The Great Dane is widely regarded as one of the largest dog breeds, both in terms of height and weight. Despite their intimidating build, Great Danes are absolute sweethearts which is why they earn the title of “gentle giants.” Pitbulls, on the other hand, are medium dogs that are known for their strong will, confidence, and sometimes dangerous temper. Surprisingly, the two make for an awesome pairing producing one of the most loveable mixed doggies.
The Great Danebull is a mixed breed dog developed from a Great Dane and a Pitbull. Due to the massive size differences, the Great Dane is always chosen to carry and whelp the puppies, while the Pitbull is used as a stud. The aesthetics of the Pitbull Great Dane mix vary depending on genetics. However, the personality is more predictable, with the mix being celebrated for its gentle and loving nature.
Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about these designer doggies.
How Big Will A Great Dane Pitbull Mix Get?
It is not always easy to predict what a Great Dane Pitbull mix will look like.
This is because of how fundamentally different the Pitbull and Great Dane are when it comes to aesthetic features. The best way to understand what to expect is to have an idea of what the two doggies look like, as the resulting mix takes a few features from each parent.
Here is a brief description of the possible Great Dane Pitbull mix’s features.
Size
The Great Danebull falls somewhere between the giant Great Dane and the medium-sized Pitbull. These mixed doggies can grow between 60 to 100 lbs in weight and 24 to 30 inches in height.
Build
The build on a Great Dane Pitbull mix will often resemble the Great Dane more closely. They have a leaner form but may also be compact and incredibly muscular, like the Pitbull.
The legs of a Great Danebull may also be longer and more proportional compared to the body than the slightly short and muscular ones found on Pitties.
Head And Facial Features
The head is where the Pitbull’s features shine the most when it comes to the Great Danebull’s aesthetics. The mixed dogs often take after the Pittie’s large head, half perky and half droopy ears, as well as their small, wideset eyes.
Coat Color And Traits
Both Pitbulls and Great Danes have short and smooth coats, which the Great Danebull will inherit. This coat comes in a variety of colors, including cream, gold, black, gray, and brown. The mixed doggy may also get merle and brindle markings from the Pittie or a salt and pepper type of coat from the Great Dane.
How Long Do Great Dane Pitbull Mixes Live For?
A Great Dane Pitbull mix can live for 10 to 15 years. This is quite a lot for a large dog breed especially compared to purebred Great Danes whose lifespan is 8 to 10 years.
This longevity in the mixed pooch can be attributed to the fact that Great Danebulls are generally a very healthy mixed breed. Most of the health issues that affect both parents are excluded during cross-breeding.
However, this does not mean that Great Dane Pitbull mixes are completely disease free. Here are some common health issues they have.
Bloat
Great Danebulls are prone to experiencing gastric dilatation volvulus. This happens when the stomach rapidly expands when Danebulls eat too fast or too much.
The expansion causes the stomach to twist which results in obstruction and buildup of air and gastric contents. This outcome is what is known as bloat and may be life-threatening in some cases.
Cancer
As with many other purebred and mixed pooches, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Great Dane Pitbull mixed doggies. The best way to improve the outcome for your dog is early detection and management, which is why regular veterinary checkups are so important.
Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is very common with large dog breeds, and the Great Dane Pitbull mix is not an exception. The abnormally formed hip and elbow joints at first cause mild discomfort and limited range of motion for the dog and eventually balloon into complications like arthritis.
Skin Irritation
Skin irritation in Great Danebulls is often triggered by external parasites like fleas and mites. It could also be a result of exposure to allergens in food or other particles like pollen or grooming products.
A good grooming routine and a healthy diet are usually sufficient when it comes to the prevention of this health issue in Great Dane Pitbull mixed dogs.
How To Take Care Of Great Dane Pitbull Mixes?
If you are worried about how to take care of a dog as large and physically demanding as a Great Dane Pitbull mix, you have come to the right place. To be honest, they are relatively low maintenance, especially if you know what you are doing.
To help you out, let’s take a look at a few general care tips that should help you raise your Great Danebull.
Invest In High-Quality Dog Food
Great Dane Pitbull mixes are very sensitive to the food that you give to them in terms of ingredients and nutritional proportions. It is important that you only feed them dog food from trustworthy brands like Pet Plate that actually use human-grade ingredients and vet-approved recipes.
Watch Your Great Danebull’s Food Portions
Great Danebulls can develop obesity in which case inappropriate food portions are the biggest culprits.
To avoid such outcomes, feed your Great Danebull about 1 to 2 cups of dry dog food when they are just puppies, 3 to 4 when they are a few months around the one-year mark, and up to 6 cups during their active adult years.
Supplement The Diet With Micronutrients
Micronutrients like vitamins and minerals are not always in adequate amounts in even the best quality dog foods. That is where supplements come in handy, ensuring that your Pitbull Great Dane pooch gets everything that they need to stay healthy.
1 To 2 hours Of Exercise Every Day
A long walk or playtime at the park should be enough to keep the dog happy and healthy. If you are not always able to take them out, find ways to get them the exercise they need indoors.
We recommend the iFetch Interactive Ball Launchers for Dogs in this case, with its adjustable throw distance making it safe and convenient to use inside.
Are Great Dane Pitbull Mixes Aggressive? Temperaments Of Great Dane Pitbull Mixes
One of the most common concerns when it comes to Pitbull mixes is whether or not they will end up being as aggressive and dangerous as their Pitbull parents. This is a concern even with mixes involving super friendly and gentle breeds like the Great Dane.
In a nutshell, you do not have too much to worry about with a Great Danebull when it comes to temperament. Here are a few traits you may get to see if you have one of these doggies.
Affectionate
Great Danebulls are huge cuddle bugs that love to show and receive affection from their human companions. So prepare to give a lot of back pats, tummy rubs, hugs, and cuddles to your loving doggy.
Attention-Seekers
Great Dane Pitbull mixed doggies love to be the center of attention. The social dogs will always find a way to get you to notice them from goofy antiques like rolling around on the floor to barking.
Active
If you want a companion for your errands or adventures outdoors, Pitbull Great Danes are perfect for you. These outdoorsy and athletic dogs are always in their element where they can get to run and stretch their very long legs.
Gentle
Pitbull Great Dane mixes may not be giants like their Great Dane parents, but they are every bit as gentle. This makes them worth considering if you want a companion pet for a home with young children.
Even-Tempered
Unlike Pitbulls, Great Danebull mixed doggies are not very reactive and aggressive. They are instead very tolerant and even-tempered which is another trait that makes them great family dogs.
Are Great Dane Pitbull Mixes Hypoallergenic? Grooming Tips For Great Dane Pitbull Mixes
Great Dane Pitbull mixes shed moderately to heavily and may not be the best mixed option for people with allergies to pet dander and fur.
The shedding volume and patterns with this mixed pooch also determine the grooming practices that work best with the Great Danebull.
The good thing with Pitbull Great Dane mixes is that they can be very easy to take care of especially with the right grooming routine. Here are 2 of the most important tips that should help you figure out how best to take care of your doggy’s coat.
Brush The Coat 3 To 5 Times A Week
Brushing on a regular basis helps minimize shedding around your home by picking loose fur out of the coat and leaving healthy, rooted strands only. This will not only help you take care of your home surfaces, carpeting, and upholstery but also the Pitbull Great Dane’s coat.
A 3 to 5 times weekly routine with the FURminator Undercoat Tool should do the trick and the strong, metallic bristles will leave your dog with smooth, healthy fur.
For the little fur that will manage to escape between your grooming sessions iRobot Roomba i3+ would be a great asset. The automated vacuum is actually designed to help clean up pet dander and fur.
Wash The Great Danebull Every 2 Months
Pitbull Great Dane mixes have problematic skin and are prone to allergic reactions and infections. Washing them every 2 months is ideal in these cases as it avoids stripping the skin and fur of much needed protective oils.
Taking good care of your Great Danebull’s skin is also about using the right shampoo in which case Seamus Cherry Blossom Whitening Dog Shampoo. The mild cherry blossom fragrance is especially awesome for dogs that start to smell funny due to skin issues.
Related Questions
Do Great Danes And Pitbulls Get Along? Great Danes and Pitbulls can actually get along. The friendly and gentle nature of the Great Dane is ideal for the easily agitated Pitbulls. The fact that Great Danes are significantly larger than the Pitbull dog discourages the latter from picking fights that they would most likely end up losing.
How Much Is A Great Dane Pitbull Mix? Great Dane Pitbull mixes go for $600 to $1,000 or more. The availability of a Great Dane for the mix is one of the biggest determinants behind how much the mixed pups will end up costing. Tight regulations on ownership and breeding of Pitbulls in some places may also increase the cost of breeding and eventually how much you have to pay for your pooch.
Can A Great Dane Kill A Pitbull? If a Great Dane were to get sufficiently agitated, they could very easily kill a Pitbull. However, Great Danes are very tolerant and rarely ever aggressive. This means that they are not likely to pick a fight or even engage in one unless the Pitbull relentlessly harasses the otherwise gentle giant.
