16 Big Dogs That Are Guaranteed To Put A Smile On Your Face
Most dogs are worth smiling at, but the big ones have a comedy of their own. Their sheer size turns simple moments into something funny, whether they're trying to fit into a too-small pet bed or climb onto a lap that clearly can't hold them. There's something about a 200-pound dog who has no idea he's 200 pounds that makes everything better. He's not being ridiculous on purpose; he genuinely thinks he's the size of a lap dog, and that confidence is half the charm.
The other half is softness. The breeds that look the most intimidating are often the biggest pushovers. We found dogs that could knock over the average dinner table with a well-placed hip bump, yet most would rather cuddle or nudge your hand for pets. From loudly snoring mastiffs to the dancing goldendoodles, these are our favorite heavyweights that can make you smile without even trying.
1. Rusty tried to fit on a tiny bed
Welcome to the Rusty show, where the oversized star has a very real dilemma: how do you fit a Great Dane body onto what looks like the world's tiniest dog bed? An Instagram video catches Rusty in the midst of his deliberations. You can see the giant dog turning in slow circles around the bed, occasionally pausing as though he's about to settle down. "Maybe one more circle will do it," an amused viewer joked in the comments. Another added that poor baby Rusty is "trying to make it work."
Eventually, Rusty realizes that the bed isn't going to get any bigger, and he lies down with most of his body touching the floor rather than the bed's plump red cushion. Rusty's plight makes it seem like he needs a doggy GoFundMe to pay for his own bed. However, the video's caption reveals that Rusty has his own comfy spot to sleep — the corgi just took it! Great Danes are famously gentle, so Rusty decided to make do with a mini bed rather than defend his plush territory.
2. This malamute has 100,000 reasons to keep howling
A good singer can rouse powerful emotions — even if they walk on four legs and have a fluffy tail. Meko, the Alaskan malamute, is a furry opera star with over 100,000 Instagram followers. One of his most popular videos shows the enormous pup sitting next to his human, head thrown back and wailing like he's auditioning for a musical. "Let it out, buddy," recommended National Geographic Animals in a comment.
Meko doesn't need the encouragement, however. According to the video's caption, the dog sings because he "feels" the urge, rather than for attention. He's a natural-born celebrity. Although if anyone is around, extra attention is always the result of his mini concerts. It's hard not to smile and listen closer when you hear Meko's happy songs. Seeing his cute, floofy face adds to the charm. "A hug from this dog would heal and renew me," one commenter cooed.
3. Aslan proves that looks can be deceiving
Aslan is a muscular creature of joy. An Instagram video featuring him trotting down the street with a big stick in his mouth has racked up over 200,000 likes, with many viewers commenting on the dog's infectious spirit. "His happiness makes you smile," one said. Aslan moves with an easy, simple confidence. He looks as though his stick and a little bit of sunshine are all he's going to need for the rest of his life.
The dog's exuberance is especially pleasing because of his breed, American bully. He's an extra-large version of a dog that's often stigmatized as overly tough or aggressive. Much of the perception comes from the breed's imposing size. These dogs are athletes, with rippling muscles and obvious power. However, Aslan proves that looks can be deceiving. He's just a gigantic, silly boy with a stick. The video's caption calls him "Mr. Always Happy."
4. Vito took his babysitting duties seriously
The love between a baby and a big dog is one of life's tenderest spectacles. One is a tiny, helpless being just learning about the world, the other is a fun-loving animal. Yet, sometimes, they can come together in beautiful friendship. A viral TikTok video highlights the bond between Vito the boxer and his little human. He's as sweet as a big brother babysitter.
@vito.the.boxer Bffs 4 ever #vitotheboxer#dogsoftiktok#babiesoftiktok #cutedog #bestfriends #dogandbaby #sosweet #fyp #viral 💡 @von.jakoba
The video starts with Vito nestling against a squirmy baby. Then, it cuts to a later date and shows what a more active version of their play looks like. This time, the baby is big enough to sit up and gently grab Vito's face. The dog is such a sweetheart that he doesn't mind in the slightest. A viewer commented, "Boxers are probably the best dogs to have around babies." The breed is known for being playful, patient, and highly protective.
5. Deep snow was never going to slow this dog down
On a dull, tiring day that seems like it's never going to end, watch this TikTok video of a fluffy white dog who loves snow so much. Even the person filming couldn't stop themselves from laughing at the dog's fun antics. The pair is in a winter wonderland where the snow is several feet deep, and the sole bright speck of color comes from the pink scarf tied around the dog's neck.
@bajkasara Big dog , bigeer heart ❤️My gentle giant . #gentlegiant#dogsoftiktok#bigdoglove#bestfriend
The snow is too deep to be easily walked on, so the pup bunny hops forward instead. Each gleeful hop almost seems bigger and more satisfying than the last. When the dog finally gets tired for a moment and rests next to the camera, it has the look of a satisfied explorer surveying its land. Then, it stands up to continue the adventure, tail wagging. Clearly, the dog doesn't mind its environment of cold and snow.
6. Mac insisted on getting attention
Some things are hard to ignore. Like, for instance, a massive Saint Bernard that's demanding your attention. When Mac decides that he wants to cuddle and play, there's not much you can do about it. He's willing to use his cute face and bulky body to ensure you notice him. A short TikTok clip showcases Mac's pleading ways.
@joannenurse84 No personal space when you have a House Horse living with you #saintbernardlovers #saintbernard #househorse #dogsoftiktok #huge
First, you see the giant dog begging for pets from a person sitting on the couch. He sits next to them on the floor and plops a paw on the armrest. They can't look away, but don't offer the much-needed pets. In the next clip, Mac moves to the next human in the room, the one filming, but that doesn't work either. Finally, he moves back to the first human, and this time, he pushes his whole head into his human friend's body. The man doesn't unclasp his hands, but Mac still gets the close physical contact he craved. Seeing the dog's sweet determination is a mood-lifter.
7. Cooper invented his own version of wrestling
You don't have to be a wrestler to smile at this TikTok video showing a match between Cooper and one of his humans. The bullmastiff's powerhouse move is to switch back and forth between calmly lying down and whipping around for a wrestling offensive. Does he win the bout? Hard to say, as all of his offensive gestures dwindle into nothing. His human partner sits on the floor with his legs in a "V" shape, ready for Cooper to spring into action.
@cooperm_the_bullmastiff Cooper loves to sit on people's lap, he loves wrestling with dad even more! That 160lbs moves fast 😆#bullmastiff #puppyplaytime #bigbaby #dogsoftiktok
♬ [Raw recording] Record playback noise 01 (3 minutes) – Icy Light
"That's a sturdy fella," one viewer commented. Another admitted that they would "never get bored of this," despite the dog's hefty size. Cooper seems like he could keep playing forever, too. The moments when he's lying down provide fuel for the repeated wrestling spins and pounces. His partner taps him on both sides when it's time for another go, and it might be the friendliest wrestling match that's ever happened.
8. Brodie stole the spotlight courtside
Brodie made a room full of basketball players and fans smile when he got into a courtside, dog-versus-human dance-off at a Lakers game. The ultra-viral TikTok video has amassed over 19 million views and 1.9 million likes. It's so charming that some commenters mentioned they thought Brodie was a fake dog before they learned more. Their doubt is understandable. Brodie's an unusually massive long-haired goldendoodle.
@brodiethatdood Brodie is undefeated in dance-offs 🧸🕺🏽 #lakers #goldendoodle #dancebattle #sportsdog
The dance-off began after the audience camera searched for the "fan of the game." Brodie was picked (obviously), along with a man in a red jersey. The two danced it out on the jumbotron, with Brodie's owner, Cliff Brush Jr., waving the dog's two front legs to the beat, Brodie's long golden hair flowing right along. The human competitor tried his best, but he didn't have much of a chance. Brodie was too cute as the number one fan of the game and the dance-off champion.
9. Rudy knew exactly which tennis ball he wanted
Have you ever torn an entire room apart looking for a single item? Rudy has! A TikTok video shows the clever and determined pup digging into his toy box until he finds the one he's looking for. All of the toys that he doesn't want right now get tossed indiscriminately on the floor. It's funny to see how much purpose he has. He knows that he wants to play with one specific tennis ball, and absolutely nothing else will do.
@rudygoldenpup Took every single toy out...just to find one tennis ball 😂 #goldenretriever #sillydog #ball #dogsoftiktok
When the game starts, it seems as though tossing the rejected toys around may be the entire point. And it might've have been with a less clever pooch. It takes a smart dog to stay focused on a task without getting distracted by new stimuli. Rudy successfully hunted his favorite toy down and never let another plaything grab his attention for a second.
10. Fronky turned the UPS driver into a regular friend
Who says dogs and mail carriers have to be enemies? Fronky has turned Edgar the UPS driver into his new best friend. The relationship is so strong that the 220-pound dog woke up from a nap just to say hello and get a few head scratches. In a TikTok video, you can glimpse Edgar kneeling on the welcome mat at the front door so he can gain closer access to his big, furry buddy.
@fronkymastiff It's Fronky the sandlot dog and Edgar our favorite ups driver!........ . . . #ups #upsdriver #englishmastiff #giantdog #sandlot
"I would also stop work to pet that dog," a viewer commented. Fronky's gigantic size could be intimidating, but he's an obvious sweetie. He has a sweet and quiet energy that could put anyone at ease. Several commenters longed to pet him even more when they heard his sweet snuffles. He breathes with a low rumble that's like a cat's purr, or, as many commenters mentioned, "like a V8."
11. This mastiff puppy climbs into bed like a grown man
Louie's another giant mastiff with a big heart. TikTokers fell in love with a video showing his cuddly and adorable habits. In the clip, his owner called him to bed, and he sidled onto the mattress immediately, although it took a few heaves and grunts. "Snores like a grown man that works 50 hours a week," a commenter pointed out. An earlier comment explained that the big boy is about 215 pounds, although he's still a puppy.
@mammaboomboom Puppy Cuddles #velcrodog #mastiff #englishmastiff #mastiffsoftiktok #giantbreed #babydog #puppy
Once on the bed, Louie turned into a giant cuddle machine, even if he's a lap dog that's far too big to actually fit on your lap. Instead, he stuck to sweetly nuzzling and lying down next to his best friend. His extra-large size, combined with his slow and patient energy, has led to fans calling him magnificent, a wonderful masterpiece, and a gorgeous pup.
12. Bocephus grabbed the hose to help
Unsurprisingly, mastiffs appear repeatedly on our list of large canine softies. This time, we're talking about the French kind, a Dogue de Bordeaux. A TikTok video featuring Bocephus helps illustrate why this ancient breed has stuck around for so long. The dog's owner wanted to water some greenery in the yard, and Bocephus did his best to contribute. He liked being in the thick of whatever his humans were doing.
@bocephus_the_dogue Bocephus loves helping my with the hose. Hes a great helper ♥️ #mydog #helper #bestdog #dog #doglove #mastiff #fyp #foryoupage #doguedebordeaux #doguedebordeauxlovers #bigdogsoftiktok #bigdog #bigdogsoftiktok #mastiffsoftiktok
Once the hose was unspooled, Bocephus clamped onto it at once. He kept his mouth on the tube as it was pulled across the yard, moving as if he, too, had a purpose for it. At the end of the video, Bocephus released the hose and watched excitedly as his owner's hands moved toward the nozzle. He did the work; now he was ready for the water spray. It's easy to smile at his enthusiasm.
13. Parker ran wild with his toy
A galloping, joyous Great Dane is a heartwarming sight. His playtime showed just how big and gangly he really is. Great Dane Parker's spree in this TikTok video earned over 80 thousand likes and many comments saying that he looked like a horse. Someone added, "That's not a doggy," and jokingly claimed that Parker should be considered a teenager because he's so large.
@lovemargot.co This boy is back to being his silly self and the hubs is unphased 😂 #asitshouldbe #greatdanelife #carryon #bigdogcheck #muchogusto
Parker's zoomies in this video did not involve another creature. He was content to play by himself with a rope toy in his mouth. He tossed the toy around and shook it back and forth, tail wagging the entire time, showing how much fun he was having. Another commenter described Parker as, "Frolicking like he has no idea he is a 7ft tall man." Luckily for Parker, the area where he was playing was devoid of objects that Parker could easily knock over or destroy. There wasn't even a coffee table, although he was inside a living room-style area with couches — probably for the best with his equally giant tail.
14. Yogi made faces over his snack
Yogi's over-the-top reaction to eating an orange might be the sweetest and goofiest thing you see all week. In this TikTok video, the cocoa-brown Newfoundland started pulling faces and howling the second he was offered the citrus treat. He literally curled his lips back and bared his teeth in anticipation. It could be a snarl, but he's far too happy. A commenter decided that it's actually "like he's smiling."
@yogi_and_boo he's so silly 🫶 #newfie #newfoundlanddog #bigdog #oranges #newfoundland
The orange was so delicious that Yogi had to sit and calm himself for a moment before he could handle another bite. He then ate a few orange sections from the floor before being hand-fed his last piece. You can see the fresh juice squirting all over the fur on his face. Another much smaller dog came into the area before Yogi was finished eating, but he was in no mood for sharing; the orange was too perfect a treat.
15. Tyson kept trying to get it right
Prepare to smile when you see Tyson's little helper routine. Few dogs are as useful to have around the house as this Cane Corso is. He's been trained to gently readjust the fabric screen door. When a bit of the door's material is stuck inside the house, Tyson can correct it with a few bats of his large paws or face.
@tysonkingthecorso The best helper in the house 💙 #canecorso #canecorsolove #canecorsoitaliano #italianmastiff #mastiffsoftiktok #dogsofttiktok #trainingfun #smartdog #bigdogs #thesmartestcookie #bigdogs #bigdogshit #myBebè
A TikTok video captured Tyson using his unique skill. What's extra amusing is how many tries it takes for him to be perfect. He's a dog, not a truly diligent worker, so batting at the screen and walking away is often enough for him, regardless of whether the fabric moved to the correct spot. His owner gives him plenty of encouragement to keep him interested in his task. When the screen door is finally positioned right, Tyson knows he's done well. His tail starts wagging, and he moves toward the person filming him to get some love and praise.
16. Merlin and Arlo are so tall people thought they were fake
In a time where AI images are rampant, Merlin and Arlo almost look like artificial dogs. They're too impossibly tall to be real, and they both dwarf their owner when they try to sit on her lap. A commenter on a popular Instagram video featuring the two Irish wolfhounds jokingly accused the furry pair of being AI-created. Merlin and Arlo are 100% genuine, however.
Irish wolfhounds can naturally reach a height of nearly three feet at the shoulder. These dogs were originally used to hunt large game, but they're now more likely to be like Merlin and Arlo, cuddlebugs that are happy with the soft life. They can even turn into contented couch potatoes. Both Merln and Arlo smile during the lap-related shenanigans presented in this video. Neither seems perturbed by the lack of space; they want to sit on their owner's lap, so they squeeze onto it. "Aren't they just the happiest dogs?" a commenter asked.
Want some more of these gloriously big dogs? Check out this list of big dogs with their tiny companions.