Great Dane

A Complete Breed Guide for Great Dane dogs

This article is written by Pet Circle's qualified veterinarian, Dr Gillian Hill, BVSc.

Known as the 'Apollo of Dogs' for their noble grace and stature, the Great Dane is the tallest of the dog breeds. The Great Dane is sleek and elegant, with a muscular, athletic body.

Contents:
At a glance
History
Personality
Nutrition
Common health problems
Behaviour
Related Breeds
Further reading

Facts about the Great Dane

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Breed size:	Place of origin:	Other names:
Giant	Germany	Deutsche Dogge, German Mastiff, Boarhound
Breed group:	Energy level:	Weight range:
Non-Sporting	Moderate	Female: 41-48kg, Male: 45-57kg, sometimes more!
Life expectancy:	Tendency to bark:	Height range:
7 to 10 years	Low	Female: 71-76cm, Male: 76-81cm
Drool factor:	Social needs:	Coat length:
High	High - loyal and affectionate, Great Danes love to be part of the family.	Short
Shedding factor:	Overall grooming needs:	Colours:
Moderate	Low	Fawn, black, blue, brindle, harlequin and mantle.

How long do Great Danes live?

Being a large to giant breed dog, Great Danes have a shorter life expectancy than smaller breeds. On average, Great Danes live for 7-10 years.

Are Great Danes good family dogs?

Despite their size, Great Danes make loyal, playful and gentle companions for people of all ages, including young children, though as with any dog, close supervision is recommended. They are friendly and very social dogs. They love being indoors, but due to their size, they may not be well suited to apartment living.

Do Great Danes shed?

Yes, Great Danes do shed, so they are not classified as a hypoallergenic breed. They have a short coat while requires only minimal grooming. The officially recognised colours of the Great Dane are fawn, blue, brindle, mantle, black and the stunning harlequin.

How big do Great Danes get?

Great Danes grow to between 41-57kg (or more)! They stand between 71-81cm tall at the shoulders.

How much does a Great Dane cost?

The cost of a Great Dane puppy varies depending on the breeder and the pedigree of the dog. For a puppy from a show-line of pedigree dogs, you could expect to pay up to $4000 or more.

Are Great Danes barkers?

Great Danes have a low tendency to bark, although when they do, it can be quite intimidating. They do not like being left alone for long periods. Being social dogs they prefer to be with their family and can be prone to separation anxiety when left alone, with excessive barking being a potential consequence.

How do I know which Great Dane breeder to choose?

Knowing how to find a 'good' Great Dane breeder is a critical first step in bringing home a happy, healthy dog. Responsible breeders will make careful selections in their breed pairings, to ensure that they breed away from health problems, and select for optimal health and temperament. For tips on the types of things to look out for, and questions to ask any breeder, check out our article on How to Find a Good Breeder.

Great Dane History

Great Dane Personality

The Great Dane is surprisingly gentle for its size, earning the popular nickname 'the gentle giant'. It is loyal, affectionate and playful, and can make a gentle guardian for children and other animals. 

Great Danes are friendly, social and well-disposed towards other people and animals. They make good watch dogs and can sometimes be territorial - their size and deep bark can frighten even the most determined intruder! Socialisation during the peak socialisation window (around 8 to 16 weeks of age) is essential, to ensure that they do not become aggressive towards, or fearful of, new environments and strangers. Training using positive behavioural training techniques is also crucial and must begin before a Great Dane grows too large. When properly trained and socialised, they are very well behaved. 

Great Dane Diet and Nutrition

Great Dane Puppies

With a big body size comes a big appetite! As a giant breed, the Great Dane is slow to mature, reaching its adult size and weight around 18-24 months. It has special nutritional requirements because of this, and it is important to feed a premium diet of large and giant breed puppy food. These diets are less energy dense to reduce the risk of overfeeding, as an overweight body condition is an significant risk factor for the development of orthopaedic disease. They also contain less calcium than puppy diets for smaller breeds. We recommend feeding a premium diet from a reputable pet food company that has undergone AAFCO feeding trials. The diet should be fed in controlled amounts to promote slow rate of growth and a lean body condition score of 4/9. See the WSAVA Body Condition Scoring In Dogs for more information on assessing body condition scores.

It is also important not to exercise Great Dane puppies too long or strenuously, as they are prone to developmental orthopaedic problems while their bones are still forming. Allowing them to explore around at their own pace and restricting any forced exercise is a good way to prevent excess strain on their developing skeleton.

For more information about puppy care and feeding, check out our other article:
•New Puppy Guide
•All You Need to Know About Feeding Your Puppy
•Pooping, Barking, Biting: The Ultimate Puppy Training Guide

Top food recommendations for Great Dane Puppies

Our Vet Squad recommend the following diets for Great Dane puppies until they reach their adult size and weight at around 18-24 months of age.

Great Dane Health Problems

As with any pure breed dog, Great Danes can be predisposed to certain health conditions. It is important to be aware of the signs to watch out for.

Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV)

Also known as bloat or gastric torsion, GDV is a life-threatening emergency. As a large, deep chested dog, the Great Dane is particularly susceptible to GDV. In GDV, dilatation of the stomach occurs due to the accumulation of gas and/or fluid, often following large meals which expand the stomach causing obstruction of the outflow tract. The stomach can then rotate (volvulus), compressing major blood vessels and organs. Signs to watch out for include restlessness or discomfort, unproductive retching, distension of the abdomen, and signs of abdominal pain such as the 'prayer pose' - front feet down, rear end up. It is critical to seek immediate veterinary care if you notice these symptoms. In order to avoid GDV, Great Danes should be fed their food in more frequent, smaller meals, and should never be exercised strenuously immediately after feeding. Some vets recommend preventative surgery, where the stomach is stitched to the abdominal wall (known as gastropexy), to prevent it from rotating.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart condition that is characterised by dilated chambers of the heart and poor contraction of the heart muscles, leading to congestive heart failure. DCM is typically seen in middle-aged dogs. Signs to watch out for include weakness, exercise intolerance, coughing, loss of appetite and fainting or passing out.

Eye problems

The Great Dane is predisposed to a number of eye problems, including:

Entropion

Entropion is an inward rolling of the eyelid margin, causing hair to rub on the surface of the eye (cornea) leading to irritation, conjunctivitis and potentially ulceration of the cornea.

Cherry Eye

Cherry Eye is a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. Cherry eye occurs spontaneously and mostly, no cause is identified. It is thought that a laxity of the connective tissue that attaches the gland in position might contribute. Prolapse may lead to a dog being unable to close the eyelids, a failure of tear production leading to 'dry eye', eye discharge and infection.

Bone and Joint Problems

Developmental disorders of the bone and joints are often seen in young, large breed dogs, and can be due to genetic factors, rapid growth and overnutrition, among other things. These disorders include:

Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD)

HOD is a developmental disease of the bones where blood supply is reduced to a part of the bone adjacent to the joint, which interrupts bone formation. This causes a failure in the hardening of the bone.

Panosteitis

Panosteitis is a disease affecting bone production, which causes lameness and bone pain. It is thought that there may be a relationship between high-protein, high-calorie diets, leading to fluid accumulation and increased pressure within the developing bone.

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)

OCD is a joint disease in which a flap of cartilage lifts from the joint surface, commonly in the shoulders, elbows, knees and hocks of young large and giant breed dogs. This causes joint pain and lameness.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia occurs when the femur and the hip joint do not sit together properly. It can also occur due to excessive growth, exercise, nutrition and/or genetic factors. These problems lead to joint inflammation and pain, and lameness is the most common sign, particularly after exercise.

Ensuring that your Great Dane puppy is not exercised strenuously and is fed a controlled amount of a good-quality diet formulated specifically for large or giant breed dogs is the most important thing you can do to avoid these problems.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (also known as arthritis or degenerative joint disease) is a chronic condition, caused by inflammation in one or more joints. It can result from congenital disorders (as above), trauma, infection, or commonly, age related wear and tear or excess stress on the joints due to the dog being overweight. It is best managed through weight management, joint support supplementation and prescribed pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication.

For more information, take a look at Arthritis Care for Dogs.

Wobbler Syndrome

Wobbler syndrome is a disorder of the vertebrae of the neck and intervertebral discs, which causes spinal cord compression and progressive loss of coordination of the limbs.

As a giant breed, the Great Dane is also predisposed to bone cancers, predominantly Osteosarcoma. The average age of dogs when diagnosed with bone cancer is 7 years. Most commonly, they are presented to their vet due to lameness or a localised swelling of a limb.

Top Joint Supplements for the Great Dane

Due to their predisposition for orthopaedic problems, we recommend a joint supplement for all adult Great Danes. The products below contain a combination of ingredients for joint support such as glucosamine and chondroitin and Green lipped mussel powder (a potent source of omega fatty acids which have an antiinflammatory action.)

Great Dane Behaviour

Great Danes have a gentle and loving disposition that makes them a wonderful family companion. They are very eager to please, and love being with their 'pack', i.e. you! Because of this, they can be prone to separation anxiety and associated chewing behaviours.

In order to keep your gentle giant happy, it's important to spend lots of quality time with them - exercising, playing games or cuddling up on the couch, allow plenty of time for daily exercise and provide lots of appropriately-sized chew toys to encourage appropriate play.

For more information, take a look at our articles Boredom Busters for Dogs and How to Stop Your Dog from Inappropriate Chewing.

Top toy recommendations for Great Danes

It's important to choose durable, extra-large sized toys for your Great Dane. Our Vet Squad recommend the following products.

Related Breeds

Mastiff

Mastiffs are an ancient breed that have contributed significantly to other dog breeds, particularly working breeds like the Rottweiler, Saint Bernard and Great Dane. Mastiffs are incredible powerful, making imposing guard dogs. Given appropriate positive training, socialisation and handling, it makes a good-natured, loyal pet.

Greyhounds

It is thought that the first Great Dane was bred from Mastiffs and Greyhounds. The Greyhound is well known for it's unrivalled speed and couch-potato lifestyle. For more information, check out our Greyhound Breed Guide.

Further Reading

How To Choose A Dog Breed That's Right For You

Best Dog Toys For Power Chewers

Best Dog Brushes and Combs

How to stop your dog from inappropriate chewing

Managing Separation Anxiety in Pets

Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips from our expert Vets on keeping your pets happy and healthy.