Great Dane
Breed Group: Working Group
Size Group: Large Dog Breeds
Origin: Germany
Height: 30”-32” (male) 28”-30” (female)
Weight: 140-175lbs (male) 110-140lbs (female)
Color: Black, Black & white, Blue, Bridle, Fawn, Harlequin, Merle, Silver, White, Mantle with or without black mask and or white or black markings
Lifespan: 7-10 years
Temperament: Gentle, tranquil, affectionate, loyal, patient
Set Your Pup Up For Success
Overview
Great Danes are calm and easy-going, known as gentle giants. While they are not the largest dog, that title goes to the Irish wolfhound, they are enormous pups. They were originally bred to hunt wild boar, which should not be confused with their smaller pig cousins.
Wild boar can weigh up to 450lb and be 40 inches tall at the shoulder. Great Danes were the perfect competitor to run down and hold these giant beasts while they waited for the hunters to catch up. Over time they no longer were used for this purpose, and the fierceness was bred out of them. Today Great Danes are excellent watchdogs and companion dogs. Their docile temperament makes them a wonderful dog for families with kids. Be sure to watch early interactions with any dog and small children.
As the saying goes “with great power comes great responsibility”, this is apt advice about owning a Great Dane. These enormous pups are loving and tender, but boy do they fill a space and they eat a lot. Owning a Great Dane is not something to be entered into lightly. Be sure you’ll have the space and the time to devote to your giant buddy.
Smartest Dog Breeds
- If you need someone to take the SATs for you, we have you covered
- Intelligence is something you're born with. And these ones were.
EXPLORE SMARTEST DOG BREEDS
Celebrity Owners
Cameron Diaz, Karolina Kurkova, Rachel Cook, Jayne Mansfield, Kendall Jenner, Daniel DiCriscio, Greg Louganis, Lauryn Williams
Fun Facts
Great Danes were once believed to ward off ghosts and evil spirits. Which is why Scooby-Doo was chosen as the pup to aid his ghost hunting friends.
Health
When search for a puppy it is important to source a reputable breeder that properly screening for genetic issues. When you get a Great Dane hip dysplasia, elbow hygroma, dilated cardiomyopathy, entropion, myotonia, Wobbler syndrome, bloat
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
Family Dog Breeds
- They have the right patience and temperament for your family
- Vigilant and loyal, these dogs will protect their own
EXPLORE FAMILY DOG BREEDS
Grooming
Great Danes shed a moderate amount. Brushing your dog several times per week with a rubber curry brush will help contain the hair around your house. They will experience increased shedding in the spring and fall that daily brushing can help combat. Great Danes only need bathing when necessary. Over bathing will dry out skin, remove naturally occurring oils, and lead to skin irritation. Clean out your dog’s ears weekly. Always use gentle cleaner on a cotton ball and never a cotton swab. Keep your pup’s eyes clean and clear of debris. Depending on how much your dog drools, clean your pup’s mouth following meals and after rambunctious play. You need to pay special attention to your dog’s feet and nails. Always keep the nails as short as possible. These pups put a lot of weight on their paws and feet. Overcompensating for broken nails or footpad injury can lead to skeletal issues if left unchecked. Brush your dog’s teeth several times per week. Be sure you begin all grooming routines when your dog is a puppy, this will ensure your pup knows to sit and enjoy the attention.
Cost
$1,000 – $6,000
Exercise
Great Danes should wait until 18 months old before engaging in rigorous activity. When they are young and still growing, a couple of short brisk walks a day should suffice. During this time, also do not allow your dog to jump up onto high furniture. All of this will help protect your pup’s joints while they grow and set. Once fully grown expect to spend around an hour in activity with your pup. Hiking, jogging, long walks, playing games, swimming, and running alongside a bike will help tucker your pup out. Great Danes have a high prey drive and will follow their noses wherever it leads them. Always keep your pup on a leash, or in a securely fenced in area when outside the home.
Nutrition
Your full-sized Great Dane could eat up to 10 cups of food per day over 2 meals. This breed is prone to bloat which is an immediately life-threatening condition where the stomach overfills and flips in the torso. You can help avoid this situation by monitoring the rate at which your pup eats. The exact amount of food your dog will need will vary depending on age and activity level.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
- Low shedding dogs that will attack the allergies less
- These dogs come in all shapes, sizes and temperaments
EXPLORE HYPOALLERGENIC DOG BREEDS
Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other dogs is essential. Training these large pups is a must. Your dog will simply be unmanageable if left without proper training. Early on train your dog not to jump up, lean on people, steal food from counters or pull the leash.
Crate training is highly recommended with these dogs. Always leave the crate open when you are home so your dog can have somewhere to relax. If you have children explain to them, when your dog chooses to go into the crate that the dog should be left alone.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
Cute Dog Breeds
- I mean, come on. These dogs will have you wanting one.
- Guaranteed to make you instagram famous (or at least your pup!)
EXPLORE CUTE DOG BREEDS
Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
Hunting Dog Breeds
- Energy and a willingness to get the job done, these dogs love outside
- Their traits and unique skillsets have them separated from the pack
EXPLORE HUNTING DOG BREEDS
The Good
Great watchdog
Wonderful with children
The "Ruff"
Short life expectancy
Prone to bloat
Companion Breeds
- Their loving and caring spirit makes them great compadres
- A passion for giving back to their owner is in their DNA
EXPLORE COMPANION DOG BREEDS
All Dog Breeds Lists
- From family to hairless to sled dogs, we have you covered
- All breeds from the ones you know, to the ones you don't
EXPLORE DOG BREEDS