Great Dane

Personality

Great Danes are famous for combining a huge body with a soft heart. Most are friendly, patient and deeply attached to their people, and many seem to believe they are lap dogs. They are usually calm indoors once past the gangly adolescent phase.

With family and visitors they tend to be polite and relaxed, though a Dane that is not well socialized can become wary or reactive around strangers. Their size alone is a deterrent, and they often bark only when something is truly odd.

They are generally good with children who are taught to be gentle, but a tail swipe or a sudden lean can knock over a toddler, so supervision matters. Danes dislike being left alone for long and can become anxious or destructive without company. They thrive as indoor family members, not backyard dogs.

History

The Great Dane traces back to Germany, where mastiff-type dogs with greyhound influence were used to hunt boar and guard the estates of nobles. The Great Dane Club of America notes that mastiff-type dogs appear in carvings and writings going back thousands of years, and that in Germany the breed became known as the Deutsche Dogge, which translates roughly as German mastiff. It was declared Germany's national dog in 1870.

The name Great Dane has no known connection to Denmark; it is thought to come from a French name for the dog. Fanciers in the United States began importing the dogs in the mid-1800s, and American breeders worked to refine the type. The Great Dane Club of America was formed in 1891.

Today the Great Dane is a family companion more than a hunter, though it still carries the alert, noble bearing of its ancestors. Its calm, dignified manner suits modern homes far better than the boar-hunting role it was built for, and the AKC places it in the Working Group.

Appearance, coat & colors

Great Danes combine power and elegance. The body is square and well muscled, the neck long and arched, and the head long and rectangular with a defined stop. Ears are either natural and folded or cropped; the breed standard treats both as correct, and cropping is banned in several European countries.

According to the breed standard, males must be at least 30 in (76 cm) at the shoulder and females at least 28 in (71 cm), and dogs under those minimums are disqualified. The standard has no weight requirement, but typical adults are said to average roughly 110–175 lb (50–79 kg).

The short, glossy coat comes in seven recognized colors: fawn, brindle, blue, black, harlequin (white with torn black patches), mantle (black and white with a blanket pattern) and merle (gray with torn black patches). A tall Dane can place its chin on a dining table without trying.

Training

Start training the day the puppy comes home. A Dane that learns manners at 15 lb (7 kg) is far easier to live with at 150 lb (68 kg). Great Danes are intelligent and sensitive, and respond best to calm, consistent, reward-based training. Harsh methods tend to backfire and can damage the bond.

Focus on the essentials: no jumping, loose-leash walking, a reliable recall, and settling on a mat. Teach them to wait at doors and gates so they do not bolt. A strong leash pull from this size is difficult to manage, so a front-clip harness or head halter can help.

Socialize widely during the first months, including new people, surfaces and noises. Enroll in a puppy class early. Avoid hard exercise or jumping from heights while the joints are growing. Training sessions should be short and fun, since young Danes can be goofy and easily distracted.

Exercise

Despite their size, Danes need moderate exercise rather than extreme amounts. A couple of daily walks plus some off-lead time in a secure area usually suit an adult. Many are happy to spend most of the day relaxing, then burst into play for a few minutes.

The key is to protect growing joints. Large-breed puppies should avoid forced running, long hikes, stairs or high jumps while they are still growing, and your vet can tell you when your dog is mature enough for harder activity. Short, gentle outings with free play are better than structured jogging.

Avoid vigorous activity right before and after meals, since exercising after a large meal is a known risk factor for bloat. Heat can be hard on a giant dog, so exercise in cooler hours. For ideas on matching activity to age, see our guide to how much exercise a dog needs.

Grooming

Grooming is simple. A weekly brush with a rubber curry or soft bristle brush removes loose hair and keeps the short coat shiny. Great Danes do shed, and the hairs are short and sharp enough to weave into upholstery.

Bathe only when needed, perhaps every couple of months, using a gentle dog shampoo. Check the ears often, especially in dogs with natural ears, and clean them if they look dirty. Keep nails trimmed short, since long nails on a heavy dog can affect gait and joint comfort.

Brush the teeth regularly; our guide to brushing your dog's teeth covers the steps. Wipe the lips and jowls after drinking or eating, as drool is a fact of life. Watch for pressure sores on the elbows and hocks, which are common on hard floors, and provide a thick bed.

Feeding

Feeding a Great Dane requires care, especially during growth. Puppies should eat a diet formulated for large or giant breeds, which moderates growth; PetMD recommends a large-breed puppy diet until about 18 months to lower the risk of wobbler syndrome and hip dysplasia. Keeping a puppy lean is healthier than keeping it round.

Adults often do well on two or three smaller meals daily rather than one large one, since VCA lists feeding a single daily meal and eating rapidly among the risk factors for bloat. Avoid feeding right before or after hard exercise, and discourage gulping with a slow feeder if needed.

Portions depend on age, activity and body condition, so use the dog food calculator as a rough start and ask your vet. You should be able to feel the ribs under a thin layer of padding. Food is a major expense with a giant breed, so plan the budget before you adopt.

Health

The Great Dane's size brings serious health risks and a short life expectancy, usually 7 to 10 years. The most urgent is gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV, or bloat), in which the stomach fills with gas and may twist. The deep chest gives the stomach room to rotate. It is a life-threatening emergency: call your vet or an emergency clinic immediately if your dog has a swollen belly, retching without producing anything, heavy drooling, restlessness or collapse.

Other concerns include dilated cardiomyopathy, a progressive disease in which the heart muscle weakens, as well as hip and elbow dysplasia and wobbler syndrome, a neck spinal cord condition that PetMD links to rapid growth.

Regular vet exams, a healthy weight and responsible breeding are your best tools. The national breed club recommends hip, cardiac, eye and thyroid evaluations, so ask breeders for those results. Vets sometimes suggest a preventive gastropexy, a surgery that tacks the stomach in place and prevents twisting in most cases, so talk to your vet about whether it is appropriate for your dog. Pet insurance is worth serious consideration for this breed.

Health conditions to know about

• Bloat (GDV) — A life-threatening emergency in which the stomach swells and may twist; deep-chested giant breeds are at high risk.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy — A heart muscle disease that weakens pumping and can lead to heart failure.
• Hip dysplasia — Loose or malformed hip joints cause arthritis and pain.
• Elbow dysplasia — Abnormal elbow development can cause lameness and arthritis.
• Wobbler syndrome — A neck spinal cord condition that causes a wobbly, unsteady gait and is linked to rapid growth.

Health tests to ask a breeder about

• Hip evaluation
• Cardiac exam
• Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist
• Thyroid evaluation

Read more: bloat (gdv), luxating patella.

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 25, 2026. Editorial policy

Living with a Great Dane

Great Danes can live in apartments if they are calm and given daily walks, but they need room to stretch and turn. Think about the floor space, steps, hallways, car and sturdy furniture. A Dane can clear a coffee table with a tail wag, and counters are within easy reach.

They do not tolerate extremes well. Short coats and thin bodies mean they get cold quickly in winter, and large dogs overheat in heat. Keep them indoors with the family, with a thick, supportive bed to protect elbows and hips.

Travel needs planning: you will need a large vehicle, a big crate and possibly a ramp. Many Danes become attached to a single household and dislike long separations. Time, budget for food and vet care, and willingness to manage a very large puppy are the real requirements, rather than a big yard.

Puppies, breeders & rescue

Puppy prices for Great Danes vary widely, and the purchase price is only a small part of the lifetime cost of food, veterinary care and equipment. Be wary of unusually cheap puppies and of breeders who promise rare colors or oversized dogs, as these are red flags.

A responsible breeder health-tests both parents, including hips, heart, eyes and thyroid function, lets you meet the dam, and can tell you about longevity and bloat in their lines. The Great Dane Club of America, the national parent club, is a good place to start looking for breeders.

Rescue is also a strong option, because Danes are sometimes surrendered when owners underestimate the cost and space they need. Many rescues are experienced with the breed's health problems and can match you with a suitable adult. Track growth with our puppy weight calculator.