How Much Does it Cost To Feed a Great Dane?

The Great Dane is an enormous, friendly and loyal dog. Because it's one of the biggest breeds, it eats a lot more than an average dog. So how much does it cost to feed a Great Dane?

The honest answer: it depends on the food you choose and how much your dog eats. A full-grown Dane can eat several pounds of kibble a day, so food is one of the biggest ongoing costs of owning one.

Below, we explain how to estimate your own cost, along with what puppies and adults need.

Great Dane Feeding

Great Danes eat more than an average dog. Despite their size, many are fairly calm, so they may eat less than you'd expect for their weight.

Each dog is different. An adult Great Dane commonly eats somewhere around 6 to 10 cups of dry food a day. The right amount depends on the food's calories per cup, your dog's size, age, activity level and metabolism.

Then What is the Right Amount of Food to Give a Great Dane?

Use your dog's body condition as the guide. You should be able to feel the ribs easily without pressing, and see a waist from above.

If the ribs and hip bones stand out, your Dane may need more food. If you can't feel the ribs, cut back a little.

Make small changes, wait a couple of weeks, and check again. Ask your veterinarian if you're unsure about your Dane's weight. Unexplained weight gain or loss can be a sign of a health problem.

Feeding a Great Dane Puppy

Great Dane puppies grow very fast. Monitor growth closely, because too many calories and rapid growth raise the risk of bone and joint problems such as hip dysplasia. Don't free-feed a Dane puppy.

Feed a complete and balanced puppy food made for large and giant breeds. Look for an AAFCO statement that says the food is formulated for growth including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult).

According to Tufts veterinary nutritionists, these foods have a narrower calcium range that suits large breed puppies, which are sensitive to too much or too little calcium.

Great Dane puppy food costs vary with the brand and how much your puppy eats at each stage. For more detail, see our guide on Feeding the Great Dane puppy for any further information.

What are the Monthly Food Cost to Feed a Great Dane puppy?

Monthly cost rises as your puppy grows. To estimate it, multiply the cups your puppy eats per day by about 30. Then divide by the number of cups in a bag and multiply by the bag price.

Prices change often and vary by store and brand, so check current prices for the food you plan to buy.

What are the Yearly Food Cost to Feed a Great Dane puppy?

Add up your monthly estimates as your puppy grows. Expect the total to climb through the first year as portions increase.

Feeding an Adult Great Dane

Adult Great Danes eat more than puppies. Switch from puppy food to an adult food when your vet recommends it, which for giant breeds is often later than for smaller dogs.

The price depends on the brand, the food's calories per cup, and how much your dog eats.

How much does monthly Food Cost for an Adult Great Dane?

Use the same formula: daily cups × 30 days, divided by the cups per bag, times the bag price.

A Dane eating 8 cups a day goes through roughly 240 cups a month. That usually means more than one large bag of kibble each month. Premium and prescription foods cost noticeably more.

How much does Yearly Food Cost for an Adult Great Dane?

Multiply your monthly cost by 12. Add treats, and budget extra if your Dane needs a special or prescription diet.

Free Feeding Great Danes

Free feeding, leaving food out all day, isn't recommended for Great Danes. Measured meals make it easier to control growth in puppies and weight in adults.

Extra weight is hard on any dog, and especially on a giant breed's joints.

Meal size also matters for bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), a life-threatening emergency that is common in Great Danes. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons links GDV to eating large meals quickly. It recommends two to three smaller meals a day instead of one big one.

Avoid vigorous exercise for an hour or two before and after meals.

Great Dane Dietary Needs

There are several ways to feed a Great Dane, including kibble, wet food and home-prepared diets. What matters is that your dog gets a complete and balanced diet with the right number of calories.

1. Kibble

Kibble is the most practical and affordable choice for most Great Dane owners. It provides complete nutrition and needs no preparation.

Choose a complete and balanced food for your dog's life stage. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations. If you want to compare dry foods, click here.

2. Raw Diet (BARF)

Raw diets, often called BARF (bones and raw food), usually cost more than kibble and take more time to prepare. Many home recipes also aren't nutritionally balanced.

Raw food carries health risks too. The FDA found raw pet foods were more likely to carry Salmonella and Listeria than other pet foods. Those germs can make pets and people sick.

If you're considering raw or homemade food, ask your vet or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist for a balanced recipe.

What is the Feeding Frequency for Great Danes?

Feed your Great Dane so it reaches its adult size gradually, without growing too fast or getting overweight. Foods made for large and giant breeds help.

Puppies usually eat three or four meals a day, and adults two or three. Always provide clean, fresh water.

Bowl height is worth a word. Some owners use elevated food bowls, but the American College of Veterinary Surgeons lists elevated feeding as a possible risk factor for bloat. Ask your vet whether a raised bowl is right for your Dane.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much does it Cost to Feed a large Great Dane?

It depends on the food and how much your Dane eats. Estimate it by multiplying daily cups by 30, dividing by the cups per bag, and multiplying by the bag price. Larger, more active Danes and premium foods cost more.

Is it Cheaper to Buy Dog Food or make Dog Food?

For most owners, commercial kibble is cheaper than homemade food for a dog this size. A properly balanced homemade diet also needs a recipe from a veterinary nutritionist plus supplements, which adds cost.

What Food keeps Great Dane full?

Low-calorie vegetables like cucumber, green beans and carrots make filling treats for a Dane that needs to lose weight. Introduce new foods slowly. If your Dane is always hungry, ask your vet whether a weight-management food is a better fit.

Vets usually recommend foods from companies that invest in nutrition expertise and quality control. The WSAVA suggests asking whether a brand employs a qualified nutritionist, who formulates its diets, and how it checks quality. Your vet can suggest specific brands that meet these standards.

What Food makes a Great Dane Happy?

Most dogs enjoy protein-rich foods like chicken, lamb, fish and beef. A complete and balanced diet with quality protein supports your Dane's health and energy.

Wrapping Up

Great Danes are huge, powerful dogs, and feeding one is a significant cost. Whatever you choose, it should be complete and balanced for your dog's life stage.

A good diet may cost more up front, but keeping your Dane lean and healthy can save on vet bills later. Ask your veterinarian for help choosing the right food and amount.

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Sources

Confused About What to Feed Your Large Breed Puppy? New Rules May Help!, Petfoodology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Get the Facts! Raw Pet Food Diets can be Dangerous to You and Your Pet, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee: Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods, World Small Animal Veterinary Association