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Pictured
they think it's tall rover

The 8ft towering Great Dane in running to be crowned the world’s biggest dog

The 12-stone pooch sleeps for 22 hours each day on his adult-sized mattress

A TOWERING Great Dane has high hopes - he's in the running to be crowned the world's tallest dog standing at EIGHT FEET tall.

Three-year-old pet Major measures a whopping 4ft.3in (51 inches) from his paw to his shoulder but is 8ft (96 inches) when on his hind legs, according to his owners.

 Three-year-old pet Major measures a whopping 4ft.3in (51 inches) from his paw to his shoulder
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Three-year-old pet Major measures a whopping 4ft.3in (51 inches) from his paw to his shoulderCredit: Wales News Service

The 12-stone pooch sleeps for 22 hours each day on his adult-sized mattress and eats a special diet mainly consisting of chicken and rice.

Major's owners Brian and Julie Williams are waiting for confirmation he is the world's tallest dog.

But two other giant dogs are also in the running - and officials from Guinness will visit all three with their tape measures to before crowning a new record holder.

 He is 8ft (96 inches) when on his hind legs, according to his owners
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He is 8ft (96 inches) when on his hind legs, according to his ownersCredit: Wales News Service
 The 12-stone pooch sleeps for 22 hours each day on his adult-sized mattress
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The 12-stone pooch sleeps for 22 hours each day on his adult-sized mattressCredit: Wales News Service
 He eats a special diet mainly consisting of chicken and rice
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He eats a special diet mainly consisting of chicken and riceCredit: Wales News Service
 Our reporter practices paw with Major
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Our reporter practices paw with MajorCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 The two struck up an instant friendship
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The two struck up an instant friendshipCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Owner Brian Williams, 55, He said: "He is the biggest-hearted dog in the world. He is such a fantastic animal. People love seeing him. They play with him all day.

"We bought him as a pup and he has been with us ever since.

"He has got free reign of the place if he wants to go out, he isn't locked indoors."

"He's afraid of his own shadow, he's absolutely great with kids and an absolute star.

"He brings us a lot of happiness and is so easy to look after. He's just got a terrific temperament and never gives us a minute's problems."

The family run a falconry centre at Penmaen, near Swansea, South Wales, where Major has free reign to roam.

 A vacancy for the title has existed since 'Giant' George, died at home in Arizona in the US three years ago
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A vacancy for the title has existed since 'Giant' George, died at home in Arizona in the US three years ago
 The family run a falconry centre near Swansea where Major has free reign to roam
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The family run a falconry centre near Swansea where Major has free reign to roamCredit: Wales News Service
 Major is apparently "afraid of his own shadow" but is great with kids
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Major is apparently "afraid of his own shadow" but is great with kidsCredit: Wales News Service

Major is up against two other Great Danes, Freddy from Southend in Essex, and Rocco, from Nevada in the US.

A vacancy for the title has existed since the world's official largest dog, 'Giant' George, died at home in Arizona in the US three years ago.

George measured 43 inches tall from paw to shoulder and weighed 17 stone.

Julie said: "He is up against Freddy from Southend and Rocco in Nevada. It's going to be fun to find out

if he's the tallest - but he's top dog to us anyway."

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