Zeus, World's Tallest Dog (Great Dane), Dies at Age 5

Zeus, the Great Dane who held the Guinness World Record for being the world’s tallest dog, has died.

The dog, whom owner Kevin Doorlag of Otsego, Michigan, described as a “gentle giant,” stood 44 inches tall and was 7-foot-4 when he stood on his hind legs.

Zeus died Sept. 3, just shy of his 6th birthday, Doorlag told ABC News Thursday.

Doorlag’s family got Zeus when he was 8 weeks old.

“We got him from this couple that had had a litter … and we went and looked at him and fell in love with him,” Doorlag, who works as a veterinary technician, said.

Zeus was a certified therapy dog who visited people in a nearby hospital, Doorlag said.

“He’d sit on people’s laps. I loved to see people’s reactions when he’d sit down,” Doorlag said. “He just seemed to want to make people smile and happy and … he was just a very sweet dog.”

Zeus was named in the Guinness World Records 2013 edition as being the world’s tallest dog.

Doorlag’s wife, Denise, said she loved the reaction she got when they took Zeus outside.

"The most common thing people ask is: 'Is that a dog or a horse?' and 'Where's his saddle?' she said, according to a statement from Guinness at the time the record was announced. The release also said the dog weighed 155 pounds.

Before Zeus set a new record, Guinness said the world’s tallest dog was Giant George, another Great Dane. Giant George, who was one inch shorter than Zeus, died last year at 7.

Zeus had a popular following on Facebook. The page has since been taken down, Doorlag said.

Doorlag said he was gratified by people’s acceptance of his dog.

“I was surprised at how many people just, like, reached out to him and how many people’s, I think, lives he’s touched when we’re doing pet therapy,” he said. “It was just very overwhelming and I loved that about him.”

【国际】世界最高狗狗去世

美国密西根州的世界最高狗狗-大丹麦犬去世。

综合报导，这只5岁的大丹麦犬Zeus，其身高曾创下2013年吉尼斯世界纪录，狗狗主人凯文称，Zeus正常行走时，身高111厘米，当它后腿着地，全身站立时，身高超过2米。

Zeus在当地非常知名，并经常作为“志愿者”去学校、医院、养老院与人们玩耍。凯文称，他们一家人将会想念Zeus给他的家人和当地人带来的欢乐。