Freddy, a Great Dane who was certified as the world’s tallest dog, has died. He was 8 1/2.
The dog, who took over the top spot in the Guinness World Records in 2016, died in Essex, England, the website announced Wednesday.
According to Guinness editor-in-chief Craig Glenday and confirmed by a veterinarian, Freddy stood 3 feet, 4.5 inches (103.5 centimeters) from foot to withers -- the highest spot on a dog’s back.
When standing on his hind legs, Freddy soared to 7 feet, 5.5 inches (226cm), Guinness said.
“He was not just the tallest dog but the dog with the most love and the biggest heart. A total soppy bugger who was hand-fed,” Freddy’s owner, Claire Stoneman, said in a statement. “He was my life. My reason. My joy. My annoyance. My happiness and my ultimate sadness. He was my heart Dane. My one in a million and loved by the entire world. I can’t stop crying.”
According to the American Kennel Club, most Great Danes live between eight to 10 years.
Before Freddy, the title of the world’s tallest dog was held by Zeus, a Great Dane from Ostego, Michigan, People reported. Zeus died in September 2014 at the age of 5, according to the magazine.
Stoneman said Freddy was once the runt of his litter,
“I had no idea he was going to get this big at all,” Stoneman told Guinness.
“Freddy was such a gentle giant, and it was always a pleasure to see him bounding towards you,” Glenday said in a statement. “I still can barely believe that he was the runt of the litter. Freddy brought a smile to everyone’s face and will be missed by everyone at Guinness World Records. I’m just pleased that we got the chance to celebrate his record-breaking immensity in the books and share his story with millions of people around the world.”