Great Dane vs Great Pyrenees

A Great Dane
Photo: Arabsalam
A Great Pyrenees
Photo: HeartSpoon

Side by side

Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Adult weight
Males 64–79 kg (140–175 lb); females 50–64 kg (110–140 lb) (breed club figure)1
55–75 kg (121–165 lb)2
Height
Males 80–90 cm; females 72–84 cm (breed club figure)1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 10.6 years3
Median 10.9 years3
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes4
13 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids5
Pinschers & molossoids6
Coat
Short coat5
Long coat6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Daily brushing
Exercise
A moderate amount
A modest amount
Health
Bone cancer (far more likely); Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely)7,8
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Watchdog

Which suits you

Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Great Dane sheds through the year, the Great Pyrenees moults most as the seasons change.
Grooming
The Great Pyrenees needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Great Dane needs a brush once a week.
Exercise
Plan for a moderate amount of exercise with the Great Dane, and a modest amount with the Great Pyrenees.
Temperament
They differ most on voice (Great Dane: quiet; Great Pyrenees: very vocal) and on affection (Great Dane: a lap or leaning dog; Great Pyrenees: affectionate on its own terms).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 64 kg (141 lb) for the Great Dane and 65 kg (143 lb) for the Great Pyrenees.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Great Dane
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant

In temperament the Great Dane is friendly, patient and dependable. It is affectionate with its household and usually calm indoors, but watchful with strangers.

Great Pyrenees
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant

Calm and patient with its own household, it is also independent, watchful and reserved with strangers, and known for barking at night.

The Great Dane page →The Great Pyrenees page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Differs
Easy-going, simple routines
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Decides for itself
Around the home
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Very vocal
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 65 kg.
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
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More comparisons

Compare the Great Dane with
Great Dane vs Irish WolfhoundGreat Pyrenees vs KuvaszGolden Retriever vs Great PyreneesDoberman Pinscher vs Great DaneBernese Mountain Dog vs Great PyreneesGreat Dane vs Saint BernardAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·