Meet Abu, a Turkish Malakli who holds the title of the UK’s largest dog, standing at a towering 7ft 2in and tipping the scales at the weight of a baby elephant. This gigantic two-year-old canine has quite the appetite, devouring 3kg of meat daily, which includes a whole chicken, three mackerel, two eggs, and raw meat dog food. Despite the hefty food bill of £11 per day, equating to over £4,000 annually, Abu’s owner, the dog trainer Dylan Shaw, wouldn’t have it any other way.
Surprisingly, Abu is far from intimidating, earning a reputation as a ‘gentle giant’ who loves to think of himself as a lap dog. His favorite pastime? Snuggling with Dylan’s young children, India, five, and Reuben, four, on the cozy sofa. Dylan proudly shares, “Abu has been a wonderful addition to our family. He’s fantastic with the kids and a true joy to have around.”
The largest dog in the UK is a Turkish Malakli, standing at an impressive 7ft 2in and weighing as much as a baby elephant, according to his owner. Dylan shared that this giant pup’s diet includes raw meat, raw dog food, and a whole chicken daily. Despite his massive size, the dog is surprisingly energetic outdoors, but indoors, he can be so quiet that you might accidentally trip over him. Dylan mentioned that when the dog stands on all fours, his shoulders reach above his hips, making Dylan, who is 5ft 11, look like a child next to him. The dog often tries to sit on laps, unknowingly squishing his owners, but he is a gentle giant who cries when scolded. Dylan also shared that the dog is not fully mature yet at three years old, with a year left to grow. Dylan is astonished by his dog’s size, saying that he has already exceeded his expectations and wonders how much bigger he will get.
Abu, a two-year-old Turkish Malakli, reaches an impressive height of 7 feet and 2 inches when he stands on his hind legs and weighs as much as a baby elephant.
The massive canine devours a whopping 3 kilograms of meat daily, feasting on a full chicken, three complete mackerels, two eggs, and a serving of raw meat dog food every day.
According to Dylan, Abu’s food expenses total to around £11 a day, amounting to over £4,000 annually.
Dylan had always dreamed of having a Turkish Malakli, but he wanted to make sure he had enough space at home before getting one. Abu, who was imported from Turkey in November 2021 at the age of four months, was already larger than Dylan’s other dog, Luna, a Doberman, upon arrival.
To help Abu adjust, Dylan spent a lot of time socializing him with people and other dogs to ensure he was comfortable in various environments. The duo often gets stopped for pictures during their walks, sometimes making it difficult to walk more than 10 feet without being approached.
Abu turned out to be much larger than Dylan had anticipated, standing a foot taller on all fours and weighing nearly 30 kilograms more than he had expected.
While out on walks, the couple is often approached by people asking for photos. Dylan mentioned that there are days where they find it hard to even walk 10 feet without someone stopping them.
Abu started off as a tiny and cute pup, but he quickly entered a phase of rapid growth. He still has another year of growing ahead of him, so he’s on track to becoming quite a big dog!
Abu was brought over from Turkey in November 2021, only four months old at the time. Dylan noticed right away that Abu was already larger than Luna, his Doberman, even at such a young age.
Dylan mentioned that he made sure to socialize Abu with people and other dogs extensively to ensure his comfort in various surroundings. Abu, weighing 18 stone, is a massive elephant calf compared to the average newborn elephant calf who stands at about 3 ft tall and weighs 18 stone at birth.
Dylan shared that they often attract a lot of attention when they go out for walks, with people taking pictures and making remarks about Abu’s size. Despite the attention, Dylan mentioned that Abu has outgrown all the other dogs from the kennels where he was adopted. He added that Abu has grown larger than expected for his breed, even surpassing Great Danes in size.
When Dylan took Abu to his kids’ school for “take a pet to school day,” all the children adored him. He expressed his love for Abu, noting that he wouldn’t change him for anything in the world. Dylan also mentioned that he hasn’t encountered anyone who is scared of Abu, as he actually faces more challenges with his Doberman.
Balthazar, a Blue Great Dane who passed away in August and weighed 15 stone and stood at seven feet tall, holds the title for the UK’s largest dog.