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Breeds  /  Great Dane
Breed guide

Great Dane

Gentle, steady and famously large, the Great Dane is a companion breed in a giant frame. They are calm indoors, deeply attached to their people, and far less demanding of exercise than their size suggests — but they need room, a budget that accounts for a big dog, and someone home enough to keep them company.

At a glance

Breed overview

A working-group giant with a companion dog's heart. Low to moderate energy indoors, patient with children, and happiest leaning against the person they love.

Breed groupWorking group
Size110–175 pounds
Height28–32 inches
Lifespan7–10 years
TemperamentGentle, patient, devoted
Energy levelLow to moderate
Good with kidsYes
Good with other petsYes, with early socialization
Honest fit check

Is a Great Dane right for you?

A great fit if you want…
A calm, affectionate companion that wants to be in the room with you
A gentle giant that is patient with children
A home with the floor space, the vehicle and the budget for a giant breed
A dog that would rather lean on you than run ahead of you
Personality

Temperament

The temperament is the biggest reason this breed is so loved.

Gentle with their family

The nickname 'gentle giant' is earned. Danes are patient, tolerant and remarkably soft with the people they live with.

Calm indoors

Grown Danes spend most of the day asleep. They need a good daily walk, not a job — the energy comes in short bursts.

Deeply attached

They want to be where you are, and they do not do well shut away from the family for long stretches.

Unaware of their size

A friendly Dane can knock over a toddler without meaning any harm, which is why early training matters more here than in a small breed.

Appearance

Distinctive by design

Tall, square, powerfully built frame
Short, smooth, low-maintenance coat
Long neck and deep chest
Soft, expressive face with natural ears
Recognized coat colors
Fawn
Golden with a dark mask
Harlequin
White with torn black patches
Merle
Grey with darker mottling
Black
Solid glossy black
Grooming & care

Keeping a Great Dane healthy

Coat care
The short coat needs little more than a weekly brush. Danes do shed, and there is simply a lot of dog to shed.
Bathing
A bath every couple of months is usually plenty. Plan where you will do it before your puppy is 140 pounds.
Growing joints
Keep exercise moderate and surfaces soft while a Dane puppy is growing. Too much running too young is hard on developing joints.
Exercise
A daily walk and room to stretch out is enough for most adults. They are sprinters, not marathon dogs.
Training

Trainability

Start early
Everything you teach a 20-pound puppy you will be grateful for at 150 pounds. Leash manners especially.
Positive reinforcement
Danes are sensitive for their size. Praise, consistency and food work; harsh correction makes them shut down.
Socialize widely
A confident Dane is a pleasure in public. Introduce yours to people, surfaces and noise early and often.
Health considerations

Why responsible breeding matters

Every breed carries its own strengths and its own things to watch, and no honest breeder will tell you otherwise. A family deserves the whole picture before they choose a puppy — not a sales pitch.

We would rather you ask us hard questions than wonder later. Here are the ones worth asking any breeder, including us. You can see each puppy’s parents, and their health testing, on the puppy’s own page.

What health testing do you do on the parents?
Every breeder should be able to answer this plainly and without hesitating. Ask what’s been done, and ask what hasn’t — some evaluations can only be done once a dog is fully grown, and a straight answer about that tells you more than a perfect one.
Can I see the results?
Testing means little if nobody can look at it. A breeder who publishes results, or hands them over when asked, is a breeder who expects you to check.
Can I meet the parents?
The parents show you the temperament and condition your puppy is growing into. Meeting them in the home where the litter is raised tells you things no document can.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Ask what’s guaranteed, for how long, and who picks up the phone in a year. The answer to this question is where good breeders and quick sales part ways.
Modern lifestyles

A breed that fits the way we live now

Room to stretch out

They do not need acreage, but they do need floor space, a big bed and a vehicle they fit in.

Family life

Danes are at their best in a busy household where somebody is usually home.

A steady presence

Their calm, leaning affection is why many families describe a Dane as the most comforting dog they have owned.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions about Great Danes

Males typically reach 30 to 32 inches at the shoulder and 140 to 175 pounds; females are usually 28 to 30 inches and 110 to 140 pounds. They keep filling out until around two years old.

Think a Great Dane is your match?

See who's available now, or join the waitlist for an upcoming litter.

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