3-foot-tall ND dog's bid for world record foiled by new rule

Nov 9, 2009

ND woman's 7-foot-long dog could be record holder

In this Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 photo, Boomer, a 180-pound Landseer Newfoundland dog, stands with owner Caryn Weber at her home south of Casselton, N.D. The dog stands 36 inches tall at the shoulders, measures 7 feet from nose to tail, and weighs 180 pounds. Weber will send his measurements to Guinness World Records for consideration as the tallest living dog. The previous record holder was a Great Dane that died this summer. He measured just over 42 inches at the shoulders. (AP Photo/The Forum, Dave Wallis)

Dave Wallis

DURBIN, N.D. (AP) - A new height rule has left a North Dakota dog's bid for a world record coming up short.

Caryn Weber, who lives on a farm near Durbin, west of Fargo, submitted information about Boomer, her 3-foot-tall Newfoundland, to Guinness World Records for consideration as the world's tallest living dog.

Now she says that after spending $650 to put the application on a fast track, Guinnesss has told her the dog must be at least 40 inches tall to qualify. That would leave Boomer about 4 inches short.

Weber said the guidelines Guinness mailed to her in early October mentioned no minimum height.

Guinness said in an e-mail to Weber that the guidelines are updated as required, without notifying her. Guinness also told Weber it had evidence of a dog taller than Boomer.

Weber thinks Boomer should get to hold the record at least until a taller dog is verified.