The Great Danes’ size may be intimidating to some, but this breed is a joy to live with. They may be big, but their cost doesn’t always follow their size.
The average cost for a Great Dane is between $1,000 and $3,000. Grooming is often unnecessary, so the maintenance cost is usually only around $100 a month. This amount comes mainly from the food needed to sustain a dog of this size.
Aside from the cost, there is a list of things to consider when getting a Great Dane. The price tag of a Great Dane adds up throughout its lifetime. From the purchasing cost to food, maintenance, healthcare, and accessories, we will discuss later the must-knows. For now, let’s understand what goes into a Great Dane’s price tag.
Are Great Danes Expensive To Care For?
Great Danes can get quite expensive to care for.
Great Danes are massive dogs, so they need a lot of care to stay healthy and happy. You will need to spend on their food, regular checkups, grooming, and providing them with things to keep them amused. We will go over some of the common health problems Great Danes can have in a bit.
But once you experience what it is like to have a Great Dane, you will be able to say that they are so worth it.
Great Danes are good pets, especially in a household with kids. They are patient and friendly dogs that adapt well to any family.
Great Danes are excellent pets to have in your family. They provide many benefits to their owners. However, they can be challenging to take care of. Make sure you understand the long-term costs of owning a Great Dane before getting one.
Food And Treats
All dogs need good nutrition. It is especially crucial for Great Danes to prevent many of the medical conditions they are prone to having.
The size of a Great Dane makes it more demanding financially for a dog owner. They grow big quickly, and once fully grown, they will need a fixed amount of calories every day.
Healthcare Bills
Other veterinary costs are associated with owning a Great Dane, including antibiotics for infections, X-rays, surgery for fatal injuries, stomach and gastrointestinal conditions, and hip dysplasia.
How Long Does A Great Dane Live?
Joint Problems
Due to their rapid growth tends to develop joint pains, experience bone-related issues, and suffer from bloating as they age. Unfortunately, this can mean a shorter lifespan than other dog breeds.
Odor
What they do have, similar to other dogs, is their tendency to stink. The reasons why Great Danes smell bad are deemed to be a common occurrence among dogs in general.
It can be an ear infection or dental problem, or it can be simply just their farts or their dirty coats that have not been cleaned for days. Other severe conditions include skin infections, gastrointestinal issues, and anal gland problems.
If your Great Dane smells terrible, it might be because they don’t bathe often. You can train them to love water when they are young. It’s essential to get them used to swimming activities or bathing if they aren’t good swimmers and don’t like it.
Some serious illnesses that make Great Danes emit a foul odor can be fatal. If your dog has a bad smell, you should take it to the vet. These illnesses can be caused by cancer or other serious health problems.
Since Great Danes often have fatal illnesses, you must get regular checkups from your veterinarian.
Gastric Dilatation Volvulus
GDV or bloat is a common issue among Great Danes because their stomachs or intestines tend to twist around. It always requires prompt surgery to treat as this can be deadly.
Heart Disease
The heart of Great Danes can get big but not in a good and healthy way. Cardiomyopathy is one of the leading causes of death in this dog breed.
How To Take Care Of Great Danes?
Great Danes need to be healthy and active, so you should give them a balanced diet and take them on a walk every day. They should eat good quality dog food, but you can also give them human food like animal protein, fruits, and vegetables. This will keep them happy and healthy.
Diet
Adults Great Danes need 6 to 10 cups of dog food per day or around 2,500 calories while Great Dane puppies aged 10 to 24 weeks should eat 4 to 8 cups of dog food daily.
Great Dane puppies should be fed with puppy food designed for large breeds to receive the required nutrients for their age.
Great Dane puppies should have three meals per day for the first four to five months of life. Once fully grown, they should be given two meals per day for life.
If you find that your Great Danes are struggling to bend down and eat from regular dog bowls, you might want to try using an elevated dog bowl instead. Elevated dog bowls help to take some of the stress off of your dog’s neck and joints, making it easier for them to eat.
For the best dog food options for Great Danes, we recommend Pet Plate. Pet Plate follows a specialized healthy formula directed by pet nutritionists, providing your Great Dane with a nutritious and delicious alternative to traditional dry dog food.
Multivitamin Supplements
Sometimes, a meal is not enough to provide the necessary nutrients your Great Dane may need.
To ensure that they get all the needed nutrients, you can add multivitamins supplements to their diet to help complete the recommended nutritional requirements they need.
Can Great Danes Be Left Alone All Day? Temperament Of Great Danes
Great Danes cannot be left alone all day.
They belong to a group of breeds prone to worry or even panic when left alone by their owner.
An anxious Great Dane can get very destructive by barking endlessly, chewing up anything they can get their teeth on. They do best when a family member is home during the day because they always want to be where the family is.
Although they like people a lot, including strangers and children, and will welcome visitors happily, Great Danes can be fiercely protective of their owners. They can sense when you need defending and will not hesitate to attack intruders.
However, as much as the Great Danes are fierce, they are also very affectionate. The thing about them is that they do not understand that they are giants and think they are lap dogs. They will keep trying to get on your lap to cuddle even if you keep moving to maintain circulation in your legs.
Such a giant breed needs training to become safe and social dogs.
Thankfully Great Danes are trainable and intelligent. They respond well to firm, consistent training methods not only for obedience but also for potty training. The early socialization and puppy training classes will help them develop into a well-adjusted adult.
Dog Training
If you need help training your Great Dane, professional dog trainers can help you. Dog training will be beneficial to make sure Great Danes grow up to be friendly and obedient.
A dog the size of a Great Dane, needs to start this training early on. We recommend instilling discipline in them before they grow to a size that can quickly damage your furniture, even though they do not mean it.
Do Great Danes Shed? Grooming Tips For Great Danes
Great Danes shed but only do so during certain seasons.
The Great Dane has a short, smooth coat that doesn’t shed much most of the year. But when the dog gets bigger, it can lose a lot of hair. You need to groom him every week for 10 days.
Brushing him with a medium-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt or tool, or a hound glove will be good enough. Regular brushing will help remove loose and dead hairs before they fall off.
Like all breeds, we should trim the Great Dane’s nails regularly. If they grow too long, the dog can experience pain and have difficulty walking and running.
However, grooming a Great Dane can be difficult, especially if they are not cooperative. If your Great Dane is fussy or unruly, you may need to take them to a professional groomer.
Basic Pampering
Heading to a grooming salon will make it easier to achieve a clean and neat look for your Great Dane. You can try different regular services they offer, including dog baths, hand drying, ear cleaning, nail trimming, and thorough brushing.
Premium Services
Premium services offered by salons include nail filing, dental care, de-shedding, degreasing, and nose and pad conditioning. The best thing about using premium service is that you can have it done at home instead of bringing your dog to the salon.
Related Questions
How Tall Is A Great Dane? A Great Dane stands 30 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder for males, while females have an average height of 29 inches. There’s also a gender difference in weight among Great Danes. The males weigh 140 to 175 lbs while females are lighter at 110 to 140 lbs.
What Color Great Dane Is The Most Expensive? The Great Dane covered in a harlequin coat is the most expensive, making it the most popular version of this dog. Other expensive show colors are black, fawn, blue, and brindle. White Great Danes are the rarest and are noted to be the most susceptible to genetic defects.
Do Smaller Great Danes Live Longer? No, regardless of size, Great Danes have 7 to 10 years of life expectancy. Sadly, some dogs live only for 6 years, and a lucky few reach the ripe old age of 12. Great Danes are prone to many health conditions that can shorten their life span.
