Great Dane
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
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Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Breed Group | Working |
| Size | Giant (110-175 lbs) |
| Height | 28-32 inches (can exceed 34 inches) |
| Lifespan | 7-10 years |
| Temperament | Friendly, Patient, Dependable |
| Good with Kids | Excellent (gentle giants) |
| Good with Other Dogs | Good (with socialization) |
| Shedding | Moderate |
| Exercise Needs | Moderate (1-2 hours daily) |
| Trainability | Good (eager to please) |
Recommended for Great Danes
The Farmer's Dog - Fresh food for giant breeds | Embark DNA - DCM and genetic health screening | Spot Insurance - Coverage for bloat and heart conditions
Save on Great Dane Care
Chewy Autoship - 35% off first Autoship order, then 5% off repeat orders | Lemonade Pet - Pet insurance for giant breeds | Petplan - Comprehensive coverage including hereditary conditions
Top Food Choices for Great Danes
The Farmer's Dog - Fresh, giant breed portions | Ollie - Custom fresh food for giant breeds | Eukanuba - Giant breed formulas
Friendly, and gone by ten
Great Danes stand 28 to 32 inches, sometimes more, and weigh 110 to 175 pounds. The honest lifespan is 7 to 10 years. They are often gentle in the house and still knock over a child or a table because a tail at that height is a broom. Exercise is moderate: walks, not marathon fetch on pavement while the growth plates are open.
Puppy food should be a large-breed formula. Pushing maximum growth with extra calories is how bone develops badly. They drool, they lean, and they need a crate the size of a love seat if you crate at all. Boarding kennels that "take big dogs" sometimes mean 70 pounds. Ask.
The stomach and the heart
Gastric dilatation-volvulus is the emergency: a swollen abdomen, unproductive retching, and collapse. That is a drive to a surgical clinic, not a walk. Prophylactic gastropexy is worth discussing. It does not replace knowing the signs. Dilated cardiomyopathy needs an echo, not a guess from a murmur. VCA's bloat page is the one to read before you need it. Unproductive vomiting is also the start of the vomiting guide.
Great Dane questions
Does a raised bowl prevent bloat?
No. Gastropexy, a surgery that tacks the stomach, is the conversation to have at the spay or neuter. A raised bowl is not a prevention method.
When is a Dane a senior?
By five or six years old. Plan orthopedic beds, twice-yearly bloodwork, and a heart check on that schedule, not at age eleven.
How big do they get?
Often 28 to 32 inches and 110 to 175 pounds, and some are taller. Doorways, cars, and apartment elevators need a measurement before the puppy arrives.
Decision Guides for Great Dane
Use these only when comparing food, insurance, ownership budget, or beginner fit for this specific pet.