The Great Dane lifespan is a popular topic for the well-loved dog breed, whose giant size certainly draws the eye.
However, if you have ever shown an interest in this breed, you may have quickly learned the Great Dane lifespan is significantly shorter than a lot of other breeds.
In this article, we aim to show you just why this is the case, along with some tips to help promote longer Great Dane lifespan.
How Long Do Great Danes Live?
Looking for the actual average Great Dane lifespan can be a bit confusing online. Different people conclude different age ranges that contradict one another.
So which one is true?
Rather than taking the internet’s unsubstantiated claims as proof, we should look at the scientifically-backed statistics to find the truth.
A scientific study performed in 2013 describes the Great Dane as one of the shortest-living dog breeds, with a median lifespan of 6.0 years within its compiled data on the breed.
Another study that took place within the UK in 2010 states that the Great Dane has a median lifespan of 6.5 years within their set of data.
These two different scientific studies arrive at very similar conclusions despite having completely different data sets. We can conclude that it is very likely that 6.0-6.5 years is close to a true average Great Dane lifespan.
It’s important to note that it is possible for Great Danes to live longer than this average. Some Great Danes can live up to ten years or more.
However, the point still remains that the average lifespan of this breed is significantly lower than most other breeds.
But why is this the case?
Causes of the Great Danes Shortened Lifespan
Across the animal kingdom, larger sizes come with larger lifespans. For example, an elephant can live for 60-70 years, whilst a common sparrow may only live 2-3 years. This is a big generalization of course!
But when it comes to dog breeds, larger sizes seem to correlate with shorter lifespans instead.
It’s not only the Great Dane that runs into this problem; giant breeds such as the Irish Wolfhound, Leonberger, and Mastiff all have significantly shorter lifespans in comparison with other breeds.
So what is it about large sizes in dogs that causes this effect on their lifespan? A scientific study that sought to answer this question confirms there is a negative relationship between size and longevity if they consider variations amongst breeds.
They state that a cause of this may be artificial selection; breeders across generations breed their largest dogs together specifically with the goal of creating larger and larger dogs.
This rapid growth within breeds seems to lead to much higher incidences of severe developmental diseases that severely impact the overall lifespan of giant dog breeds.
Another scientific study into this matter found that giant breeds tend to age a lot faster. They concluded that this is a major cause of the shortened lifespan we see in these breeds.
These two causes combined are some of the big factors that lead to the short Great Dane lifespan. But another significant factor is the health risks that the Great Dane is predisposed to.
Great Dane Health Risks
Some severe health risks exist within this breed. If present, they can significantly lower the Great Dane lifespan or even be fatal.
An incredibly severe condition known as Bloat can develop within Great Danes, and can quickly cut their life short if it is not treated within a few hours.
Bloat is where the stomach fills with gas and then twists, cutting off the blood supply to the stomach and other digestive organs, whilst simultaneously impeding blood from returning to the heart. This causes cell death, which then releases toxins into the blood. If left unchecked, it will be fatal.
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If you own or are thinking about owning a Great Dane, it’s well worth acquainting yourself with the symptoms of the condition and to have a plan of action for if it occurs.
Another big killer of Great Danes is Dilated Cardiomyopathy. This is a heart disease that targets the muscle of the heart, resulting in poor pumping ability. Unfortunately, the disease is progressive and incurable and eventually may lead to congestive heart failure.
This condition, along with other heart problems, is found to be a cause of mortality that was 21x more prevalent within Great Danes than in other breeds.
These major health risks are another factor leading to the Great Danes shortened lifespan. What can actually be done to help ensure that a Great Dane lives as long as possible, despite the odds?
Keeping a Great Dane Healthy
It is possible for a Great Danes lifespan to be significantly longer than the 6-year average. Of course, you can’t truly guarantee a Great Dane lifespan, but you can care for them fantastically throughout their life.
You can take actions that can promote good health, which then, in turn, can promote a longer life.
Choosing a Good Breeder
The first step is to ensure that you buy your Great Dane puppy from a reputable and established breeder. A good breeder will screen their stock for genetic health conditions, and show you proof there will not be an issue within your puppy.
The longest living breeds tend to have less genetic health problems to worry about so buying a Great Dane puppy free from any genetic issues already gets you started off on the right foot!
Ensuring Their Diet is Top Notch
Another thing you can do is ensure that you are fulfilling all their nutritional needs throughout their life, especially during their development as a puppy.
Giant breeds such as the Great Dane grow at an alarming rate, and therefore they require that their diet as a puppy is great so that they can develop correctly. Good nutrition at this stage goes a long way in avoiding developmental diseases and conditions such as Hip Dysplasia.
Work with your vet to create a diet plan that fulfills all your Great Dane’s nutritional needs. Your Great Dane will thank you for it!
We also have an article here to serve as a guide for feeding Great Dane puppies.
Along with their diet, keep an eye on your Great Dane’s weight. Being under or overweight can increase the risks for many severe health conditions that may shorten the Great Dane lifespan.
Work with your vet to understand the ideal weight for your Great Dane and work towards it.
Keeping them Groomed and Exercised
Finally, general care goes a long way.
Making sure they are trained and socialized from a young age means less chance of them getting themselves into dangerous situations and keeping them groomed reduces the chance of skin conditions and other health problems.
Fulfilling their daily exercise needs is also a great way of keeping their bodies in good shape, and some of the most active dog breeds are long-living, like the Australian Shepherd.
Great Dane Lifespan and You
The Great Dane can be a wonderful companion in the right hands, but sadly with a shorter lifespan than most. However, if you bought them from a good breeder and fulfilling all their needs, you are giving them the best chance at a long life.
Have you ever owned a Great Dane? What do you think promotes a long life within this breed?
Let us know below!
References and Resources
O’Neill, DG, et al, Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England The Veterinary Journal, 2013
Adams, VJ, et al, Methods and mortality results of a health survey of purebred dogs in the UK The Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2010
Battaglia, CL, Bloat and the Risk Factors, Breeding Better Dogs
Richardson, DC, The Role of Nutrition in Canine Hip Dysplasia Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 1992
Meurs, KM, et al, Clinical features of dilated cardiomyopathy in Great Danes and results of a pedigree analysis: 17 cases (1990-2000), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2001
Galis, F, et al, Do large dogs die young?, Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution, 2006
Kraus, C, et al, The Size-Life Span Trade-Off Decomposed: Why Large Dogs Die Young, The American Naturalist, 2013
Egenvall, A, et al, Mortality in over 350,000 Insured Swedish Dogs from 1995-2000: II. Breed-Specific Age and Survival Patterns and Relative Risk for Causes of Death, Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 2005
Lu says
My great Dane is approaching 10 and still thinks he is a puppy. We live in Scotland and we bought him as a puppy. I don’t think think great Danes need acres of land to be happy, they just want to be by your side as much as possible and will curl up like a cat on the couch. I would say not over feeding or over exercising and putting too much pressure on those bones and heart are key. Lots of cuddles and short walks off the lead. Great family dogs, ours girls have grown up with Alfie and he is like a big brother. Kind, gentle giants. I think because everyone tells you the life expectancy is low you think when the get to 6 that thier days are numbered which is so heartbreaking but Alfie is still going strong! I have to say he does bark pretty loud and moults year round. He loves to splash in the sea and looks for muddy puddles to dig and has two favourite spots he likes to dig in our garden, we’ve given up trying to fill them in 😂😂😂 I guess they are all different. Totally worth it all for the affection they give.
Lisa says
For anyone thinking of a great dane. They are wonderful calm dogs once out of puppy stage.
Bark little and friendly. Size makes them intimidating. People coming to the door will always be greeted by dog and owner. Dog always gets up to go to front door. Everyone always thinks twice when they see her. Great Security.
The dogs just wants to get in your skin. Love to be around you if possible all day.
Very obedient if make sure you are the alpha. Crate training is worth every penny.
Not hyper once get older, not diggers.
Can jump fences if know they can jump. Never let dane see another dane jump.
Good for chasing coyotes away. Very brave dogs.
Ed says
Hi, we have 2 Danes which are both rescued; 1 female that is approaching 11 yrs and sadly she is aging quite quickly now…. the other a male now 7 yrs and still a big lug/puppy. I believe the secret to our dogs is simply providing good clean fresh water daily, not over feeding them and keeping their diet varied with great quality food. Excellent bedding as they require comfort given their size and bone structure. Our dogs also live outdoors 95% of the time and the big ticket for us is that the dogs have 3 acres to play and roam in at their will. They are free and happy and I believe so important to longevity.
Lisa says
I agree. My dane is 11 years old and lives on a farm. She has something interesting to do everyday. Her friend dog died last year and she started to get thin over grief. Could not stand the thought of no dog. Bought a great dane puppy and my my the old dane has become a great stepmother. She has put on weight and watches out for the puppy who is now taller than she is.
The puppy tears everything up, make the yard look like a trash heap, barks at everything and sits on top of her stepmother dog and the old dog could not be happier. Might get a few more years out of the old girl yet.
Cris says
I have known several other Dane owners that say they have limited their puppies food at growing stages because they didn’t want them to grow too fast. WHAT?!!! This is what a great dane does! I hate to hear people say this. Give a glucosamine supplement at 6 months in addition to large breed puppy food. R 1st dane unfortunately was a huge learning curve and the love of my life, didn’t quite make it to 6. But r next one who was a rescue is now 12 and r 3rd is 7.5. Hoping the nutrition and supplements are a winner! Glucosamine…glucosamine…glucosamine….
Wendy says
Scientific as it is “median” lifespan in itself is misleading for people who want to know how long a dog is going to be a part of their lives. “Meidan” is taking into account dogs that die from other than natural causes–even puppies dying from congenital defects–and looking at the number in the middle, when what most people want to know is what typical “old age” is for a breed.
Duo Danes says
We had two Danes, both from rescue. One came from a Breeder and one not. We lost our breeder pup at age 4 to bone cancer and there just aren’t words. Our other rescue Dane, however, was not from a breeder, ate trash and what he could find, was starved and we actually fostered him during the animal abuse case against his previous humans. No healthcare or diet and our vet estimates he’s 10 or over and at least 9. Maybe the ones that have it the worst can’t be worried with death..It’s curious.
Mel says
We have a 3 Danes, 2 from breeders and 1 was a rescue.
The rescue lived until he was 13 and had the best temperament out of all 3.
Shirley Battles says
Our Dane Jazzmin turned 9 today. She seems to be very healthy. We have always home made her food. Chicken, rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans and spinach. Healthy treats
She only weighs 90 pounds. She may be with us for quite some time yet… We had Skylar a 145 pound female. We lost her at 6 to bone cancer. A horrible thing to go through…. we will be getting another Dane
They to us are the best dogs in the whole world
Dane Mom says
My dog is 9 1/2 years and seems healthy as can be. We had a slow growing cancerous tumor removed a half a year ago but besides that no health problems. They do not think it spread either. My dog lived most of her life in America and I fed her high end dog food. For the last year we are living in Germany. She gets a lot of exercise too- three 30 minute walks a day.
rose says
Kept thinking my dane was going to die at 10 like everyone had typed. She is 11 going on 12. Not all danes die early.
Kat says
Lots of room to run. These dogs need to live on property that allows this.