With a great dog comes great responsibility. If you are thinking of getting a Great Dane, you know that everything about them is big--including the costs. The price tag of a Great Dane adds up throughout its lifetime, from initial cost to food, health care, and accessories.
What’s the initial investment?
It’s easy to see why a Great Dane costs more than a typical dog, because there is so much more of him. Full-grown males weigh between 140 and 180 pounds, while females weigh between 110 and 140 pounds.
As with any dog, you can choose to adopt or purchase a Great Dane. Adopting is obviously cheaper, but can be more work, especially if you are set on getting the dog as a puppy.
Depending on where you adopt, fees can range up to $400. Purchasing a Great Dane from a breeder can cost between $600 and $3,000, depending on the breeder and the dog itself. The higher price tag usually comes with a show-quality dog, which you might not need if you're just in the market for a pet.
If that seems steep, just remember to know which dog is really right for you before taking the plunge. It's a lot of money and a big commitment. To help you be sure, here's some great info about the breed in general.
How big is the food bill?
Another factor to consider when examining your budget is food. Great Danes need a lot of food to keep going. Their appetite will grow with them, but male adult Danes require between 7-10 cups of food a day, and females between 6-9 cups. You should budget around $60-$80 a month for food.
Danes require a low-protein, low-calcium, low-fat diet, even when they are puppies. Its important to feed adult maintenance dog food formulas from the beginning, NOT food marketed for puppies. Typical puppy food will give them too much protein, calcium and fat, which will cause them to grow too quickly and lead to health problems.
It's very important to spread out your Dane's daily diet between two or even three meals per day to avoid bloating. Bloat is a very scary problem for Great Danes; it means his stomach is twisted and intestines become compromised, and it is serious enough to kill. If your dog becomes bloated, she requires immediate medical attention, which will most likely lead to a surgery that costs between $1,000 and $1,500.
What about other veterinary expenses for Great Danes?
In addition to bloat, Great Danes have a few other common health concerns to go with their special personalities.
First, they’re susceptible to cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease, in old age. Danes are also at risk for osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, hypothyroidism (more common in females than males), hip dysplasia and epilepsy.
You should also consider the height of this breed. Because of their size, they are able to reach surfaces most dogs cannot. You’ll probably need to keep toxic substances out of their reach, which can be tough when your dog is taller than you when he’s standing on his hind legs.
Along with these health risks, which can vary in cost and severity, routine veterinary care will cost more for a Great Dane than for a smaller breed, since the price for medications and other services is often determined by the pound. Any surgeries, x-rays or complicated procedures will also be higher because of the sheer size of the dog.
Are there any other costs?
Similarly, all of the items that go along with a Great Dane will cost more, from her bedding to her crate and leash. The price of boarding will often be high, as could be the cost of replacing items your Dane knocks over or grabs off the counter and chews up!
related resources
Danes are naturally loving dogs who are very intelligent and respond well to positive reinforcement. They have wonderful potential to be great dogs, but without proper training, a dog this size runs the risk of knocking over people if he jumps up or pulling you all over town if he does not learn how to walk on a leash correctly.
For this reason, thorough training is very important, which may consist of enrolling in obedience training, another item to factor into your budget. It’s important to note that because of their sensitive temperament, whatever training you choose really, really should be based in positive reinforcement, since Great Danes tend to react negatively to harsh commands and physical corrections.
So, overall, Great Danes are expensive, and it’s mostly just because they’re big. That said. They’re just really awesome dogs, and if you’re looking for the love of your life, this is a breed that can fill that role nicely.