Main image via Instagram + Guinness World Records
No doubt about it, our pets definitely make an impact on our lives but one dog also made an impact on the world with his height.
Freddy the Great Dane broke records when he was officially named the world’s tallest dog but unfortunately, Freddy has passed away at the age of eight-and-a-half-years-old.
First making headlines in 2016, the incredibly tall dog was handed a Guinness World Record for his height.
Standing on his back legs, Freddy measured in at 7 feet 5.5 inches.
Despite his immense size, the Great Dane’s owner, Claire Stoneman described him as a gentle giant and a big softy at the best of times.
Image via Guinness World Records
Freddy lived his life with Claire’s family in Essex, UK where he first started off as the runt of the litter – he was smaller and weaker than his siblings. Little did the family know, the Great Dane would soon grow up to become the largest and tallest of them all.
Weighing over 95kg, Claire shared that “He was not just the tallest dog but the dog with the most love and the biggest heart. A total soppy bugger who was hand fed.”
“He was my life,” Claire continued. “My reason. My joy. My annoyance. My happiness and my ultimate sadness. He was my heart Dane. My one in a million and loved by the entire world.”
“As a puppy, he was the runt of the litter,” Claire told Guinness World Records I actually got him a couple of weeks earlier than I should have, as he wasn’t feeding off [his] mum.”
“I had no idea he was going to get this big at all,” she said.
From foot to withers, Freddy was a towering 103.5cm (3ft 4in), Craig Glendary, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records noted.
On his hind legs, the Great Dane measured up to 226cm (7ft 5.5in), though this measurement is not one that the book of records officially counts.
“Freddy was such a gentle giant, and it was always a pleasure to see him bounding towards you,” Craig shared. “Measuring this mountain of a dog was an unforgettable – if challenging! – experience and I’ll always reassure the couple of occasions I got to share a sofa with him – there was just about enough room for the two of us.”
“I still can barely believe that he was the runt of the litter,” he continued. “Freddy brought a smile to everyone’s face and will be missed by every[one] at Guinness World Records. I’m just pleased that we got the chance to celebrate his record-breaking immensity in the books and share his story with millions of people around the world. RIP, Freddy.”
Image via Guinness Book of Records
Rest in peace Freddy the Great Dane.
Our love is with his family during this sad time.
Info via Guinness World Records + UNILAD