Connecticut Great Dane Minnie Breaks Height World Record

When Ken and Lisa Nogacek brought home a puppy from Maine nearly four years ago, they knew she'd be big. They never imagined she'd become a world record holder.

Their Great Dane, Minnie, officially claimed the Guinness World Record for the world's tallest living female dog this month. She measures three feet, two inches tall from floor to shoulder, towering about eight inches above the typical female Great Dane.

The North Stonington couple adopted Minnie when she was just 10 weeks old, choosing her from a litter in Maine alongside their daughter, who picked Minnie's sister. The sisters couldn't be more different in size. Minnie's sibling stands six to seven inches shorter, making family gatherings a sight to see.

"We did not expect her to get that big," Ken said. "She had big paws, so we knew she was going to be a big dog, but we never expected her to be as tall as she is."

The record-breaking idea came from their youngest daughter, a veterinary technician who measured Minnie at age two. She realized Minnie was nearly as tall as the previous record holder, Lizzy from Florida, who measured just a fraction of an inch shorter.

The Nogaceks had to wait until Minnie turned three to apply for the record, since Great Danes stop growing around that age. The patience paid off when Guinness made it official.

Living with a record holder comes with quirks. Minnie can easily snatch food from their 42-inch kitchen counter, so the family has learned to push everything far back. She requires two toys in her mouth at all times, whether squeaky toys or tug ropes.

Sunny's Take

Despite her towering presence, Minnie is a total softie who prefers sleeping over just about anything else. She tags along to her owners' daughters' horse shows, where fans have spent a year eagerly awaiting news of her record attempt. This year, they'll finally get to celebrate with the official world champion.

Minnie shares her home with two cats and several horses, proving that size doesn't determine personality. She loves car rides, camping trips, and playing with her ball, but nothing beats a good nap for this gentle giant.

She's now just three inches shorter than Zeus, a male Great Dane from Texas who holds the title for tallest living dog overall. The Nogaceks couldn't be prouder of their laid-back champion, who came into their lives at exactly the right time after losing their previous Great Dane of nearly 12 years.

Sometimes the biggest hearts really do come in the biggest packages.