10 Astonishingly Long Legged Dog Breeds With Pictures

Last Updated/Info Checked on October 19, 2023 by Linda Michaels

As elegant as they get, long-legged dogs offer more than just looks.

From fetching games with hunters to being great watchdogs or being just graceful companions, long-legged dogs are the superman of the dog world. 

A higher endurance means you will not worry about them getting tired on those long evening walks. Also, bigger breeds are generally more loving and affectionate towards kids and family.

The charm and beauty that they add to your life are unremarkable.

The long-legged breeds are Great Danes, Greyhounds, Whippets, Afghan Hounds, Salukis, Irish Wolfhound, Borzoi, Scottish Deerhounds, Akbash, and Azawakhs. They are wonderful fetchers and guard dogs with high endurance for demanding tasks.

10 Long-Legged Dog Breeds: Here’s A List That You’ll Adore

With their many pros and cons, here is a list of 10 long-legged dogs that can turn out to be your best pals. 

1. Great Dane – Dog With Really Long Legs

Appearance

Great Danes can weigh anywhere between 100 to 200 pounds. Males are usually on the heavier side of the spectrum. 

Being 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder, The GD leaves a permanent impression on the minds of its spectators.

The smooth muscular body with long legs is reminiscent of the hound-hunting days of this breed. 

Related: Why is my great danes so skinny?

Personality 

Regarded as the “Apollo of dogs’” you might get deceived by the monstrous presence of the Great Dane.

Kind, affectionate, and a family lover, its Nickname ‘Gentle Giant’ depicts its more authentic self. You may remember this breed as the cartoon character “Scooby Doo”.

Their docile yet intelligent nature makes them easy to train as well.

However, with that comes a highly sensitive nature, they can take things to heart quite often. One wrong reprimand and you may end up jeopardizing your dog’s self-confidence.

With high energy and exercise needs alongside their shedding potential, they require an owner with as big a heart as their size. Great Danes are super friendly with other dogs, but they are not the best fit for first-time owners. Dogtime rates their adaptability at 2/5. 

Here’s a Great Dane that’s the tallest dog in the world.

2. Greyhound – Long-Legged Hound Dog

Appearance

Sleek and slender, this breed defines what it means to be agile.

With a cylindrical body shape and long muscular legs, this breed was developed to hunt down rabbits, foxes, and deer.

Though about 2 feet tall, Greyhounds weigh only about 70 pounds on average. This gives them the advantage of easily thrusting their lighter bodies with those powerful hind legs.

Black, white, grey, spotted, and plain, Greyhounds come in a spectrum of skin colors.

Personality

Unlike many other larger breeds, Greyhounds adapt well to apartment living. They are highly affectionate and friendly towards family and kids. Tolerating other dogs and strangers, they are very easygoing.

One of the most intelligent dog breeds, Greyhounds are often the top choice of professionals, who use them for sports. They are easy to train and can be used for a variety of activities like hunting and racing.

Their high sensitivity makes them a difficult breed to deal with. With a high shedding potential, you will have a tough time cleaning after them. Off-the-roof prey drive and high energy mean they are not easy to tame.

Not a good choice for new owners, however, they can prove to be one of the best choices for dog veterans and professionals.

3. Whippet

Appearance

Though not as big as other contenders on this list, Whippets deserve a place here owing to their magnificent long legs.

Their sylphlike bodies with cute faces may undermine their hunting nature but they were bred to hunt.

Weighing between 18 to 48 pounds with an average height of 20 inches at the shoulders, Whippets are fast, so fast that the American Kennel Club calls them ‘The Poor Man’s Racehorse’.

Personality

Whippets are a highly adaptable breed, they tend to adjust well in apartments and small houses. As long as their exercise needs are being met inside or outside, they will have no complaints

Having a matey personality, they enjoy the company of a family and are affectionate with even other dogs and strangers.

Quite easy to groom and with a low shedding, they are even good for novice owners.

Dogtime rates their trainability and intelligence at 4/5. Their high prey drive is something that needs to be kept in check, however, this also makes them an excellent choice for small game hunters.

Whippets are also great candidates for dog lure racing. Seeing these remarkable creatures chase after a lure is a specimen of its own.

4. Afghan Hound

Appearance 

If the dog world ever had its own Victoria’s Secret model list, the Afghan Hound would top the charts.

With their distinguished and modish figures, Afghan Hounds are often overlooked for their long and refined legs and athletic abilities.

Typically weighing around 50-60 pounds, this breed can easily exceed 2 feet mark in its height.

Their soft and silky coat comes in multiple shades of grey, white and brown.

Personality

Afghan Hound’s adaptability to most sorts of housing conditions and their affection towards family is why they go well with both first-time owners and veterans.

Not as good with strangers, some may find this breed arrogant but hey, this kind of attitude suits this royal breed.

Novice owners may find themselves in tough spots when faced with the resilience of this breed to training. AKC rates its trainability 1/5, being called a ‘self-willed’ breed. But their intelligent nature makes up for it.

Underneath the majestic coat is a muscular hound whose long and powerful legs need regular exercise. Otherwise, you may get an agitated Hound and have to put up with its tantrums.

Fun fact: Remember Prissy from Disney’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians, she was an Afghan Hound.

5. Saluki

Appearance

Deriving its name from Arabic, This breed is as old as it gets.

Having a spectacular exotic look, Salukis weigh between 35 to 70 pounds and cross 2 feet in height.

Salukis have a shredded body with a smooth and long neck. Along with their projecting facial features, they are considered an awe-inspiring breed within the hound realm.

Personality

These go along well with members of the family and even with other dogs, though are wary of strangers.

A sports-loving breed, Salukis have a high demand for regular exercise. They do not feel well in the confines of an apartment and need fairly open spaces. 

However, they need to be fenced from the environment as they often meet accidents after fleeing from their homes.

Contrary to their strong nature, they do not tolerate cold weather and need to be kept warm. Shedding is never a problem with them, however, they need to be catered to a lot as they are not good with loneliness.

Also, their high sensitivity level (which Dogtime rates at 5/5) makes them a bad choice for novice owners. They do well in the hands of professionals and veteran dog owners.

6. Irish Wolfhound

Appearance 

Not one of but ‘the tallest dog breed’, Irish Wolfhounds are both literally and figuratively an exalted breed. It is one of the most widely featured breeds in media.

Reaching up to 3 feet in shoulder height, these giants can weigh between 115 to 180 pounds. Their long legs are a beauty to be seen.

These beasts come in a limited variety of grey, white and black. Every color comes with their defining wiry coat type

Personality

With high intelligence and family-friendly nature, they are excellent companions for dog lovers. However, their giant sizes mean that they are not a fit for apartment dwellers.

They have high exercise needs but do not have high energy levels, which means you may get a tough time motivating them to activity.

Unfortunately, Irish Wolfhounds do not enjoy a long life. On average, they live between 6-8 years. 

A review by S.R Urfer et al from the University of Bern, division of animal housing and welfare states this breed’s higher susceptibility to dilated cardiomyopathy, osteogenic sarcoma, gastric dilation, and diseases of the cartilage. 

7. Borzoi

Appearance

A tall, slim and elongated body with long and sturdy legs, Borzoi was developed as a hunting breed in Russia.

Borzoi on average is 26 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder with a weight between 50 to 100 pounds.

Having a fluffy and silky coat, they have an elegant and graceful look.

Personality

Dogtime rates this breed’s trainability at 4/5. They are malleable and docile.

With a limited requirement for exercise and sports, they are great for apartment living.

Also, they go along well with family and other dogs though, they might need some training to get accustomed to kids.

A little bit self-willed, they may give you a tough time during training days.

8. Scottish Deerhound

Appearance

This long-legged, double-coated breed is a large but adorable beast. Called ‘Royal Dog of Scotland’, the beauty of this pooch is remarkable.

Standing with a height of 28-32 inches and a weight of around 80 to 110 pounds, the Scottish Deerhound captivates the viewers with its wiry coat and confident look, and small head.

Personality

Once used to hunt Roe deer, Scottish deerhounds have adapted themselves to modern living.

These agile beasts have an energy level and playfulness that is off the roof. You need to be an exercise-loving person yourself otherwise, this breed can drain your energy for the entire day.

Having a 2/5 score for ease of training from Dogtime, you get an idea of how self–willed this breed is. 

With its high prey drive and moderate sensitivity, this is not a breed for naive owners. Only true dog veterans can tame their energy and train them accordingly.

9. Akbash

Appearance

This charming and delightful breed has an exotic origin in the Turkish region. 

With an average height of 30 inches and a weight of 70-140 pounds, their smooth contour, long, muscular legs, and slender tail are what give them their nickname ‘Turkish Mastiff’.

Personality

With such a dominating figure comes a calm and relaxed personality.

Akbash do not have high energy or exercise demands. Although, their gigantic size doesn’t fit with an apartment lifestyle.

They tend to be friendly towards family, enjoy their presence and also do well when left alone.

With a high amount of shedding and potential for weight gain, make sure you look after them regularly.

10. Azawakhs

Appearance

From the heat of the Saharan desert comes this magnificent beast. 

Its slender body with muscular, long legs and a longer than a mile neck with a cute face make it a specimen to be seen and appreciated.

Lighter than a feature, this breed’s average weight is between 35-55 pounds with a height of 25 inches. This makes it one of the fastest dog breeds alive.

Personality

Dogtime rates their overall adaptability at 3/5. They are not overly sensitive and adapt well to apartment life. Azawakhs also tolerate being alone to a greater degree.

Not the most kid-friendly dogs, Azawakhs do great with adult family members. They need to be trained in their behavior with kids, dogs, and strangers as they do get cocky sometimes.

You will love walking them around as they have a considerable need for regular exercise.

More of a self-willed breed, they can be a tough mountain to climb for beginners.

How To Take Care Of Long-Legged Breeds?

All the dogs have more or less the same necessities but each breed requires them in different configurations. Long-legged dogs are no exception. They want a balanced diet according to their needs and plenty of space to run around. Please don’t worry, though, their needs do not surpass the usual needs of a usual dog. It’s not like they want you to fetch the moon flower.

1. Keep Them From Bloating

Large breeds are prone to bloating where the mixture of water, air, and food put stress on their lungs, causing them to have labored breathing.

• Make sure they stay put after meals. Don’t let them run around the estate.
• Refrain from taking them for an exercise routine as well. You should wait a good 15 minutes before doing so.
• Give them small meals two to three times a day instead of one big bowl. They have slender bodies that can only withstand so much food.
• A few steps after each meal should be good to go.

2. Let Them Interact With Family

Long-legged breeds were meant for hunting or guarding. Their purpose has led them toward a greater affinity with human beings. They want to hang out with their family, making sure that they’re okay, and that they are doing their job well in protecting them. So, let them interact with everyone in your family. Most of them are super gentle around kids, also.

Moreover, if you are you a sticker person like me and love to put stickers of your pets all over your gadgets, whether it’s your long-legged dog, a cute cat, or any other pet that holds a special place in your heart, we can transform their images into stunning, personalized stickers. Our custom sticker adds a touch of personality to your belongings and are made with top-notch materials for lasting quality.

3. Plenty of Exercises Is The Key

Again, long-legged breeds are energy packets because they hunted in the past. Some owners still use them for that purpose. Their long legs help them reach unbelievable speeds, so make sure that they receive plenty of exercise.

4. Large Areas Are a Must

Even if you’re keeping your dog in a city, make sure that it has access to a large expanse of land. They were built to run. Denying them that isn’t a good idea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s jump to some important questions about long-legged dog breeds.

Wrapping Up This Listing

Where tall, long-legged dogs can be a specimen to behold, they also come with an extra bundle of needs.

Their giant bodies demand extra space to roam around, their high energy means they need regular periods of outdoor activity. Some shed a lot so you will need to clean after them regularly.

Several of these breeds were originally developed to aid in hunting so they have higher prey drives, like the Azawakhs. That makes them excellent for professional owners who use them in sports and for hunting games. But, for ordinary people looking for a companion, such breeds are not a great fit.

However, breeds like the majestic Afghan Hound are suited for all sorts of owners, whether professional or not.