Will a Great Dane Puppy fit your lifestyle?

Bringing an enormous Great Dane puppy into your life is a great idea if you want a sensitive, tender and affectionate friend. You won’t need a massive home to own a Dane but will have to give them daily walks.

With their short hair they require very little grooming which means more time playing or sitting on the couch. Be warned though, they do have a tendency to take over the whole couch!

What size will a Great Dane puppy reach when fully grown?

Great Danes are very tall dogs and classed as a giant breed. You will find the larger dogs in this breed reach a massive 40 inches tall at times. The minimum height for your male Dane should be no less than 76cm (30 inches) and 72cm (28 inches) for your females. In general the head of a Great Dane will generally be at or above the hips of an average sized adult and its back will sit just below or at your hip area.

How heavy will a loving Great Dane puppy grow to be?

No doubt you have figured out that such a tall breed would also be pretty heavy. Your Great Dane will likely grow to be between 110 pounds and 170 pounds (49-77 kg).

The females are usually on the lighter side of the scale while the biggest male Great Dane’s of the world have been known to be up to 200 pounds (90 kg).

Imagine that puppy trying to sit on your lap as you watch TV!

What Colors do Great Danes tend to be?

You can find a Great Dane puppy in a wide variety of colors. You can find their coats to be Black, Blue, Brindle, Fawn, Harlequin (white with black patches) or mantle (pure solid black and solid white). Our personal favorite is the blue as it seems so unique.

How long is the Coat of a Great Dane?

Great Dane puppies have a smooth short coat which sits close to their body and this means you can spend more time playing and less time grooming. Their coat doesn’t require much maintenance and it should be easy for you to keep it looking fantastic with a shiny and glossy appearance.

How long will I need to spend grooming my Great Dane puppy?

One of the best things about your Great Dane is the minimal grooming that they require. Their short smooth coats will do well with an occasional bath with an oatmeal based shampoo. This shampoo will help you keep their natural oils on their skin and coat, keeping them looking their best. Also brushing can be a good idea for you to get rid of any loose shedding hair. Your Great Dane will most likely appreciate you using rubber brush on its coat rather than a more coarse brush or comb.

Do Great Danes have a long lifespan?

A large downfall of this gorgeous breed is there short lifespan. They have an expected lifespan of around 7-10 years which you may know is one of the shortest amongst all breeds.

In recent years it seems more Danes can reach 10 years when you give them the right care nutritionally, medically and in terms of exercise. Of course don’t forget that some good TLC (tender loving care) from you will always help.

Great Danes are prone to getting a condition called Bloat (Gastric Torsion or GDV). This condition is common in your deep chested dogs such as the Great Dane. Bloat causes your dog’s stomach to swell and twist causing many problems including cutting off blood supply their vital organs. This is believed to be very painful to your Dane and can be fatal. There is a surgical procedure which can save your dog’s life, but your dog must be seen within the first few hours of bloat occurring to have a chance at survival.

It is still relatively unknown what causes this condition but it is believed that a few things can help your Great Dane avoid suffering from it.

• It is a good idea you feed them smaller meals more frequently rather than 1 or 2 main meals.
• It is best that you use an elevated bowl which doesn’t require your dog to lean down over its food. This will hopefully minimize the amount of air they take in.
• Making sure you don’t allow your Great Dane to exercise after eating is suggested. It’s best to let them rest.

If you are planning to own a Great Dane puppy, it is important to speak with a Veterinarian and understand the role you can play in keeping one of these dogs healthy and happy. No doubt the longer you can spend with your Great Dane, the better it will be for the both of you!

What sort of Temperament will a cuddly Great Dane puppy have?

Your Great Danes may grow to be huge dogs and may look very intimidating at times but these pooches truly are gentle giants. You will ad5ore these magnificent pups when they show you how devoted, loving and loyal they can be.

These dogs love and long for your attention. You really get a people dog when you take home a Great Dane puppy. They can be a very relaxed quiet breed, and at times they are submissive towards strangers. However, this won’t stop them from being wary of unusual sounds and sights. With one loud bark they will surely have people taking notice. They will also love the attention of your kids, soaking up their playful pats and cuddles. You must remember though, due to their large size it is not a good idea to leave them alone and unsupervised with your younger children.

One of our favorite things about the Great Dane is their tendency to enjoy leaning on people. When standing next to your Great Dane, it is not unusual for them to lean up against you and of course get a rub behind the ears. This can be a bit daunting at first as you can have 150 odd pounds of dog leaning up against you. This is usually just a sign of affection towards you.

It is important that you do socialize your Great Dane puppy from a young age with both people and other animals due to their giant size. It is necessary that you expose them to many different situations in order for them to grow up to be well balanced and friendly dogs.

How much Exercise will my Great Dane need?

You will need to give your Great Dane a moderate amount of exercise and make sure it is not too excessive. They will do well with you taking them on a daily walk.

Due to their size and length of stride, it is best that you make it a long walk or alternatively that you pick up the pace.Your Great Dane puppy is likely to enjoy playing at the park with other dogs.

Running, jumping and general play with other dogs is a great form of exercise and socialization but it is important not to let them over tire themselves. When they get tired their large size and weight is more likely to cause an injury.

When your Great Dane is still a puppy it is recommended not to over exercise them during this growth period. It takes up to 18 months for your Great Dane puppy to reach its full grown size. It is said that if you take them through too much intensive exercise prior to this age, it can be harmful to their development, especially regarding their joints.

Am I the Ideal owner for a Great Dane?

These large strong but also sensitive dogs require you to lavish attention on them and really welcome them into your family. The Great Dane’s are definitely one of the more unique breeds. It will take a special owner to raise one well and providing them with the care they need. Ideally, to own a Great Dane you have to be willing to train these dogs professionally. It is also important that you are aware of any medical conditions they are prone to so you can provide them with necessary care and prevention.

You don’t necessarily need to have a huge property to own a Great Dane. Often your Great Dane can do well in an apartment as long as you give them daily moderate exercise. You will just have to be willing to share your limited space with such a large and adorable pooch (especially the couch which they are likely to try and take over!).

The best advice we can offer if you are interested in owning a Great Dane is research! These giant pets need you to be educated and to raise them well. Making sure you don’t neglect their needs is a top priority. The instances of Great Danes needed to be re-homed is too high, so before you rush out to adopt one of these gorgeous dogs, please take the time to ensure you are the right match for this breed.

If you find yourself to be the ideal candidate to own one of these dogs, we know that you will not regret it. Great Dane’s are wonderful caring dogs who have loads of character and would be an amazing addition to your family.