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The miniature Great Dane technically isn’t their own breed, but you can find a miniature Great Dane if two runts are bred together or if a Great Dane has a medical condition called dwarfism.
Breed Overview
Height:
20–26 inches
Weight:
80–100 pounds
Lifespan:
8–9 years
Colors:
Black, black and white, blue, brindle, fawn, harlequin, merle, silver, white, mantle
Suitable for:
Families, multi-pet homes, experienced dog owners, both city and country dwellers
Temperament:
Loyal, loving, gentle, sociable, protective, eager to please
There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the Miniature Great Dane, but the truth about this breed is just as interesting! You won’t find any breeders selectively breeding Miniature Great Danes, but if you do happen to stumble across one, they make an outstanding pet, even though they are prone to extra medical problems.
They’re great family dogs, they do well in cities and in the countryside, and you’re not going to find a more loyal and eager-to-please pup. Just don’t let the name fool you: A “miniature” Great Dane is still larger than most other full-sized breeds!
Miniature Great Dane Characteristics
Miniature Great Dane Puppies
Miniature Great Dane puppies are almost identical to regular Great Dane puppies as far as their temperament goes. You can therefore expect relatively active little dogs, but they won’t be over the top with exercise requirements. Too much activity can even be damaging to their long-term health outcomes. Miniature Great Dane puppies are smart and easy to train but sometimes can be stubborn. All in all, they make great family pets.
One thing you need to be aware of is getting your miniature Great Dane puppy only from reputable and high-quality professional breeders; otherwise, you risk coping with numerous unpleasant health problems.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Miniature Great Dane
There’s a reason that the Great Dane is known as a gentle giant. While the Miniature Great Dane might be a little smaller, they’re still a large dog, and the term is still an apt way to describe them.
Miniature Great Danes are cognizant of their size, which makes them behave cautiously around people and smaller animals. They are docile and loyal, but they still have a protective streak. This is part of the reason they make outstanding guard dogs for both your home and your family.
Great Danes have average intelligence compared to other dog breeds. If you’re trying to compare their intelligence level to a human, you can usually teach them to do just about anything a 2-year-old would do.
You’ll need to take the time to train them if you want them to learn tricks, but they love to please their owners and will gladly put in the effort if you take the time to train them!
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
Miniature Great Danes are outstanding family dogs. They’re loyal, protective, and eager to please, and despite their large size, they’re extremely gentle around children. While you might want to be careful around extremely small children with a Miniature Great Dane, they typically do extremely well in these situations.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽
With proper socialization, a Miniature Great Dane typically gets along well with other pets. However, socialization is key, so if you have an older Miniature Great Dane that’s never been around other animals, we recommend a trial run and proceeding with caution just to be on the safe side.
Things to Know When Owning a Miniature Great Dane
If you’re thinking about getting a Miniature Great Dane, there are a few different things you need to know to care for them properly. We highlight everything you need to know here so you can go into owning a Miniature Great Dane with eyes wide open.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Since the Miniature Great Dane is smaller than a full-sized Great Dane, they won’t eat quite as much. But with an average weight of 90 pounds, a Great Dane is still going to eat about 4.5 cups of kibble each day. That means if you purchase a 30-pound bag of dog food, you’ll need a new bag every 26 days!
Exercise 🐕
Miniature Great Danes need a lot of exercise to keep them happy and stimulated. On average, they need a minimum of 2 hours of exercise each day. This can be from walks, games of fetch, or some time at the dog park.
Training 🎾
Miniature Great Danes have average intelligence compared to most other dogs. Paired with their eagerness to please, this is one of the easier breeds to train. Still, you’ll want to have at least one 15-minute training session with them each day to get them to understand basic commands.
Grooming ✂️
Compared to many other dogs, the Miniature Great Dane has far more limited grooming needs. Typically, you need to brush them out about once a week to keep shedding at a minimum. It’s something you do need to stay on top of, but they don’t shed nearly as much as many other breeds.
Health and Conditions 🏥
Full-sized Great Danes have a heightened risk of many different health conditions, and Miniature Great Danes are only more likely to develop these problems. Many have a form of dwarfism, which is what causes their smaller size. We highlighted additional potential health problems that you should keep an eye out for if you have a miniature Great Dane.
- Hip dysplasia
- Eye problems
- Hyperthyroidism
- Joint deformities
- Weaker immune system
- Taurine-deficiency dilated cardiomyopathy
- Bloat
- Joint deformities
- Incomplete organ formation
- Wobbler syndrome
Male vs. Female
Just like most other dogs, male Miniature Great Danes tend to be a little larger than female Miniature Great Danes. A male will typically stand closer to 26 inches tall, while a female is about 20 inches tall.
Moreover, female Miniature Great Danes tend to bond stronger with one person, while a male is more likely to form a stronger bond with multiple people.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Miniature Great Dane
The Great Dane is one of the most well-known breeds in the world, but the Miniature Great Dane still has plenty of facts that can be surprising! We highlighted three little-known facts about the breed for you here.
1. Miniature Great Danes Have More Medical Problems
To get a Miniature Great Dane, the dog must have dwarfism or be the offspring of two runts. Either outcome puts the animal at a heightened risk of different medical problems. If you’re getting a Miniature Great Dane, have a plan to handle vet bills down the road.
2. Miniature Great Danes Are Still Very Large Dogs
A full-sized Great Dane is the tallest dog breed in the world, so it’s no surprise that even a Miniature Great Dane is big. They can reach up to 26 inches tall and weigh about 100 pounds, which is far from what most other breeds classify as “miniature.”
3. Breeders Don’t Intentionally Breed Miniature Great Danes
While it’s technically possible to find a breeder intentionally breeding Miniature Great Danes, an ethical breeder won’t. Miniature Great Danes are susceptible to far more health problems, so reputable breeders will do their best to avoid breeding them.
Conclusion
While we certainly don’t advocate for supporting a Miniature Great Dane breeder, if you do stumble across a miniature Great Dane, they will make an outstanding pet. They give you all the signature traits of a full-sized Great Dane, but you don’t have to deal with the full 200-pound weight!
Just be ready to deal with a few more medical problems, and know that many Miniature Great Danes never reach their full life expectancy.
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Featured Image Credit: Dmussman, Shutterstock
