As one of the largest breeds of dog in the world, Great Danes are quite striking to set your eyes on with their surprising elegance alongside their impressive muscularity. They descend from Germany where they were originally bred to hunt bears, deer and wild boar, and to protect the German aristocracy. Despite their history, they have an inherently calm demeanour and are often referred to as ‘gentle giants’. They are instantly recognisable and capture the hearts of many, with Scooby Doo being the most famous of them all. 

But before deciding to bring a Great Dane into your home, it’s essential to understand their temperament, health considerations, and the practicalities that come with owning such a large dog. So, do Great Danes make good pets? Let’s explore.

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Great Danes Temperament – gentle giants?

One of the most endearing qualities of Great Danes is their temperament. Despite their imposing size, Great Danes are often gentle, affectionate, and friendly. They tend to form strong bonds with their families and are known for being great with children. They have a calm and patient nature, making them well-suited for homes with kids or even other pets. Due to their desire to be close to their humans, they often try hard to be ‘lap dogs’, even if they don’t quite fit on your lap!

As their history suggests, Great Danes are also known for their loyalty and protective instincts. While they are not typically aggressive, they will defend their family if they sense a threat. 

Training Great Danes

Even though they have a typically placid demeanour, training and socialisation for Great Danes is essential from an early age. Their immense size means that even a small amount of unruly behaviour can be difficult to manage; an over-exuberant spaniel greeting your friend or pulling on the lead is one thing, a 90kg Great Dane is another! 

As with all breeds of dog, Great Danes are best trained as puppies. I.e. before they have the chance to develop fears and tricky behaviours such as separation anxiety or aggression. You must be prepared to take your dog to puppy training classes and maintain their training well into adulthood to keep up good manners and behaviour. 

Great Dane Puppy Training

1) Socialisation 

Puppies have a ‘critical period’ for socialisation between around 4 to 12 weeks of age. Any positive encounters they have within this time window become imprinted as ‘normal’ to them. So it’s important to get them used to meeting new people and other dogs, of all shapes and sizes, within this time. Puppy groups are great for socialisation reasons as well as to learn some basic training techniques.

2) Exposing them to different environments 

It’s not just meeting other dogs that’s important during the ‘critical period’. Getting your Great Dane used to different objects and situations is just as crucial; bikes, cars, pushchairs, vacuum cleaners, being left alone, going in the car etc. are all part of everyday life, and having a dog that accepts these things as normal and is not scared by them, will make for a much more content dog.

3) Obedience 

The classic commands to ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘leave’ and having good recall will mean you can enjoy your dog instead of worrying if he will run off / steal that roast chicken / bowl your visitors over at the door! Particularly when your dog reaches his full size, having these good behaviours instilled will make him a well-mannered and obedient companion, as opposed to 80kg of chaos! 

This is all well and good, but Great Danes do often come with some ‘quirks’ that can hamper your well-intended training. Separation can be tricky because they typically become very attached to their owners; so may not cope well with being left alone. Chewing and destructive behaviours may result if they are anxious when left. So they should be gradually accustomed to this from a young age, and not left for long periods of time. They are also notoriously strong willed, so training needs to be consistent, positive and reward-based, and ideally done from an early age. 

Great Dane Common Health Issues 

One of the key considerations when choosing to get a Great Dane is their health and lifespan. Their average lifespan is shorter than that of smaller breeds; typically ranging from 7 to 10 years and unfortunately, they are prone to certain health issues. Good insurance is recommended to help with the potentially hefty vets fees.

Bloat and GDV

Bloat (or gastric dilatation) is one of the most significant health concerns for Great Danes. This is common in large breed dogs with deep chests, and occurs when the stomach fills excessively with gas. The bloated stomach can then easily twist on itself, becoming a life-threatening condition called Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (commonly abbreviated to GDV). Something any large breed owner should be aware of. The twisting cuts off the blood supply to the stomach and often to the spleen too. 

It can happen very suddenly, is incredibly painful and without emergency surgery it will be fatal within only a few hours. Surgery is high risk and not always successful. Many Great Dane owners choose to have a preventive surgery called a gastropexy performed, which helps reduce the risk of a GDV developing.

Orthopaedic issues in Great Danes

Orthopaedic problems such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are also common in Great Danes. These conditions start during puppyhood if the joints don’t form correctly. They result in pain and lameness, and they will eventually lead to osteoarthritis as the dog gets older. They require careful management, pain relief, and sometimes even surgical intervention. 

Giant breeds of dog like the Great Dane grow very quickly as puppies, meaning there is a lot of weight and strain on immature bones and joints. Over-exercising a young dog before they are fully developed can lead to problems, as young bones and joints are not as strong as mature ones. A Great Dane will not reach skeletal maturity until they are about 2 years old, compared to around 9-12 months old in small dogs. 

Heart problems in Great Danes

Great Danes are also prone to a heart condition called Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). The heart becomes very enlarged, and as a result the muscular walls become stretched and thin. Therefore they are unable to contract normally to pump blood around the body. It is a dangerous condition because sometimes there are no symptoms, and it can result in a sudden heart attack and death.

Eye problems

Ocular conditions such as entropion and cherry eye can also affect Great Danes, due to their naturally baggy eyelids. These problems can begin when they are very young and often need surgical correction to fix them.

Neurological conditions

Wobblers Syndrome is a neurological condition seen in several breeds including the Great Dane. This develops when the vertebrae in the neck are unstable and put pressure on the spinal cord nerves, causing the dog to lose full control of their limb movement so they become ‘wobbly’, hence the name. While the initial signs can be quite mild, it can progress to be very serious and require specialist surgery. 

Good owner knowledge, regular vet check-ups and a proper diet can help manage some of these health concerns, but it’s important to be aware of the potential risks.

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Great Dane size – practicalities of owning a giant dog

Perhaps the most obvious aspect of owning a Great Dane is their sheer size. Males are usually slightly bigger than females, but they are all at least 71cm tall at the shoulder and generally weigh between 50 to 80kg, sometimes more! With a dog this large, there are some practical considerations that potential owners should keep in mind.

Space: 

Great Danes are generally calm indoors as long as they get adequate exercise, but they do take up a lot of room! They don’t need a mansion to be happy, but they will need a large, comfortable place to sleep and can easily take up an entire sofa to themselves. A wagging Great Dane tail can easily knock things off surfaces, and a box of chocolates on the kitchen side may sit at perfect nose height. You should also consider whether your car is big enough to transport them to the vet or for trips. A large secure garden goes without saying. If you don’t have space for a Shetland pony in your house, then you don’t have space for a Great Dane either!

Exercise: 

Despite their size, Great Danes are not overly energetic. They require regular exercise to stay healthy, but they are not high-energy dogs. A couple of walks a day and some playtime should be sufficient for most Danes. However, their size can make these walks a bit more challenging; especially if they decide to pull on the lead or are not well-trained. As discussed, it’s also important not to over exercise them due to their heavy bodies particularly when they are young and still growing.

Feeding: 

As you might imagine, feeding a dog of this size will be costly so be prepared for a hefty food bill! You will need to feed your Great Dane a high quality diet to support their growth and health, and to prevent issues such as joint problems and bloat. Consult with your vet for advice on feeding if you are in any doubt. 

Cost: 

Giant dogs can unfortunately mean giant costs. Whether it be food bills or vets bills, they are big dogs so they need big volumes of everything. Veterinary drugs are calculated per kilo of bodyweight, so a 70kg dog will need a much bigger dose of medication than a 7kg dog. There’s no escaping the fact that it will cost you more.

Grooming: 

Great Danes have short coats that are relatively easy to maintain But they do shed so regular brushing can help keep loose hair under control. They don’t need regular bathing, but this can be a bit of a challenge due to their size so consider the logistics of bathing for those fateful fox poo incidents. 

The drool: 

Big dogs with big jowls means one thing – a lot of drool! There’s no need for much elaboration here, but just be aware of it!

So, is a Great Dane the dog for you?

Great Danes can indeed make wonderful pets……. but for the right family: those with enough space for a small horse in their house, a garden to match, and some spare cash to spend on their goofy, drooly companion! But if you fit this description, you will be rewarded with a kind, loyal, affectionate member of the family who will prove that good things can come in extra-large packages, too.

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