OTSEGO, Mich. (AP) — The Great Dane from Michigan that held the title of world's tallest dog has died at age 5. 
 
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 In this photo taken in August 2010, Zeus, a Great Dane owned by Kevin and Denise Doorlag, drinks from the Doorlag kitchen sink at their home in Ostego, Mich. Zeus, who held the title of world's tallest... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this photo taken on Sept. 9, 2010, Kevin and Denise Doorlag's then two-year-old Great Dane, Zeus, sits in a love seat at their home in Ostego, Mich. Zeus, who held the title of world's tallest dog,... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this photo taken on Sept. 9, 2010, Kevin Doorlag plays with his Great Dane Zeus as Nick Doorlag, right, watches in Ostego, Mich. Zeus, who held the title of world's tallest dog, died last week from... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this photo taken on Sept. 9, 2010, Kevin Doorlag, left, pets Zeus, then a two-year-old great dane, as Denise Doorlag, right, listens to Julie Wojtaszek, a dog trainer from Bark Busters Home Dog Training... (Associated Press) 
 
 Owner Kevin Doorlag told the Kalamazoo Gazette that Zeus made his debut in the 2012 edition of Guinness World Records as the tallest living dog. Zeus was 44 inches tall at the shoulder and 7 feet, 4 inches on his hind legs. 
 
 Zeus weighed 165 pounds and ate a 30-pound bag of food every two weeks, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported. 
 
 Doorlag, of Otsego, said the entire family will miss Zeus. 
 
 Zeus was a local celebrity in the Kalamazoo area and frequently visited local schools and hospitals as a therapy dog. Doorlag said he will also miss seeing the joy Zeus brought to other people. 
 
 "Those are some of the things I'll never forget about him," Doorlag said. "He was definitely a great dog." 
 
 Zeus died last week from old age, just two months shy of his sixth birthday, according to Doorlag. 

 OTSEGO, MI — Zeus, the Otsego, MI, Great Dane who was the world's tallest dog, has died at age 5. 
 
 Zeus' owner, Kevin Doorlag, said Zeus died last week of symptoms of old age. Zeus would have celebrated his sixth birthday in November, Doorlag said. 
 
 Zeus stood 44 inches at the shoulder, 7 feet, 4 inches on his hind legs when he was unveiled in the Guinness World Record's 2012 edition as the world's tallest living dog and the tallest dog ever, a title he still holds, Doorlag said. 
 
 Doorlag is remembering Zeus as a "wonderful dog." He said he and his wife, Denise, will especially miss letting Zeus sit on their laps while the family would grill on their deck. 
 
 "We'll really miss him," Doorlag said. 
 
 In addition to his international fame, Zeus was well known throughout the Kalamazoo area due to frequent trips to area schools and hospitals, where he served as a therapy dog. 
 
 Doorlag said seeing the joy Zeus brought to others will be another one of the things he misses most about his late pet. 
 
 "Those are some of the things I'll never forget about him," Doorlag said. "He was definitely a great dog." 
 
 Alex Mitchell covers county government and taxes for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Email him at amitche5@mlive.com. Follow him on Twitter.
– It’s going to be a tall order to replace the Doorlags' dog, if that's even possible. The Otsego, Mich., family is mourning Zeus, their beloved Great Dane, who died last week at the age of 5, the AP reports. The colossal canine—who simply died of old age, owner Kevin Doorlag tells the Kalamazoo Gazette—stood 44 inches at the shoulder and would rise to 7 feet, 4 inches when he perched on his hind legs, earning him a Guinness World Record as the world's tallest dog ever. Although the 165-pound pooch could scarf down a 30-pound bag of dog food every two weeks, the Battle Creek Enquirer reports, he was really just a big pussycat, Doorlag says. He achieved worldwide fame because of his stature, but Zeus was a local boy at heart, making frequent visits to Kalamazoo-area schools and hospitals in his role as a therapy dog, the Gazette notes. "Those are some of the things I'll never forget about him," Doorlag says. "He was definitely a great dog. We'll really miss him.” (Check out more fascinating Guinness World Records.)