A Turkish Malakli who stands at 7ft 2in and weighs the same as a baby elephant has been described as the UK’s biggest dog.
Two-year-old Abu eats 3kg of meat a day, including one whole chicken, three whole mackerel, two eggs, and raw meat dog food.
His diet costs his owner, dog trainer Dylan Shaw, 33, from Redcar, Yorkshire, £11 a day – which is a little over £4,000 a year.
But, despite his 18 stone size, Abu is said to be a ‘gentle giant’ who thinks he is a lap dog – and loves snuggling with Dylan’s kids India, five, and Reuben, four, on the sofa.
Dylan revealed: ‘Abu has been a pleasure to own, he’s a really good family dog and he’s great with kids.
A Turkish Malakli (pictured with his owner) who stands at 7ft 2in and weighs the same as a baby elephant has been described as the UK’s biggest dog
Speaking about his diet, Dylan said: ‘He has raw meat, raw dog food, and whole chickens as well – he gets one chicken per day.
‘He’s very energetic when he’s out but in the house you don’t know he’s there until you trip over him.
‘When he’s stood on all fours his shoulders come above my hips – I’m five foot 11, and he makes me look like a child stood next to him.
‘He thinks he’s a lot smaller than he is, he tries to sit on your lap and crushes you but he’s a big softy really, he cries when he gets told off.
‘They don’t fully mature until three so he’s still got a year of growing to do – it’s ridiculous, I don’t know what I’m going to end up with – he’s already outgrown my expectations.’
Two-year-old Abu, a Turkish Malakli, stands at 7ft 2in when on his hind legs and weighs the same as a baby elephant
The huge hound wolfs down 3kg of meat a day, including one whole chicken, three whole mackerel, two eggs, and raw meat dog food every day
Dog trainer Dylan says Abu’s diet costs him £11 a day which is a little over £4,000 a year
Dylan says he’d always wanted a Turkish Malakli, but was waiting until he had enough space at home to look after one
Dylan says he’d always wanted a Turkish Malakli, but was waiting until he had enough space at home to look after one.
Abu was imported from Turkey in November 2021 at just four months old – but Dylan says he was already bigger than his other dog, Luna, a Doberman, when he arrived.
He says he spent plenty of time socialising Abu with people and other dogs to make sure he was comfortable in all environments.
The pair are regularly asked for pictures on walks and Dylan says some days they struggle to get 10 feet without being stopped.
Now, Abu is a foot taller when on all fours than Dylan expected, and nearly 30kgs heavier than he thought the dog would be.
The pair are regularly asked for pictures on walks and Dylan says some days they struggle to get 10 feet without being stopped
Abu was a tiny adorable puppy but he soon had a growth spurt and he still has one more year of growing to go
Abu was imported from Turkey in November 2021 at just four months old – but Dylan says he was already bigger than his other dog, Luna, a Doberman, when he arrived
Dylan says he spent plenty of time socialising Abu with people and other dogs to make sure he was comfortable in all environments
Abu weighs 18 stone; on average, newborn elephant calves are said to stand about 3 ft high and weigh 18 stone at birth.
Dylan said: ‘We get a lot of people taking pictures as we walk past – you see the flashes going off.
‘Normally they ask how much for a ride, or say they wouldn’t like to be picking up after him. There’s a lot of horse related remarks.
‘Currently he’s outgrown any other dogs that came from the kennels I got him from.
‘He’s grown a lot more than I’d expect him to grow, he’s quite large for the breed – he dwarfs Great Danes.
‘A couple of months ago I took him into my kids’ school for “take a pet to school day” and all the kids loved him.
‘He’s lovely, I wouldn’t change him for the world. I don’t get anyone who’s scared of him, I have more problems with the Doberman.’
Balthazar, a Blue Great Dane, who weighed 15 stone and was seven-foot tall and passed away in August this year, is the current record holder for the UK’s biggest dog.
