Miniature Great Dane – Does Size Matter?

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Last Updated on January 1, 2021

Are you skeptical of your Great Danes size? or it is always called a Labrador instead of Great Dane. Many times the Great Danes are seen who tend to be smaller in size than the Great Dane breed standards. Hence given the name, miniature Great Danes. Apart from being smaller in stature, these Miniature Great Dane dogs, are generally sound, and healthy canines.  

Although Miniature Great Danes are not officially recognized Great Danes. Yet It is suggested that miniature Great Danes are more healthy. In that the health concerns for behemoth Great Danes are not that severe or not even prevail in miniature Great Danes altogether. The Miniature Danes are less susceptible to bloat or joint ailments which could be fatal for a gigantic Great Dane.

Miniature Great Dane

Miniature Great Danes are simply the Danes who, irrespective of the hindering reason, are unable to achieve usual Great Dane height. These dogs are smaller in size and show disability to grow big enough.

The miniature Great Danes are also named as Mini or Pocket Danes. Although these miniature Great Danes are not so mini. They might be miniature but still belong to the Great Dane breed. One of the largest canine’s breeds out there. Find the Miniature Great Dane’ size below.

If your Great Dane is lacking in its stature despite it being a fit canine, then yours might be a miniature Great Dane. 

What is a Miniature Great Dane?

As of now, there is no miniature Great Dane as prescribed by the Great Dane breed standards. Miniature Great Danes are not formally recognized by the breed standards. The A.K.C. and G.D.C.A. favors only one size for Great Dane dogs.

According to the A.K.C. Great Dane dog’s height ought to initiate at 28 or 30 inches at shoulder. With initial scales for female Great Danes and upper graduations for male Great Danes. This delineated height is the minimum for a dog of the breed.

Miniature-Great-Dane

Miniature Dogs

Canine breeds are grouped in three categories based on their sizes. Various Breeds of dog come in the sizes as follows:

  • Standard size
  • Miniature size
  • Toy size

Popular miniature dogs

The Miniature Danes are also getting popular hence breeders are involved in creating these miniature dogs. Besides mini or pocket Danes there are many popular miniature breed dogs on the market. Namely, 

Miniature Pinscher

The mini Pinscher dogs are regarded as audacious, gleeful, and pleasant. They need active and lively ambiance to maintain their bubbly temperament. Notwithstanding its 10 pounds size a miniature Pinscher has an intense and loud bark. 

Miniature Poodle

Poodle breed is the most sought after. Their fame inclined breeders to develop the dog’s distinct sizes as;

Standard, miniature, and toy. 

Miniature poodles just like standard and toy sized poodles are utmost sharp and intelligent canines out there. The miniature poodle usually weighs in at a practicable 15 to 17 pounds.

Did you know?

The ornate haircut common in poodle dogs called, the “poodle clip”, is not that ostentatious. It is originally designed to protect the joints and organs in cold water.

Miniature Schnauzer

These miniature Schnauzers are capable watch dogs due to their protective, intelligent, and sharp temperament. The dogs are good around children and have the ability to get along with elderly quite well.

Miniature Great Dane size

As broached already, miniature Great Danes are slightly smaller than Great Dane breed standards. A miniature Great Dane might possess an existence of 26-28 inches at shoulder.

Great Dane’ size:

A Great Dane dog’ size as suggested by the breed standards is huge. The measurements of the dog are;

  • Weight:

For male Great Dane:120-140lbs (54-90 kg)

For female Great Dane:99-110lbs (45-59 kg)

  • Height:

Range for male Great Dane from paw to shoulder:34-36 inches (76-86 cm)

Range for female Great Dane from paw to shoulder:28-32 inches (71-81 cm)

Miniature Great Dane Appearance

In its all inclusive appearance, a miniature Great Dane is alike Great Dane dogs. Excluding height of a miniature Great Dane. This indicates the dog has shorter and smaller frame as compared to an average Great Dane dog.

The miniature Great Danes hold slim boned body structure. Usually less blockier bodies as compared to standard Great Dane and more towards lean muscles. 

Great Dane Appearance:

The Great Dane is among the largest breeds of dog. Their huge existence makes them quite prominent no matter where the Great Danes are. The long legs of the Great Dane dog in addition to its mammoth existence, add up to its elegance.

Its natural floppy ears and long tail are regarded unique in all dogs. But in ancient times the Great Danes were found with cropped, pointed ears and most probably a cropped tail as well.

Miniature Great Dane Temperament

Miniature Great Danes though may be lacking in their appearance, yet the dogs are no less Great Danes in temperament. The miniature Great Danes are amenable, friendly, and warm canines. Their persona can be marked by allegiance, gentleness, and obedience.

Miniature Great Danes are friendly around children and other pets. Provided, socialized and trained properly the miniature Great Dane alike Great Dane would become a wonderful company to have. 

Couch-Potato-Great-Danes  

Miniature Great Danes are couch potatoes, owing to their inclination towards sitting on couches. They love to jump on their owners out of excitement and bear leaning towards being lap dogs just like standard sized Great Dane dogs.

How is it to have a Miniature Great Dane?

Great Danes are warm, loving, and appeasing canines, hence called as ‘gentle giants’. The dogs’ incredible presence in addition to their singular temperament, is a worthy combination to be praised, coveted, and owned, universally.

Getting tremendous qualities of a Great Dane in a miniature size would not be an amateurish choice. These pocket sized bundles of love are fun to be around with. 

The miniature Great Danes are inclined towards jumping onto their owners, it sounds more practical deal as compared to a huge Dane trying the same.

Also Great Danes are known lap dogs giving them the status of world’s biggest lap dogs. Though it seems a bit difficult to let a dog of 140 lbs sit on your lap.

But with its pocket sized version, a miniature Great Dane, being a lapdog is more fun and rather an anticipated moment.

Additionally, miniature Great Danes need less space, be it your car, couch, or lodging. Miniature Great Dane can be concluded as the same treat in smaller packaging with reduced cost and expenses.   

Miniature Great Dane health

Health of their dogs is the main concern of owners, it is only natural for parents to reason that their miniature dogs might be less healthy.

On the contrary it is opined that the miniature Great Danes are ahead of huge Great Danes in terms of wellness. This opinion holds its roots in the following theory,

The miniature Great Dane dogs are less or not at all susceptible to the diseases recurrent in huge sized Great Danes. 

Diseases and conditions, like bloat, hip dysplasia, and cardiomyopathy are less common in miniature Great Danes. Find below how detrimental these diseases could be for Great Dane dogs.

Great Dane health

Great Danes like other large sized breeds are prone to a number of diseases. A brief account of some Great Dane diseases is as mentioned ahead. Kicking off with the most lethal disease for a large sized canine like Great Dane.

Bloat

For Great Danes bloat is dangerous and in the worst scenarios can even cause death. The dog can die within hours from bloat.

Bloat is the most recurrent trouble for  large breed dogs like Great Danes. Commonly evaluated as the top most slayer of the breed, bloat might be perilous for your Great Dane as well.

Bloat is also called gastric torsion. This condition occurs when the canine eats too fast or overindulge itself in eating. This makes the dog gassy. Hence rendering it bloated. Naturally human beings also become gassy at times but can easily get rid of the condition.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a chronic disease affecting the mobility of a dog. In this condition dog is mainly attacked on its lower part i.e hind limbs. Leaving the dog passive and even not willing to move.

In this condition the upper part of femur bone does not position properly into the hip socket. As the joints have lost its flexibility. Due which the canine feels pain during movement.

Cardiomyopathy

The Great Dane breed is prone to heart disease called cardiomyopathy, in which the dog’s heart increases in its size.

The most prominent cause of this Great Danes disease is genetic. The disease is also a hereditary disorder like hip dysplasia.

Diagnosis is indispensable to treatment. Timely diagnosis is made possible only if you are aware of any early signs of some disease. Unfortunately, cardiomyopathy does not bear any clear signs. The Great Dane might die but remain undiagnosed.

Not only this, the diseases in Great Danes dogs bring further complications and complexities as well.

Problems with Miniature Great Danes

The Great Danes deviating from usual Great Dane breed size, miniature Great Danes, might develop peculiar health issues. According to a recurrent belief, miniature or dwarf Great Danes might die sooner. There is also a possibility that the dog’s growth and optimal development of crucial organs like; heart, and brain, is inhibited due to the flaws in its genetic makeup. 

In addition to affecting the Great Dane’s frame, it might induce other health problems. Although, the miniature Great Dane dogs are not prone to large Great Dane’ diseases. Yet, there are some other health problems which could only be prevalent in miniature Great Danes. Namely,

  • Joint deformities
  • Incomplete organs’ formation
  • Less Immunity
  • Flawed genes

Flawed genetic material and genes can lead up to any sort of ailment including dwarfism in miniature Great Danes.

What-Is-Minature-Great-Dane

What makes a Miniature Great Dane

Great Dane dogs and miniature Great Danes both hold homogeneous appearances as puppies. Great Dane litters usually have the same size, even these miniature Great Danes were similar to their litter’s mates despite being miniature. 

Generally, it is not plausible to tell beforehand whether a Great Dane puppy would be an average sized dog adhering to the breed standards. Or it would develop into a miniature Great Dane.  

Once a dog reaches the age of 5 or 6 months, the Great Dane shows initial signs of lacking in height. The Great Dane puppies grow to be miniature Great Danes mainly due to the latter mentioned factors;

Genetics

The Great Dane’s phenotype is a total manifestation of its genotype. The dogs inherit traits from their relative sires and dams through genetic material. Hence, what a Great Dane dog would develop into, it is already coded and delineated in its DNA.

If the parents of a Great Dane has huge stature, than it is natural for Great Dane puppies to be gigantic.

On the other hand, if one Great Dane is average sized and the other is less in height, then there are chances of a miniature Great Dane puppy born in their litter.

Whilst, miniature Great Danes could also be born to average sized Great Dane parents. In this case one of the parents has a gene residing dormant in its genetic material. Such a gene gets an efficacious depiction in the next generation puppies. The gene has become dominant now and expressing itself through a miniature Great Dane.

Breeding

The miniature Great Danes also result from particular breeding practices. As the idea of miniature Great Danes echoes attractive, some breeders might involve runts to get miniature Great Danes. 

There is an increased possibility that such miniature Great Danes might suffer from dwarfism. Hence, breeding miniature Great Danes from runts is not recommended at all.

Deficiencies

There are chances that your Great Dane is lagging behind in its height due to some deficiency. Either you were unable to reckon its feed aptly or the dog had digestive problems retaining its frame to a miniature size.

Great Dane food is consequential to the dog’s growth. Great Dane dogs require breed specific feed. Do not feed a Great Dane puppy regular puppy food. Same goes with adult Great Dane dogs. Raw diet could be a wholesome alternative if your Great Dane has problems with food digestion or allergies.

Miniature Great Dane Growth

Typically a Great Dane dog can grow and continue gaining in its height till it is one year old. Great Dane growth chart explains the age and height of a Great Dane.

Can a miniature Great Dane grow bigger?

If your Great Dane has surpassed the age of one year than it is not rational to reason that the dog would grow further. Once the Great Dane is found lagging behind in its height at some point comparing the dog’s measurements according to the Great Dane growth, then there are fair chances that your dog would develop into a miniature Great Dane.

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