Looking for a dog with a great physique and shows off strength, elegance, and power? Then the Great Dane is the right choice for you.
With its big size and being one of the most dominant looking dogs, it is surprisingly gentle and friendly.
Great Dane originated from Germany and is also known as German Mastiff. This dog breed was used to hunt down boars and bears. Great Danes were also once trained to guard humans against evils and bad spirits.
Known as the tallest dog in the world, it’s also referred to us as the “Gentle Giants”. A dog as big as this is unexpectedly affectionate and child-friendly.
Having this dog in your backyard will definitely scare off intruders.
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Cost of Purchasing a Great Dane
The Great Dane price ranges from $600 to $2,000 on the average, depending on the breeder, the dog’s age, color, and appearance or condition. The price is obviously higher for a show-quality dog.
At AKC marketplace, Great Danes are listed at $1,500 to $3,000.
If you want to buy a purebred Great Dane, it is not advised to go to a pet store, online brokers or even in puppy mills. You might just end up having a dog with unstable temperament and health issues. It would be better if you look for a registered and reputable breeder.
If you care about pets in general and would want to help abandoned Great Danes, you can adopt this breed as well from different shelters and rescue facilities, typically at a much lower adoption fee.
One-Time Expenses
Shelter – giving your dog a time to adjust and get used to the new surrounding is important. That’s why providing your dog its own space is a must. Because it is a big dog, you should also consider the size of your home. Great Danes will need a big space to run and play.
Large crates and kennels measuring 48L x 30W x 33H inches to 54L x 37W x 45H would be ideal for them and would cost $77.99 to $322.56 depending on the material and quality.
Training – dogs have different personalities and preferences. Training them at a young age can help them to be more acquainted with people and other animals. Training cost depends on what program you will enroll your dog. It ranges from $15 to $20 per hour and up to $240 for ten classes that last for 90 minutes per class.
Shipping – Some breeders include crates and kennels and other dog’s necessities along with the shipping cost. These are typically charged at an additional $400 or even higher depending on the buyer’s location.
Accessories – If you are too conscious of how your dog looks and loves to show it off, here are some of the accessories you might want to have:
- Leashes and Collars – with a price of $10 to $45 each, leash and collars are a must have when owning a dog. They do not only secure your dog’s safety but also those around you. No matter how well trained your dog is, there is a possibility that it would run away and never come back. Though Great Danes are generally well-behaved, if threatened, they can attack other animals. Worse, they can even attack people. Collars are of the same importance. In the event that your dog is lost, people can easily know the owner and can return it back to you. The collar must have the dog’s name, the owner’s name, and phone number.
- Beds and Mats – naturally dogs can sleep anywhere. But if you want them to have a comfortable sleep and if they are not used to cold weather, better get them one of these. A dog owner must prepare $40 to $250 for these two depending on the quality. The K9ofmine.com has listed the top 3 best dog beds for Great Danes with prices ranging from $33.76 to $239.95.
- Toys – these are not just for kids. For big dogs like Great Danes, it is important to get them toys to keep them active. Playtime is also important for dogs. Dog toys cost from below $10 up to $100.
What Are Included When Purchasing a Great Dane?
The inclusions on the price you pay for a Great Dane vary in general, depending on the source of your new “big baby”.
Apart from the microchipped Great Dane, when acquiring a puppy from a reputable breeder, the AKC paperwork, sale documents, vaccination records, and health certificate are typically expected.
Pet stores would typically include some freebies like a collar, a leash and a small amount of food to last a few days while you find a permanent source.
Rescue and shelters on the other hand would almost always provide you with a spayed/neutered dog.
Recurring Cost of Owning A Great Dane
Here are some of the things a pet owner should look into when maintaining a Great Dane:
- Food – Great Danes are awfully big as well their appetite. Needless to say, they will need to eat a lot to stay active. For puppies that consume an average of 80 pounds of food, it will cost $80 to $200 a month for a premium dog food. Adults that consume an average of 40 pounds of food on the other hand, will cost $50 to $100 a month. One of the recommended commercial dog foods for Great Danes is the Instinct by Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Puppy Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food that costs $19.99 for a 4-lb. bag.
- Grooming – hygiene and cleanliness of dogs are very important especially when there are children around. Great Danes are easy to Because they smell less, bathing a giant like this often is not really necessary. Their ears should be cleaned once a week and their teeth need to be brushed once a week as well. Although they do not grow their nails so much, it is better to check and trim them once a while. To prevent too much shedding, you will need to brush their fur once or twice a week. With their size and temperament taken into consideration, overall grooming expenses will cost $55 to $80 when taken to a pet salon.
- Medical Expenses – bloating is the most common health problem of Great Danes. The fact that they are big, it means that they have a slow metabolism. That’s why it’s important to split their meals for about 2-3 times a day. If not avoided, you’ll be spending $300 to $8,000 for a surgery. Other diseases that a Great Dane is susceptible to having are hip dysplasia(costs more than $1000 to treat) and dilated cardiomyopathy which is a form of heart disease. They are also prone to Wobbler disease. A regular visit to a veterinary clinic will cost $20 to $75 per office call, $9 to $40 for anti-rabies vaccination (yearly), $25 to $50 for DHLPP, $12 to $35 for Bordetella, $19 to $50 for heartworm test, and $89 to $109 for spay/neuter procedure (rate may increase depending on the dog’s size and weight).
Factors That Determine the Price of a Great Dane
Age – it depends on what you prefer to buy; a puppy or an adult dog. Although a puppy seems to be much cheaper than an adult dog, the cost of raising it would be more expensive.
Color – usually, the rare-colored dogs are much expensive than those having a very common color. Some of the common colors of Great Danes are the following:
- Black – glossy and solid black.
- Fawn – tan with black mask.
- Blue – steel blue/gray.
- Brindle – tiger striped.
- Harlequin – white-based coat with torn black patches.
- Mantle – similar to a Boston Terrier which costs more than $600.
Harlequin is their most common color.
Appearance – you might also check the dog’s appearance before acquiring one. If you want a show-quality dog rather than a pet, you will have to spend more.
How to Take Care of Great Danes?
Here are some useful tips for taking care of your Great Dane.
Feed them the right food – Dog food are different for every dog breed. They must have the foods that are right for them. Great Dane is a big dog and they must eat a lot. But you should remember to give them food that is less in protein, calcium, and fat.
Keeping your dog clean – It is really not that hard to groom Great Danes so they are low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. As mentioned, bathing them often is not necessary. Bath them only if needed.
Make your dog’s life more enjoyable – Meeting with other dog and other people will make your dog sociable. Playing and cuddling with your dog often will result into having a happy and friendly dog.
Take your dog to a veterinarian – Let your Great Dane have its first check-up. This includes his eyes, ears, mouth, nose, heart, and lungs. Great Dane puppies needed to be dewormed and vaccinated. Make sure you visit the vet regularly.
Family members are a factor too. If you have family members living with you, asking them first if they want to have a pet at home is useful. You wouldn’t want to leave your dog to someone you don’t trust.
