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Great Dane personalities can vary as widely as humans’. They can be a clown, a lover, an adventurer, a thinker, a show-off, a brat, or a blend of all the above. But beneath all these variations is still the original Great Dane, bred for hunting and protection. In some ways, you can divide the Great Dane world into two views—those who still hold to the ways of the hunt and show a noticeable prey drive, and those who have moved on and are happy being loved pets.

The Great Dane will find his size a blessing and a curse. He will enjoy the advantages of his size when wanting to obtain things out of reach of smaller creatures (even children). One need not have to bend over to pet or feed a Great Dane. And, unless trained otherwise, he will easily snatch items from table and countertops. (Be aware that some of these items may be harmful to him.) Along with the size of their bodies comes the equally large size of your bills for feed, toys, and health care.

Yet his large size may confuse him. Suddenly, things that were easy as a puppy, such as fitting in a bed, or walking in narrow spaces, or picking up small toys, seem to be more of a challenge as he grows. In some ways, while the size of a Great Dane increases, his perception of the world does not always follow. At 100-plus pounds, he will still think nothing of wanting to sit in your lap, curl up in your favorite chair, or leap about in the house.

Another aspect of his ancestral personality is the desire to serve. Whether taking commands in the hunt or residing next to royalty, the Great Dane has a natural desire to follow commands. This can make the Great Dane an easily trainable breed. Yet his easygoing, big-oaf, couch-potato personality may challenge the teacher.

BE PREPARED! Great Dane = Great Expenses

Owning a giant breed can be harder on the pocketbook than a smaller breed. Be certain that you are prepared for all the costs associated with pet ownership.

• Purebred Great Dane puppies can begin at $500 and can easily go into the thousands, depending on bloodlines, color, show potential, and so on.

• Getting a pre-owned Great Dane or Great Dane mix can cost around $100 to $400. Helping a dog get a new start can be great. One caveat to remember is that a dog that has had previous owners may have unknown issues, from personality to health.

• Adult Great Danes eat a lot. Puppies require a good deal of food as growth demands. Expect to spend around $30 per month for poor-quality food, $50 per month for good-quality food, and $80 per month for high-quality food.

• The first years will be one of the most expensive. Puppy growth requires possible vaccines and neutering/spaying. There may also be obedience classes. All of this can total $1,000 or more.

• An average adult year can include basic veterinarian bills (vaccine boosters, pest control, and so on), boarding, licensing (varies by location), and so on. Depending on your area and medical routine the annual costs can range from $300 to $500.

• Ideally your Great Dane will live to a ripe old age with few problems. But the truth is that as age approaches, everyone’s costs (people’s and pets’) can rise. Procedures, medications, and care can easily add up to an additional $500 or even much more.

• Of course there is always the unexpected. Accidents, illness, and emergency surgeries can all prove to be quite expensive. For example, cost for a gastric volvulus and dilatation after bloat can run $3,000 to $5,000.

Someone planning on purchasing a Great Dane should plan on at least $15,000 over the pet’s lifetime.

Despite his heritage as a hunter, the modern Great Dane is more of a companion that prefers to simply “hang” with his owner. He will fret when you are not home. He may try to sit with you on the couch or lie with you in bed. It is simply his way of showing his devotion to you.