Shelter rehomes dog that weighs same as a baby elephant

A dog that weighed the same as a baby elephant has found his forever home, an animal welfare charity has said.

Galahad, a four-year-old 100kg mastiff, was the “biggest ever” dog cared for at the Dog’s Trust Canterbury Rehoming Centre.

He was the subject of an appeal by the charity, desperate to find him a home, and has now been living with his new owners, the Dimmock family, for three weeks.

Colin Dimmock said: “He’s fantastic – he sits, gives you his paw, he comes up and gives you a kiss, he’s met cyclists, tractors, cars, other dogs, and is brilliant with our son Matthew 15, who is autistic. He likes everything about Galahad apart from the slobber.”

Galahad has been enjoying chasing the hosepipe in the hot weather and sleeps on the family’s three-seater sofa in the living room at night.

“He snores so loudly we can hear him from our bedroom,” Mr Dimmock said.

“One thing he does that’s really funny is he walks alongside the sofa, lifts his bum on to it and sits there with his front feet on the floor.

“He’s got a brilliant character, he’s absolutely great.”

He added: “He’s just starting to play tug. He’ll chase a football down the garden and once he’s punctured it he’ll bring it back. We haven’t found a toy he can’t destroy yet, typically they last about a day!”

Galahad is the fourth large dog the family has adopted.

Dogs Trust Canterbury Rehoming Centre manager Harriet Blaskett said: “Galahad was by far the biggest ever dog we’ve had at Canterbury.

“He’s had several previous homes, so it was really important that we got this right for him.

“We had a huge response to our appeal, and we could not be more thrilled with how well he’s settled in with his big-hearted new owners, they’re a match made in big dog heaven.”

Old English mastiffs are recognised by Guinness World Records as the heaviest dog breed. An old English mastiff named Zorba set the record for heaviest dog in 1987, weighing 142kg (22 stone and 3lbs).