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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+8
Dogs
# The Great Dane: temperament, price, health, and breeders
Germany
A harmonious giant, affectionate and protective with a big heart.
Size GiantLife expectancy 8–10 yearsBudget ≈ €183/monthPuppy €1,000 – €1,500
[Find a breeder 75](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=great-dane)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Very good
Daily exercise needs Moderate
Apartment living Good
First-time owners Limited
Other pets Good
Tolerance of being alone Limited
Guarding instinct Excellent
Strengths and weaknesses
- Very affectionate: He develops a strong attachment to his family and readily seeks the closeness of his loved ones.
- Calm at home: Despite his size, he knows how to be calm and pleasant indoors in a stable household.
- Natural protector: His presence and vigilance make him a deterrent guard without systematic aggressiveness.
- Delicate growth: Its early years require rigorous management of diet and exercise.
- Demanding size: Its size and strength require space, suitable equipment, and solid training.
- Fragile health: Its average robustness requires increased vigilance regarding joints and veterinary follow-up.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Calm homes: He thrives better in a stable and quiet environment.
- Experienced owners: His training and day-to-day management are easier for owners already accustomed to powerful dogs.
- Families often at home: He enjoys family life and copes better with a daily routine where he is not left aside.
Not recommended for
- First-time owners: Its size and its need for early guidance make it poorly suited to a first canine experience.
- Very athletic people with intense expectations: This is not a dog made for sustained or repeated exertion, especially during growth.
- Households neglecting the budget: Its grooming, its food, and its health monitoring represent a significant cost.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
78 cmGreat Dane
- Height at the withers
- 70–85 cm
- Weight
- 45–70 kg
- Coat
- Short, smooth and shiny
- FCI group
- 2
- Origin
- Germany
- Grooming
- High-maintenance coat
## Photos and videos
See the Great Dane in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The origin of the breed was long debated, because the Great Dane is indeed of German origin, even if it was very widespread in Denmark, hence its other name of Grand Dane. It is said to descend from medieval hunting dogs for boar and bull, with ancestors often linked to the Tibetan Mastiff and the old Bullenbeisser. Modern breeding of the Great Dane began in Berlin in 1878 and the first standard was established in 1880 before being taken up and adjusted by the FCI.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The Great Dane is a giant dog with an imposing yet harmonious appearance, often nicknamed the Apollo of the canine kind. Its body fits into an approximate square, with a long and finely chiselled head, a rectangular muzzle, ears set high and naturally drooping, as well as a tail set high that tapers toward the tip. Its coat is very short, smooth and glossy, and can be blue, black, harlequin, fawn or brindle.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
Powerful in appearance, the Great Dane is nevertheless a very affectionate companion, attached to its family and generally calm at home. Alert without being aggressive, it combines a strong deterrent presence with a gentle and protective temperament. It is generally good with children and sociable with strangers, while remaining more reserved with other animals.
Affectionate Intelligent Sociable Protective
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
One often imagines that a dog of this size needs an immense space, whereas the Great Dane adapts quite well to indoor life if it benefits from a stable environment and regular outings. It likes the company of its loved ones, tolerates a neglectful lifestyle poorly and needs sustained attention, especially during its growth. Its bark and its stature make it a natural guardian, even if it is not quarrelsome by nature.
Training
## Training and socialization
The Great Dane needs early, consistent and controlled training because of its physical power. It must learn very young to walk without pulling and to respect clear rules, because an adult of this size becomes difficult to manage without good foundations. Even if it is not the most obedient, it is a receptive dog that understands well what is expected of it when the training is constant and calm.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Great Dane
The Great Dane requires an already significant acquisition budget, to which are added high maintenance costs due to its size, its diet and its health monitoring. The overall cost must be anticipated before any adoption.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/great-dane/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The Great Dane requires careful monitoring, particularly during its first three years, because its growth is very rapid and its bone structure remains sensitive. Its large size puts more strain on its joints and requires properly adjusting exercise, diet and veterinary follow-up.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/great-dane/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The diet of the Great Dane plays a major role in its bone development and quality of life. Its very rapid growth requires a complete, well-balanced ration that is regularly adjusted to avoid deficiencies as well as excessive intake.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/great-dane/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The Great Dane is often nicknamed the Apollo of the canine race because of its noble and harmonious silhouette. It is also known by several names, including Danish, Deutsche Dogge, Grand Danois and Great Dane, but the French reference name remains Dogue Allemand.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Great Dane
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Can the Great Dane live in an apartment?
Yes, it can adapt to indoor living if it has a calm environment, regular outings and enough space to move around comfortably.
### Is the Great Dane easy for a first-time owner?
No, its large size and need for early training make it a dog better suited to owners who can establish clear boundaries from a young age.
## Find a Great Dane breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Great Dane breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[Great Dane breeders in Hauts-de-France12](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/hauts-de-france) [Great Dane breeders in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes10](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/auvergne-rhone-alpes) [Great Dane breeders in Occitanie9](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/occitanie) [Great Dane breeders in Nouvelle-Aquitaine8](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/nouvelle-aquitaine) [Great Dane breeders in Brittany7](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/brittany) [Great Dane breeders in Grand Est7](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/grand-est) [Great Dane breeders in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur6](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/provence-alpes-cote-dazur) [Great Dane breeders in Centre-Val de Loire5](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/centre-val-de-loire)
### Great Dane breeders by country
[253 breeders of Great Dane in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/germany) [97 breeders of Great Dane in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/italy) [75 breeders of Great Dane in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane) [16 breeders of Great Dane in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/netherlands) [14 breeders of Great Dane in Denmark](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/denmark) [13 breeders of Great Dane in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/austria) [9 breeders of Great Dane in Spain](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/spain) [6 breeders of Great Dane in the United Kingdom](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/united-kingdom) [5 breeders of Great Dane in Croatia](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/croatia) [4 breeders of Great Dane in Finland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane/finland)
[All breeders of Great Dane in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane)
## Ready to welcome a Great Dane?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-great-dane)
## Compare Great Dane with other breeds
- [Great Dane vs. Cane Corso](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare/great-dane-vs-cane-corso)
## Discover other breeds
[Broholmer
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/broholmer)
[Dogo Argentino
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/dogo-argentino)
[Dogue de Bordeaux
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/dogue-de-bordeaux)
[Tibetan Mastiff
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/tibetan-mastiff)
[Majorca Mastiff
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/majorca-mastiff)
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