Great Dane Weight by Age 2026: Male and Female Growth Charts

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If you’re raising a Great Dane, you already know these dogs grow fast. Really fast. One week your puppy fits in your lap, and a few months later they’re resting their chin on the kitchen counter. Knowing what’s “normal” for Great Dane weight by age 2026 is genuinely useful, not just trivia, because this breed has specific health risks tied directly to growth rate and body condition.

This guide covers male and female Great Dane weight and height charts from birth through age 3, growth stages, how much to feed at each phase, healthy weight ranges, and what you need to know about bloat. Whether your Dane is 3 months old or almost fully grown, the charts below give you real numbers to work with.

Great Dane Weight by Age 2026: Male Growth Chart

Male Great Danes are significantly heavier and taller than females at every age. The numbers below are averages. Your dog’s genetics, diet, and overall health all affect where they land in the range. Don’t panic if your pup is a few pounds lighter or heavier. Do talk to your vet if they’re consistently outside the range.

Age	Weight (lbs)	Weight (kg)	Height (inches)	Height (cm)
Newborn	1-2	0.45-0.9	4-5	10-13
1 month	5-8	2.3-3.6	8-10	20-25
2 months	18-26	8.2-11.8	12-16	30-40
3 months	30-45	13.6-20.4	17-22	43-56
4 months	45-60	20.4-27.2	22-26	56-66
5 months	60-85	27.2-38.6	26-30	66-76
6 months	70-100	31.8-45.4	28-33	71-84
7 months	80-115	36.3-52.2	30-34	76-86
8 months	90-125	40.8-56.7	31-35	79-89
9 months	95-135	43.1-61.2	32-36	81-91
10 months	100-140	45.4-63.5	32-37	81-94
11 months	105-145	47.6-65.8	33-38	84-97
12 months	110-150	49.9-68.2	34-39	86-99
18 months	120-165	54.4-74.8	35-41	89-104
2 years	135-180	61.2-81.6	35-41	89-104
3 years	140-190	63.5-86.2	36-42	91-107

Female Great Dane Weight by Age 2026: Growth Chart

Female Great Danes follow a similar growth curve but stay noticeably smaller throughout. They tend to reach physical maturity a bit earlier than males. A healthy adult female is still an enormous dog by any standard. At 2 years old she’ll easily outweigh most other large breeds.

Age	Weight (lbs)	Weight (kg)	Height (inches)	Height (cm)
Newborn	1-2	0.45-0.9	4-5	10-13
1 month	4-7	1.8-3.2	7-9	18-23
2 months	15-23	6.8-10.4	11-15	28-38
3 months	25-40	11.3-18.1	15-20	38-51
4 months	40-55	18.1-24.9	20-24	51-61
5 months	50-70	22.7-31.8	23-27	58-69
6 months	60-85	27.2-38.6	25-30	63-76
7 months	65-95	29.5-43.1	26-31	66-79
8 months	70-100	31.8-45.4	27-32	69-81
9 months	75-105	34.0-47.6	28-33	71-84
10 months	80-110	36.3-49.9	29-34	74-86
11 months	85-115	38.6-52.2	29-35	74-89
12 months	90-120	40.8-54.4	30-36	76-91
18 months	100-130	45.4-59.0	31-37	79-94
2 years	110-140	49.9-63.5	32-38	81-97
3 years	115-145	52.2-65.8	33-39	84-99

Great Dane Growth Stages: What to Expect Month by Month

Great Danes don’t grow at a steady, predictable pace. There are distinct phases, each with its own quirks and concerns. Here’s what’s actually happening at each stage.

Birth to 8 Weeks: Total Dependency

Newborn Great Danes weigh just 1-2 pounds. That’s tiny for a dog that’ll eventually tip the scales at 150+ pounds. During these first weeks, puppies nurse, sleep, and grow at a startling rate. By the time they’re ready to go home at 8 weeks, they can weigh 18-26 pounds (males) or 15-23 pounds (females).

Good breeders keep puppies with their mother and littermates through this entire phase. Early separation leads to behavioral problems that stick around for life. Don’t rush it.

2 to 4 Months: The “Puppy Clumsy” Phase

Your Great Dane puppy will look exactly like a baby deer during this phase. Long, gangly legs they haven’t figured out yet, a body that seems to change proportions weekly, and zero coordination. This is completely normal. They’re also gaining weight fast, sometimes 3-5 pounds per week.

Nutrition is critical here. You want a high-quality Great Dane puppy food that’s specifically formulated for large or giant breeds. Regular puppy food has too much calcium and phosphorus for giant breeds, which can actually cause bone development problems.

4 to 6 Months: Rapid Acceleration

This is often the phase that shocks new Great Dane owners. Your puppy is visibly larger week to week. Males can go from 45 pounds at 4 months to nearly 100 pounds by 6 months. That’s not a typo. They’re burning through calories at an impressive rate, and their joints are under real stress.

Keep exercise moderate. Short leash walks and free play in the yard are fine. Avoid forced running, long hikes, or anything that puts repeated impact on developing joints. Their growth plates are wide open right now, and damage at this stage can cause lasting problems.

6 to 12 Months: Big Dog, Still Growing

By 6 months your Great Dane already looks like an adult dog to most people. They’re not. They’ve got a long way to go in weight and muscle development. Most of the height comes in during this window, with males reaching somewhere between 34-39 inches at the shoulder by 12 months.

You’ll also notice your Dane starting to “fill out” — the chest deepens, the legs look more proportionate, and the awkward puppy look fades. This is the phase where joint supplements for Great Danes become worth considering, especially if there’s any family history of hip or elbow issues.

12 to 24 Months: Filling Out

Height plateaus for most Great Danes around 14-18 months, right when their growth plates close. But they keep packing on muscle and weight until age 2 or even 3. A male who weighed 150 pounds at 12 months might hit 180 by his second birthday. That’s all muscle and body mass, not fat (assuming good diet and exercise).

This is also when you transition from puppy food to adult food. Most vets recommend switching at 18-24 months for giant breeds, which is later than the 12-month switch typical for smaller dogs.

How Much to Feed a Growing Great Dane

Feeding a Great Dane is genuinely one of the most important things you’ll do for their long-term health. Get it wrong and you’re looking at joint problems, obesity, or bloat risk. Get it right and you’ve got a healthy giant.

The most important rules: feed 2-3 smaller meals per day rather than one large one (this is critical for bloat prevention), use a large-breed formula with controlled calcium levels, and don’t push rapid weight gain. Fat puppies don’t grow into healthier dogs; they grow into dogs with joint problems.

Looking for the right food? Our roundup of the best dog foods for Great Danes covers top picks across different budgets and life stages.

Is My Great Dane at a Healthy Weight?

The charts above give you numbers, but the real assessment happens with your hands. Run your palms along your dog’s ribcage. You should be able to feel each rib without pressing hard, but the ribs shouldn’t be visually prominent either. That’s the “just right” zone.

From above, a healthy Great Dane has a visible waist behind the ribcage. From the side, the belly tucks up slightly. If the back looks flat like a table and there’s no waist definition, your dog’s carrying extra weight. If you can count every rib from across the room, they need more calories.

If you’re not sure, ask your vet to do a body condition score at the next checkup. They use a standard 1-9 scale, and 4-5 is ideal for most Danes.

Bloat in Great Danes: What Every Owner Must Know

Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus, or GDV) is the most dangerous health issue Great Dane owners face. It’s not just uncomfortable; it can kill a dog within hours. Great Danes have one of the highest rates of bloat of any breed, partly because of their deep, narrow chest.

What happens: the stomach fills with gas and then twists on itself, cutting off blood supply. The dog can’t vomit to relieve the pressure. Without emergency surgery, it’s fatal.

Signs to watch for:

• Distended, hard-feeling belly
• Unproductive retching or gagging
• Restlessness, pacing, unable to get comfortable
• Drooling excessively
• Pale or white gums
• Sudden weakness or collapse

If you see any combination of these, don’t wait. Get to an emergency vet immediately.

To reduce bloat risk:

• Feed 2-3 smaller meals instead of one large daily meal
• Wait at least an hour after eating before exercise
• Avoid raised food bowls (research is mixed, but many vets still recommend against them)
• Talk to your vet about prophylactic gastropexy, a surgery that tacks the stomach in place to prevent twisting
• Don’t let your Dane drink huge amounts of water right before or after exercise

Many Great Dane owners have their dog’s stomach tacked (gastropexy) during the spay or neuter surgery. It doesn’t prevent bloat, but it prevents the stomach from twisting, which is what makes bloat deadly. It’s worth discussing with your vet.

Other Common Health Issues to Track During Growth

Weight isn’t the only thing worth monitoring as your Great Dane grows. A few other conditions are more common in this breed and often show up during the growth phase:

Hip dysplasia: The hip joint doesn’t form properly, leading to looseness, pain, and early arthritis. You’ll notice it as a wobbly gait, reluctance to exercise, or difficulty rising from lying down. Joint supplements can help manage symptoms but won’t fix structural problems.

Panosteitis: Sometimes called “growing pains,” this is inflammation in the long bones that causes shifting lameness in puppies between 6-18 months. It’s temporary and resolves on its own, but it’s painful. Rest and anti-inflammatories from your vet help.

Wobblers syndrome: A condition where the spinal canal in the neck compresses the spinal cord. Symptoms include an unsteady, wobbly gait in the hindquarters. Great Danes are genetically predisposed, and it most commonly appears in middle-aged dogs.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM): An enlarged, weakened heart. Great Danes are one of the breeds most frequently diagnosed. Regular cardiac checkups (every 1-2 years for adults) are a good idea. Supplements supporting heart health are worth discussing with your vet as your Dane ages.

When Is a Great Dane Fully Grown?

Most of the height is done by 18 months. The growth plates close somewhere between 14-18 months, which is when you get the green light for more strenuous exercise like jogging or hiking. But body mass and muscle continue developing until age 2-3, especially in males.

Think of it this way: a 12-month Great Dane has most of their height but maybe 70-80% of their adult weight. They’re going to keep “thickening up” for another year or two.

This extended growth period is one reason early spay/neuter timing matters more for giant breeds than for small dogs. Removing sex hormones before the growth plates close can delay their closure and lead to longer, less stable bones. Most vets now recommend waiting until 18-24 months for Great Danes before spaying or neutering. Talk to your vet about what makes sense for your specific dog.

If you want to support your Dane’s growing joints, check out our guide to the best supplements for Great Dane puppies for vet-recommended options at each growth stage.

Frequently Asked Questions: Great Dane Weight by Age

How much should a 6-month-old Great Dane weigh?

A 6-month-old male typically weighs 70-100 pounds. Females at the same age usually land between 60-85 pounds. Both are growing fast and will nearly double their weight by 12 months.

What’s the average weight of a fully grown male Great Dane?

Adult males typically weigh 140-190 pounds and stand 36-42 inches tall. They reach full height around 18 months but keep adding muscle through age 2-3.

How much does a 3-month-old Great Dane weigh?

Males at 3 months weigh 30-45 pounds; females weigh 25-40 pounds. This is one of the fastest growth windows, with pups gaining 3-5 pounds per week.

When do Great Danes stop growing?

Height mostly stops at 12-18 months when growth plates close. Body mass and muscle fill in until age 2-3, especially in males.

Is a Great Dane overweight if I can’t see their ribs?

Not necessarily. You should feel ribs easily with light pressure, but they shouldn’t be visually prominent. If you can’t feel them at all with gentle pressure, it’s worth a vet check. Body condition score is a more reliable tool than weight alone.

How many times a day should I feed my Great Dane?

At least twice, and three times is better. One large meal per day dramatically raises bloat risk. Puppies under 6 months should eat 3-4 small meals daily.

What weight is healthy for a female Great Dane?

A healthy adult female weighs 115-145 pounds and stands 33-39 inches. They typically reach maturity slightly earlier than males.

Can Great Danes get bloat and how do I prevent it?

Yes, and it’s a genuine emergency when it happens. Multiple small meals, no exercise right after eating, and talking to your vet about gastropexy are the main preventive steps. If you see a bloated belly and unproductive gagging, go to an emergency vet right now.

Bottom Line

Great Danes grow at a pace that’ll honestly catch you off guard. Knowing the normal weight and height ranges for your dog’s age helps you spot problems early and give your vet something concrete to work with at checkups.

The key takeaways: feed a large-breed formula, split meals to reduce bloat risk, keep exercise moderate until growth plates close at 14-18 months, and don’t rush weight gain. A Dane who grows at a steady, appropriate pace almost always ends up healthier than one who was pushed to bulk up fast.

And those growth charts are averages. Your dog being 10-15 pounds outside the range isn’t automatically a problem. Your vet’s hands-on assessment matters more than any number on a chart.

Want to make sure your growing Great Dane has everything they need? Check out our full guide to Great Dane puppy foods, our picks for the best dog beds built for giant breeds, and the supplements most recommended by vets for Great Dane puppies.