Great Danes are magnificent giants and are called the Apollo of dogs. They have friendly nature and calm temperament. The first thing that hits the mind is the sheer size of the Great Dane. You might wonder how long Great Danes grow and when they reach their full size? Because this breed grows very large even in puppyhood.
These dogs also have health considerations and it is pretty astonishing to see them grow hands-on. So, in this article, we will talk about their growth, weight, and other things related to their health and body. Read out the article to cover more.
How Fast a Great Dane Grow?
Great Dane puppies grow a bit faster than other large-breed puppies. At the age of 8-12 weeks, a Great Dane weighs about 30 pounds. In contrast, a Labrador retriever puppy weighs 30 pounds at 4 months. That’s obvious; a full-grown Labrador retriever does not reach the size of a full-grown Great Dane.
A Great Dane obtains 15-20 pounds each month at 2-6 months. After that, the weight minimizes to 10 pounds each month at the age of 1 year. When Great Danes are 24 months old, they continue to grow slowly. Giant dog breeds get old faster than small breeds. Other factors such as diet, health, height, and weight also matter.
Great Dane Weight and Growth Chart
| Age | Height | Weight |
| 2 months | 13 to 18 Inches | 15 to 30 lbs |
| 3 months | 17 to 23 inches | 25 to 45 lbs |
| 4 months | 20 to 25 inches | 45 to 65 lbs |
| 5 months | 24 to 30 inches | 60 to 85 lbs |
| 6 months | 26 to 33 inches | 65 to 100 lbs |
| 7 months | 27 to 34 inches | 70 to 110 lbs |
| 8 months | 28 to 34 inches | 80 to 120 lbs |
| 9 months | 28 to 35 inches | 85 to 125 lbs |
| 1 year | 29 to 36 inches | 95 to 140 lbs |
| Males | 32 to 36 inches | 140 to 175 lbs |
| Females | 30 to 34 inches | 110 to 140 lbs |
In How much Time does a Great Dane reach his Full Size?
Great Dames grow extremely fast, reaching their full height in a year. However, their weight takes time but some Danes expand till 2 years old. So, it depends on a dog’s diet and other factors. Suppose how much faster a Dane grows than a human. A Great Dane has 1 to 2 pounds at birth but gains 100 to 200 pounds in two years.
In contrast, a human has 6 to 10 pounds at birth and gains 25 to 30 pounds in two years. That is obvious; a Great Dane lives shorter than humans. Unfortunately, Dane’s lifespan is 7 to 10 years. But still, if a Great Dane captivates in strength work in adulthood, he can make muscles and gain more weight until 3 years or even longer.
How to Support my Great Dane’s Growth?
If you have a Great Dane, then you must support his growth. So, here are the steps to help your Great Dane grow so that he will get a full potential size and healthy body.
Healthy Diet
Diet plays a lead role in healthy growth. So, choose a puppy food made for a giant breed that holds excessive nutrients and protein. Also, overfeeding can cause health problems so, give your Great Dane a meal that is divided into appropriate portions. A Great Dane’s joints and bones are accessible to issues while growing.
That means feeding too much can cause excessive weight gain at an early age, pressuring the joints and bones, and your Dane will not support his bulk body. It can lead to severe muscle and skeletal issues such as hip dysplasia, hypertrophic Osteodystrophy, elbow dysplasia, and osteochondrosis.
Obesity is also a significant issue for giant breeds due to joint stress. Hence, managing your Great Dane’s weight is crucial, and it will give him a better and longer life. Also, do not give Dane high-fat treats during training. But you can give high protein treats that are also tasty such as freeze-fried tendons, peas, livers, etc. You can also use kibbles.
Manage Stress
Ensure to manage the stress levels of your Dane to deal with symptoms of anxiety or stress. So, overeating can cause stress in Great Danes, and under-eating can badly impact his body’s development and growth. Introduce your Dane to several situations from a young age. Also, avoid highly stressful situations for your Great Dane.
Proper Exercise
A Great Dane must not do intense exercise until two years of age because it can affect the growing bones and joints. Also, do not let them walk on a slippery surface, as it can lead to slipping and cause injuries. However, we are not saying that your Dane should not exercise at a young age. In fact, they must do exercise at this age.
Sometimes Danes are lazy but they are athletic and active dogs. Sadly, these dogs are mighty early in life, so they have to avoid tough activities. So, what should you do with a young Dane to burn his energy and fats? Short-distance walks are one of the best options and an excellent way to experience your Dane’s new environment, socialization, and leash practice.
Playing also motivates your Great Dane. So, let your Dane play on grass for hours, playing tug-of-war and playing fetch. Swimming is also a fantastic exercise for Great Danes. Swimming keeps Dane cool in summer and is beneficial for joints. Also, it will strengthen your bond with Dane.
Training and other things, such as puzzle games and snuffle mats, also burn calories in your dog. Also, agility work develops Great Dane muscles and balances them, which protects their joints and stops injuries. When your Great Dane reaches adulthood, let him do rugged activities such as jogging, weight pulling, hiking, and hard agility tasks.
Just be sure to keep an eye on him while doing these activities such as joint pain and overtired. Significantly, monitor your Dane while running and allow him to tell you when he is done. Also, you must not exercise your Great Dane after a meal as it can cause severe bloating, so exercise him after two or three hours of a meal.
Spaying and Neutering
Spaying or neutering your Great Dane can lead to growing them extra-large because it impacts the growth plates of Danes that stop the growth, and then grow extremely tall later. While it is seductive to neuter or spay your Dane early and stimulate growth, it can cause joint problems.
Well, it is not a problem for small breeds. But the female Danes must not be spayed until later in their first heat cycle, and males must be neutered after 2 years. Also, consult the veterinarian about Great Dane spaying or neutering because the vet knows better.
Why my Great Dane is too Short?
If your Great Dane does not have the average weight and height, it does not mean it’s an issue. Here are some factors that lead a Great Dane to grow slowly and smaller than expected:
Underfeeding
You must not overfeed your Dane while growing. Hence, it is essential to feed him appropriately to develop healthy muscles and bones. You can also get help from your vet, who will suggest the right food for your Dane.
As I told you before, feed your Great Dane a food formulated for giant breeds with an appropriate amount of all nutrients to support healthy growth. Less protein in Dane’s puppyhood can lead to an undersized dog.
Inappropriate Exercise
Excessive exercise is dangerous for joints and bones. It also stops your Dane’s healthy weight. Too much exercise and insufficient food can stop the growth, and your Dane will be underweight.
On the other side, insufficient exercise also leads to issues. The early years of the Great Dane’s life are crucial for muscle growth. They will not grow right if he does not use his muscles.
Infection and Diseases
Infections and diseases lead to weight issues in Great Danes. Stress also causes your Dane not to spend the power on growth, and also it has other issues. If your dog has a fever, swell belly, diarrhea, or eats a lot but does not gain weight, immediately consult the veterinarian.
Genetics
A Dane’s final weight and size are decided by genetics. If his ancestors are small, he will also small and lightweight. Moreover, European and American Great Danes vary. American Danes are more petite, less muscular, and light than European and have Greyhound ancestors. While European Great Danes have Mastiff ancestors.
How Big is a 5-month Great Dane?
A Great Dane weighs about 45 to 65 lbs at 5 months. So, a male Great Dane might be more than this spectrum, and a female Great Dane will be lower than that rate.
How to Deal with an Enormous Great Dane puppy?
While Danes grow rapidly but they do not get intelligent fast. That means your puppy weighs about 150 pounds and is obliged to your house. So, keep an eye on your dog’s mental and physical growth. Here is how to manage your enormous puppy:
Leash Training
A Great Dane can override a human quickly, so leash training is essential for family safety. First, teach your Great Dane to walk on a baggy leash. Also, you must use gear for every activity if you teach your Dane to haul weight, such as a harness for dragging, a collar for gentle, and a leash or rope for walking. This way, your dog will understand the behavior.
A small person can also control the Great Dane while walking and must know the walking direction. You must tightly grip the leash while teaching your Danes leash manners, and if he pulls the leash, stop and change the direction. Give a treat to your Great Dane when he does not pull the leash. Repeat this process until he learns the leash manners.
Promote Calm Behavior
You must teach your Great Dane indoor and outdoor behavior. So, begin at a young age, such as not letting your Dane puppy do destructive indoor activities that are not acceptable in adulthood. You must be coherent with your rules. Also, use self-control tips to divert his attention and let him go outside for a round to blow down his steam.
Teach your Puppy Self-Control
Sadly, Danes are not self-control dogs; you must teach and train them in self-control exercises with patience. If you start this training from puppyhood, he will learn better to control himself. So, start by sitting and paying attention to your commands for treats. Command him to sit down; if he remains, sit and obey you, and give him treats as a reward.
But when he stands up or is distracted, stop giving treats to him. This exercise will teach your Dane to focus and controls his desires. It is also a way to teach him the stay command, the next self-control training. The other command is placed, so point to the spot and tell him to stay at that place until you say drop it. It will also teach him to avoid chewing items.
Regularly practice these commands, and your Great Dane will be well-mannered when he reached adulthood. You can also use these commands to distract your dog if he is hyper.
Great Danes are very lovely with humans. It can also cause jealousy in Danes if you ignore them. You must teach your Great Dane social skills to prevent this. Practice your dog’s calm social interactions in puppyhood. Training your Dane for this is challenging, but he will focus once he understands.
Also, ask people to give treats to Dane if he behaves well. Expose your dog to new people, places, situations, and other animals for a positive experience. Also, it will build confidence in your Dane manners as well. So, socialization is essential for a Dane.
How much Bigger does a Great Dane get?
Typically, a Great Dane reaches its full height in 18 months, but it also takes two years to reach it completely. If your puppy is not two years old, he is still building muscles to reach complete height. Ask him about his parent’s height and weight if you own a Dane from a breeder. He will tell you the appropriate size of your Dane.
Also, you can compare your dog’s paws with its body and legs. If their paws are oversized, that means they are still growing.
Great Dane’s Health Problems
Great Danes have many health issues that impact their life and lifespan. One common health issue is skeletal dysplasia, an abnormal growth of joints and bones. This disease makes them move difficult physically and can often cause paralysis.
According to AKC (American Kennel Club), bloating is also a deadly health issue in Danes. There are also other issues, such as cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, and thyroid issues.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do Great Danes Grow Fast?
Great Danes grow fast due to their big growth spurts. According to AKC, a Dane grow in a year as a human in 14 years. So, these dogs are fully grown at 24 months of age.
When does Great Dane Stop Growing?
A Great Dane stops growing at 2 years. However, every pup is different. A fully grown Dane weighs about 175 lbs and has a height of 32 inches.
Which Dog is Bigger than a Great Dane?
A Mastiff is bigger than Great Dane in weight, but an Irish wolfhound is taller than Dane.
What Weight is Healthy For a Great Dane?
A healthy weight for a female Great Dane is 45 to 59 kg, and for Male Dane is 54 to 90 kg.
Are Great Danes Smart and Easy to Train?
Great Danes are easy to train and are quite intelligent. But some Dane is stubborn to training and is very aggressive.
Wrapping up
Ultimately, Great Danes grow very fast and are big in just a few months. However, you can support your four-legged friend’s growth with a proper diet, regular veterinarian’s checkups, high-quality nutrients, and appropriate exercise. So, giving your Great Dane peace of mind is crucial for healthy growth.
I hope this article helps you a lot. But still, if you have any questions, you can ask us in the comment section, and we will respond quickly. Also, please share this article so that others take advantage of it. Thanks for reading!
Checkout our these Guides:
