The Ultimate Guide to Great Dane Puppies: 15 Things Every Buyer Should Know

Great Dane puppies are easy to fall for. They are also easy to buy badly.

 

Whether you type “great danes”, “gran danes” or “dane dog puppy” into a search bar, you are looking at one of the biggest dog breeds there is. Most regrets come from the same few surprises: the size, the bills and the health risks. Here are the 15 things that matter before you pay a deposit.

Key takeaways

• Adult males reach 140 to 175 pounds, so size affects your car, your floors and your food bill.
• Great Danes live about 7 to 10 years.
• Color changes the price. It does not change health or temperament.
• Always ask about both parents before buying a merle or harlequin puppy.
• Bloat is the biggest health risk. Ask your vet about a preventive gastropexy.
• Health records and written paperwork matter more than distance.
• Good breeders ship, so you do not need to find a puppy near you.

1. They get very big, very fast

An adult male Great Dane weighs about 140 to 175 pounds and stands at least 30 inches at the shoulder. Females run 110 to 140 pounds and at least 28 inches.

 

So if you wonder how much the average Great Dane weighs, think of a grown adult. Check your car, your floors and your space before you check puppy photos.

2. They do not live long

Great Danes live about 7 to 10 years. Owners call it the heartbreak breed for that reason.

 

Giant breeds age faster, so senior care arrives earlier than it would for a small dog. Go in knowing that.

3. They are great house dogs, if you train early

A Great Dane is calm indoors, loves people and usually gets along with children and other pets. First-time owners can do well with one.

 

The catch is manners. A friendly 130 pound dog that jumps up is a problem, so start puppy classes early. And keep it inside with the family, because Danes do not do well as yard dogs.

4. The puppy price is the small part

Price depends on color, breeder and region. The Great Dane Puppies listed at Mainely Danes start at $800 for fawn and black, and brindle is $900. Merle and mantle are $1,000, and blue and harlequin are $1,200. Those prices were current when this was written.

 

Cost guides such as Petful put the first year at $4,000 to $6,000 once you add food, vet care, a big crate and a bed. After that, plan on $2,000 to $4,000 a year. An adult can eat 6 to 10 cups a day, and weight-based medication costs more for a giant dog. If you are looking at Great Danes to buy, budget for the years, not just the puppy.

5. Color changes the price, not the health

Harlequin is white with torn black patches. Merle is grey or blue-grey with black patches. Blue is solid steel grey, and mantle is a black blanket with white on the chest, collar and legs. Fawn is gold with a black mask, brindle is fawn with dark stripes, and black is solid black.

 

Blue and harlequin usually cost the most, fawn and brindle the least. “Grey Great Dane puppy” is not a registered color, and people usually mean blue or merle. A “black and white Great Dane” can be a mantle or a harlequin, so ask for the registered color. Then pick the healthiest puppy from the best breeder and use color as the tiebreaker.

6. Merle needs careful breeding

Two merle parents can produce double merle puppies, which are at risk of deafness and blindness. That is also why a “rare” solid white Great Dane is a warning sign, not a bargain.

 

Harlequin is linked to the merle gene too. If you are looking at merle Great Dane puppies for sale, including a blue merle Great Dane, ask whether the litter was a merle-to-merle cross. A good breeder answers right away.

7. Boy or girl matters less than you think

Males are bulkier. Female Great Dane puppies are a little smaller and lighter.

 

Personality varies more from dog to dog than between the sexes. Price follows color too: at Mainely Danes, a blue female and a harlequin male were both listed at $1,200. Choose the puppy, not the sex.

8. Bloat is the biggest health risk

Great Danes have one of the highest bloat risks of any breed. The stomach fills with gas and twists, and it can turn fatal fast. Emergency surgery can cost $1,500 to $7,500.

 

A preventive gastropexy tacks the stomach in place, and it often costs far less when done during a spay or neuter. Smaller meals and no hard play around mealtimes also help.

9. Ask for proof of health testing

Great Danes are prone to heart disease, hip dysplasia and thyroid problems. A good breeder tests the parents and shows you the results.

 

Mainely Danes says its parents are evaluated for hips, eyes, heart and thyroid, with OFA documented testing. Ask any breeder to show the records for the actual parents of your puppy.

10. Know the scam red flags

Great Danes are in demand, so scams are common. Walk away if a seller refuses a video call, cannot show health records for the parents or has puppies ready before eight weeks. The same goes for anyone who asks for payment only by gift card or wire, or lists a price far below everyone else.

 

Searches for dane puppies for sale and great dane dogs for sale turn up good and bad sellers side by side. Check each one the same way.

11. A good breeder tests, shows and writes it down

A good Great Dane puppy breeder tests the parents, lets you see them and puts promises in writing. Purebred Great Dane puppies for sale should come with registration papers and vet records.

 

For one example, look at Mainely Danes. It is a family breeder in Chula Vista, California, raising Danes since 2001 and an AKC Breeder of Merit. The parents live on site, and each puppy has its own profile with color, eye color, price and health information.

 

Check it the way you would check any breeder.

12. You do not have to buy near you

Most buyers start with “great dane puppies near me”. Distance matters less than paperwork. A well-documented breeder in another state beats a vague seller down the road, whether you live in North Carolina, Pennsylvania or anywhere else.

 

Mainely Danes delivers to all 50 states. Ground van is $300, flight nanny is $450 and express air is $500, charged separately from the puppy price. Local pickup is by appointment.

13. Look at the mother and the litter

A Great Dane with puppies shows you the real thing. Look for a calm, healthy mother and clean, active puppies that are used to people.

 

Great Dane dogs and puppies raised in a home, around children and other pets, tend to settle in more easily. If you cannot visit, ask for a video call.

14. The first weeks are about rest and routine

Eight weeks is the usual age to go home. A puppy Great Dane at that age is already bigger than many adult small dogs.

 

By 11 weeks, expect lots of sleep and fast growth. Feed a large-breed puppy food, skip stairs and long runs, and book a vet visit in the first few days.

15. Read the paperwork before you pay

Good paperwork includes AKC registration, vaccination and deworming records, a vet health certificate and a written health guarantee.

 

Mainely Danes puppies come with a 2-year health guarantee. The reservation deposit is $400, and refund requests are reviewed case by case, so read the policy first. Do the same with any breeder.

FAQ

How much do Great Dane puppies cost? It depends on color, breeder and region. At Mainely Danes, listed puppies ranged from $800 to $1,200 when this was written. Compare what each price includes.

 

Why are Great Danes so expensive? Everything scales with size: food, medication doses, crates and surgery. A single bloat surgery can cost $1,500 to $7,500.

 

What color Great Dane is most expensive? Harlequin, blue and merle usually cost the most. Fawn and brindle usually cost the least.

 

Is a Great Dane a good house dog? Yes. Great Danes are calm indoors and people-oriented. They need space, early training and a budget for a giant breed.

 

Are boy or girl Great Danes better? Neither. Males are bulkier and females a bit smaller, but personality varies more by individual.

 

Is a Great Dane good for first-time owners? It can be, if you commit to early training and plan for the cost and health risks.

 

How long do Great Danes live? About 7 to 10 years.