A DOG named Euphrates was thought to be the biggest puppy in the world as she stood at six-feet-tall and weighed 12 stone when she was just nine-months-old.
The four-legged giant weighed more than the average human before she'd even lived her first full year after being bred to replicate an ancient beast from 5,000 BC.
Euphrates is the product of the Neapolitan mastiff and English bull mastiff through selective breeding and one of the first attempts at recreating the Mesopotamian Molossus.
Speaking in 2018, owner Jared Howser, 41, of Salt Lake City, Utah, said: "The Molossus of ancient Mesopotamia was a magnificent animal. With a black brindle coat as dark as the night and a massive build, they were fierce in appearance.
"These dogs made men tremble at their sight. With a profound sense of loyalty, these giants would defend against any man or beast that threatened the safety of their masters.
"The only two direct lines coming from that ancient dog are the English and Neapolitan Mastiff.
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"Through selective cross-breeding those two breeds it's given us the closest living relative to the ancient breed that we now know as the American Molossus, a bona fide relic from the ancient past.'"
Euphrates was commonly mistaken for an adult when she was just a puppy and proud owner Mr. Howser claims that there are no records of anything similar to her size.
Speaking in 2018, he said: “At nine months there simply isn't another dog 180lbs and 31.5 inches to withers anywhere else in the world, she is an anomaly.
“We've looked up online and called the Guinness World Records, reached out to hundreds of breeders to see if any dog comes closer to her size for this age and there's nothing.”
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Jared also revealed that his puppy could look through the peephole of their front door when she stood on her hind legs and had enough strength to drag him down the road.
He added: “If she was to stand she is big enough to look out of the peephole on our door.
“I'm 260lb and 6ft 3, but if she decided to run I couldn't hold her on the leash, she could drag me down the road with ease.
“When people look at her, they are surprised and ask how I've been able to keep her under control, joking that I must be a lion tamer.”
Nonetheless, Euphrates continued to grow at a remarkable rate, although this has affected her ability to readjust to her size on a daily basis.
Jared said: “She had two growth spurts, in that time period she was so clumsy because she was getting vastly bigger every day.”
But Euphrates’ owner has also been keen to make it clear that his prized possession is of no danger to anybody and is as soft as they come.
“She is very affectionate with us, when we take her out in public she is very affectionate with children and women especially.
“If anyone reaches out a hand to stroke her, her tail will start wagging, if you don't look her in the eyes she will be friendly but will posture against you.”
Euphrates isn't the only big dog to gain attention of late, with the 6ft 2in Great Dane named Wellington grabbing headlines with his ginormous size.
Elsewhere, another Great Dane called Diego managed to weigh a whopping 15-stone and became mistaken for a cow as a result.
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