Great Dane: Your Complete Guide
The Great Dane is a giant breed known for their muscular, towering build and powerful appearance. However, while this pup may look tough on the outside, they’re actually a big softie at heart and are incredibly affectionate. They’re also a proud couch potato and love a family who can match their laidback lifestyle.
If you’re considering adopting a Great Dane, you probably have a lot of questions about the breed and whether you’re the right fit for them. Today, we’ll help answer any questions you may have by covering the breed’s personality, care needs, temperament, history, and more.
Quick Look at the Great Dane
Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 30 to 32 inches tall, weighing 110 to 175 pounds |
| Coat Type | Short, smooth |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding |  |
| Temperament | Patient, gentle, nurturing, easygoing, mild-mannered |
| Good With Kids | |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 7-10 years |
What Is the History of Great Danes?
A common misconception is that the Great Dane originates from Denmark. However, the breed was actually developed in Germany at least 300 years ago.
They likely descended from mastiff-type dogs and were selectively bred to help German nobility hunt boar, deer, and other large prey. They were also used as guard dogs and were often tasked with protecting country estates, carriages, and their owners’ bed chambers. Some individuals even kept them with them at all times as protection dogs.
In 1876, the Great Dane (or Deutsche Dogge) was declared the national breed of Germany, praised for their protective nature, perseverance, and strength. The first official breed standard was published in Germany in the early 1880s, and they were eventually accepted into the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1887.
Today, Great Danes have won over the hearts of everyday people around the world and have now become popular family pets.
What Do Great Danes Look Like?
The Great Dane is a towering, giant breed with a muscular, athletic build. Their neck is set high, and they have a broad deep chest, giving a dignified, powerful appearance. They also have strong hindquarters, large floppy ears, and a rectangular-shaped muzzle.
The Great Dane has a short, smooth coat that accentuates their muscles. Their coat comes in a wide range of colors, including black, white, blue, brindle, fawn, merle, and silver. Many Great Danes even have harlequin-colored coats, which refer to white fur with prominent black patches across the body.
What Size Is a Great Dane?
The Great Dane is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. Most Great Danes stand up to 32 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh between 110 and 175 pounds. Males are generally a lot larger than females.
An adult female Great Dane usually stands 28 to 30 inches tall and weighs around 110 to 140 pounds. In comparison, an adult male Great Dane reaches 30 to 32 inches tall and weighs anywhere between 140 and 175 pounds.
What Is a Great Dane’s Coat Type and Length?
The Great Dane has a short, smooth coat that lies flat against their body. The fur is thick, straight, and has a glossy appearance. Unlike many other breeds, the Great Dane does not have any prominent coat feathering. Any feathering would be considered a fault by the American Kennel Club.
What Is a Great Dane’s Temperament?
The Great Dane is a true gentle giant. Despite their “menacing” look, they’re incredibly patient, affectionate, and nurturing. They’re typically polite with everyone they meet, and they’re also easygoing and enjoy lounging around the house.
While laidback, the Great Dane is still playful and can tolerate a lot of roughhousing. They’re also courageous and protective — both qualities that make them well-suited to people after an effective watchdog.
The Great Dane needs your undivided attention as a puppy. Because of how large they are, it’s critical that you socialize and train them properly to ensure they grow into a well-accustomed adult. Without enough support early on, the Great Dane can grow into a nervous, unruly dog, which can be incredibly hard to manage due to their powerful build.
Are Great Danes Good With Kids?
The Great Dane is great with kids. They’re incredibly patient and quite literally built for roughhousing. They’re also protective and will go out of their way to keep your kids safe from any potential dangers.
That said, you may want to consider another breed if you have toddlers. While these pups are gentle, they aren’t very conscious of just how large they are. They tend to jump up and get rough during play, especially when they’re excited. This can lead them to accidentally injure small children.
If you do decide to adopt a Great Dane and have young kids, always supervise their interactions together. You should also teach your kids how to safely behave around animals.
Are Great Danes Good With Other Animals?
Great Danes were initially developed for hunting purposes, so they do often have strong prey drives. They tend to chase wild animals that they glimpse running in the distance. For this reason, they aren’t the best fit for multi-pet households.
If you still want to adopt a Great Dane while having other pets in your home, be sure to introduce them together slowly and seek advice from a professional trainer.
The Great Dane gets along very well with dogs who can match their rambunctious nature. However, they shouldn’t be paired with fragile toy breeds, like Chihuahuas. The Great Dane may accidentally trample them or be too rough during play, which can cause life-threatening injuries.
Are Great Danes Aggressive?
No, Great Danes aren’t aggressive dogs. While they may have been used as hunting dogs in the past, nowadays they’re big ol’ softies and are gentle, nurturing family companions.
With that said, Great Danes are protective over their owners and may growl, bark, or snap at people who they see as potential threats. It’s important to socialize them from an early age, particularly around new people and animals. This will ensure they feel confident and don’t see every stranger as a threat.
If your Great Dane is showing signs of aggression, be sure to seek professional help from a reputable trainer or behaviorist immediately. Aggression in a dog this size (while rare) can be difficult to manage.
Do Great Danes Bark?
Great Danes have very loud, powerful barks. However, they don’t bark regularly, and instead usually reserve their voices for when they’re trying to deter a threat or alert their owners to something. They may also bark when they’re excited or playing.
Are Great Danes Affectionate?
The Great Dane is a proud gentle giant. They’re extremely affectionate and love nothing more than cuddling with their loved ones.
They also like to think of themselves as a lap dog. They’ll often rest their head against you, lean on you, or even try to climb on your lap to snooze on you. While this is incredibly endearing, just be mindful that they may lean against you when you least expect it (and cause you to stumble).
Are Great Danes Intelligent?
Great Danes are highly intelligent dogs. They’re able to pick up complicated tasks and have an alert, perceptive nature. They also have the ability to think for themselves, which makes them adept problem solvers. Great Danes are even commonly used in competitive dog sports like tracking and flyball.
Are Great Danes Energetic?
Most Great Danes have moderate energy levels — they’re typically laidback and would much prefer snoozing under the sun over long, vigorous hikes. Still, take the time to exercise your Great Dane for around an hour every day. You can increase or decrease this amount as you get to know your dog’s individual energy level.
Great Danes also appreciate plenty of playtime. They can handle practically any physically demanding game, like weight pulling, so feel free to get creative with the activities. The more diversity, the better the mental stimulation your dog will get!
Without enough mental stimulation, Great Danes can become mischievous and exhibit behaviors like excessive barking, chewing, and counter-surfing. In fact, they’re especially adept at counter surfing because of their large size. Make sure your Great Dane is always receiving enough mental stimulation, and avoid leaving out food on your countertops.
Are Great Danes Easy to Train?
Great Danes are intelligent and alert, both traits that allow them to shine at training and pick up complex skills. However, they are fairly stubborn, so you’ll need to work around this and be patient with them.
You should also start their training immediately. Great Danes are a lot easier to train as puppies before they reach their full adult size. Begin with housebreaking and basic obedience commands such as “stay,” “sit,” “recall,” and “leave it.”
When they’re confident with the basics, move on to leash manners and other more advanced tasks. Great Danes are also vigilant and often wary around strangers, so take plenty of time to socialize them around all different kinds of people, sounds, and environments.
An unruly Great Dane can be extremely difficult to manage. It’s vital you seek professional help if you have no previous dog training experience. You should also stick to reward-based methods and avoid punishing them; punishments can heighten aggressive behavior because they cause your dog to become fearful and anxious.
With the right support, Great Danes can even master dog sports such as agility, flyball, obedience, and tracking.
Are Great Danes Good Watchdogs?
The Great Dane is one of the best watchdogs around. They were selectively bred to be protective and watchful, and they have an innate drive to alert their owner to anything that’s a potential threat. They’re also incredibly courageous and will do anything to keep their owner safe.
What’s more, the Great Dane’s powerful appearance is also likely to deter threats, even if they don’t actively intervene.
Are Great Danes Good Service Dogs?
Great Danes are incredibly smart and certainly have the physical capabilities to assist with demanding service tasks like wheelchair pulling and balance assistance. However, they aren’t the best fit for service work because of their stubbornness, prey drive, and wariness around strangers.
That’s not to say they can’t thrive in the service field — they’ll just require a lot more training and socialization to succeed. Some Great Danes are also more eager to please than others.
Regardless of whether a Great Dane is well-suited to service work, their patient, gentle, and affectionate nature makes them an exceptional emotional support dog. They can provide a strong sense of security to people with anxiety disorders.
How to Care for a Great Dane?
Besides their stubbornness and large size, caring for a Great Dane is relatively simple. They don’t need a whole lot of exercise, and their coats are low-maintenance. They also aren’t sensitive to any particular foods.
Do You Need to Groom a Great Dane?
You do need to groom a Great Dane, but you only really need to brush their coat once a week. Their short, smooth fur isn’t prone to matting and doesn’t attract dirt. They also rarely ever need a professional groom and should only be washed when dirty (or once every five to eight weeks).
Just like with every other pup, trim the Great Dane’s nails if you hear them clack audibly, clean their ears regularly, and brush their teeth daily to prevent plaque and tartar buildup.
Do Great Danes Shed?
Great Danes have short, smooth coats, but they still shed moderately all year round. That said, their hairs aren’t too noticeable, so you won’t feel the urge to vacuum your floor every week. Regular grooming can help you keep their shedding under control, too.
What Health Problems Do Great Danes Have?
Great Danes are relatively healthy, but unfortunately, they are prone to a few serious health complications. Some of the most common conditions Great Danes suffer from include Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) or “bloat,” cardiomyopathy, and wobbler syndrome. Great Danes also often experience bone and joint complications.
While many of these conditions can seem incredibly scary, good breeding, proper care, and regular vet checkups can help prevent (or at least manage) them. For example, you can reduce the chances of bloat by taking certain precautions, such as using a slow feeder bowl.
How Long Do Great Danes Live?
The Great Dane has a shorter lifespan compared to most other breeds, with an average life expectancy of 7 to 10 years. This short lifespan is primarily due to their large physical stature and proneness to health complications.
What Should a Great Dane Eat?
A Great Dane should be fed nutrient-rich, high-quality dog food that is formulated specifically for their age and size (giant). The food should also offer a good source of protein and adhere to AAFCO guidelines.
While calorie consumption can vary depending on your dog’s individual needs, most Great Danes consume between 6 and 10 cups of food per day, which should be split across two to three meals.
Is a Great Dane the Right Dog for Me?
The Great Dane is the perfect companion for those seeking a protective, watchful guardian. However, they can be difficult to manage because of their large size and stubbornness. If you’re considering a Great Dane, it’s important to make sure you can truly provide them the environment and support they deserve.
The Great Dane may be the right dog for you if:
- You want a protective dog that can provide you with a strong sense of security
- You’re willing to dedicate plenty of time and effort to their training and socialization
- You are in a strong position financially; Great Danes consume a lot of food each day and also need regular vet checkups
- You have a spacious home with a secure backyard
You may want to consider adopting a different dog breed if:
- You’re a first-time owner
- You live in a cramped apartment
- You have toddlers or small pets in the house