Watched Scooby Doo and now want to bring home a Great Dane?
Be aware that these dogs grow massive in both height and weight! Great Danes might seem big and intimidating, but they are called gentle giants for a reason.
If you own a Great Dane or consider buying one, you need to know how much and how fast they grow. And when do they stop growing?
Keep reading to find answers to all your questions and more!
Stages Of Growth Of A Great Dane
Before delving into the stages of growth, be aware that every dog is different. If your Great Dane seems to be rushing ahead or falling behind, it is perfectly fine.
Only if you notice massive differences in height and weight must you consider visiting a vet. Even in such cases, a healthy diet and frequent exercise should do the trick.
First Month After Birth
At birth, Great Dane puppies weigh barely one or two pounds. By the end of the first month, you can expect them to weigh about eight pounds, give or take.
The average puppy is about six pounds and about twelve inches tall. You would be amazed by how much these numbers are going to increase in the next few months!
Initial Nine Months
By the first two months, your Great Dane will shoot to about 15 or 18 pounds. This is normal, and without a doubt, they will require a healthy diet to stay strong.
By the first six months, their weight can reach up to 100 pounds and their height will just about touch 30 inches. Some fast growers can also reach up to 33 inches tall.
By the ninth month, your puppy will weigh 85–125 pounds and rise to 27–35 inches tall. Yes, at this point, your Great Dane will be quite tall and intimidating to look at.
By a year, they would have reached about 140 pounds depending on the gender of the dog. They can reach an average of 35 inches in height as well.
What Are The Height And Weight Of Full-Grown Great Danes?
This is the point when you will realize why Great Danes are called giants. A fully grown male Great Dane is about 140–175 pounds and 32 inches tall.
A female Great Dane weighs around 115–140 pounds and rises to about 25–30 inches tall. This is how tall an average Great Dane would be standing up.
Keep in mind that these height measurements are taken from the ground to their shoulders. Can you imagine the growth of a puppy from one pound to 140 pounds?
If your dog is about two or three inches taller or a few pounds more, there’s nothing to worry about. They are probably eating a lot more than they should or lack enough exercise.
If the changes are significantly different, it is best to take them to a vet. In general, it is better to take them for periodic checkups from birth to track their growth.
When Can I Expect My Great Dane To Stop Growing?
An average Great Dane lives up to ten years. Some tend to pass at six or seven, but the luckiest and healthiest ones live up to even twelve years of age.
A Great Dane tends to shoot up quickly and at one point, you can no longer tell if it is two or four years old. Generally, they stop growing when they are two years old.
Most Great Danes stop growing at 1.5 years, but the average dog reaches its full height and weight at the age of two.
If you have a ‘teenage’ Great Dane, it might look underweight and short owing to how scrawny and gangly it looks. This changes completely when they hit the two-year mark.
After this stage, they began to grow and develop their muscles. This again depends on their exercise and nutrition, as it will affect the pace at which they grow.
How Can I Contribute To My Great Dane’s Healthy Growth?
If you wish to support your Great Dane and help him grow to his full height and weight, here are some things you can add to your routine:
A Healthy Diet
Nutrition plays a key role in the height and weight of any living being. But this doesn’t mean you should overfeed them to help them grow faster.
It is worth noting that changing the amount of food and exercise won’t make a Great Dane grow faster. They grow at their own pace and each dog is different in its cycle.
A Great Dane’s bones and joints can be easily injured while they grow. If you feed them too much and too fast, their bones can’t withstand their weight.
A healthy diet would include more proteins and less fat. Get them treats with a lot of protein such as liver and tendons.
Exercise And Age-Appropriate Activities
As mentioned, the Great Danes have very vulnerable bones and joints. Allow them to engage in vigorous activities only when they reach the two-year mark.
This is when their muscles begin to develop and they will need all the energy they can get. Take them on gentle yet athletic walks for only a short distance.
It will keep your dog active while also training them to socialize and learn the intricacies of their environments. It will also give them leash skills if you walk slowly.
You can help build their limbs at their own pace by playing fetch. Even a regular game of tug of war can help them grow strong teeth and reflexes.
The best way to keep them active is with mental stimulation. This won’t end up overexerting them while also keeping them occupied and active.
Get them a treat puzzle or a snuffle mat to help them burn their energy. Help them build their agility, balance, and coordination without necessarily stressing them out.
Pay Attention To The Genetics
Genetics could play a major role in the height and weight of your Great Dane too. To be honest, it determines everything about your puppy.
If you have just brought home a puppy, try to keep them healthy and active. Detect their diseases or health problems at an early stage to treat them.
This is vital because you are also impacting the next generation of puppies to come. If you have bought a new puppy, try to find out the health conditions of its parents.
It will give you a heads-up about any potential hazards for your puppy. You can also stay abreast of allergies and potential weaknesses if you understand genetics.
Summing Up
Great Danes make great pets, but they tend to grow massively in terms of their weight and height. It is best to get a puppy and watch it grow from tiny to enormous.
It helps them grow if you manage their stress and neuter them at the right time. These play a role in their growth too, among many others.
Give them the right diet and exercise that won’t challenge them too much. If done right, you find yourself with a loyal companion for the next solid decade of your life!
