Facts & advice

The Great Dane dog breed

  • Lively temperament
  • Intelligent
  • Clever & friendly
  • Affectionate
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Top 6 vital stats about Great Danes...


1

Social

Good with other kids and other pets

2

Exercise

1+ hours a day of exercise

3

Grooming

Brush weekly

4

Feeding

2 times a day

5

Training

Requires consistency and patient approach

6

Shedding

Light shedding

Great Dane health conditions & temperament

Do Great Danes need a lot of grooming?

Regular brushing, once a week, is sufficient to keep their coat healthy and to minimise shedding.

Do Great Danes suffer from health conditions?

These canines are susceptible to cardiac conditions, hip dysplasia, and bone and joint problems such as osteosarcoma.

Do Great Danes bark a lot?

They may vocalise in response to specific stimuli such as unfamiliar visitors or strange noises, but they are not characterised by needless or constant barking.

Interaction rating

4/5 stars

General summary

Generally, their short, smooth coat does not require extensive grooming routines. However, it is important to maintain their overall hygiene with regular nail trims, ear cleaning, and dental care. For health conditions, Great Danes have a higher risk of developing bloat or gastric torsion, which is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate veterinary attention. For barking concerns, as with any breed, individual temperament and training play significant roles in a dog's propensity to bark.

Great Dane feeding & attention

How often to feed them?

The frequency of feeding these dogs largely depends on their age. Puppies typically need to be fed three to four times daily, while adult Great Danes may do well with two meals per day.

What energy levels do Great Danes have?

Their activity levels are moderate; they enjoy regular exercise but are not overly energetic, making them suitable for families and individuals alike.

Easy to train?

Consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement are key in training Great Danes effectively.

Care rating

4/5 stars!

Care summary

These gentle giants are known for their calm and friendly disposition which often aids in the training process. However, due to their size, it is crucial that they receive proper training from an early age to ensure they are manageable as adults.

Great Dane personality & good to knows

Good with children?

Their temperament is generally well-suited to family life, and they tend to get along well with children and other pets when properly socialised.

Good with people?

Despite their formidable presence, they typically exhibit a calm and loving demeanour towards their families. Great Danes are known for their strong desire for human companionship and are often eager to please, making them relatively easy to train.

Good with other pets?

Great Danes are generally well-regarded for their amiable nature and often exhibit a friendly disposition towards other dogs.

Personality rating

Adorable dog!

Personality summary

These gentle giants, despite their imposing stature, typically display a calm and sociable temperament that allows them to interact harmoniously with their families and canine counterparts.

Did You Know?

Originally bred for hunting boar, these majestic canines were esteemed for their strength and elegance by European aristocracy.

Originally bred for hunting boar, these majestic canines were esteemed for their strength and elegance by European aristocracy.

This distinguished pedigree has earned the breed the moniker 'Apollo of dogs', reflecting their status as a symbol of grace and power within the canine world.

This distinguished pedigree has earned the breed the moniker 'Apollo of dogs', reflecting their status as a symbol of grace and power within the canine world.

During the 17th century, Great Danes were customarily found gracing the courts of German nobility, who favoured them not only for their hunting abilities but also for their regal appearance and demeanour.

During the 17th century, Great Danes were customarily found gracing the courts of German nobility, who favoured them not only for their hunting abilities but also for their regal appearance and demeanour.

Dog Insurance Quote

  • 97% claims paid *
  • 24/7 vet video consultations
  • Claims paid directly to your vet
  • Interest free monthly payments

Package available for your Great Dane includes

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Complementary treatment

Up to
£500
per illness/injury

Up to
£750
per illness/injury

Up to
£1000
per illness/injury

3rd Party Liability (dogs only)

Up to
£1M
per illness/injury

Up to
£2M
per illness/injury

Up to
£2M
per illness/injury

Death from Illness*

*Death from illness does not apply to dogs aged 9 and over & cats aged 11 and over

£1,000

£1,500

£2,000

Death from accident

£1,000

£1,500

£2,000

Great Dane Training & Exercise

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Training tips
  • Great Danes are generally considered to be quite receptive to training, owing to their eagerness to please their owners and their notable intelligence.

Keeping them happy
  • It is imperative for owners to provide consistent socialisation opportunities for Great Danes to maintain their amiable disposition.

Vocalisation
  • Proper socialisation and training from an early age can ensure that a Great Dane's barking is well-managed and appropriate to the situation.

Socialisation
  • As with all breeds, individual personality traits and early socialisation play pivotal roles in shaping their congeniality with other dogs.

Great Dane Personality Traits

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Personality
  • While they may appear imposing, they typically exhibit a friendly and affectionate nature, often seeking social interaction with both humans and other dogs.

Suitability
  • These gentle giants are often described as affectionate, friendly, and patient making them good pets for families.

Environment
  • Despite their size, they are known to adapt well to various living environments as long as their social and physical needs are met.

Diet
  • It's essential to provide a balanced diet tailored to their specific growth needs, avoiding overfeeding which can lead to health issues such as obesity.

Frequently Asked Questions

As well as finding the best cover for your beloved pet, you’ll also want to find the best deal on cat insurance or dog insurance. And that means doing your research.

When you compare pet insurance, you’ll receive a pet insurance quotation that meet your pet’s needs. But first, you’ll need to provide the following information to the pet insurance provider:

Your pet’s details: This includes their age, breed and size

How much your pet cost: This only applies if you bought your pet, not if you’ve adopted your pet without an adoption fee (applies if you’ve adopted your pet and paid an adoption fee, the adoption fee will be the pet cost)

Your pet’s medical history: Has a vet diagnosed any existing medical conditions? (information provided at the point of making a claim)

As your pet becomes older, it can be harder to get cover for them. Some pet insurance providers will not let you take out cover for pets over a certain age. At Purely Pets, we have no upper age limit on our pet insurance policies. This makes it simpler to find pet insurance to protect your older pet.

ou already know there are different types of cat and dog insurance cover available, but here’s what that insurance jargon actually means:

  • Lifetime pet insurance: Also known as reinstatement cover, this policy offers ongoing protection for illness and injuries. Your pet is covered for medical treatment administered by a vet up to a certain vet fee limit each year. The full amount is reinstated every 12 months.
  • Maximum benefit pet insurance: Covers each illness or accident up to a fixed amount. Once that figure is reached, your pet is no longer covered.
  • Time-limited pet insurance: An accident or injury is covered for a specific length of time. Handy for short term illness.
  • Accident-only pet insurance: Your pet is covered if they are injured in an accident – but not if they fall ill. Usually up to a certain amount.

At Purely Pets, we believe every pet deserves the very best, which is why we only offer lifetime cover. You can choose from 15 levels of cover, with costs of up to £15,000 covered by your pet insurance. Get an instant pet insurance quote today.

For many pet owners, the idea of not having pet insurance can be worrying. Can you afford to pay for vet fees if the worst were to happen and your furry friend fell ill or had an accident?

It's important to weigh up the possibilities as insurance might be the answer to providing you with peace of mind. 

There are a number of factors that determine how much you pay for pet insurance for your pet dog or cat.

Each pet is different, and the cost of pet insurance premiums can vary accordingly. Luckily, there is bound to be a policy offering you just the right cover for your pet.

The cost of pet insurance can vary according to:

- Type of pet insurance policy

- Amount of cover required

- Your pet’s size and age

- The breed of your dog or cat

- Health of your pet

- Whether your pet has been neutered or spayed

- Where you (or more specifically, your pet) lives

- How much excess you want to pay (just make sure you can afford the amount you decide on).

When working out premiums for your cat insurance or dog insurance, a pet insurance provider will look at each of these factors and assign a risk rating for each one. The higher the collective risk, the more likely you will make a claim – and the higher your pet insurance premiums will be.

As a rule of thumb, the cheapest pet insurance options are accident only. But these also provide the lowest level of pet insurance cover.

At the other end of the scale you have lifetime pet insurance policies, which provide the highest level of protection and give you a range of options should your pet require vet treatment at any time in their lives (providing the pet insurance policy has not lapsed, your policy has been renewed each year, and your premiums have been paid and are up to date).

You need to decide how much protection you want to give your cat or dog and decide on the level of pet insurance cover accordingly.

If you own a happy and healthy pet, you might wonder 'is it worth insuring my dog?'

You should always protect your furry friend with dog insurance – here are three reasons why:

  • Vet bills can be costly: Even the healthiest of pets can sometimes fall ill or get into an accident, and veterinary fees don't come cheap. With a pet insurance policy in place, you can get them the care they need if the have an accidental injury, without worrying about expensive vet bills. Plus, if your dog injures someone else, or their property, third party liability cover can help pick up the pieces.

  • Your pet deserves the best care: Without dog insurance, it's easy for pet owners to go for the cheapest option available to treat their furry friend, but they deserve so much more. Dog insurance will cover the cost of veterinary treatment throughout your dog's life, meaning you can get your pet the right treatment, when they need it most.

  • Get covered before new illnesses develop: Trying to find  insurance once your pet is already ill is tricky. Pet insurance providers often won't cover a pre-existing condition, so you'll still need to pay the veterinary fees associated with this illness or injury. Read the policy wording carefully to check if your dog's pre existing condition is covered or not. Cover from Purely Pets includes dental being accident only in year 1 and dental illness from year 2 onwards.