100-140 lbs
28-32"
Germany
The Great Dane is a breed that surely needs little introduction. This is famously one of the biggest dog breeds in the world — so big, in fact, that it’s classed as a giant breed. While it isn’t the biggest dog of all — the Mastiff, Boerboel, Tosa Inu and Saint Bernard all have the potential to weigh more — the Great Dane size makes it instantly recognizable.
It’s not just about weight, though. These are tall dogs. Male Great Danes can grow to a height of up to 32 inches – to the shoulder — while females aren’t too shorter, at up to 30 inches.
There’s no mistaking a Great Dane; these gentle giants are adored by their pet parents because of their calm temperament and friendly nature. They can make a brilliant family pet — providing the home environment is suitable enough to complement its size, of course!Tempted to bring a Great Dane into your home? Good choice — but as with any dog, it’s highly recommended that you learn as much as you can about a breed before welcoming it into your family.
Read on to discover:
If you like your dogs big, beautiful and a bit on the goofy side, you’ll love a Great Dane. There’s something adorable about this giant breed, with its lumbering physique and friendly, almost docile, character.
As we’ll discover later in this guide, owning a Great Dane is not without difficulty, or the potential for heartbreak. This is a breed that suffers more than its fair share of health complications, some of which are genetic. And, like many dog breeds, it won’t live as long in comparison to smaller breeds. But, for the time that they’re around and in your life, a Great Dane’s personality will keep you smiling.
It’s a popular dog, the Great Dane. According to American Kennel Club (AKC) data, it’s consistently been one of the top 20 breeds in the US, per registration statistics, over the last few years.
It’s a famous breed, too. The Great Dane is actually the state dog of Pennsylvania; not surprising when it’s known that William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, owned one of these magnificent beasts.
Not only that, one of the most iconic dogs of all time was a Great Dane. Well, a fictional great, to be precise. The animated cartoon legend, Scooby-Doo, was based on a Great Dane.
The Great Dane is believed to have originated from mastiff-type dogs; its ancestors were reportedly the Irish Wolfhound and the English Mastiff, which would explain its imposing size.
The Great Dane emerged as a working breed in Germany, in the 16th century — these dogs were used for hunting wild boar, and to guard homes, estates and farmland.
The source of the breed name, Great Dane, is intriguing. Although people of the nation of Denmark are commonly called Danes, the Great Dane dog has no link to the Scandinavian country.
It’s thought the name came from the French translation of ‘Grand Danois’, meaning ‘Big Danish’. It’s stuck ever since, though in Germany, the country of its origin, the Great Dane is called ‘Deutsche Dogge’, which means ‘German Mastiff’.
The Great Dane was recognized as a breed by the AKC in 1887, and the Great Dane Club of America (GDCA) was founded shortly afterwards, in 1889. Over time, changes to the way Great Danes were bred produced a different type of dog, if not in appearance than in temperament and behavior.
The Mastiff-type that once hunted wild boar has become a domesticated working dog and placid family-friendly hound.
There’s only one place to start with when looking at the appearance of a Great Dane — and that’s his or her size. In the canine world, Great Danes are giants, standing taller than most; jumping onto their hind legs to greet you, there’s a good chance they’ll be easily able to look you in the eye.
But, for their weight, the Great Dane’s appearance is almost lean, sleek and well muscled. This isn’t a big, chunky dog, but a solidly built, athletic-like canine. They have a long, large, narrow head with a square jaw, and ears that are set high and flop slightly. The Great Dane’s neck is long and elegant, giving it a graceful look.
The body of a Great Dane is well proportioned, with excellent muscle tone. Legs are long and straight, giving the impression of power.
The Great Dane has a short, dense coat, which can come in a variety of colors — including fawn, black, blue, brindle, merle, chocolate or harlequin, which is a combination of white with black patches.
A notable characteristic with the Great Dane is the tail. It’s long and straight, and can cause chaos when it’s wagging in full flow — keep any breakables well away from a sweeping Great Dane’s tail! On a more serious note, this can pose a problem; there’s a condition called Happy Tail Syndrome, which is when the end of a tail is damaged by repeatedly hitting objects, such as nearby walls.
The Great Dane is one of a few dog breeds that may experience Happy Tail Syndrome. Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this.
That short coat means that the Great Dane grooming schedule should be relatively light. They’re not heavy shedders, but will shed moderately, so some upkeep is needed. An occasional brush every few weeks should suffice; just groom any loose hairs you notice. Only give your Great Dane a bath when they’re particularly grubby or muddy.
Brush your pup’s teeth frequently and trim nails as necessary. If you regularly walk your Great Dane on the sidewalk, nails will naturally be kept short enough but keep an eye on these. If they’re getting too long, you’ll need to trim your dog’s nails yourself. Check ears every few weeks to look for any signs of dirt or debris — if so, you’ll need to give these a gentle clean to prevent any chances of infection.
Fair warning — a Great Dane has the potential to drool a lot more than your average dog, which means there’s the potential for things to get messy if he or she shakes their head around or rests it on furniture. Keep a cloth handy for speedy wiping and clean up.
Great Danes also get cold easily. Their coat isn’t thick at all, so in colder weather they may need a fleece or dog sweater when out and about on walks. They won’t like being left outside for long periods, either.
Most, if not all, breeds of dog, will experience health problems during their lifetime. Unfortunately, the Great Dane is particularly prone to some serious conditions. In addition to these, pet parents should be aware that the Great Dane lifespan is considerably shorter than many breeds. On average, a Great Dane will live for around ten years, though some may only reach seven or eight years of age.
Health conditions that the Great Dane can suffer from include:
If you live with a Great Dane, health issues are sadly almost inevitable. Pet insurance is a must, in helping to support the cost of diagnosis and treatment. Want the best for your Great Dane? Use the free Wag! Compare service to check the best pet insurance deals around, in seconds.
A large breed like a Great Dane can struggle with joint issues later in life, so it may be beneficial to look up dog food that includes nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin, to provide additional support.
Whatever you choose to feed your dog, be sensible with portion control. Giving your dog too much food can inevitably lead to the risk of him or her becoming overweight, which then has possible health consequences.
You can read more advice and information on DogFoodAdvisor, our online partners — including detailed recipe analysis of many leading dog food brands.
You’ll hear the Great Dane described as a ‘gentle giant’ a lot, and this is highly accurate. The Great Dane temperament is calm; this breed really is something of a big old softy. This is a dog that loves nothing more than being with its family — they’re friendly and sweet, and generally very well behaved around children of all ages.
Of course though, they are big dogs and may have no idea of their own strength and size; there’s a risk they can be a bit clumsy and may accidentally knock a little one over. So, don’t leave small children unattended with a Great Dane, just in case.
These aren’t aggressive dogs, despite their intimidating size, but it’s always worth being aware that this breed can be very powerful. In fact, the Great Dane bite force is 238 PSI (pounds per square inch), which demonstrates its strength. It’s rare that a Great Dane will show this side of its temperament, but it can be protective around its family. While not particularly vocal, when a Great Dane does bark, it’s loud.
It’s far more likely that your Great Dane will be placid and quiet. This is actually a rather sensitive breed, that can become anxious and even fearful, at times. It may seem amusing to see such a big dog getting spooked by something minor, but it’s not funny for your pet.
To try to avoid these situations, early socialization is key; get your Great Dane used to different environments, people and other dogs, and you can remove a lot of that potential anxiety.
With its relaxed manner, a Great Dane isn’t going to be demanding long hikes several times a day — it’s usually content to hang out with you at home, most of the time. Around 60 minutes of activity a day will suffice, though be careful with how you exercise Great Dane puppies.
Because their bones are still in development, don’t take a puppy running with you until they’re two years of age and matured into a Great Dane adult.
Walks and planned exercise aside, it’s important that a Great Dane lives in the right type of environment. For obvious reasons, it won’t thrive in an apartment. This dog needs space to suit its size. It needs a large area in which to sleep, and plenty of indoor space so it can stretch those long limbs.
Ideally, a Great Dane will also have an outdoor area to enjoy. A good-sized garden or back yard is perfect, but it must be securely enclosed, with a strong, high fence. Remember how tall a Great Dane can stand!
Written by Kevin Hughes
Published: 08/30/2006, edited: 03/28/2024
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