How to Train a Great Dane
He walks into the room and everything goes quiet. Not out of fear — out of awe. His body fills the doorframe. He's taller than the kid standing next to him. His head almost reaches the table. And then he does something surprising — he lays his head on your lap and looks at you with eyes that say: "Pet me."
This is the Great Dane. One of the largest dogs in the world. And perhaps one of the most contradictory.
He looks like a intimidating beast. But those who know, know: the Great Dane is one of the gentlest, most sensitive, and friendliest of dogs. His size deceives. His soul is even larger than his body.
What he was. What he became.
In the 16th century, when the first recorded history of the Great Dane begins, he wasn't a pet. He was a weapon.
The Great Dane was created for boar hunting. Not hunting with a gun — hunting with teeth. His job was to run at the wild boar, grab it, and hold on until the hunter arrived with a spear. It was a dangerous job. Wild boars are among the most dangerous animals to hunt. They can tear dogs apart with their tusks.
In 25 years in the field, when I meet Great Dane owners, I ask them one question: "Did you know they call it a Great Dane, but it's not Danish?" The answer is history. The French naturalist Buffon, in the 18th century, saw these dogs in Denmark and called them Grand Danois. The name stuck in the English-speaking world. But the breed is German, and Germans call it Deutsche Dogge — "German Dogge."
The German history of the breed begins in the 16th century, when especially large dogs were imported from England and Ireland — a cross between the English Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound. The Germans called them "Englische Docken" — based on the English word "dog." They quickly became an integral part of German nobility's hunting tradition.
To protect the Great Dane during hunts, they wore armor made of thick fabric reinforced with whalebone on the belly side. The armor was called "Panzer" — and that's probably no coincidence. A dog worth armor, is worth a lot.
But the Great Dane wasn't the only dog in the hunt. He was the last dog. First came the "Saufinder" — dogs that located the boar. Then "Saurüden" — dogs that drove it from cover into open terrain. And only then, at the critical moment, were the Great Danes released to grab and hold. They were too valuable to waste on the less dangerous parts.
Sometimes I meet owners who ask: "Why is my dog afraid of certain things?" And the answer is always the same — look at what he was made to do. But the Great Dane is different. His story is a story of transformation.
Because at the end of the 18th century, when firearms became common, hunting with dogs became unnecessary. The Great Danes no longer had to chase boars. They could have disappeared.
But they didn't disappear.
They moved from the hunters' yards into the castles of the nobility. And the nobility didn't want a fierce, intimidating dog. They wanted a beautiful, impressive, gentle dog — one that sits by the fireplace and looks like a living statue. They wanted a status symbol on four legs.
And so something amazing happened: the Great Dane underwent a new artificial selection. Over generations, they selected the calm, gentle, loyal dogs. Those who were too aggressive — didn't pass on. Those who were too nervous — left the gene pool.
And the beauty is that this selection worked. The Great Dane of today is not the Saupacker of the 17th century. He is a dog of peace.
But don't be fooled. Great Danes haven't completely forgotten what they were. The moment something feels threatening — the large body awakens. The old vision of the boar hunter exists somewhere deep in the genes. It just takes much more to activate it.
The three-tier system
One of the most fascinating things about this breed is how the treatment of them shaped their personality. In German noble hunting, Great Danes were divided into three tiers.
The highest level — Kammerhunde, "chamber dogs." These were the most beautiful and strongest. They slept in the nobleman's bedroom, with a golden collar. Their job was personal protection at night. They received the best food, the best education, and daily attention.
The second level — Leibhunde, "body dogs." They received a silver collar. They too lived inside the home, but were less prestigious.
The third level — "Englische Doggen" — ordinary working dogs that lived in the kennel.
The significance of this division: for generations, the Great Danes that lived inside the home (Kammerhunde and Leibhunde) were selected specifically for their social sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and Führigkeit — trainability. These weren't just big dogs. These were dogs educated to be part of human society.
And so, long before the term "socialization" existed, the Great Dane had been receiving intensive socialization for centuries.
Bismarck and his Great Danes
You can't talk about Great Danes without Otto von Bismarck. The Chancellor of Germany, founder of the German Empire, was a devoted admirer of the breed. From a young age, when studying law in Göttingen, he refused to part with his Great Dane Ariel. The story goes that when summoned to the university rector, Bismarck brought his dog along — and received a fine of five talers because the rector was intimidated by the large dog.
Later, Bismarck's Great Danes became a national symbol. The breed was sometimes called "Bismarckdogge" or "Reichshund." When Benito Mussolini visited Germany, Bismarck presented his dog Tyras II — and the Great Dane nearly caused a diplomatic incident when it lunged at a Russian ambassador who was gesticulating excessively and knocked him over.
The connection between Bismarck and the Great Dane helped establish the breed not just as a working dog, but as a symbol of German power — combined with nobility and gentleness.
How work shaped character
The Great Dane is a perfect example of what happens when a breed changes its purpose over generations.
Size
The first thing everyone sees. But what matters isn't just the size — it's how size affects behavior. A Great Dane can't run from a problem. When he's scared, he can't hide under the bed. So his strategy is: don't be afraid. Or at least, don't show it.
This is why Great Danes look so calm. They aren't necessarily calm — they've simply learned there's nowhere to run. So they stand their ground. It looks like courage, but sometimes it's just evolutionary necessity.
Sensitivity
The second thing everyone discovers after living with one: Great Danes are incredibly sensitive. They are not dogs you can yell at. They are not dogs you can punish harshly. They cannot tolerate rough treatment.
There's a historical reason for this. The Great Danes that moved into noble households lived inside the home. Kammerhunde — chamber dogs — slept in the lord's bedroom. They were selected precisely for their sensitivity and ability to live peacefully with humans in close quarters.
The training implication: a Great Dane learns best through quiet, encouragement, and consistency. Yelling breaks them. Physical punishment destroys their self-confidence. They need leadership — but gentle leadership.
Leichtführigkeit — Easy guidance
In German there's a wonderful word to describe Great Danes: Leichtführigkeit — ease of guidance. It's not exactly "high biddability" like a Border Collie that hears a command and does it before you finish speaking. It's more like goodwill. The Great Dane wants to please. He wants to be with you. He wants to cooperate. But he needs time to process.
I tell my clients with Great Danes: "Give him a second to think. He's thinking. He's not ignoring you. He's processing."
There's a difference between a dog that doesn't listen and a dog that needs time to interpret.
How to train a Great Dane
Start yesterday
The biggest mistake I see in Great Dane owners: "He's still small, we'll start training when he's big."
Friends, it's the exact opposite.
When a Great Dane weighs 10 kilos, he's cute. When he weighs 70 kilos, he's dangerous. Not because he's bad — because he's big. A dog that weighs as much as you doesn't have to intend harm to cause it. He causes damage just by jumping with joy.
Great Dane training must begin the day the puppy comes home. No exceptions.
Three non-negotiable rules
1. No jumping — ever. For a Great Dane, jumping is not a game. A Great Dane that jumps on a guest can break bones. Not on purpose — simply because he's so large. The "no" to jumping must be absolute and consistent from day one.
2. Loose leash walking. A Great Dane that pulls on leash at 6 months drags you. Not "resists" — drags. You have no chance against 70 kilos of muscle in motion. Teach loose leash walking while he's still small enough not to drag you.
3. Door = stop. A Great Dane that runs through a door can knock a person down. Teach "sit" before every door. He exits only when you say. He enters only when you say. This isn't impressive — it's an iron law.
The tone
Great Danes don't respect harshness. They respect consistency.
Sometimes I see owners who get a Great Dane and try to be "alpha." They push, threaten, use force. It ends badly. A Great Dane that breaks this way doesn't become fearful — he may become dangerous.
The right approach: give a command. Wait. Reward when he does it. If he doesn't, help him succeed and then reward.
There's no need to raise your voice. Your voice doesn't need to be loud — it needs to be clear.
Rewards that work
Great Danes are classic food dogs. They love to eat. But because of their stomach sensitivity (we'll get to that), you need to divide food into smaller, frequent meals.
I recommend soft, small rewards that can be given without breaking the daily food portion. Small pieces of chicken, controlled amounts of cheese, special treats for large dogs.
And don't forget: petting and cuddling are just as powerful a reward. A Great Dane is a leaning dog. When he rests his head on you, he's not just resting. He's saying: "I'm with you."
Exercise and daily management
One of the most common questions I get: "How much exercise does he need?"
The answer is surprising: less than you think.
A Great Dane doesn't need 10 km runs daily. He's a dog built for explosive power — run fifty meters fast and catch a boar. Not run a marathon. Daily walks (30-45 minutes, twice a day) are enough for most Great Danes. The key: consistency. Routine. Outings at the same times, on the same routes.
But there's one thing you can't skimp on: mental stimulation. A Great Dane gets bored if he has nothing to do. Boredom in a Great Dane doesn't look like destroying the house (though that happens too) — it looks like depression. He lies down, doesn't move, seems indifferent. Owners interpret this as "laziness" — but it's a plea: "Give me something to do."
Solutions: simple nose work (finding treats), short "sit-down" exercises, puzzle games with boxes, or just sitting with him and petting while talking. A Great Dane needs human interaction like air to breathe.
The giant puppy — development stages
A Great Dane reaches full maturity around two years. Between 5 months and 18 months, he goes through a rapid growth period — a time when he grows so fast you can literally see the difference day to day.
During this time, it's important to maintain a diet formulated for large breeds (preventing overly rapid growth that risks joints). Training must also be adapted: the puppy grows, but his mind is still young. He looks like an adult dog at 7 months, but he's still a puppy in his head.
Don't expect full control before a year. He tries. He wants. But his body is ahead of his brain.
Comparison: Great Dane vs Cane Corso
The best way to understand a Great Dane is to compare him to a Cane Corso. Both are large molosser breeds. Both come from the same geographical region. Both look intimidating.
But the difference between them is enormous.
The Cane Corso was bred for guarding and protection. His job was to protect property, land, family. Every Cane Corso is a guardian by nature. Suspicion is part of his personality. He doesn't like strangers. He doesn't trust easily.
The Great Dane, by contrast, was first bred for hunting and only later for companionship. He's not supposed to be suspicious. He's supposed to be friendly. Sociable. Open.
In the field it looks like this: a Cane Corso will evaluate every person entering the house. He'll wait, sniff, decide. A Great Dane, his default is "hello, would you like to pet me?"
This isn't a mistake. This is the purpose.
And so it is with training: a Cane Corso needs intensive socialization to not be overly suspicious. A Great Dane needs clear boundaries so that his friendliness doesn't turn into jumping and excessive excitement.
Both are large. Both are impressive. But their personalities are completely opposite.
Great Dane vs Labrador — the difference in size
And for illustration, another comparison: Great Dane vs Labrador Retriever.
A Labrador weighs 30-35 kilos. A Great Dane weighs 60-80. But the real difference isn't weight — it's the operating system.
A Labrador was born to please. The Apportiertrieb — retrieve drive — is his engine. He runs after a ball as if his life depends on it. He's happy, excited, burning for work.
A Great Dane isn't. The Great Dane was born to think. He doesn't run after a ball like a Labrador. He looks at the ball, looks at you, considers: "Do you really want me to chase that? Are you sure?"
My point: a Great Dane is not less intelligent. Quite the opposite. But the type of intelligence is different. The Labrador is a hard worker. The Great Dane is a thinker. The Labrador runs first and asks questions later. The Great Dane asks questions first, runs only if the answer satisfies him.
In terms of training, the difference is significant. A Labrador can be trained with lots of repetition, speed, energy — and he'll love it. A Great Dane needs slow repetitions, patience, and a personal connection. The Labrador learns because it's fun. The Great Dane learns because he trusts you.
Health
You can't talk about Great Danes without talking about health. Because the size that brings beauty also brings pain.
GDV — Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat)
The Great Dane is at the highest risk of all breeds for GDV — gastric dilatation with torsion. A Purdue University study found that approximately 42% of Great Danes will suffer from GDV in their lifetime. That's an enormous number.
What to do: Feed 2-3 small meals daily instead of one large meal. Avoid exercise after eating. Don't raise food bowls on pedestals (the Purdue study showed raised bowls actually increase risk by 110%). Consider preventive gastropexy during spay/neuter surgery.
DCM — Dilated Cardiomyopathy
A 2012 British study (Stephenson et al., PMID 22882627) examined 107 Great Danes and found that 35.6% of them suffer from DCM — a serious heart disease. The genetic transmission is likely autosomal dominant.
Meaning: periodic echocardiograms are not a recommendation — they're a requirement.
Osteosarcoma
Great Danes are at increased risk for bone cancer (osteosarcoma), especially between ages 7-11. Any persistent lameness requires immediate X-ray.
Life Expectancy
Between 7 and 10 years. It's short. Too short. And it breaks your heart.
FAQ
"Is a Great Dane suitable for an apartment?"
Depends on the apartment. Physical size is a challenge — he needs room to move. But in terms of energy and noise, a Great Dane is actually an excellent apartment dog. He's quiet, calm, and loves to lie down. The real issue isn't space — it's elevators, stairs, and narrow doorways.
"Are Great Danes aggressive?"
Not by nature. Quite the opposite. The Great Dane is one of the friendliest breeds. But because of his size, even a small reaction can seem threatening. That's a big responsibility. A Great Dane can't "make a mistake" and bite someone — because the consequences are too severe. That's why proper training is critical.
"How much food does he need?"
An adult Great Dane eats about 2-3 kg of food daily. It depends on food quality, activity level, and individual metabolism. The key: divide into 2-3 meals daily, and never feed one large meal.
"Is he good with children?"
Excellent. Great Danes are known for exceptional patience with children. They're gentle, protective, and tolerant. But — and it's a big but — never leave a small child unsupervised with any large dog. Even the gentlest one.
"Why doesn't he listen sometimes?"
Because he's thinking. A Great Dane doesn't respond with "yes right away" like a Border Collie. He processes, considers, decides. It's not lack of biddability — it's a processing style. Practice in a quiet environment, give him time, and don't give up.
Bottom line
The Great Dane is a breed of contradictions.
He was made to kill wild boars — but today he's a companion dog. He looks threatening — but is gentle as a cow. He's giant — but sensitive as a Poodle.
The people who succeed with Great Danes are those who understand this complexity. Not impressed by the size. Not forgetting the size. Treating him like a dog — but remembering that every mistake costs more than with a small dog.
He's not a dog for everyone. He demands a home, demands presence, demands consistency. He doesn't forgive neglect.
But whoever understands him — gets a friend like no other. A dog you can rest your head on, literally. A dog whose presence fills a room. A dog whose silence carries more power than any bark.
There's a reason he's called "Apollo among dog breeds." Not because of his appearance. Because of what he represents: beauty, strength, and gentleness — in the same breath.
Sources
- Stephenson HM, et al. Screening for dilated cardiomyopathy in Great Danes in the United Kingdom. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2012;26(5):1140-1147. PMID: 22882627.
- Glickman LT, et al. Incidence of and breed-specific risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs. JAVMA. 2000;216(1):40-45. PMID: 10976513.
- FCI Standard Nr. 235: Deutsche Dogge. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. 2012.
- Deutsche Doggen Club 1888 e.V. — Der Standard der Deutschen Dogge. doggen.de.
- VDH — Rasse des Monats: Deutsche Dogge. vdh.de.