The Great Dane is a giant dog breed with a gentle nature and a noble appearance. A Great Dane size chart is used to help determine the expected adult size of a Great Dane puppy.
This information can be used to select the appropriate bedding for the dog and to ensure the pup has enough space to grow and play.
Also known as the “Gentle Giant,” these dogs are affectionate, loyal, and protective, making them popular companions. They are also very patient with children and even tolerate cats.
If you decide to live with a Great Dane, you must consider the size of the dog to ensure that you have enough space for your dog to run and play, as well as a comfortable place to rest.
They need a lot of food to support their large bodies, so you will need to budget for these expenses.
When Do Great Danes Stop Growing?
In general, Great Danes reach their full height at around 12 months and their full weight at around 18 months. Yet, many Danes can reach close to their full size as early as 10 to 12 months.
In fact, most pups won’t grow much larger after 10 to 12 months, but will keep growing at a slow pace until they are 18 to 24 months old.
It’s important to ensure that you feed your Great Dane a healthy diet and provide regular exercise opportunities for it, so your dog doesn’t put on too much weight because an overweight Great Dane can suffer joint and muscular problems.
Great Dane Size Chart
The American Kennel Club (AKC) provides a standard Great Dane size chart as a guideline for breeders and owners.
According to the AKC, a mature Great Dane should stand 32 inches at the shoulder for males and 30 inches for females.
The weight of a Great Dane can vary greatly, but it is generally between 140 and 175 pounds for males and between 110 and 140 pounds for females.
Great Danes start life as a puppy of around 1 – 2 pounds and end life at a whopping 145 pounds – they are enormous dogs.
By 4 weeks, your dog will weigh between 5 and 8 pounds and that weight will double in just two weeks. You can start monitoring your dog’s height at two months. By that time it should be between 13 and 18 inches tall.
While the AKC provides a general guideline, each Great Dane will develop at its own pace, and some may be taller or weigh more than others.
Great Dane Weight Chart
Age | Weight lbs | Height | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
2 Months | 18 – 25 lbs | 13 – 18 inches | ||
3 Months | 30 – 43 lbs | 16 – 23 inches | ||
4 Months | 43 – 65 lbs | 21 – 26 inches | ||
5 Months | 60 – 85 lbs | 23 – 30 inches | ||
6 Months | 70 – 105 lbs | 26 – 32 inches | ||
7 Months | 75 – 110 lbs | 27 – 33 inches | ||
8 Months | 80 – 120 lbs | 27 – 34 inches | ||
9 Months | 85 – 125 lbs | 28 – 34 inches | ||
One year | 90 – 140 lbs | 29 – 34 inches | ||
Full Grown Male | 140 – 175 lbs | 30 – 34 inches | ||
Full Grown Female | 110 – 140 lbs | 28 – 30 inches | ||
Great Dane Puppy Development Stages
Birth – 2 Weeks
During this stage, Great Dane puppies are completely dependent on their mother for food and warmth.
They are unable to see or hear, and they will spend most of their time sleeping and nursing.
3 Weeks – 12 Weeks
Great Dane puppies begin to develop their senses and explore their surroundings.
They will start playing with their littermates and show some independence from their mother. This is also the stage when they will receive their first vaccinations and start to be weaned from their mother.
Your puppy will show its biggest growth spurt between 4 and 6 months. Great Danes grow in one year just as much as humans do in the first 14 years of life.
4 Months – 9 Months
This is the stage where Great Dane puppies will start developing adult teeth. They will continue to grow and fill out, and will become more energetic and playful. This is a good time to start obedience training.
At around 7 months your pup has reached adolescence.
From 8 months, your Great Dane puppy will become more confident and independent, may start to show some dominance over other dogs and people, and start responding to basic commands.
This is a critical stage for socialization, so introduce your pup to many new people, places, and experiences.
10 Months – 18 Months
At around 10 months, your dog will start paying more attention to your commands than before, especially if you have been training it for a while.
Your dog is now strong enough to go out for walks, but don’t go too far because its bones are still developing.
Your dog should be well-socialized by this time and enjoy the company of other dogs in the park.
Adult
Between 18 months and two years, Great Dane puppies will have reached adulthood and will be their full size and weight. They will continue to mature and develop, but the rate of growth will slow down.
This is a good time to focus on physical exercise and mental stimulation to maintain their health and well-being.
Great Danes are considered fully grown between 18 and 24 months. Most Great Danes will reach their full height by 18 months and continue adding muscle during their second year
How Big Do Great Danes Get?
A full-grown adult female Great Danes can weigh up to 140 lbs and will stand 30 inches tall.
Male adults will weigh about 175 lbs and will be about 32 inches tall. The following factors can give you an indication of your dog’s eventual size.
Genetics: Genetics is a determining factor. If your Great Dane’s parents were both huge dogs, you can expect your dog to reach a similarly large scale. Also, if you have a male dog he will be heavier and taller than female dogs.
Follow a weight chart: Apart from genetics, the two biggest factors affecting a Great Dane’s size are exercise and nutrition. If your dog gets nutritious food and enough exercise, its weight should be close to the numbers on the weight chart for its age.
The paws are an indication of size: Look at your puppy’s paws. If they seem out of proportion with the rest of its body, your puppy will probably end up being large.
Do a DNA test: The medical profession has isolated the genes responsible for size. If you need to know how big your dog will be, consider a DNA test.
Male vs Female Great Dane Growth Chart
You will notice from the Great Dane growth chart that the female dogs weigh slightly less and are not quite as tall as the male dogs.
For instance, at 6 months, the females weigh 65-80 lbs and stand 26-27 inches tall, while males at this age weigh between 70-105 lbs and stand 29-30 inches tall.
By the time they reach a year, the females weigh 100-130 lbs, and the males weigh 120-140 lbs. The females are on average 2 inches shorter than the males.
You can use the Great Dane weight chart to know how your dog compares to other dogs of the same age and gender. If you have a female dog, simply look under females for the weights and heights at the age your dog is now.
Will Neutering/Spaying Affect My Great Dane’s Growth?
Spaying or neutering a dog early in its life won’t stunt its growth. In fact, it might even cause the dog to grow bigger than it otherwise would have.
In the past, veterinarians recommended spaying and neutering early in a dog’s life but the research on this matter suggests that it’s not the best practice for dogs, especially giant and large breed dogs.
Some studies show that early neutering or spaying affects a dog’s growth plates, delaying its proper closure. This is what causes the dog to grow taller than it should.
Dogs with taller bones are more prone to joint disease later in life. It’s advisable to wait with sterilizing until a dog has passed puberty. In the case of a female dog, she should have completed her first heat cycle.
It is best to consult your veterinarian on the best time to spay or neuter your dog.
Irish Wolfhound Vs Great Dane Size
The Irish Wolfhound originated in Ireland and the Great Dane originated in Germany. It is thought that the Great Dane is a cross between the English Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound.
When comparing the two, the Great Dane tends to be a bigger dog, but the Irish wolfhound tends to stand taller.
The Irish Wolfhound stands between 28 and 35 inches tall, whereas the Great Dane stands between 28 and 32 inches tall.
In general, Great Danes weigh between 110 and 175 pounds, while the Irish Wolfhound weighs between 90 and 160 pounds.
Factors That Affect Great Dane Growth
Genetics & Gender
Genetics is usually an indication of how large a dog eventually will be, but it’s not fail-proof. Looking at the parents can usually give you a sense of how large your dog will be, but it’s nothing more than an indication. The parents may have genes that will not affect their offspring as you expect.
Remember that female dogs are slightly smaller than male dogs, so if you want a Dane that is not gigantic, consider getting a female dog.
The best is to speak to your breeder to find out if the parents have had other offspring and how they turned out.
Nutrition
Nutrition is a significant factor in determining how big or small a dog will grow. The most important consideration is to feed your dog high-quality kibble that provides a well-balanced diet.
This is especially true for a giant breed puppy. Giant breeds need highly nutritious dog food that’s high in protein, fiber, carbohydrates, healthy omega fats, vitamins, and minerals.
The trick is not to overfeed this breed because if there’s food your dog will eat it. A Great Dane that carries too much weight is sure to have joint problems later in life.
Physical Activity & Health
The amount of exercise a Great Dane gets is a critical issue for its health.
Too much exercise can be risky for growing joints and bones, and too little exercise can lead to underdeveloped muscles and weight problems.
Too much exercise can also prevent a Great Dane from putting on enough weight. A dog that gets too much exercise and not enough nutritious food will be unhealthy and underweight.
Great Danes do well on two or three moderately long walks a day, combined with one or two play sessions in the backyard.
Take care not to over-exercise your Great Dane, especially when it’s still a puppy because its bones and joints are not fully developed yet.
How Much To Feed A Growing Great Dane Puppy?
When buying food for your Great Dane puppy, make sure the food is formulated for giant breed puppies.
Giant breed puppies grow very fast and become huge dogs, so they need highly nutritious food developed especially for giant breeds.
A two-month-old puppy should have three meals a day adding up to 2-3 cups of dog food. After a month, you can feed the dog twice a day but increase the portions to 3-5 cups. At four months, your pup can get 4-6 cups per day.
By the time your dog reaches 9 months, you can give it 6-10 cups a day. Your adult Great Dane will eat 6-10 cups of food per day.
To help you decide how much to feed your dog, simply consult the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to Tell If Your Great Dane Is Underweight or Overweight?
Dog owners often don’t realize that their dog is not the right weight, since weight gain and loss can be very gradual, so it goes undetected.
Follow these steps regularly to determine if your dog is the correct weight.
Feel Your Dog’s Ribs
Stand next to your dog and run your hands over your dog’s sides. If you can barely feel the ribs or can’t feel them at all, fat is obscuring the ribs. Your dog is overweight.
If the ribs are prominent and you can’t feel anything between the skin and the ribs, your dog is underweight.
Feel Your Dog’s Spine
Do the same with your dog’s spine. Run your hands over its spine. As with the ribs, you should be able to feel the spine, but not too prominently.
If you can’t feel the bones of the spine at all, you have an overweight dog. If you can clearly see and feel every individual vertebra, your dog is underweight.
Also, have a good look at the shape and contour of your dog’s stomach. It should be nicely tucked under and not sag.
Do Great Danes Experience Growing Pain?
Your growing puppy can suffer from growing pains caused by a painful inflammation of its long leg bones, called panosteitis.
It usually starts at around six to ten months and alternates from leg to leg.
If your dog seems uncomfortable and reluctant to move around, it may be suffering from growing pains. You can carefully touch your dog’s legs to see if it is sensitive to touch. If it is, take it to the vet for X-rays.
Panosteitis doesn’t cause permanent damage, but it’s painful enough to require pain medication.
What to Do If My Great Dane Is Not the Right Weight?
If you suspect your dog is not the right weight, consult the Great Dane size and weight chart to confirm your suspicions.
If the difference in weight is not significant, don’t worry; puppies grow at different rates.
If your dog is significantly heavier or lighter than the average figures given on the chart it may be time to take your dog to the vet to see what the problem may be.
It could be an underlying health condition, incorrect feeding, or exercise-related.
However, it is unlikely that your dog will have a weight problem if you have been following the suggestions for healthy portions and don’t give your dog too many treats.
Also, make sure your Great Dane gets at least two hours exercise every day, which will help with weight management.
How To Help Your Great Dane Lose Weight If He Is Overweight?
Decrease The Amount Of Food
This is an obvious step to take, but do consult your vet first to know by how much you can decrease your dog’s portions.
Increase Exercise
Your Great Dane should get at least two to three hours of exercise a day. If that is not currently the case, simply increase the time to meet that requirement.
Long, regular walks are the best exercise for Danes. Don’t let your dog run or do vigorous exercise. You can use a GPS collar to help you track your dog’s activity level and adjust it according to the readings you get.
Consider Weight Loss Dog Food
Consider feeding your dog food for weight loss. These foods are lower in calories and higher in fiber, which helps the dog feel full.
Look for low-calorie pet food intended to help Great Danes lose weight.
Consult Your Vet
Before you take any steps, talk to your vet. First, to check that your dog indeed needs to lose weight, and second, to confirm what you need to do.
Your vet will know the best way to help your dog lose weight and will be able to spot any underlying issues that might require additional treatment.
How to Properly Weigh My Great Dane?
Because a giant breed like the Great Dane should never carry extra weight, it’s important to stay on top of your dog’s weight right from the beginning.
While you can easily pick up a small dog to weigh it, it’s not possible with a giant dog like a Great Dane. You only have two options for weighing a Great Dane: a weighing scale for large dogs, or your vet’s scale.
Many owners of giant dogs invest in a weighing scale for pets specifically designed to accommodate animals.
These scales come with a side-mounted display, so you don’t have to try and read your dog’s weight while its paws cover the display.
Because it’s important to be sure that your puppy develops correctly, you should weigh it every month until it reaches adulthood. Your adult dog doesn’t have to be weighed more than twice a year.
Great Dane Genetics and Common Health Problems
Large dogs tend to have a short lifespan. Great Danes live between 7 and 10 years, with some dogs only getting to 6 years. They are prone to a number of health conditions that can affect their life span.
Bloat
Bloat is a life-threatening condition that affects large breeds. It causes the stomach to twist and cuts off blood supply.
If your dog has an extended and a hard stomach and seems uncomfortable, get it to the vet as soon as possible. Find out about the symptoms so you can react in a timely fashion.
Cardiomyopathy
Great Danes are known for suffering from cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes the enlargement of the heart.
Joint & Bone Disease
Like other giant breeds, Great Danes are prone to joint and bone diseases, such as hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. These conditions may become so painful and debilitating that the owners of these dogs may face difficult decisions regarding their dog’s treatment options.
Hypothyroidism
Great Danes are also prone to thyroid problems. This autoimmune disease may cause your dog to put on weight without eating more than usual. The disease can be treated with medication.
Final Words
Great Danes are calm and gentle. They are renowned for their affectionate nature and ability to get on with other animals and children.
Your Great Dane will require enough, but not too much exercise and special, nutritious food. And you need enough space for your dog to live and move about comfortably.
Just remember, this is a canine companion that won’t be with you for many years.