Dog owner Kayleigh O’Riordan always knew Elvis the Great Dane was going to end up big when she bought him as a puppy – but she didn’t realise he’d end up quite this big!
A colossal Great Dane named Elvis, who tips the scales at a staggering 11 stone and is often mistaken for a horse, still attempts to sit on his owner’s lap.
Standing tall at 6ft 2in on his hind legs, Elvis towers over his 5ft 6in owner, Kayleigh O’Riordan. The three-year-old pooch claims a three-seater sofa as his bed and devours 2kg of food daily, costing Kayleigh a hefty £35 per week.
“He touches the light on the living room ceiling when he’s on his hind legs and he’s a lot taller than me. The last time he was weighed he was 11 stone but he’s too big for the scales at our local vets,” said Kayleigh, 37, from Frimley in Surrey.
She went on: “We joke about taking him to the scrap metal yard to use one of their scales that are used to weigh cars. We knew he was going to be a big boy but we didn’t realise quite how big.”
“He just kept growing and growing and every time he reached his height, he grew again. His size impacts everything from sharing the sofa to making a conscious effort not to leave anything on the kitchen sides as he’s shoulder height to the countertops. Our car choices are limited to what he can fit in.”
Kayleigh admits that the enormous dog draws a lot of attention during their walks, with people frequently mistaking him for a horse.
The businesswoman shared: “People say ‘do you have a saddle for that?’ and ask to ride him. We’ve met a Shetland pony that was smaller than him.
“We get a lot of ‘wow, look at the size of that dog’ sometimes with a profanity or two. Walking him is a joy, but I keep him on a long lead as his size can be quite startling for other dogs and some people, causing shock or discomfort.
“He has good recall but I need to know I have full control. I prefer to take him to an enclosed field where he can run freely without worrying about other people or dogs reacting to him, which could trigger a response from him.”
Despite his colossal size and weight, Elvis firmly believes he’s still a lap dog. Kayleigh said: “He’s claimed our sofa and he likes to try and boss us out of our seats.
“He gives you that ‘move your feet, lose your seat’ look. Elvis doesn’t understand personal space and he doesn’t realise how big he is.
“Since he was a puppy, he’s stood under my legs for a cuddle and continues to do so. He knocks me off my feet.
“He’s also the perfect height for knocking drinks off tables with his tail and it really hurts when he steps on your foot.”
However, Kayleigh insists that Elvis is a gentle soul, despite his daunting size. She added: “Once, a Dachshund barked at him and he hid behind me.
“He’s a gentle giant and he loves cuddles. We chose a Great Dane because we had a female one before Elvis and she was so special to us that we couldn’t divert from the breed.”
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