Great Dane Size Guide: How Big Does a Great Dane Get?

Even though you know that Great Danes are great – in every sense of the word (weirdly not Danish, though), you may still be wondering just how big a Great Dane can get. Worry not. In this Great Dane size guide, we have collected together everything you need to determine your new pup’s potential adult size.

Our handy interactive puppy growth chart and calculator takes all the hard work out of predicting your puppy’s potential adult size. This helps you to know exactly what you are in for.

Now, Great Danes are a truly awe-inspiring breed. These statuesque canines may look intimidating to those who don’t know them, but they are actually very sweet and affectionate. It’s not for nothing that they are known as the gentle giants of the dog world.

So if you’re looking for your very own Scooby-doo, chances are, if you’re considering adopting one of these dogs, then you already know a fair bit about what you would be taking on – and you have plenty of space in your home to do it!

Great Dane Size Predictions by Age

Friendly, patient, and dependable, Great Danes weren’t always as gentle as they are now. Bred to hunt boar, these mammoth pups originally had a temper to match their immense size. Luckily though, for lovers of the breed, when people started taking these impressive canines into their homes, they turned it all around.

These days the so-called Apollo of dogs (named for the Greek god of light, music, and prophecy) are known to be sensitive and social critters. As people-oriented dogs, Great Danes are easy to train. They will work their little socks off to please the owner that they love.

Even though Great Danes tower over most dogs (and many people for that matter, when up on their hind legs), these beautiful hounds have the heart of a lapdog – much to the dismay of their owners! There’s nothing quite like having a 200-pound dog clambering all over you looking for a little love!

Okay, let’s take a look at what the growth of your Great Dane will look like in the first year of their life:

Age	3 months	6 months	1 year	Adult
Weight	30 – 45 lbs	70 – 100 lbs	95 – 140 lbs	100 – 200 lbs
Height	17 – 23 inches	26 – 33 inches	28 – 34 inches	28 – 34 inches

*A dog’s height is measured to its withers. This is the space between the shoulder blades.

So, as you can see from the chart, Great Danes go quickly upwards in the first 6 months of their lives. At this time, they will acquire much of their adult height. However, they will only be at around 50-60% of their full weight. They will likely continue to grow well into their second year.

Are There Different Sizes of Great Danes?

There are two variations of the Great Dane: the European ones and the American ones. While these are both held to the same pedigree standard, European Danes tend to be a little larger than their American counterparts with bigger muscles and larger heads.

Another factor that may impact the adult size of your pup is their gender. Like most larger breeds, the male tends to be both taller and heavier than the female. In this instance, boys are 30-34 inches and 120-200 pounds, while girls are 28-32 inches and 100-130 pounds.

People may also speak of ‘Harlequin’ or ‘Merle’ Great Danes. However, these dogs are distinct because of their coat type rather than any differences in their size. Harlequins are white with black splotches in the style of a Dalmatian, while Merles have the same black splotches but a darker base color that is more gray than white.

Great Dane Growth Patterns

Great Danes grow rapidly and in spurts. The largest of these occurs when they are between the ages of 4 to 6 months. In fact, Great Danes grow more in a single year than a human does in the first 14 years of their lives – amazing, right?

For this reason, you will need to select a high-quality food for your growing pup that contains all the nutrition required for supporting this impressive amount of growth.

After that, their growth will slow, although they may hit another spurt sometime around 11 months when getting closer to their adult height. The largest of these dogs may take as long as 36 months to reach their true size.

How Big is a Full-Grown Great Dane?

Recognized by the American Kennel Club as the world’s largest breed in terms of height, Great Danes can reach highs of 34 inches and 200 lbs. If you want to know exactly how big your dog might be, then factor in their gender (males are typically bigger than females) and also take a look at the parent dogs if you have the chance to do so.

A different formula you could use is:

1. Growth = current weight / current age in weeks
2. Adult weight = Growth x 52 (number of weeks in one year)

So, for example, if your 12-week old pup weighs 18 pounds. You simply divide the current weight by their age in weeks and multiply the result with 52:

At What Age is a Great Dane Considered Fully Grown?

Great Danes are generally considered fully grown between 18 and 24 months of age. Many of them will have reached their adult height somewhere between 12 and 18 months. They will then continue to gain in weight. This could occur right up until their third year. It’s really no surprise, though, that these massive dogs need a little more growing time than most other breeds.

If you’re looking for a loveable pooch and have plenty of space for a pony-sized pet, then the Great Dane may be the perfect choice for you. These enormous pups are sweet-tempered, friendly and will provide you with all the love and devotion you could possibly ever need. If you’re keen to track the size of your pup, then the information included here will help you do that and allow you to make an educated guess on their potential adult size.