Great Dane
- Size
- Giant
- Height
- 28 to 30 inches
- Weight
- Males: 135 to 170 pounds; Females: 100 to 145 pounds
- Energy
- Medium
- Activities
- Agility, Obedience, Rally Obedience
Originally bred to hunt boar, the Great Dane is a giant dog with a loving disposition, making him an ideal family companion.
Temperament of the Great Dane
The Great Dane is friendly, patient and dependable.
Breed Characteristics
Great Danes make great companions because they are friendly, gentle and loving. Danes are patient with kids, provided they have been properly socialized with children from a young age, and are big people pleasers. Despite their sweet nature, they are also alert guard dogs.
Though a Great Dane may seem sedate, he does require daily exercise, whether in the form of a brisk walk or as your jogging or hiking partner. Keep your Dane leashed, as he tends to follow his nose and may take off to follow a scent.
Many Great Danes enjoy sports like agility, obedience, tracking events, weight pulls and flyball.
As previously mentioned, Great Danes love to please their owners, but they respond best to firm, consistent training methods.
How Long Do Great Dane’s Live?
The Great Dane will typically live between 7 to 10 years of age.
Colours
The coat of a Great Dane comes in many different colours and combinations, including brindle, fawn, blue, black, harlequin and mantle.
Do Great Dane Dogs Shed?
The Great Dane’s short and smooth coat doesn’t shed much throughout the year. They do have a shedding season once or twice a year, so daily brushing is recommended.
Common Health Conditions
Bloat is the most common health ailment for Great Danes. Learn to recognize the signs of this life-threatening condition and what to do if it occurs.
Other health issues that may affect the breed include eye and cardiac diseases, hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis and hip dysplasia.
Best Dog Food For Great Danes
Since Great Danes are considered a giant breed, it is recommended that you select a large dog breed formula to support your dog’s joint health and mobility and maintain his ideal body condition.
These foods include:
For an exceptionally active Great Dane, consider a formula with a protein-to-fat ratio to meet their activity level. Formulas like Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance 30/20 can help maintain lean muscles.
Best Dog Food For Great Dane Puppies
When choosing food for your Great Dane puppy, remember puppies of any breed have specific nutritional needs for proper development. A formula with DHA will nourish brain and vision development and antioxidants support their developing immune system to help them thrive during their first year of life. A large breed-specific puppy formula can also support the joint health of your growing puppy.
The following foods meet the needs of a growing puppy:
- Purina Puppy Chow
- Purina One SmartBlend Healthy Puppy
- Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Large Breed Puppy
- Essentialcare Large Breed Puppy
Facts
- The popular cartoon character “Scooby Doo” is a Great Dane.
- The name “Great Dane” is the English translation of the French name for the dog: “grand Danois” which means “big Danish”.
- The Great Dane has been a distinct breed for over 400 years.
History of the Breed
The Great Dane’s origin story is mysterious. Although they are a German breed, they became associated with Denmark. At one time, German nobles used Danes for hunting ferocious wild boars. Later, the dogs became the protector of the home and family.