Do you love sensitive, affectionate, unique-looking dogs? Have you been looking for a short-coated dog that will enjoy cuddling with you on the couch?
If so, the Greyhound or the Great Dane are good options to consider. However, these dogs couldn’t be more different! Great Danes tend to do well in family environments, whereas Greyhounds are more reserved.
Great Danes are one of the largest dog breeds. They’re considered giants among dogs. Great Danes were bred to guard property and people.
Greyhounds are far smaller than Great Danes and are the fastest of all the dog breeds. So, your choice will come down to whether you want the fastest dog or the tallest dog.
The temperament of the Great Dane and the Greyhound is similar. Both dogs are sensitive and affectionate. However, the Great Danes are usually more social.
Great Dane vs Greyhound at a Glance
If you are trying to decide between the Great Dane or the Greyhound, there are many things to consider. Great Danes and Greyhounds have many similarities.
They both feature short, soft coats that come in a range of colors. Additionally, the Great Dane and the Greyhound can both be sensitive dogs who love affection from their families.
However, the two breeds are very different in size and personality. For one thing, the Great Dane is far larger than the Greyhound. Great Danes are considered a giant breed and can reach as much as 250 lbs!
Alternatively, Greyhounds are known as the Ferraris of the dog world. This is because Greyhounds are the fastest of all purebred dogs! Greyhounds can run as fast as 45 miles an hour.
Great Dane Traits
- Tallest breed
- Weighs 120-245 pounds
- Short, soft coat
- Many coat colors and markings
- Muscular and heavy
- Affectionate and loyal
- Friendly and sociable
- Great for families
- Gets along well with other animals
- Can be stubborn
- Health issues possible
Greyhound Traits
- Fastest dog breed
- Weighs 50-85 lbs
- Often used for racing
- Smart and trainable
- Affectionate and loyal
- Can be shy and reserved
- Bonds closely with a few people
- Needs special exercise
- Sensitive to weather
About Great Danes
Great Danes are the gentle giants of the dog world. Great Danes were originally bred to protect people, livestock, carriages, property, and more.
Great Danes also were once used to track and hunt wild boars. Because of this, Great Danes have versatile personalities and are capable of adapting to a range of environments.
Great Danes are famous for being gentle with children and sensitive to harsh discipline. Great Danes may also become stubborn if pushed firmly.
Since Great Danes are one of the largest dog breeds, you must be prepared before adopting one. Great Danes require lots of space and might be expensive to own.
Great Danes can have breed-specific health issues including hip dysplasia, bloat, joint issues, and aortic issues. Not to mention, the Great Danes have hefty appetites. So, these dogs can be relatively expensive to feed.
If you decide to adopt a Great Dane, be sure that you have an ample budget devoted to pet care.
Great Danes are perfect for families who love large dogs and enjoy canines with affectionate, devoted temperaments.
About the Greyhound
Originally, Greyhounds were bred for hunting wild game. They chased foxes, rabbits, and even deer. Greyhounds are super fast and can run up to 45 mph! This makes the Greyhound the fastest dog around.
Unsurprisingly, Greyhounds quickly became famous as racing dogs. As such, you can find retired Greyhounds in animal rescue groups and retirement care shelters.
Greyhounds are easy to train and often participate in dog agility sports. They love to chase lures across the ground. Confirmation, obedience, and agility are strong suits for the Greyhound. Many people love Greyhounds because they have a sweet, mild nature.
Greyhounds can either be couch potatoes or marathon runners. If you adopt a Greyhound, expect it to be in lazy mode or sprinting mode at all times.
Greyhounds are very sensitive to extreme weather and must be cared for with diligence and consideration.
Greyhounds can also become lonely if left unattended for long periods of time. Finally, they sometimes have high prey drives, meaning they love to chase small animals.
If you want an adoring dog that loves to cuddle and is medium in size, Greyhounds are a good choice.
However, they need lots of exercise and attention. You can never let a greyhound off of leash at the park because they may run away at top speed if they see a squirrel!
Great Dane vs Greyhound Appearance and Colors
In appearance, Great Danes and Greyhounds have some similarities and some differences. The coat length and color of the Greyhound and the Great Dane share similarities.
However, Great Danes usually come in more color options and tend to have spots and splotches of color. Greyhounds are usually gray, tan, brindle, or something in between.
Greyhounds are much smaller than Great Danes. On average, a Greyhound will weigh about 60 lbs.
However, a Great Dane usually weighs about 150 lbs. Greyhounds can be as small as 50 lbs or as large as 85 lbs. Great Danes can be as small as 100 lbs or as large as 245 lbs. The heaviest Great Dane was Giant George, who weighed 245 lbs.
Most Greyhounds are sleek and athletic. Racing Greyhounds usually stand at 29 inches tall. Show Greyhounds are slightly larger, usually standing at 30 inches tall. Great Danes usually stand at 30 inches tall but can be over six feet long. The largest Great Dane was named Zeus and stood at 44 inches tall.
Coat and Grooming Great Dane vs Greyhound
Both of these dogs have single-layered coats that shed regularly throughout the year. Since Great Danes are larger, they are slightly harder to groom.
This is why it is important to teach your Great Dane to enjoy bath time at a young age. After all, if your Great Dane doesn’t enjoy getting into the bathtub, you will have a hard time forcing him.
Greyhounds are less difficult to groom and will do well with baths if conditioned to like the water from an early age. You can do this with positive reinforcement.
Keep in mind that Greyhounds can be very temperature sensitive. So, when giving a Greyhound a bath, you will want to make sure that they are warm and comfortable. Sometimes, you may need to provide your Greyhound with a sweater so that it will not become too cold.
Great Dane vs Greyhound Exercise Needs
Greyhounds are not the kind of dogs that can be left alone for hours on end. They need care, exercise, and play. They like to do engaging activities, particularly ones that involve sprinting.
If you own a Greyhound, it is a good idea to ensure that you have a large area in your yard where the dog can run and exercise its muscles.
Your Greyhound is sure to enjoy running at top speeds! At other times, expect them to happily nap on the couch.
Great Danes are slightly easier to exercise and take care of. Great Danes usually have moderate energy levels and are happy with a nice walk every day. Great Dane energy levels can vary, but most dogs in this breed are very mellow.
Lifespan and Health of a Great Dane vs Greyhound
Great Danes and Greyhounds have different lifespans and health issues. Great Danes are by far the more unhealthy breed. This is because Great Danes suffer from heart issues, GDV, joint issues, eye issues, and allergies.
Although Greyhounds can also suffer from allergies, they are a relatively healthy breed. The lifespan of the Greyhound ranges from 8 to 14 years. Unfortunately, the Great Danes have far shorter lifespans. The average lifespan of a Great Dane is only 7 to11 years.
Personality and Temperament of a Great Dane vs Greyhound
Greyhounds have wonderful temperaments. These dogs are known for being friendly, sensitive, and non-aggressive.
However, many Greyhounds do not enjoy the company of strangers. With that in mind, Greyhounds can get to know and like new people with time and a few treats.
Greyhounds are an independent and intelligent breed. Many people say that Greyhounds are even cat-like. Greyhounds have a very sensitive side as well.
They can be quick to respond to negative emotions in your home. They may become timid if mistreated. The temperament of your Greyhound will be impacted by its genetic factors, socialization, and training.
In contrast, the Great Danes are loving, loyal, and silly. Great Danes are known for being friendly and affectionate with almost everyone.
However, some Great Danes can be suspicious of strangers. Great Danes may also decide that they want to guard your yard. It will all depend on the upbringing and temperament of your dog.
All in all, Great Danes are wonderful dogs for families while Greyhounds are amazing dogs for owners who want a close companion.
I want a dog that will enjoy going places with you and meeting new people, the Great Dane is a good option.
If you want a dog that will be a couch potato who occasionally wants to sprint back and forth in the backyard, the Greyhound is a good choice.
Great Dane vs Greyhound Training
One of the things Great Danes and Greyhounds have in common is their ability to learn. Great Danes and Greyhounds can both be very easy to train. Both of these breeds require lots of positive reinforcement and consistency.
Great Danes can become stubborn if they don’t enjoy training sessions. Greyhounds are very sensitive and will not respond well to harsh discipline.
Both of these dogs should be trained using positive reinforcement, patience, and consistency. The Greyhound and the Great Dane are both our dogs that would benefit from obedience training.
For the Greyhound, obedience training will open a world of socialization and new experiences. This will help your dog become more well-rounded.
For the Great Dane, obedience training allows you to get help from experienced trainers. After all, if your Great Dane decides to go rogue, it can be quite difficult to control them. This is why it is so important to teach your Great Dane how to be well-behaved at a young age.
Great Danes have one of the longest puppy hoods around. In fact, some Great Danes do not reach maturity until age two!
As such, you can expect lots of silly, funny, puppy antics from your Great Dane. You should consider maturity as a factor when training this breed.
Family Life with a Great Dane vs Greyhound
Great Danes and Greyhounds are both known for being extremely affectionate with their families.
They simply love their people! With that being said, the Great Dane is slightly calmer and cooler with families than the Greyhound.
The Great Dane is likely to tolerate loud noises and boisterous behavior in the home. Greyhounds are very sensitive and may not appreciate lots of loud noise or chaos in a family setting.
Still, it will all depend on your dog, their life experiences, and how you train them. Either of these dogs would do very well in a family setting if trained properly.
Great Dane vs Greyhound and Other Pets
Great Danes and Greyhounds can both do well with other pets if trained properly. However, the Great Dane does slightly better with other animals.
This is because Great Danes were bred to be versatile and capable of guarding livestock, people, and property. So, they will take other animals under their wing and try to protect them.
On the other hand, Greyhounds have very high prey drives. This makes it likely that they will want to chase other animals, especially small animals like squirrels and rabbits. Be sure to anticipate this as a possibility as you socialize and train your Greyhound.
Great Dane and Greyhound Puppies
Are you ready to get a Greyhound or Great Dane puppy? If so, be sure to choose a breeder with a good reputation.
Your breeder will be able to tell you all kinds of important information about your puppy that will help with feeding, grooming, and care.
Look for a breeder that has both of your puppy’s parents on-site. That way, you can get an idea of how large your puppy will grow and what it will look like.