When your Great Dane loves you it’s the best feeling in the world! I don’t know about you, but I cannot get enough of their affection. Great Danes are a friendly, loving breed that are very human-focused.
Here are 5 ways to tell if your Great Dane loves you!
Your Great Dane will Lean on You
Great Danes are famous for leaning!
It’s actually one of the ways that they show affection. They also learn pretty early on that leaning results in getting pet, and they love that.
When your Great Dane leans on you, they are showing you that they love you!
Brace yourself, though! These large and powerful dogs are gentle but can push pretty hard on you. If your Great Dane leans too much, teach them to stop by calmly saying “enough” and throwing a treat away from you for them to grab.
Great Danes Think They are Lap Dogs!
Another sign of love and affection from your Great Dane is when they sit on you.
Great Danes honestly do not know, understand, or care how big they are. If you are sitting down, and your Great Dane starts scooting backwards towards you, prepare for landing.
A full grown male Great Dane can weigh 140-180 pounds!
Most Great Danes figure out that while they cannot get their whole body onto your lap, they CAN get their rear-end situated there. Of course, we don’t blame them for trying to fit their whole body on your lap. In that case, prepare to be crushed!
Great Danes Will Follow You Everywhere
Let’s put it this way. Great Danes are nosy. They like to “help”, and they like to know where you are at all times.
Consider this a major sign of affection!
You haven’t lived until you’ve had a massive dog open the bathroom door, walk in, shut the door behind them, and then sit on your lap to make sure you’re ok.
Need to get up and grab a drink from the fridge?
Dane.
Did you leave your phone in the bedroom and want to go grab it?
Dane.
Are you heading into the small laundry room with a large basket of clothes?
DANE.
A Great Dane that wakes up from a solid nap to follow you into the bathroom is a Dane that loves you!
Great Danes Paws, Everywhere
When a Great Dane wants to show affection or get your attention, they will use their giant paws.
Expect to be touched, pawed at, whacked, or even knocked over by your Great Dane.
In general, Great Danes tend to be ‘handsy’ and will put their paws all over you given the chance. Keep those nails short so you don’t get scratched up, and if this is a behavior you don’t like, teach your dog to “shake” on command.
By replacing an impulse behavior with a commanded one, you’ll have more control over the situation (and getting slammed in the face).
Your Great Dane Will Be Happy to See You!
If your Great Dane loves you, don’t be surprised by their wild affection when you come home after even just 20 minutes!
Great Danes love it when you come home!
Of course, a dog that jumps and tackles you is painful and potentially even dangerous, so it’s important to teach good skills.
Use impulse control games to teach your pup that they can receive attention from you when they settle down, but not a moment before.
Have you ever wondered about male Great Dane weight, how much an adult Great Dane will weigh, the average weight of a male Great Dane, or what a healthy weight for large breed dogs is?
If you have, then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll be discussing male Great Dane weight and all things related to it.
The average weight of a full-grown male Great Dane is 120 to 200 pounds. However, there are some individuals that may weigh more or less than this. Generally speaking, the larger the dog, the heavier they will be.
Great Dane on gray background
When it comes to large breed dogs like the Great Dane, their weight can vary greatly based on their height and build. A taller dog with a leaner build is going to weigh less than a shorter, stockier dog.
MALE GREAT DANE WEIGHT IN GIANT BREED DOGS
Healthy weight for large breed dogs is often determined by their body condition score (BCS). This is a scoring system that ranges from one to nine, with one being too thin and nine being obese.
A healthy weight for a male Great Dane would be somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, around a four or five on the BCS scale. If your dog is at either end of the spectrum, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian about ways to help them reach and maintain a healthy weight, which can impact the lifespan tremendously.
The average weight of a Great Dane depends on sex, height, age and build.
GREAT DANE BREED SIZE DEPENDS ON GENDER
There are a few things that will affect the average weight of a Great Dane. The first is sex. Males are typically going to be larger than a female Great Dane dog.
Males can grow, on average, to be about two to three inches taller than female dogs and can weigh anywhere from 15 to 25 pounds more. This is a significant difference and something you need to take into account when considering the average weight of your dog.
GREAT DANE ADULT FEMALE WEIGHT: The average weight for giant breeds who are male is 120 to 200 pounds.
GREAT DANE ADULT MALE WEIGHT: The average weight for an adult female Great Dane is 100 to 130 pounds. This is a 20 to 30-pound difference from the males of the breed.
Female dogs are going to be shorter and have a smaller frame than their male counterparts. Female dogs are also going to be much shorter than males.
HEIGHT OF GREAT DANES DETERMINES DANE GROWTH AND WEIGHT
Another factor that will affect the average weight of your Gentle Giants is their height.
The taller the dog, the heavier they are going to be. This is because they have more mass and more bones.
A Great Dane that is two feet tall is going to weigh more than a Great Dane that is only one foot tall. This is why it is important to know the average weight of your dog so you can be sure they are at a healthy weight.
THE AGE / WEIGHT CORRELATION OF GREAT DANES
The last factor that will affect the average weight of a Great Dane is their age. A puppy is going to weigh less than an adult dog. This is because they are still growing and haven’t reached their full size yet. An adult dog is going to be at their full size and weight.
Great Danes typically reach their adult height at about 24 months old because their growth plates remain open until 2 years.
However, all throughout the puppy stage and into both male and female adulthood (24 month+) giant dogs will continue to fill out and have ‘Great Dane growth spurts’.
GENETIC BUILD OF A GREAT DANE
Every giant dog has a genetic predisposition that they get from their parents. This will affect the size, weight, and build of your dog.
If you have a male dog breed that is from a smaller line of dogs, he is going to be smaller than a male dog breed that is from a larger line of dogs. This is something you need to take into account when considering the average weight of your dog.
Backyard breeding has majorly impacted the giant dog breed. Backyard breeders advertise Great Dane dogs as ‘EURO’, claiming that they will sell you a Great Dane puppy that is ‘thicker’ and ‘bigger’ than the average. The word ‘Euro’ is a major red flag.
Oddly enough, the standard for a Great Dane puppy and adult in America and Europe, looks strikingly similar.
See below for a photo of the breed standard for Great Danes in Europe.
EUROPEAN GREAT DANES AND GENETIC HEALTH PROBLEMS
Backyard breeders are are having a major, negative impact on Great Danes, and other dogs. Breed standard is getting lost, and it is causing MAJOR issues.
Backyard breeders are trying to sell Great Danes as ‘EURO‘ Great Danes, advertising them as ‘bigger’ Great Dane dogs. A Great Dane puppy should not be sold as a ‘EUROPEAN‘ Great Dane puppy unless it has proven lineage that traces back to Europe.
The word ‘EURO‘ is a major red flag and is often used by backyard breeders to sell Great Dane puppies that have not been health tested or cleared of genetic defects.
Backyard breeding has caused an increase in congenital and hereditary health problems in Great Danes, and other dogs. Some of these health problems include:
The best way to avoid getting a sick Great Dane puppy is to do your research, and buy from a reputable breeder who health tests their dogs. A reputable breeder will be able to provide you with health clearances for the parents of your Great Dane puppy.
There is NO competition for who’s Great Dane is biggest! The leaner, skinnier Great Danes are the HEALTHIEST, and least likely to develop conditions like hip dysplasia, arthritis, cancer, bloat, and others.
The best way to avoid getting an obese Great Dane is to feed them a high quality, breed appropriate diet, do not OVERFEED your Great Dane, make sure they are getting proper Great Dane growth, and to make sure they get plenty of exercise.
HOW MUCH DOES A GREAT DANE PUPPY WEIGH?
A Great Dane puppy is usually born weighing between two and four pounds.
Great Dane puppies grow at different rates, however the top most important thing to note is that the slower a Great Dane puppy grows, the better.
Fast growth in a Great Dane puppy causes many problems, including but not limited to:
Great Dane growth is one of the most important things during the critical first 12 months, and entire first 24 months. A Great Dane puppy has growth spurts all the way up until 24 months of age, when its growth plates will close. You can generally tell the health of a Great Dane and its growth by looking at its feet.
Knuckling is one of the most important things that can impact Great Dane growth. Unfortunately, when a puppy is between 0-24 months of age, their growth is extremely fragile.
Knuckling occurs anytime between about 3 weeks to about 24 months of age. Knuckling happens when rapid growth occurs and a Great Dane’s growth plates have not closed yet.
Painful movements, inability to hold their paws correctly
WHY DOES IT MATTER IF GREAT DANES KNUCKLE
The first 24 months of a Great Danes life are some of the most important. As the largest dog breed, Great Danes have a lot of growing to do- and they grow quickly.
When a Great Dane knuckles, it means that their bones are not growing correctly. This can lead to all sorts of problems later on in life. Severe knuckling in a Great Dane can even put too much pressure on a Great Danes bones, impacting the normal Great Dane growth and requiring surgery, permanent implants of metal into the bones, or even amputation.
However, every Great Dane owner likes to have a Great Dane growth chart for their dog’s age so that they can see if their gentle giant is maturing according to the ‘average’ or ‘normal’.
Growth charts should be used as a guide for large dogs, and if your Great Dane doesn’t fall within the Great Dane growth chart, you shouldn’t panic. Instead, you should examine your Great Dane and its body condition, rather than trying to make them fit into a growth and weight chart. Remember, it is almost impossible for a Great Dane to be too small, but very easy for Great Danes to be too big/overweight.
To view and read more about the growth chart of a Great Dane, including a growth and weight chart for you to print, click here. For more information about feeding a Great Dane, including a feeding chart, click here.
If your Great Dane is not falling into the Growth Chart, you should not worry. A growth chart is only meant to be a guide, and there are many factors that can impact a Great Dane’s growth. For example, if your Great Dane is not growing as quickly as the growth chart says he should be, it could simply mean he will be a smaller than average size for his breed, which is perfectly normal.
Use the weight chart as a resource for your Great Dane dog, not a bible.
On the other hand, if your Great Dane is growing too quickly, it could be a sign of something more serious, like a rapid growth issue. No weight chart should outweigh the opinion of a Veterinarian. This is a disease that can occur in any large breed dog, and Great Danes are no exception. If you think your Great Dane may have a growth disease, please take him to the vet immediately.
Click below for resources, including a Weight Chart:
A female Great Dane will be about 23.0-30.0 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh about 110-200 pounds when full grown.
The average weight of a female Great Dane is about 150 pounds, but some can be as small as 110 pounds or as large as 200 pounds.
Female Great Danes, like males, should be kept at their smallest healthy weight in order to be in optimal adult shape.
Any excessive adult weight can put extra strain on their joints, causing issues such as arthritis and hip dysplasia as they grow into their adult weight.
Female Great Danes are also more prone to obesity than males, especially after spaying, so be sure to keep an eye on your female’s weight and don’t let her get too heavy.
Feeding a Great Dane dog is one of the biggest priorities that a Great Dane owner should consider. A Great Dane dog requires specific dietary considerations during their typical growth phase (0-24 months) and their subsequent growth stages (24 months plus), as they are different than other breeds in the way that their bodies are formed, grow, and develop.
GREAT DANE PUPPY FOOD
A Great Dane puppy should be on a large breed puppy food, NOT just a regular puppy food. Great Dane growth is incredibly different than needs than small dogs. Large breed puppy formula will support the typical growth of a Great Dane and allow the growth stages to occur in a healthy, slow manner.
Puppy kibbles that we recommend for a growing Great Dane:
Great Dane temperament can be a difficult thing to predict, as it is not always clear what sort of temperament a particular dog will have until he or she is fully grown.
The best way to ensure that you are getting a Great Dane with a good temperament is to get your Great Dane from a reputable breeder who can guarantee that their dogs have been bred for good temperament.
Some things to look for in a Great Dane with a good temperament:
Even disposition
Calm around other animals and people, including children
Adding any dog to your family is a commitment and responsibility. But, getting a Great Dane is an even bigger responsibility because of the size of a Great Dane, the cost of a Great Dane, and the health issues sometimes associated with a Great Dane.
If you are looking into adding a Great Dane to your family, here are some things that you should consider:
Can you afford a Great Dane?
Are you prepared to deal with potential health issues?
Do you have the time to commit to training and socializing a Great Dane puppy?
Do you have the patience to deal with a dog that may be difficult to potty train?
Do you have the space for a dog that may grow to be over 100 pounds?
Do you have another dog that can handle living with a Great Dane?
Are you prepared to deal with potential damage to your home caused by a large, rambunctious puppy?
Do you understand the grooming needs of a Great Dane?
Do you have the time to commit to walking a Great Dane every day?
If you are prepared to deal with all of these things, then a Great Dane may be the right choice for your family. But, if you are not sure that you can handle all of these things, then you may want to consider another breed of dog.
There are many wonderful breeds of dogs out there and each one has its own unique set of needs. Be sure to do your research before adding any dog to your family.
What other things should I consider before getting a Great Dane? Are there any other breeds that might be a better fit for my family?
The best way to find out if a Great Dane is the right breed for your family is to talk to other Great Dane owners and get their input. They can tell you what it is really like to live with a Great Dane and help you decide if this is the right breed for you.
With big Great Dane responsibility, comes HUGE Great Dane love.
Miniature Great Danes (also known as ‘Mini’ Great Danes) are the pocket-sized version of our favorite giant breed dog.
A petite micro Great Dane is still a giant breed dog, but smaller in size. Some people prefer this as it allows them to enjoy the wonderful Great Dane temperament when having a 140+ lb dog isn’t practical.
Are minature Great Danes a breed, and where can you get one? We’ll answer these questions and more below!
Do Miniature Great Danes Exist?
Mini Great Danes are real. They are not a separate breed, but rather they are just small Great Danes.
Miniature Great Danes are not runts. A runt is the smallest pup in a litter and many runts grow into normal sized adults. In some cases, the runt of a Great Dane litter can outgrow their littermates!
On the flip side, some Great Dane runts have health problems and may never reach full size; this does not make them ‘miniature’ in the traditional sense.
Actual mini Great Danes, on the other hand, are dogs of normal weight and proportions. They just happen to be petite.
There is no dwarfism or other genetic condition that causes miniature Great Danes to be small; they simply inherit genes from their parents that result in a smaller size.
On average, an adult Great Dane will weigh between 110 – 170lbs. There are many Great Danes who fall onto the lighter end of the spectrum, with some never even growing past 100lbs!
A ‘miniature’ Harlequin Great Dane
Are Petite Great Danes Healthier?
There is no evidence that Miniature Great Danes are healthier than their larger counterparts.
A well-bred Great Dane from a diligent breeder focused on the written standard for Great Danes is most likely to live a long, robust life.
Breeders who intentionally breed for petite (or huge) size are often utilizing unethical breeding practices. Some of those puppies tend to look more like a ‘small Great Dane looking dog’ than an actual, purebred Great Dane.
Contrary to popular belief, mini Great Danes are not a ‘designer’ dog. You should not pay more for a ‘mini Great Dane’.
A miniature brindle Great Dane
Miniature Great Danes are Still Giant Breed Dogs
While ‘Mini’ Great Danes are smaller than their full-sized cousins, they are still giant breed dogs and have the same nutritional needs.
