I own Britain’s largest dog – he’s 8 feet tall, weighs the same as a baby ELEPHANT and eats a whole chicken every day

A Turkish Malakli, which stands 7 feet tall and weighs the same as a baby elephant, has been described as Britain’s largest dog.

Two-year-old Abu eats 3kg of meat a day, including a whole chicken, three whole mackerel, two eggs and raw meat dog food.

His diet costs his owner, dog trainer Dylan Shaw, 33, from Redcar, Yorkshire, £11 a day – that’s just over £4,000 a year.

But despite his 18 stone size, Abu has been dubbed a ‘gentle giant’ who thinks he is a lap dog – and loves to cuddle with Dylan’s children India, five, and Reuben, four, on the sofa.

Dylan revealed: ‘Abu was a pleasure to own, he’s a really good family dog ​​and he’s great with children.

Speaking about his diet, Dylan said: ‘He has raw meat, raw dog food and also whole chickens – he gets one chicken a day.

‘He’s very energetic when he’s outside, but inside the house you don’t know he’s there until you trip over him.

‘When he’s on his hands and knees, his shoulders are above my hips – I’m five feet tall, and he makes me look like there’s a child standing next to him.

‘He thinks he’s a lot smaller than him, he tries to sit on your lap and crushes you, but he’s actually a big softy, he cries when he’s laughed at.

‘They don’t fully mature until age three, so he’s still got a year to grow – it’s ridiculous, I don’t know what I’ll end up with – he’s already outgrown my expectations.’

Two-year-old Abu, a Turkish Malakli, stands on his hind legs at 7 feet tall and weighs the same as a baby elephant

The enormous dog devours 3kg of meat a day, including a whole chicken, three whole mackerel, two eggs and raw meat dog food every day

Dog trainer Dylan says Abu’s diet costs him £11 a day, which works out to just over £4,000 a year

Dylan says he always wanted a Turkish Malakli, but waited until he had enough space at home to care for it

Dylan says he always wanted a Turkish Malakli, but waited until he had enough space at home to care for it.

Abu was imported from Turkey in November 2021, when he was just four months old, but Dylan says he was already bigger than his other dog, Luna, a Doberman, when he arrived.

He says he spent a lot of time socializing Abu with people and other dogs to make sure he was comfortable in all environments.

The pair are regularly asked for photos on walks and Dylan says some days they struggle to get 3 meters without being stopped.

Now Abu is on all fours a foot taller than Dylan expected, and almost thirty pounds heavier than he thought the dog would be.

The pair are regularly asked for photos on walks and Dylan says some days they struggle to get 3 meters without being stopped

Abu was a small, cute puppy, but he soon had a growth spurt and he still has a year left to grow

Abu was imported from Turkey in November 2021 when he was just four months old – but Dylan says he was already bigger than his other dog, Luna, a Doberman, when he arrived

Dylan says he spent a lot of time socializing Abu with people and other dogs to ensure he was comfortable in all environments

Abu weighs 18 stones; On average, newborn elephant calves would be about 90cm tall and weigh 18 stone at birth.

Dylan said: ‘There’s a lot of people taking pictures as we walk past – you can see the flashes going off.

‘Normally they ask how much for a ride, or say they don’t want to pick it up. There are many horse-related comments.

‘Currently he has outgrown the other dogs from the kennels I brought him from.

‘He’s grown a lot more than I expected, he’s quite big for the breed – he dwarfs the Great Danes.

‘A few months ago I took him to my kids’ school for a ‘take a pet to school day’ and all the kids loved him.

‘It’s beautiful, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I don’t understand anyone who is afraid of him, I have more problems with the Doberman.’

Balthazar, a blue Great Dane who weighed 15 stone and stood over two meters tall and died in August this year, is the current record holder for Britain’s largest dog.