Iconic but long unclaimed animal records your pet could break
Here at Guinness World Records, we love ALL creatures great and small… especially when they’re record breaking.
Is your dog taller than any other dog you’ve ever seen? Or can it surf?
Has your cat got incredibly long whiskers? Or has your rabbit got bigger ears than Bugs Bunny?
If so, we want to hear from you ASAP!
We’ve currently got a bunch of iconic animal records lying unclaimed, as well as ones that haven’t been broken in years.
Your pet could be a record breaker!
Tallest horse
We don’t currently have a tallest horse living.
The record was last held by Big Jake, who lived at Smokey Hollow Farms in Poynette, Wisconsin, USA.
The Belgian draft horse claimed the title at the age of nine, in January 2010, when he measured in at 210.19 cm (20.3 hands) without shoes.
Big Jake sadly died in 2021, aged 20.
To be considered, your horse has to be at least six years old and measurements, from the base of the foot of the front leg in a straight line to the withers, must be taken by a qualified vet.
Shortest horse
We haven’t had a shortest living horse (female) since Thumbelina back in 2006.
She was a miniature sorrel brown mare who measured 44.5 cm (17.5 in) to the withers, which is the minimum requirement for anyone hoping their horse could claim the record.
She was owned by Kay and Paul Goessling (Both USA) and lived with them on the Goose Creek Farm Inc, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Horses have to be at least six years old and must be measured by a vet.
Tallest dogs
The records for tallest dog living (male) and tallest dog living (female) currently lie unclaimed.
The female record was last held by Lizzie, who lived in Fort Myers, Florida, USA, with her owners.
The Great Dane measured 96.41 cm (3 ft 1 in) tall in 2014.
The male record was last held by Great Dane Kevin, who stood at 97 cm (3 ft 2 in) tall when he was measured in West Des Moines, Iowa, USA, in 2024.
Kevin tragically died not long after becoming a record holder.
Dogs must be at least one year old to be considered for these records.
Surfing dog
We haven’t had a record-breaking canine surfer since Abbie Girl.
She achieved the longest wave surfed by a dog (open water) at Ocean Beach Dog Beach in San Diego, California, USA, in 2011.
She surfed 107.2 m (351.7 ft).
Any dog being considered for this record must be at least one year old.
Longest cat whiskers
The record for longest cat whiskers hasn’t been broken since 2005 when Missi, a Maine coon who lived in Iisvesi, Finland with her owner Kaija Kyllönen.
She had a whisker that measured 19 cm (7.5 in) long.
A cat must be at least one year old to be considered for this record, and measurements must be taken from the bottom of the whisker to the tip.
The whisker must be intact.
Longest dog tail
No pooch has been deemed to have the longest tail on a dog since 2015.
Keon, owned by Ilse Loodts (Belgium), had a tail that measured 76.8 cm (30.2 in) long.
A dog must be at least one year old to be considered for this title.
Longest rabbit
We haven’t seen a longest rabbit living record holder since Darius in 2010.
The Flemish giant rabbit, owned by Annette Edwards (UK), was 129 cm (4 ft 3 in).
A rabbit must be at least 18 months old to be considered for this record and measurements are to be taken from the tip of the foot of the front leg horizontally in a straight line to the tip of the foot of the back leg.
Longest rabbit ears
No bunny has ever held the record for longest ears on a living rabbit.
A rabbit must be at least 18 months old to be considered for this record title.
Ears should be measured from the head where the ear joins the skull to the top of the ear in a straight line.
Could your pet be a record holder?
If your pet has potential to claim one of these records, we’d love to hear from you!
Head to the Records page on our website and click ‘Apply now’ to fill in an application form.