Meet the Giants: Great Dane

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Next up – the Great Dane! Mauja and Atka have a few Great Dane buddies and it’s so much fun to see them run around and play. Thinking about adding a Great Dane to your family? Here’s some information about this stunning breed.

Special thanks to Kristie Mendralla for the awesome information and photos!

If you currently have a Great Dane, please list their name, age, and gender.

Ripley, 7, Male. (Previously had Hudson and Porter, both male Danes.) We also have a male English Mastiff named Bromley who is 6 yrs old.

Are there any other names/nicknames for Great Danes?

Great Dane is frequently shortened to Dane. They are often called Velcro Dogs because they are happiest when they are with their people.

What are three words you would use to describe the Great Dane?

Goofy, Playful, Affectionate

What’s the average size of a Great Dane?

Males are generally 130-180 lbs, Females are generally 100-150 lbs.

What are the acceptable colors of a Great Dane?

There are six colors of Dane that are acceptable for showing: Fawn, Mantle, Harlequin, Brindle, Blue, Black. Danes can come in many other colors though, the most common are Merle and White.

What is a Great Danes average lifespan?

Generally 6-9 years, although occasionally you’ll hear of one making it to 11 or 12.

What were Great Danes originally bred to do?

Originally bred to hunt boars.

How much exercise do Great Danes typically need?

1-2 decent walks a day are sufficient. They are generally couch potatoes and make excellent apartment dogs, which seems counterintuitive given their size. One thing to note is that Danes are not considered fully grown until they are 2 and their growth plates have closed.

Anyone looking for their Dane to be their running partner needs to be cognizant that they can’t be taken running until they are at least 2, and it should be cleared with a vet first.

What are some common health problems for Great Danes?

Great Danes are especially prone to Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), commonly known as bloat. This is a condition in which the stomach fills up with gas, and as the pressure increases, the stomach can rotate in the abdomen, cutting off blood supply to the organs.

This condition progresses rapidly and can cause the animal’s death in a matter of hours. Sometimes, emergency surgery can save the dog, but it can cost anywhere from $3,000- $5,000.

Danes are also prone to orthopedic issues like hip dysplasia and spondylosis, as well as a neurological condition called Wobbler Syndrome. It’s caused by a narrowing in the cervical vertebrae and causes the dog to have a “wobbly” gait in the rear legs.

In the most severe of cases, the dog gradually loses control of their rear end until paralysis sets in. Surgery can be an option for some dogs, but can cost upwards of $10,000.

How much grooming do Great Danes need?

Very minimal. Great Danes have short coats and are low odor. We only bathe our Dane once a year, usually in the Spring, and use grooming wipes occasionally in between. Great Danes do shed, but their hair is very fine. We use a rubber curry brush once a day to remove excess hair, but many people don’t brush their Danes at all.

What do you wish people knew about Great Danes before bringing one home?

Great Danes are meant to be with their people. They are nicknamed “velcro dogs” for a reason. They are not meant to be locked outside and used as guard dogs, particularly in the winter when their short coat is no barrier to the weather.

It’s also important to note that Great Danes eat a decent amount of food per day. Our Dane is 130 lbs and eats 6 cups of kibble per day. The average Labrador eats 2 cups a day, so it’s important to factor cost of kibble into your monthly budget.

Further, big dogs cost more in almost all aspects. They need bigger, more expensive dog beds that will stand up to their weight. Most medications are administered by weight, so vet care is more expensive for giants as well.

Why do you love Great Danes?

Great Danes are the clowns of the dog world. They are goofballs who adore their people and want to be with them at all times.

Anything else you want to say?

It should be noted that Danes both drool and snore, so potential adopters would want to be aware of that. 🙂

There we go friends – the Great Dane! Interested in adding a Dane to your clan? Head over to Big Dogs Huge Paws to see their available Danes! Do you have a Great Dane? Anything else we should add to this post?

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