Zeus the Great Dane, the Michigan dog who held the Guinness World Records for the Tallest Living Dog and the Tallest Dog Ever, died of old age last week. The dog, which entered the Guinness list in 2012, was 44 inches tall when walking on his four legs and 7 feet and 4 inches when standing on his hind legs.
A local celebrity in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Zeus the Great Dane weighed 165 pounds and ate a 30-pound bag of food every two weeks, his owners Kevin and Denise Doorlag told the Kalamazoo Gazette. Zeus the Great Dane required a van for transportation and drank water straight from the kitchen faucet, which he, of course, could reach without problems without needing to stand on his hind legs.
He achieved international fame as well when Guinness reported him as the tallest known dog ever.
A sort of gentle giant, Zeus the Great Dane enjoyed serving as a therapy dog in his community, often visiting schools and hospitals around the Kalamazoo area. However, he didn't live there but rather in Otsego, where he was just a regular dog - albeit an incredibly tall one.
At his home with the Doorlag family, the dog spent his days like any other pet, curling up to his owners in bed while they were watching TV and enjoying spending time with them while they grilled food on the deck.
Zeus the Great Dane died of old age last week, at five years old - he would have turned 6 in November. However, it is not uncommon for Great Danes to live less than 10 years; usually, their lifespan will be between 6 and 8 years at most. However, his very long body may have been the cause for his slightly early death, although the difference is not big enough so it can be considered a problem.
