Home → Dog Breeds → Working Group → Great Dane

Great Dane: Breed Profile, Temperament, Health, and Care Guide

A Great Dane is a giant Working Group breed originally developed in Germany to hunt wild boar and guard estates, standing among the tallest dogs in existence today despite carrying almost none of the aggressive edge that job once demanded.

Nicknamed the “Apollo of dogs” and famous for a gentle, affectionate temperament, the Great Dane is one of the more surprising breeds: massive in size, but low-key in personality. This guide covers where the breed originated, its temperament, how big Great Danes get, how long they live, the health problems they are prone to, grooming, how much exercise they need, how easy they are to train, what to feed them, the pros and cons of owning one, and what else people ask.

What Is a Great Dane and Where Did the Breed Originate?

A Great Dane belongs to the American Kennel Club’s Working Group. Despite the name, the breed has no roots in Denmark; it was developed in Germany in the 1800s to hunt wild boar and later refined into an estate guardian as hunting use declined. Breeders selected hard against the aggressive edge the breed once needed for boar hunting, and by the late 1800s the modern, even-tempered Great Dane had taken shape. Germany declared the breed its national dog, the Deutsche Dogge, in 1876, and the AKC recognized it in 1887.

The American Kennel Club defines the breed in its “Official Standard of the Great Dane”, approved July 9, 2018, which sets out the size, coat, and temperament a Great Dane should have. As of September 2026, the AKC ranks the Great Dane 21st of 210 breeds in popularity.

Which Great Dane Colors Does the Standard Allow?

Seven colors are accepted: brindle, fawn, blue, black, harlequin, mantle, and merle. Harlequin dogs are white with torn black patches, and mantle dogs are black with a white collar, chest, and legs, a pattern once called Boston. Merle was added in the 2018 revision. Any other color is a disqualification, as is the mixed pattern called merlequin. Breeding two merle or harlequin dogs together can produce mostly white puppies at higher risk of deafness and blindness.

What Is a Great Dane’s Temperament Like?

A Great Dane’s temperament is friendly, affectionate, and gentle, earning the breed its enduring “gentle giant” nickname. The standard calls for a dog that is “spirited, courageous, always friendly, dependable and never timid or aggressive.” Great Danes have a fairly low energy level for their size, happy to lounge around the house after a burst of play, and they don’t bark without real reason despite making intimidating watchdogs simply by their presence. Danes are deeply social and don’t do well left alone for long stretches, with separation anxiety a common issue given how attached Danes become to their family.

Do Great Danes Think They Are Lap Dogs?

Many do. Danes lean against their people, climb onto sofas, and try to sit in laps with no sense of their own size. The habit is endearing, but a 150-pound dog leaning on a small child or an older adult can knock them off balance. Teaching an “off” cue and giving the dog its own large, padded bed sets household rules early, while the puppy is still small enough to guide.

How Big Do Great Danes Get?

Great Danes are one of the tallest dog breeds in the world, with a short coat and an elegant, powerful build that belies the breed’s calm temperament. Growth is fast: a puppy can gain several pounds a week, and most reach their full height by around 18 months, though they keep filling out until two or three years of age.

What Is the Average Great Dane Height and Weight?

Measure	American Kennel Club figure
Height	30-32 inches (male), 28-30 inches (female)
Weight	140-175 pounds (male), 110-140 pounds (female)
Life expectancy	7-10 years

Figures are from the American Kennel Club Great Dane breed profile, retrieved September 2026.

How Long Do Great Danes Live?

Great Danes live 7 to 10 years, one of the shorter lifespans of any AKC breed, a trade-off tied directly to the breed’s giant size. Regular veterinary screening for the breed’s most serious risks, bloat and cardiac disease, matters more for Danes than for almost any other breed.

What Health Problems Are Great Danes Prone To?

Great Danes are documented as being at higher risk for the following conditions.

What Is Bloat in Great Danes?

Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus, is the breed’s most serious and well-documented risk. The stomach fills with gas and twists, cutting off its own blood supply, and the condition can kill within hours. A large study published in 2000 estimated that about 42 percent of Great Danes would bloat during their lives, the highest risk of any breed studied. Swelling of the belly, retching with nothing coming up, drooling, and pacing call for an emergency vet at once. Dogs that bloat once face a higher chance of bloating again.

Should a Great Dane Have a Preventive Gastropexy?

Many veterinarians and breed clubs recommend it. A gastropexy stitches the stomach to the inside of the body wall so it cannot twist. It does not stop the stomach from filling with gas, but it prevents the deadly rotation. The surgery can be done at the same time as a spay or neuter, or through a small keyhole incision on its own.

What Is Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Great Danes?

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle in which the heart enlarges and pumps weakly, a frequent and serious concern in the breed. Early stages are silent. Tiring on walks, coughing, fast breathing, and fainting come later. Echocardiograms and Holter monitoring from young adulthood catch it before signs appear, when medication can delay heart failure.

What Is Wobbler Syndrome in Great Danes?

Wobbler syndrome is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck that presses on the spinal cord. In Great Danes it appears in young adults, in many cases before three years of age, as a wobbly, uncoordinated back-end gait, scuffed toenails, and neck stiffness. MRI confirms it. Mild cases are managed with rest and medication, and severe cases need surgery.

What Other Health Problems Affect Great Danes?

Hip and elbow dysplasia are common in giant breeds given the sheer weight the joints carry. Osteosarcoma strikes too. This aggressive bone cancer hits large and giant breeds far more frequently than small ones, in most cases in a leg, and a limp that does not improve deserves an x-ray. Hypothyroidism and several autoimmune diseases are also recognized, and breed health organizations continue to research them. Pressure sores and hygromas, fluid-filled swellings on the elbows, form on dogs that lie on hard floors.

Which Health Tests Should a Great Dane Breeder Provide?

Ask for hip results from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, a cardiac exam by a veterinary cardiologist, an eye exam, and a thyroid panel on both parents. A breeder should also be able to tell you how long the dogs in the pedigree lived and whether any bloated, since both run in families.

How Do You Groom a Great Dane?

Great Danes have a short coat that needs only minimal grooming, meaning weekly brushing, though daily brushing during shedding season helps manage loose hair. Given the breed’s short coat and large surface area, Great Danes are sensitive to cold and build up heat quickly in warm weather, so temperature management matters more for this breed than coat care itself.

Grooming task	How often
Brush with a rubber curry mitt	Weekly, more during shedding
Wipe drool from lips and jowls	Daily, as needed
Trim or grind nails	Every 2 weeks
Check and clean ears	Weekly
Brush teeth	Daily, or at least three times a week

A bath is a two-person job for a dog this size. Many owners use a walk-in shower or a self-service dog wash.

How Much Exercise Does a Great Dane Need?

A Great Dane needs moderate exercise, meaning daily walks and some playtime rather than intense activity, and despite their size, Danes are not an overly active breed. Puppies specifically should not be taken on runs until at least two years old to protect developing bones and joints from the strain of the breed’s rapid growth. The breed enjoys games of tug, hiking, and trick training, though its size makes standard agility obstacles challenging.

Are Great Danes Easy to Train?

Great Danes are trainable, though not always quick responders, and positive reinforcement methods suit the breed’s gentle temperament well. Given the breed’s eventual size and strength, early training matters enormously from a practical standpoint, since a fully grown, untrained Dane is difficult to manage on a leash or around guests.

What Should Great Dane Training Focus On First?

Loose-leash walking comes first, because a Dane that pulls at 150 pounds is a danger to its handler. Polite greetings with four feet on the floor, a reliable “leave it,” and settling on a bed while the family eats round out the essentials. Puppy classes are worth the effort even though the pup will outgrow its classmates within weeks. Keep sessions short and upbeat; Danes lose interest in long, repetitive drills.

What Should You Feed a Great Dane?

Great Dane puppies need a carefully managed large-breed puppy formula that supports slow, controlled growth rather than rapid weight gain, since growing too fast raises the risk of joint problems in this giant breed. Adult Danes benefit from measured, calm mealtime routines, since feeding practices play a real role in reducing the breed’s significant bloat risk.

How Should You Feed a Great Dane to Lower Bloat Risk?

Split the daily food into two or three meals rather than one, and keep the dog calm for an hour before and after eating. A slow-feeder bowl prevents gulping. Research on bloat has linked raised food bowls to higher risk in large and giant breeds, so most vets now suggest feeding from the floor unless a medical reason calls for a raised bowl. Changes in diet should be made gradually over a week or more.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Owning a Great Dane?

Here are the main advantages and drawbacks of owning a Great Dane, side by side.

Pros	Cons
Gentle, affectionate temperament, earning the “gentle giant” reputation	One of the shortest average lifespans of any AKC breed
Relatively low energy level for the breed’s size	Documented, serious risk of bloat and cardiomyopathy
Rarely barks without real reason	Prone to separation anxiety given strong attachment to family
Can live in an apartment if exercise needs are met, though space helps	High costs for food, medication, and veterinary care simply due to size

Anyone drawn to the breed’s gentle temperament who would rather not search for a breeder can contact Great Dane rescue organizations, which place adult dogs regularly, already past the demanding puppy growth phase.

What Else Do People Ask About the Great Dane?

The questions below cover how much a Great Dane costs, whether a family home is a good fit, the difference between the Great Dane and the Mastiff, why the lifespan is so short in the breed, and what bloat in Great Danes is.

How much does a Great Dane cost?

Great Dane prices vary by region, bloodline, and breeder reputation, and given the breed’s size, ongoing costs for food, medication, and veterinary care run considerably higher than for a smaller breed regardless of purchase price. Adopting an adult Great Dane through a rescue is a lower-cost alternative and skips the demanding puppy growth phase.

Is a family home a good fit for a Great Dane?

Yes, Great Danes are widely considered excellent family dogs thanks to a gentle, affectionate, patient temperament that does well with children. Their sheer size means supervision with young children is still recommended, simply because an enthusiastic Dane can accidentally knock a small child over.

What Is the Difference Between the Great Dane and the Mastiff?

Great Danes and Mastiffs are both giant Working Group breeds with gentle temperaments, but they differ considerably in build. The Dane is taller and more elegantly built, while Mastiffs are shorter but considerably heavier and more massive overall, with some individuals exceeding 200 pounds.

Why is the lifespan so short in the Great Dane?

Great Danes have one of the shortest lifespans of any AKC breed, 7 to 10 years, largely because giant breeds age faster and carry a higher documented risk of conditions like bloat and cardiomyopathy that smaller dogs face less often. Researchers don’t fully understand why larger dogs age faster than smaller ones, but early veterinary screening for the breed’s known risks gives a Dane the best chance at a full lifespan.

What is bloat in Great Danes?

Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus, is a life-threatening emergency in which the stomach fills with gas and twists, cutting off blood flow, and it’s among the most serious and well-documented risks in Great Danes. Warning signs include a distended abdomen, restlessness, and unproductive retching, and any suspected case needs immediate emergency veterinary care, since the condition can become fatal within hours.

Related Guides

More guides on The Dogs Wiki cover behavior, health, training, nutrition, and adoption.

Guide
Behavior
Health
Training
Nutrition
Adoption