Great Dane Growth Chart: Age, Weight, Milestones & Health Guide of 2026

This site is supported by our readers. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through links.

Your Great Dane puppy will grow more in six months than most dogs grow in a lifetime. At eight weeks, that adorable bundle might weigh 15 pounds. By six months, you could be looking at a 100-pound adolescent who still thinks they’re lap-sized.

This explosive growth trajectory makes a Great Dane growth chart essential—not just for satisfying curiosity, but for catching potential health issues before they become serious problems. Skeletal development in giant breeds follows a delicate timeline where too much weight too soon can damage joints, while inadequate nutrition during critical windows may stunt development permanently.

Understanding the benchmarks for each month helps you distinguish between normal variation and warning signs that deserve veterinary attention.

Great Dane Growth Chart Overview

If you’re wondering how big your Great Dane will get and when, you’re in the right spot. Growth happens quickly, but every stage brings its own surprises. Here’s what you can expect as your gentle giant matures.

For tips on tracking their rapid growth and avoiding health issues, check out this guide to Great Dane growth and development milestones.

Typical Growth Timeline

Watching a Great Dane grow is like tracking a living roadmap—each stage brings dramatic changes. Growth Patterns shift quickly, especially in the first six months, then slow as your puppy nears adulthood. Use this simple Growth Chart to visualize key Development Stages: Understanding great dane growth is essential for their health.

Age	Typical Weight Range
Birth	0.4–0.6 kg
2 months	6.8–13.6 kg
6 months	29.5–45.4 kg
12 months	43.1–63.5 kg
Adult	110–175 lbs

Key Growth Milestones by Age

You’ll notice Growth Patterns shift fast—by eight weeks, your Great Dane puppy may weigh 15 to 30 pounds. At six months, expect 65 to 100 pounds. By one year, most reach 95 to 140 pounds.

For tips on supporting these rapid growth phases with proper nutrition, check out this guide to choosing the best puppy food for large breeds.

Use this quick chart for reference:

Age	Weight Chart	Height Chart
2 months	15–30 lbs	13–18 inches
6 months	65–100 lbs	26–33 inches
12 months	95–140 lbs	29–36 inches

Proper diet and nutrition is essential for maintaining healthy growth in Great Danes.

American Vs. European Great Dane Growth

While those milestones apply to most Great Danes, you might see differences depending on whether your dog comes from American or European lines. European Great Danes often grow larger and heavier, while American Kennel Club standards favor a leaner build. These growth rate differences stem from genetic diversity impact and breeding goals.

Feature	American Great Dane	European Great Dane
Adult Weight	110–140 lbs (females), 140–175 lbs (males)	120–160 lbs (females), 160–200+ lbs (males)
Build	Leaner, more refined	Broader, more muscular
Growth Rate	Moderate, steady progression	Often faster, heavier bone development

Understanding your male Great Dane’s lineage helps you set realistic expectations for his weight chart trajectory and feeding variations.

Average Weight and Height by Age

Your Great Dane’s growth happens fast, and knowing what to expect at each stage helps you spot potential issues early. Weight and height vary between males and females, but there are reliable benchmarks you can follow.

Let’s break down what’s typical from birth through full maturity.

Large breeds especially benefit from breed-specific puppy food formulas that prevent them from growing too quickly during those critical early months.

Newborn to 6 Months

Your Great Dane puppy will transform dramatically in these early months. At birth, expect 1-2 pounds; by 6 months, you’re looking at 65-100 pounds and 26-33 inches tall.

Growth monitoring through regular health checks and a proper feeding schedule is essential—puppies gaining over 4 pounds weekly risk joint problems.

Neonatal care and puppy nutrition directly impact your dog’s lifelong wellbeing, so track that growth chart closely.

6 to 12 Months

Between 6 and 12 months, your Great Dane’s growth rate slows but remains impressive—expect weight to climb from roughly 70 pounds at 7 months to 120 pounds by 12 months, with height reaching 29-34 inches. This Puppy Development stage demands careful Growth Monitoring and strategic Nutrition Advice to protect vulnerable growth plates.

• Weight Chart tracking: Males average 80-115 pounds at 7 months; females 65-95 pounds
• Exercise Limits matter: Avoid repetitive jumping—growth plates stay open past 12 months
• Nutrition Advice shifts: Decrease calories to 2.0-2.4× resting requirement as growth slows
• Health Checks: Regular body condition scoring prevents orthopedic stress from overfeeding
• Training Tips: Introduce sophisticated cues like “down”—cognitive capacity is growing fast

1 to 2 Years (Full Grown)

By 18–24 months, your Great Dane reaches skeletal maturity—growth plates close, and adult size variations emerge as males fill out to 140–175 pounds (30–32 inches) while females settle at 110–140 pounds (28–30 inches). Muscle development continues even after height peaks, making this window critical for joint health concerns.

Age	Male Weight / Height	Female Weight / Height
12 months	95–140 lbs / 29–34 in	85–120 lbs / 28–32 in
18 months	130–165 lbs / 30–35 in	105–135 lbs / 29–33 in
24 months (full grown)	140–175 lbs / 30–32 in	110–140 lbs / 28–30 in

What to Watch:

• Growth plate closure timing: Most physes seal by 18 months—restricting high-impact exercise before then protects developing joints.
• Weight chart vigilance: Gradual gains from 1 to 2 years signal healthy canine growth; rapid spikes suggest overfeeding.
• Large breed dog health markers: Maintain a visible waist and palpable ribs to reduce orthopedic strain at adult weight.

Factors Influencing Great Dane Growth

Your Great Dane’s growth isn’t just about time—it’s shaped by several key factors that work together to determine how big they’ll get and how fast they’ll grow. Some of these factors you can control, like nutrition and spay/neuter timing, while others are written in their DNA.

Understanding how big Great Danes actually get helps you set realistic expectations and adjust their diet accordingly as they mature.

Let’s break down the four main influences that affect your Great Dane’s development from puppy to full-grown giant.

Genetics and Bloodline

Your Great Dane’s adult size is written in their DNA long before you bring them home. Genetics and breeding shape everything from shoulder height to muscle mass, and understanding these inheritance patterns helps you set realistic expectations.

Genetic testing and careful breed selection help breeders reduce growth-impacting health risks while preserving the breed-specific traits that make Great Danes remarkable.

Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Your feeding choices shape bone development, joint health, and adult weight more than nearly any other factor. Large-breed puppy food with controlled calcium (around 1.1 to 1.3 ratio to phosphorus) protects growing plates from mineral overload, while a balanced diet and consistent feeding schedule prevent the rapid weight gain that fuels hip dysplasia.

Proper nutrition—especially large-breed puppy food with controlled calcium—protects your Great Dane’s growing joints more than any other factor

Dog nutrition isn’t guesswork—canine nutrition and diet science proves that controlled energy intake beats high-calorie feeding every time.

Neutering and Spaying Effects

Surgical timing rewrites your Great Dane’s growth story—removing sex hormones before 12 to 15 months delays growth plate closure, lengthening limbs and shifting joint angles in ways that can invite orthopedic trouble down the road.

• Hormone Impact: Early neutering or spaying removes the hormones that signal growth plates to close, prolonging bone growth beyond natural timing.
• Growth Patterns: Dogs altered before skeletal maturity often develop disproportionately long legs, creating joint stress that intact dogs avoid.
• Joint Health: Studies link early neutering to higher rates of hip dysplasia and ligament tears in large breeds, though Great Dane data shows mixed results.
• Cancer Risk: Neutering before one year raises osteosarcoma risk markedly—some Rottweiler cohorts saw rates climb from 7 percent to 28 percent.
• Veterinary Care: Most vets now recommend waiting until 12 to 18 months for Great Danes, balancing skeletal maturity against reproductive concerns and using your growth chart to guide surgical timing.

Common Health Issues Impacting Growth

Hip dysplasia tops the list—your Great Dane’s rapid growth and heavy frame stress developing joints, raising osteoarthritis risk if genetics and overnutrition collide. Skeletal disorders like osteochondrosis follow close behind when excess calcium or energy-dense diets overwhelm growth plates.

Bloat prevention matters too, though it strikes suddenly rather than creeping through your growth chart.

Nutrient deficiencies from malabsorption can stall weight gain despite a hearty appetite, signaling pancreatic trouble that demands quick veterinary attention.

Recognizing Healthy Growth Patterns

Great Danes don’t grow at a steady pace—they experience dramatic spurts followed by slower periods where they seem to pause and catch their breath. Knowing what normal growth looks like helps you spot potential problems early, whether your pup is developing too slowly or growing faster than their body can handle.

Let’s walk through the patterns you should expect and the warning signs that mean it’s time to call your vet.

Growth Spurts and Plateaus

Your Great Dane’s growth isn’t a straight line—it’s a series of dramatic spurts and quieter plateaus. Between 4 and 6 months, you’ll witness the most explosive changes in height and weight, a period of rapid development when skeletal maturity accelerates.

After this spurt timing, growth rates taper into plateau management phases where your pup “fills out” rather than shoots up, reaching skeletal maturity around 18–24 months.

Signs of Stunted or Accelerated Growth

But not every shift falls within normal Growth Stages. Watch for Growth Abnormalities: if your pup consistently weighs under breed norms at key Weight Charts checkpoints—say, under 25 pounds at three months—or shows limb pain, bowed legs, or Skeletal Issues during rapid Growth Spurts, you’re seeing red flags.

Nutrient Deficiencies, Hormone Imbalances, and Developmental Delays can silently derail healthy Puppy Development and Growth Rates.

When to Consult a Veterinarian

Any Growth Abnormalities—limping, swollen joints, sudden weight loss—demand Veterinary Care immediately, not “wait and see.” If your Dane shows labored breathing, bloat signs (distended belly, unproductive retching), or lethargy paired with vomiting, you’re facing Health Emergencies that require urgent Dog Health intervention.

Regular checkups catch Developmental Issues early, and your vet provides Nutrition Advice customized to your giant’s needs—essential Veterinary Medicine for Great Dane Care and Health and long-term Pet Health and Wellness.

Maintaining Optimal Growth and Health

Your Great Dane’s growth doesn’t happen by accident—it takes the right fuel and the right amount of activity at every stage. What you feed your pup today shapes their bone strength, joint health, and overall development tomorrow.

Let’s break down how to nail nutrition and exercise as your gentle giant grows.

Proper Diet for Each Growth Stage

Feeding your Great Dane the right food at the right time isn’t just important—it’s the foundation that determines whether your gentle giant grows strong and healthy or struggles with preventable health issues down the road.

Puppy nutrition demands large-breed formulas with controlled calcium and phosphorus to support skeletal development without forcing accelerated growth.

As your dog matures through growth stages, adjust feeding schedules from three meals daily to two, ensuring nutrient balance customized to each phase of puppy development.

Age-Appropriate Exercise

Unlike smaller breeds, your Great Dane puppy needs carefully restricted exercise to protect vulnerable joints. Limit structured activity to about 5 minutes per month of age, twice daily, until 18 months when growth plates close. Short walks and gentle play on soft surfaces support healthy puppy development without risking injury.

Once fully mature, your Great Dane thrives on 1 to 2 hours of moderate daily exercise.

Common Growth Concerns in Great Danes

Every Great Dane grows at their own pace, and it’s normal to wonder if yours is on track. You might notice your pup seems smaller than others, or you’re unsure whether their weight looks healthy.

Let’s address the most common growth concerns and help you understand what’s typical—and when it’s time to reach out to your vet.

My Great Dane is Small—Should I Worry?

A Great Dane below chart ranges isn’t always a red flag—some pups simply fall on the lighter end of the spectrum. Focus on steady weight gain, good body condition (ribs palpable but not protruding), and consistent energy levels rather than fixating on numbers alone.

If growth stalls for several weeks, visible bones emerge despite adequate feeding, or lethargy appears, schedule a health check to rule out parasites or metabolic issues.

Overweight or Underweight Indicators

Body condition tells you more than weight alone. You’ll spot overweight signs when your Dane’s waist disappears from above and ribs hide beneath excess fat—veterinarians use a 9-point scale where scores above 6 signal concern.

Underweight indicators include prominent ribs, visible spine, and lethargy. Sudden weight shifts demand nutrition advice to protect puppy development and prevent health risks during critical growth spurts.

Monitoring Development With Growth Charts

Think of growth tracking as your roadmap through your Great Dane’s development stages. You’ll log weekly weights and height charts during rapid puppy development, then switch to monthly checks.

These size prediction tools help spot deviations early—sudden plateaus or spikes outside typical percentile bands signal when health monitoring shifts from routine nutrition planning to veterinary assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)