exact figures shift more often than the "biggest/smallest/oldest" categories.