Zeus, a magnificent Great Dane from the United States, was measured on 4 October 2011 and officially recognised by the World Records Authority as the largest dog ever recorded (male), standing an astounding 1.118 metres (44 inches) tall. The Great Dane is already the world’s tallest dog breed, but Zeus surpassed all known records — towering over even the largest of his kind. His famous portrait alongside a small cat captures the breathtaking scale of this gentle giant, whose extraordinary stature made him a beloved icon of canine magnificence across the globe.