actbiggy
Brittany Davis wished for a big dog, and the tallest and lankiest breed she could think of was the Great Dane.
Although everything did not go as anticipated, she was granted her wish in February 2020. Her brother, Garrett Davis, knocked on her door and handed her a 3-month-old, gray-and-white American Great Dane with floppy jowls and soft fur.
He was given to her brother by a friend whose dog had just given birth to a litter of five puppies. The puppy weighed about 25 pounds, and Davis’s attention was drawn to his big paws right away.
Zeus joined Brittany Davis’ family in 2020 as a puppy | Photo Credits – Brittany Davis
To say I was astonished would be an understatement, said 36-year-old Davis of Bedford, Texas, a city close to Fort Worth. She gave the dog the name Zeus in honor of the Greek God of sky and thunder and because she liked how it sounded.
He was the largest puppy in the litter and just the kind of loving, sloppy, lovely dog that Davis had always dreamed of having.
She had no idea that he would grow into a person’s size.
Zeus, a 2 and 1/2-year-old dog who stands 3 feet, 5.18 inches tall, is the tallest dog in the world, according to Guinness World Records. He is over 7 feet tall while standing on his hind legs, according to Davis. He weighs around 200 pounds.
Donnie Davis, her father, was similarly smitten with a big Zeus. Early in January, he turned in paperwork to apply for the record, which had previously been held by Freddy, a Great Dane from the United Kingdom who was 3 feet, 4 inches tall. In January 2021, Freddy passed away at the age of 8.
Zeus was proved to be the tallest, according to first-grade teacher Davis, whose father called her while she was at school to inform her of the information.
People frequently stop her and comment on how large her dog Zeus is, so she thinks he might have a shot at the title.
But it was overwhelming to have it become official, she admitted. He appears to be a large, loving dog who enjoys cuddling with humans and their laps.
One of Davis’s cousins mentioned that Zeus was taller than Freddy, which gave Davis the idea to submit an application for the Guinness record. Zeus, a Great Dane from Michigan that was 3 feet, 8 inches tall, was the tallest dog ever recorded by Guinness; he was getting close to that height. In 2014, when he was five years old, he passed away.
That was the spark for everything, she claimed. “We had a vet verify his height in the presence of three individuals, and he was measured using a device known as a wicket that also measures horses. He disliked it.
Zeus’ huge paws, according to Davis, were a sign that he would grow to be a supersized dog. He had a voracious appetite as well.
She added that Zeus has always loved to eat and that he now consumes 10 to 12 cups of dry food twice daily in addition to enjoying carrots, fried eggs, deer antlers, and ice cubes.
Jamison, 15, and Kingston, 7 months, are Davis’ two sons. “He really loves to steal my son’s food when he leaves it out,” Davis added.
Zeus finds it difficult to refuse food, especially when it is placed in front of him.
She added, “He took three sausages off Jamison’s plate just the other day. He doesn’t have to make any effort because of his height; he simply walks up to the counter and grabs what he needs.
Zeus frequently grabs Kingston’s pacifiers from the kitchen counter, according to her, and he occasionally drinks water from the sink while unsteady
Davis said, “He loves to hang out with the kids and sleeps on Jamison’s queen-size bed every night.
Zeus gets most of his exercise by running around the house, she claimed, despite the fact that Jamison takes him for daily walks.
We refer to this behavior as the “zoomies” since he will run around for five minutes before falling onto a chair when he gets tired.
Zeb, Ellie, and Finn, the family’s three miniature Australian shepherds, love to play with her gangly dog.
Ellie doesn’t like it when Zeus steps on her, but they all get along well, according to Davis. “Zeb likes to wrestle with Zeus and is definitely his best friend.”
They mutually agree to avoid each other when it comes to cats, she continued.
She stated that while Zeus doesn’t have many fears, he does have a fear of wind and thunderstorms, which is ironic for a dog named after the Greek mythological figure who could unleash lightning bolts.
She explained, “He won’t even stick his head out the window in the car because he’s frightened of the rain and sprinklers. He loves taking boat rides, though.
According to the American Kennel Club, Great Danes were initially developed in Germany as boar-hunting dogs and had a shorter lifespan of seven to ten years due to their big size.
Davis stated that Zeus receives routine veterinary care and is in excellent health, noting that his parents, who are both about 8 years old, are also in good health.
She continued, “We often hear that he’s the size of a horse and people ask if he has a saddle and if they can ride him. “‘No,’ is the response. He would absolutely dislike that because he is a dog.
She claimed that Zeus did enjoy going to the Dallas Farmers Market, where the majority of the locals knew him. He also runs a page on Instagram.
“He enjoys all the attention and treats he gets, and he makes people happy wherever he goes,” said Davis. He always makes a big impression wherever we go. He is the best dog ever, and we are delighted to share him.
Have you seen a big dog? What was its size? Please let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to spread the news so that we can hear from more people.
