Great Dane Price: How Much Do Great Danes Cost?

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Tall, big, lean, and elegant, Great Danes are one of the most easily recognizable dog breeds. As opposed to what their appearance suggests, these dogs are gentle, friendly, playful, and affectionate. Hence, they are known as gentle giants.

So, if you have been thinking of bringing a Great Dane into your home, you will be glad to know that Great Danes make ideal family dogs.

However, just like other dog breeds, Great Danes have a cost.

How much does a Great Dane cost and will you be able to bear the expenses? Read on to find out.

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How Much Do Great Danes Cost?

Let’s get one thing clear first – when we talk about the cost of a Great Dane, we don’t just mean its purchase price. Rather, we are referring to the overall cost of owning this giant dog, including the initial price as well as the lifetime expenses.

Let’s get to the point without further ado!

The Average Cost of Buying a Great Dane – The Initial Investment

Getting a Great Dane can cost you anywhere from $250/ $300 to $3,000, on average.

Just like with other dog breeds, the price for a Great Dane dog varies due to a number of factors. These include the age and gender of the dog, the type of Great Dane you are getting, whether it is a purebred dog or not, the place you are getting it from, and the area you live in.

Adopting a Great Dane from an animal shelter will obviously cost you a lot less than getting it from a responsible dog breeder.

If you are planning to go for adoption, you can get a Great Dane between $300 and $500. However, if you are going to buy it from a reputable breeder, be ready to pay anywhere from $600 to $3,000. The dogs with fancier pedigrees and the ones that have been proved to excellent show-quality or trained dogs will lie at the high end of the price range.

But, if you want a normal Great Dane to keep as a pet, like most people, you can expect to find out at around $1,000. A Great Dane puppy that is registered with the American Kennel Club will cost a little more; be ready to spend around $1,500 to $2,500 for that designation.

What Are the Long-Term Ownership Costs of a Great Dane?

Naturally, there will be a variety of different expenses that you’ll have to bear, over the years, when you get a Great Dane, or any other dog or pet per se.

The most common and important ones include:

1. Food and Treats

The big-sized Great Danes have a big appetite too, which continues to grow with them. According to an estimate, a Great Dane dog needs the following amount of food at different stages of life:

3 to 6 Months – male Great Dane puppies between this age group need 4 to 8 cups of food in a day, whereas females typically need 3 to 6 cups.
8 Months to 1 Year – male puppies can consume anywhere from 6 to 10 cups of food, whereas female Great Dane puppies of this age need 5 to 8 cups of food every day.
Adolescents – males require 9 to 15 cups, whereas females need about 8 cups of food daily during this age range.
Adults – An adult male Great Dane generally eats 8 to 10 cups of food, whereas an adult female Great Dane eats 6 to 8 cups of food in a single day.

Good-quality Great Dane food can cost anywhere from $30 to $40 for a large bag of 40 pounds, on average. However, it is only going to last you for 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how old your Great Dane is.

This means the average monthly food cost for a Great Dane could range anywhere from a minimum of $30 to $80.

While spending $30 per month for your pet’s food isn’t a big deal for dog lovers, you should remember that the cost will continue to increase as your Great Dane pup will grow up.

Another important thing to note here is that this average food cost calculation doesn’t include the price for occasional treats that you will be giving to your Great Dane. Make sure to consider that too when calculating the price for Great Dane food.

2. Healthcare

To calculate the average annual healthcare cost for a Great Dane, you need to consider vet bills as well as regular and emergency medical care.

Even if your dog is completely healthy, it is highly recommended to take it for a checkup at least once a year.

Like other dogs, Great Danes are also susceptible to a number of health problems and diseases. Getting them regularly checked by a veterinarian will help to identify any problem that your dog may be developing, at an early stage.

The vet bill for a routine checkup can cost you about $25 to $75, depending on the area you live in and the vet you take your Great Dane to.

In addition to this, you’ll have to pay for neutering or spaying. The price range for neutering is roughly between $125 and $400. But, for spaying, you can be charged anywhere from $200 to $600.

Depending on your dog’s needs, the immunization cost can be from $100 to $500. In case your pet falls sick and needs antibiotics, be ready to spend up to $200 as antibiotics for Great Danes can be quite expensive.

The treatment for a more serious health problem can cost up to thousands of dollars. For example, surgery for bloat can range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Since bloat is a common health issue among Great Danes, many dog parents choose to go for gastropexy; a treatment procedure that significantly reduces the risk for the development of blot. It typically costs around $500.

Lastly, Great Danes are highly susceptible to dilated cardiomyopathy, or an enlarged heart. Therefore, you should also take into account the cost of its treatment when evaluating the overall cost of owning a Great Dane. On average, treatment for an enlarged heart can cost you from $500 to $1500 per month.

Medical expenses for Great Danes can get very high, which is why these poor souls often end up in animal shelters. So, do a little math and make sure you can bear these expenses before you make a huge commitment and bring a Great Dane home.

An alternative solution, which is also comparatively pocket- friendly, could be to invest in a dog health insurance. Wondering how much does health insurance for Great Dane cost?

While the exact amount depends on the type of insurance you purchase and what it covers, a basic one will cost you about $50 per month, on average.

3. Dog Supplies

The price for dog supplies can vary significantly, depending on where you get them from, the quality you opt for, and what you choose to get for your Great Dane. To give you an idea, here’s a tentative breakdown of a few very basic dog supplies:

Kennel: $100 to $200
Dog bed: $75 to $200
Toys: $10 to $30

In addition to these items, you will also need to buy a collar and leash. Some may also prefer getting an ID tag for their Great Dane, but others may choose to skip it, so it’s totally a matter of choice.

Note – An important thing to note here is that since Great Dane is a large dog breed, you’ll need to buy larger dog supplies, which may cost you a little more than the standard ones.

Cleaning and Grooming

In addition to getting the cleaning supplies, like a good smelling dog shampoo and/or conditioner, brush, and toothbrush, you are likely to be taking your Great Dane to a groomer every once in a while, if not regularly. A grooming session with a professional can cost between $40 and $120 for a Great Dane.

4. Training

While you can save this cost by training your Great Dane yourself, you may need professional help if you don’t have any prior experience of training a dog.

While group training classes are inexpensive, costing from $15 to $30, private sessions will naturally cost you more. Expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $150 for private dog training lessons, depending on how experienced and reputable the trainer is.

The Indirect Cost of Owning a Great Dane

While this isn’t an expense directly related to getting a Great Dane as a pet, it is worth mentioning as it may add up to your overall expenses.

Great Danes, as we all know, are large dogs and they cannot fit in small cars. So, if you have a small car, you may need to replace it with a bigger one to make sure your new friend can also easily accompany you wherever you want.

So, What’s The Total Cost of Owning a Great Dane?

Simply put, it can vary a great deal. All the factors that are discussed above play a role in determining the overall cost of owning a Great Dane dog.

The yearly cost for a Great Dane may range from $3,000 to $10,000. It may be less or more than this price range, depending on the health of your dog and the lifestyle you choose for it. But, keep in mind that if you are getting a Great Dane puppy, the first two years are going to be the most expensive.

The Final Word

There’s no denying the fact that Great Danes are expensive dogs. But, if you can afford their expenses, they are one of the best dogs to have as pets. They are elegant, loving and are great with both people and other animals.

But, make sure to do your calculations beforehand, so you know what you are stepping into and are prepared to welcome your new family member.