The Great Dane is one of the tallest dog breeds, with males reaching 30 to 34 inches at the shoulder and weighing 120 to 175 pounds, while females stand 28 to 32 inches and weigh 100 to 140 pounds. Their massive size makes proper growth management critically important, as rapid or uncontrolled growth can lead to serious orthopedic problems.
The Great Dane is one of the tallest dog breeds, with males reaching 30 to 34 inches at the shoulder and weighing 120 to 175 pounds, while females stand 28 to 32 inches and weigh 100 to 140 pounds. Their massive size makes proper growth management critically important, as rapid or uncontrolled growth can lead to serious orthopedic problems.
Great Dane puppies grow at an astonishing rate, sometimes gaining 5 to 10 pounds per week during peak growth periods. Despite this rapid growth, they are one of the slowest breeds to fully mature, not reaching their complete adult size until 18 to 24 months. Their extended growth period requires careful nutrition with a large-breed or giant-breed specific puppy food that controls calcium and phosphorus levels. Overfeeding or supplementing with calcium during growth can cause devastating developmental bone diseases that affect the dog for life.
| Age | % of Adult Weight | Male (est.) | Female (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 7% | 8-12 lbs | 7-10 lbs |
| 2 months | 13% | 16-23 lbs | 13-18 lbs |
| 3 months | 20% | 24-35 lbs | 20-28 lbs |
| 4 months | 28% | 34-49 lbs | 28-39 lbs |
| 5 months | 36% | 43-63 lbs | 36-50 lbs |
| 6 months | 44% | 53-77 lbs | 44-62 lbs |
| 8 months | 58% | 70-102 lbs | 58-81 lbs |
| 10 months | 70% | 84-123 lbs | 70-98 lbs |
| 12 months | 80% | 96-140 lbs | 80-112 lbs |
| 18 months (full grown) | 100% | 120-175 lbs | 100-140 lbs |
Visual breakdown of how your Great Dane grows toward their full adult weight at each milestone.