World's tallest dog dies just days after earning title, Guinness World Records announces

“Our whole family is devastated about Kevin. He was just the best giant boy!” Tracy Wolfe, Kevin’s owner, told the organization.

Kevin, the Great Dane recently dubbed the tallest living dog in the world, has died at 3 years old.

Guinness World Records announced the news of Kevin's death on June 24, less than two weeks after the organization crowned him as the world's tallest living dog on June 13. Guinness World Records said Kevin died days after achieving the title.

The canine lived in West Des Moines, Iowa, and died "following an unplanned surgery after falling ill," the organization said.

Tracy Wolfe, Kevin’s owner, told Guinness World Records, “Our whole family is devastated about Kevin. He was just the best giant boy!

“We are so glad that he was able to break the record and have that light on him," she continued. "He absolutely adored the attention. I wish these giant breeds, and all dogs, could live longer than they do. It’s never enough time.”

Kevin measured 3 feet, 2 inches tall from his feet to his withers, but when standing on his hind legs, he measured in at around 7 feet tall, according to Guinness World Records. He had loads of sweet quirks that led his owners to describe him as a “big baby.”

A post shared to Guinness World Records' official Instagram page featured a video of the dog and the sweet dynamic he had with his family.

“Kevin is the epitome of a gentle giant,” Wolfe told Guinness World Records in an interview announcing him as the winner.

In addition to being a cuddle enthusiast, Kevin had a long list of apprehensions that often contradict his size. Just the act of measuring Kevin for his official record proved challenging because he became “spooked” by the measuring tape.

“In fact, he is scared of most things,” Wolfe continued, adding that he ran away from the vacuum.

According to Guinness, Kevin’s namesake was the “Home Alone” character Kevin McAllister, played by Macaulay Culkin in the 1990 film and 1992 sequel. The dog belonged to a family of four that, in addition to Wolfe, includes her husband, Roger, and their two children, Alexander, 12, and Ava, 10. Kevin ate between six and 10 cups of food per day.

“To officially have Kevin as the world’s tallest dog is really exciting for our family,” Wolfe explained at the time.

“It’s funny because as a puppy, we just kept thinking, ‘He just keeps growing and growing,’” she added. “He’s the tallest dog I’ve ever seen, and to actually have that distinction is really exciting for the family.”

In addition to his appetite for cuddles, Kevin enjoyed lazing around.

“Kevin’s favorite activity is probably taking naps. Holding the couch down is his (favorite) pastime, I think," Wolfe said.

“I don’t think he’s aware he is as big as he is,” Wolfe added. “He’s continuously trying to squeeze into small beds and sit on top of us and do everything that the smaller dogs do.”