12 Great Dane Facts and Photos Celebrating These Majestic Dogs

When Great Danes grow up, they're one of the largest dog breeds in the world, but it takes approximately 2 years for them to reach their adult size. Although other breeds may steal the spotlight as puppies, those who love the Great Dane know these pups have a special kind of awkward charm that makes them so very endearing. As puppies, these gentle, amiable giants start out with oversized paws, flopping ears, and so much extra skin that you can't mistake their distinctly charming looks. Learn more about these enormous dogs through these 12 interesting Great Dane facts.

Great Dane puppies grow so quickly that experts recommend you don't feed them regular puppy food. Instead, feed them kibble designed for large breed puppies three times a day. This will give them the nutrients they need to grow properly. Feeding them regular food could cause them to grow so fast that it can stress their bones and joints.

You can expect your fully grown Great Dane to be about 28 to 32 inches tall, measured at their shoulder. This great height makes them one of the tallest dog breeds in the world. Most adult Great Danes weigh between 120 and 150 pounds, though individuals may weigh less or more.

Even though Great Danes are indeed great in size, they are gentle giants. This breed gets along well with families and children when socialized properly.

Young puppies should be handled mostly by their mothers, but once your Great Dane reaches about 7 weeks of age, you should start socializing them with other dogs and people. Wait until your puppy is full vaccinated before taking them to parks or out on walks, but you can have people come over to your house or play in the yards of trusted friends.

While they may look sturdy, Great Danes are actually fairly fragile. Don't allow your puppy to rough house with other dogs and take care that they don't injure themselves tripping or slipping on a slick surface.

While your puppy may enjoy being outside and playing with you, remember that Great Danes are house pets, not outside dogs. Great Danes are actually known as one of the best dogs for apartment living, and your puppy will learn to behave themselves in your home.

Like all puppies, Great Danes like to chew. Their jaws can be strong, however, so make sure they have plenty of toys made for "serious chewers."

Puppies are babies and need a lot of sleep. This is especially true for Great Danes in particular, because of the amount of growing they need to do. Great Dane puppies may even need more sleep than most breeds. Make sure your puppy gets plenty of rest after each meal to allow them the energy to grow.

If your Great Dane puppy is shy or fearful of new situations, keep introducing them to new people and places as often as you can. This can help prevent problems like "fear biting." Great Dane puppies generally have friendly temperaments, although they can be protective of their families, so take special care to help them out of their social shell.

Great Dane puppies come in several coat colors and patterns. Solid colors include black, white, blue, chocolate, fawn, silver, and white. Patterns include white with black spots ("Harlequin"), merle, brindle, white and blue, chocolate and white, and black and white ("mantle").

The biggest downside to owning a majestic Great Dane is their low life expectancy. On average, Great Danes live between 7 and 9 years, which is less than many smaller breeds. However, with the right care, you can help your Great Dane live a full life.

Like many large breed dogs, Great Danes grow up to be loyal, gentle companions. Treat your puppy right during those early months and years of growth, and they'll be sure to reward you in kind in the years to come.