Great Dane Characteristics
Life expectancy: 8 – 10 years
Adult weight: 100 – 120 lbs.
Adult height: 32 – 36 in.
Origin – Germany
A hunting dog from the middle ages, the Great Dane is a hunting dog that originated in Germany and was originally for the German nobility. The term great can be given to its size as it is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. But as intimidating as it looks, the inner personality is just as soft and friendly. They are rightly referred to as the ‘gentle giants.’
Initially, they were used for hunting boars, deer, and bears for the nobility. They are mastiff sighthound type dogs which were previously also called "German Dogge" and "German Mastiff."
‘Apollo of dogs’ as termed by the AKC, these dogs are available in a variety of colors, including fawn, brindle, black, harlequin, grey merle, mantle, and blue. Despite them being a hunting-type breed, they do not have a very strong prey drive. They will make humans, other pets, and even non-canine pets feel comfortable around them. There is a reason they are called gentle giants.
What is the price of a Great Dane?
The price of a Great Dane will include its adoption, initial costs, and the other expenses that could be incurred thereafter in its maintenance. We will break down the price by categorizing it by initial buying/adoption costs, vaccinations, diets, healthcare, grooming, and miscellaneous expenses.
Adoption: $100 – $300
One reason for the huge price range when it comes to Great Dane cost is that there are several ways to get one. The most common way is to get in touch with a reputable breeder and buy a pup from them. The cost can vary depending on the reputation of the breeder, the health of the pup, gender, and age, among other factors, but on average it will cost you around $1200. And if the breeder provides papers, the cost can go up to around $2000-$2500. Talking about coat colors which can influence the price, a Harlequin Great Dane price can be around $2000 because of the rarity of the color. A blue or merle Great Dane on the other hand can cost about $1500 as they are not as rare. More common colors like white and black may cost an average of $1000.
If you are looking for Great Dane puppies for under $200, then adoption would be the best way to go forward. There are several adoption shelters in the US that can help you adopt one of these. The only problem is that it may be difficult to find the exact color or age you’re looking for. But nonetheless, adoption is a great way to get a Great Dane, and you’re helping the shelter to provide services for other dogs! The cost of adoption is around $100-$300.
Monthly costs for a Great Dane
Diets: $100-$120
With a great name (literally) and a great size comes a great appetite. These dogs will have to be fed more food than an average size dog in order to maintain their physique and energy requirements. A good vet-recommended raw dog food could cost you around $100 per month. You can also add meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables (not all, so read about them before feeding) to their diet once in a while. Supplements are recommended to help boost their joint health. This could be about $20/month.
Grooming: $50-$60
Grooming these Great dogs is where you can try to compensate for the food and diet expenses. Due to their short coats, they do not require much grooming. Brushing them a couple of times a week and taking care of their teeth, ears, and nails would be substantial. The costs of grooming supplies if you decide to groom your pet at home could cost around $50-$60.
Medical Costs: $700-$1200
During the first years, it is recommended you take your pet to the vet about 3-4 times annually. Vet fees can range from $100 to $300, and could include things like annual wellness exams and blood tests among other recommended preventive care treatments. Other examinations and tests could cost you another $300-$400.
Like all breeds, Great Danes are at risk for developing health conditions over the course of its life. Some common health conditions seen with this breed are canine dilated cardiomyopathy, joint and bone problems, and Osteosarcoma. There may be costs involved in treating them as well:
Canine dilated cardiomyopathy - $1000-$1500 ($150 per month after that for medications)
Joint and bone issues - $3000-$4000 (plus the cost of supplements)
Osteosarcoma - $2500-$4000
One-time costs for a Great Dane
Initial Costs: $400-$500
Big dogs will need big quality toys, a big bed, a big crate, leashes and collars, food and water bowls, among other initial items. Overall, the expense for all these can be around $500.
Microchipping: $50-$70
The average cost of microchipping is around $50, but may vary from state to state. Along with a dog license, it could cost an additional 10-20 bucks. Spot pet insurance highly recommends every pet parent get all their pets microchipped as it can increase the chances of finding a lost pet.
Vaccinations: $250-$300
There are certain core vaccinations that a Great Dane would need. These include distemper, parvovirus, Adenovirus, type 1, Adenovirus, type 2, and rabies. All of these could cost you around $150-$200.
There are certain non-core vaccinations as well that are recommended by most vets for a Great Dane. These include parainfluenza, Lyme disease, and leptospirosis. The cost of these vaccines can be around $130-$150.
Miscellaneous $200-$250
There should always be a sum of money kept aside for miscellaneous expenses like dog sitting, park visits, trips that you could take with your dog, and dog walkers. These expenses could cost around $250 annually.
Lifetime Great Dane Cost
Our estimate of the monthly costs is around $250-$300, which brings our annual costs to around $3000. Adding the initial buying cost, initial costs, and other one-time and miscellaneous costs, we can conclude that a Great Dane could cost you around $30,000-$35,000 in its lifetime.
How can Spot Pet Insurance help?
Spot accident & illness pet insurance plans offer a wide variety of coverages from microchip implantation to surgeries and prescription food and supplements prescribed to treat your pet’s unexpected accidents and illnesses. (Prescription food and supplements used for general health or weight maintenance are not covered). For an extra cost, Spot dog insurance plans offer preventive care coverage add-ons to help cover the costs of certain routine vaccinations, annual wellness exams and other preventive care treatments. You can view the add-on preventive care coverage options. Get in touch with us to know more!
Conclusion
The 36 inches-tall gentle giants may not be an easy ride for your wallet. The overall costs and the medical costs can be heavy on your pockets over the course of your Great Danes life. However, if your budget allows, then these dogs will repay you with their undying love, affection, and playfulness. And anyways, Spot plans can reimburse you up to 90% of your eligible vet bills for covered conditions, so you can worry less about costs!
Happy Parenting to you and Lots of Love to your Pup!
