Kevin, the world’s tallest male dog, passes away after breaking record

Kevin, the Great Dane who was recently named the world’s tallest male dog by Guinness World Records, has passed away just days after his title was announced. The 3-year-old dog died after falling ill and having to undergo unplanned surgery. His family, residing in West Des Moines, Iowa, expressed devastation over his loss in a press release by GWR. Kevin’s owner Tracy Wolfe described him as the best giant boy.

Measuring at 3 feet 2 inches tall at his withers, and a towering 7 feet when standing on his hind paws, Kevin was a gentle giant despite his impressive size. Tracy recounted how he was scared of many things, including the measuring tape used to verify his record, vacuums, and even his first training class, where he pooped out of fear. Despite his size, Kevin continuously tried to fit into small beds and mimic the behavior of smaller dogs.

Kevin’s favorite pastime was taking naps and he was an enthusiastic eater, consuming 6-10 cups of food daily and occasionally sneaking food from the kitchen counters. Tracy described him as funny, friendly, and overly affectionate, cautioning against leaving one’s mouth open too long due to his exuberant licking. The family had brought him home as a puppy, named him after the character Kevin from the movie “Home Alone,” and marveled at how he kept growing until surpassing even their pony in size.

Unfortunately, Great Danes like Kevin have relatively short lifespans, typically living 8-10 years. After Kevin’s passing, the title of the world’s tallest male dog has once again become vacant, following the death of Zeus, another Great Dane, who held the title before Kevin. Despite the short-lived nature of these large breeds, Kevin’s family will forever cherish the memory of their gentle giant.