Great Dane Growth and Weight Chart (Male & Female) – The Complete Guide

Last Updated on April 19, 2023

Great Danes are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as the largest dog breed. Bring their paws to your shoulders, and your Great Dane could match, or even beat, your height. That is why these dogs are known as the Apollo of dogs.

And while incredibly tall, they are gentle giants beloved for their beautiful natures. If you are thinking of getting a Great Dane, you may want to know exactly how big you can expect your pup to grow.

Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about your Great Dane and how fast these puppies grow. 

Overview: A Few Fun Facts about the Great Dane

Great Danes were originally bred in Germany as boar hunters. They also go by the name Deutsche Dogge or German Mastiff. Today, they are known for their gentle and patient natures, making them a firm favorite in the family home. 

There are two sizes of Great Danes, namely American and European.

American Great Danes are typically smaller than their European counterparts, with narrow chests and fewer muscles. European Great Danes are huge dogs that have even exceeded 240 pounds (108 kg).

How tall is a regular Great Dane?

Fully grown male Great Danes will stand between 30 and 32 inches (76 to 81 cm).

Female adults will be slighter smaller than their male counterparts weighing between 28 and 30 inches (71 and 76 cm) tall when measured from the ground to their withers.

Great Danes are giant dogs, not only in height but weight as well. An adult male Great Dane should weigh between 140 and 175 pounds (63.5 and 79.3 kgs).

Females will also weigh slightly less at 110 to 140 pounds (49.8 to 63.5 kgs) as they are slightly shorter. 

When Do Great Danes Stop Growing?

Great Danes are considered fully grown by around one and a half to two years old. However, even after they have reached their full adult height, they will still build muscles and thus can get heavier. 

The Ultimate Great Dane Puppy Growth Chart by Weight

The below Great Dane puppy growth charts will help you see if your puppy is the right weight for his age.

However, this chart is just a guideline, and you shouldn’t be too concerned if there are slight variations between your dog and these figures as each puppy is an individual.

If you see huge differences and are concerned, do not hesitate to discuss this with your vet, who will be able to provide professional advice about your specific pet.

Great Dane Female Puppy Growth Chart (lb & kg)

Male Great Danes are larger than their female counterparts, and you will start two notice the difference between the two sexes from around two months old. 

Great Dane Male Puppy Growth Chart (lb & kg)

The below chart will give you an indication as to how big your puppy will be at his different life stages, bearing in mind that these are estimates.

The biggest male Great Dane recorded was a dog named Zeus that reached a height of 44 inches (112cm) and weighed 155 pounds (70kg). 

Great Dane Puppy Growth and Development with Pictures

As a Great Dane owner, you may worry whether he is growing correctly, eating the right food, or getting sufficient exercise to build a healthy weight.

The following information will assist you in determining if your Great Dane puppy is growing appropriately at its current age.

0- to 4-week old

Newborn Great Danes are born weighing between 1 and 2 pounds (0.5-1 kg). Your Great Dane puppy will double or even triple his weight during the first four weeks of his life. 

At this stage, it’s difficult to determine exactly how big a Great Dane puppy will be as an adult dog as even the smallest dog in a litter won’t necessarily end up being a tiny adult.

In this newborn phase, your puppy will mainly eat and sleep and needs to be around his mom as he will depend on her for food and warmth. 

4-week-old (1-month-old)

At four weeks old, your Great Dane puppy will only weigh between 5 and 8 pounds (2 and 4 kg). At around one-month-old, your puppy’s senses will begin to develop as he starts to open his eyes and distinguish sounds.

His teeth will also come in and he will start to eat food, not just milk. 

Your Great Dane puppy will also begin to interact with other puppies and you may even start to see his tail begin to wag. He will also learn a lot about social interactions with humans during this stage of his life.

8-week-old (2-month-old)

A two-month-old Great Dane now weighs between 15 and 30 pounds (7 and 14 kg). Your puppy is still in the first stage of his development known as the puppy stage and your dog’s bones are growing incredibly quickly.

It is at this age that you will start to see clear size differences between male and female Great Dane dogs. The average height for female dogs is 14 inches (36 cm) while males will stand about 16 inches (41 cm) tall.

12-week-old (3-month-old)

At three months old, the average Great Dane will stand 19 inches (48 cm) tall and weigh around 40 pounds (18 kg). Some of them will begin to start their first growth spurt at about three months old.

16-week-old (4-month-old)

Most Great Danes will now have begun their first growth spurt. Signs that your dog is experiencing a growth spurt can include frequent hiccuping, sleeping more than normal, a loss of appetite, fever, whimpering, weakness, and pain in the joints.

During this time, your pup can gain 2 inches (5 cm) in height every week. 

20-week-old (5-month-old)

At 5 months old, your Great Dane should be 50% of his adult height and will have reached his second growth stage.

You can expect him to weigh between 45 and 65 pounds (20 and 30kgs) with males being at the higher end of the scale and females on the lower end. 

A 5-month-old male Great Dane will stand around 27 inches (69 cm) tall with females reaching heights of around 24 inches (61 cm).

6-month-old

A six-month-old Great Dane will weigh between 65 and 100 pounds (29 and 45 kg) and stand between 26 and 33 inches (66 and 84 cm) tall. 

The massive growth period that has been the norm for the past six months will start to come to an end as your Great Dane begins to bear his optimal adult shape.

From here on, your dog will grow steadily until he reaches about two years old.

1-year-old

At one year old, your Great Dane should be close to his full adult height, however, it will take him the next year to reach his final weight.

This can give your dog a bit of a scrawny appearance, but don’t stress, your dog could gain as much as 25 pounds (11 kg) before his next birthday.

Watch in this video how Zidane the Great Dane grows rapidly within the first year of his life:

What are the Factors that Impact Great Dane’s Growth?

There are many factors that influence how quickly your Great Dane puppy will grow as well as his final adult weight and height. The main ones are your pup’s genetics and bloodline, his health condition, and his nutrition.

1. Genetics and Common Health Problems

Your dog’s adult height will be largely determined by his genetics and bloodline.

The breeder at which you purchased your dog will be able to provide you with your pup’s height and weight based on the size of the parent dogs and even your puppy’s grandparents.

Most puppies do not grow bigger than their parent dogs.

Unfortunately, the Great Dane breed is prone to developing some health conditions, many of which are genetic. These include diseases that can affect the joints and skeleton and thus growth.

One common disease in this breed includes skeletal dysplasia which causes abnormal development of the bones and can lead to decreased mobility and even paralysis. 

2. Neutering

Neutered dogs tend to grow taller and faster than dogs that haven’t been fixed. This is because the growth plates remain open for longer in neutered canines which can result in an increased height. 

That said, you shouldn’t neuter your pup too early in an attempt to increase his height as this could lead to joint problems. Most vets recommend waiting until your Great Dane is two years old before getting him neutered.

3. Feeding Habits

Feeding your Great Dane dog more won’t necessarily make him grow any faster. In fact, this can be a dangerous practice as overfeeding could lead to obesity, diabetes, or a range of other health problems.

You should instead feed him the recommended amount of high-quality large-breed food that has been formulated for his life stage.

Great Danes likewise should not be given too many high-fat treats as these can cause your dog to put on too much weight, putting additional stress on the joints. Instead, opt for high-protein treats such as liver.

How Do I Make Sure My Great Dane is Healthy?

Prevention is the best way to ensure that you have a healthy dog. Exercise, diet, and environment also have an impact on the health of your pup. 

1. Healthy Diet

Your Great Dane should be fed puppy food in his formative years to prevent him from growing too quickly. Eating food specifically formulated for large-breed dogs will also help reduce the stress placed on your pup’s body as he grows.

They also need a diet packed with protein, as not enough protein in your pet’s diet could lead to decreased growth.

Unfortunately, bloat, which can be caused by exercising immediately after eating, is one of the most common killers of this breed. 

To try and prevent Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, it’s recommended to feed your dog several smaller meals throughout the day rather than one large meal, trying to ensure that he doesn’t eat too quickly or exercise within one hour after eating.

2. Appropriate Exercise

Great Danes require at least two hours of exercise every day to remain strong and healthy, however, should you not vigorously exercise your dog until he is about two years old and his growth plates are fully developed.

Before this, his joints and bones are incredibly vulnerable. 

You also want to prevent him from jumping up onto furniture or people or running on slippery surfaces as he could fall and cause severe damage to his joints.

Age-appropriate exercises for your Great Dane puppy include gentle, short walks and tug of war games in the backyard.

If your dog likes to swim, this should also be encouraged as swimming is a great low-impact exercise for the joints and muscles and is also a fun way to bond with him.

This intelligent breed will also enjoy puzzle games which will help to keep both physically and mentally stimulated.

3. Manage Stress

If your dog is anxious or stressed, he may tend to over or under eat which can impact on his growth.

To avoid stress later in life, you want to expose your Great Dane puppy to many different situations, people, dogs, and environments when he is still young. 

You should also invest in obedience and socialization classes for your dog to prevent any negative temperament traits from cropping up.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What age are Great Danes fully grown?

Great Danes grow incredibly quickly with their last major growth spurt occurring between four and six months old. In fact, the rate at which they grow in their first year would take humans fourteen years to accomplish. 

Most of them are considered fully grown between 18 and 24 months. At this age, they will have reached their full adult height and then will continue to put on weight and muscle in their second and third years.

Unfortunately, they do not have a great life expectancy. While some dogs can live to eight to ten years old, this breed only last six or seven years. 

Can Great Danes grow too fast?

Yes, Great Danes that grow too fast can develop hip problems and joint disease. You need to manage your dog’s growth rate through age-appropriate exercise and a proper diet. 

Overfeeding your dog when he is a puppy or feeding him food that is not correct for his developmental stage could gain him to put on weight too quickly, which would put too much pressure on his developing bones and joints.

This can lead to some serious skeletal issues later in life.

Remember that your pup should be eating puppy food for at least the first year of his life.

What dog is bigger than a Great Dane?

While the AKC considered the Great Dane to be the largest breed of dog some other breeds can get heavier than the Great Dane. 

These breeds include the English Mastiff and Korean Mastiff which are muscular, big-boned dogs that can weigh more than the Great Dane even if they stand at the same height or even shorter.

The Irish Wolfhound can also sometimes grow to be taller than the Great Dane.

Conclusion: How Fast Will My Great Dane Grow?

Great Danes are loyal, affectionate dogs that make great companions. However, they are large animals that grow incredibly quickly so if you’re looking at getting one of these puppies you need to be prepared to have a giant pup in your home. 

These dogs are large canines that grow incredibly rapidly in the first year of their life and need to be cared for in terms of diet and exercise to ensure that they don’t develop any joint diseases as they grow. 

Unfortunately, they are also very short-lived dogs and you’re unlikely to get more than ten years with this breed. But that said, they might just be the best ten years of your life, filled with a loyal, affectionate companion.

How big is your Great Dane? We would love to know. Please feel free to tell us all about your dog in the comments below.