Great Danoodle (Great Dane & Poodle Mix): Info, Pics, Puppies, Facts

The Great Danoodle, also known as The Danedoodle, is a cross between a Great Dane and a Poodle, which are both highly intelligent and popular breeds. They are highly sociable and love to spend time with their owners and other animals, and their large size and high intellect make them great guard dogs. They have dense and wavy coats that vary widely in color, in striking combinations. The Great Danoodle is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club and is a fairly uncommon yet highly sought-after breed.

They have large recognizable heads that come from their Great Dane origins, with small floppy ears from their Poodle genetics. The Great Danoodle is highly obedient and easy to train and will enthusiastically respond to commands. They become quite attached to their owners, particularly female dogs, and will often experience separation anxiety if left alone for extended periods. They are a big presence, with big energy, and will require a large amount of yard space and regular exercise in order to stay happy and healthy.

Their high sociability, trainability, and playfulness make them great family pets. Their deep-set, human-like eyes and facial expressions are sure to form a strong bond with children and adults alike.

Great Danoodle Puppies

In general, Great Danoodles are one of the more expensive crossbreed puppies. The Great Danoodle is a fairly rare crossbreed and the demand for them is high.

These dogs are intelligent and obedient. They would make a wonderful family dog and do equally well as a guard dog.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Great Danoodle

1. They were first bred in the 1900s.

There is evidence that the Great Danoodle was first bred somewhere in the early 1900s. This makes it one of the most stable crossbreeds available, particularly if you get one from a reputable and experienced breeder.

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2. They have ancient origins.

The Standard Poodle breed was first recognized more than 400 years ago, while the Great Dane has origins that stretch as far back as 3,000 B.C. While a Poodle has a reputation as a spoilt and pampered lap dog, they were commonly bred in the past as hard-working sport dogs. Great Danes were often bred for the same purpose, so the combination of these breeds makes for a highly intelligent, hard-working animal, with a long and revered history.

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3. They have infinite coat variations.

The wavy coat of the Great Danoodle can come in many different lengths, and the colors are almost infinite, coming in solid or multicolored variations of black, white, blue, red, grey, etc. The combination of the curly, dense fur of Poodles with the wiry, sleek coat of Great Danes makes for a wide variety of coat differences.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Great Danoodle 🧠

Are Great Danoodles Good for Families? 🏡

Great Danoodles make great family pets. They are amazingly loyal and easily trainable and love to be around people. They have a deep, unconditional love and trust for their human owners, and while both males and females are highly sociable, the females tend to latch onto one owner.

They will often suffer from separation anxiety if left alone, as they are social dogs who love regular interaction. This makes them unsuitable for owners who are away for extended periods or don’t have the time to give them loads of attention.

Do Great Danoodles Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Great Danoodle is highly sociable and will generally get along great with other dogs and family pets. They love to be in packs and are playful and full of energy with other dogs. Neutered males and spayed females are ideal, as they usually won’t display much aggression toward other dogs.

Provided that they grow up with other dogs and cats around and are socialized from an early age, they are unlikely to hunt or display any aggression toward other animals.

Things to Know When Owning a Great Danoodle

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Great Danoodle is a large breed of dog with a large appetite. They will need a large amount of food to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, but they are prone to overeating and will need to be carefully monitored to prevent getting overweight. Depending on the type of food they are getting, a good gauge of daily requirements is at least 4 large cups of high-quality dry dog pellets per day. Dry pellets also act like a toothbrush to prevent tartar buildup and to keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy.

Like all dogs, Great Danoodles need constant access to fresh, clean water. An easy way to get adequate hydration for your dog is to add high-quality wet food into their diet.

Great Danoodles also need a source of essential fatty acids, which are good for their coats, internal organs, and nervous system. They will need a large amount of protein, which will supply them with energy and assist with skin, nail, bone, and muscle structure. Because a dog’s body cannot store protein, they will need a constant supply. Carbohydrates can serve as a good source of energy for your dog, and the large size and weight of Great Danoodles mean they’ll need more than usual. While carbohydrates are not essential to your dog’s diet, they do contain important vitamins and minerals that can assist with overall health. That said, carbohydrates like wheat and corn should be avoided.

Most dogs need around 25-30 calories per pound per day to maintain a healthy weight. This can be altered depending on how active the breed is. For a Great Danoodle, their large size and high energy levels mean they may need a fair bit more. A Great Danoodle’s average weight is around 100 pounds, so they’ll need to get 3,000-35,00 good calories a day to maintain a healthy weight. You’ll need to make sure they don’t get more than this to prevent bloating and obesity.

Exercise 🐕

Great Danoodles, like most large breeds, require regular amounts of exercise. Around 45-60 minutes of brisk walking three times a day is optimal, but once a day is suitable on occasion. Their large size is better suited to homes with large yards for them to run around in, but even this is not an adequate replacement for regular exercise.

Their highly trainable nature makes them easily take to a leash, and with the right kind of training, Great Danoodles will love to run alongside you on a leash. Indeed, their large, strong bodies and abundant energy levels make training essential, as they can easily sweep you off your feet if they get too excited.

General play cannot be counted as exercise unless they are playing fetch or some other form of high-intensity play. Long walks or runs are the best forms of exercise for a Great Danoodle to burn off any excess energy. That said, they will love the mental stimulation provided by ball games.

Training 🦮

Great Danoodles are obedient dogs who are easily trained and always eager to please. Like all dogs, positive reinforcement methods of training are the best methods, and the Great Danoodle’s lovable temperament will respond well to this type of training. The use of treats also helps, and this breed can be taught a variety of tricks when trained with repetition and consistency.

Female Great Danoodles tend to mature earlier and are thus are ready to train quicker than males. That said, they can become moody and obstinate at times, whereas males generally have a more consistent temperament for training. Both males and females love to impress their owners by responding to commands and calls.

Grooming ✂️

The Great Danoodles coat is highly varied and can take on traits of the Poodle or the Great Dane. In general, it is on the shorter side and is thick and wavy. However, it can be more like a Great Dane coat, in which case, it will be short and wiry. In either case, this breed is known to not shed much, so they do not need frequent grooming. The occasional brush and regular bath are all a Great Danoodle needs for a healthy coat.

Health and Conditions ❤️

While a Great Danoodle does not have any breed-specific health conditions, it is common for them to have some of the issues of their parent breeds. That said, regular exercise and a healthy and complete diet will go a long way in mitigating many common ailments associated with both breeds. Big dogs tend to have more issues with joints and muscles in general, and regular checkups at the vet are a good idea to keep on top of any issues that may arise, especially with older dogs.

Great Danes have huge frames, and it is not surprising that they experience joint and bone diseases like hip dysplasia, and this can be passed down to Great Danoodles. They also commonly suffer from cardiomyopathy, which is a disease that leads to the enlargement of the heart.

Crossbred dogs do have the advantage of hybrid vigor, which makes your dog less prone to their parent breeds’ diseases due to genetic diversity.

Unless you intend to breed, neutering a male dog has many associated health benefits, including preventing testicular cancer, reducing aggression, and stopping them from wandering. Similarly, spaying a female helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, and doing so before her first heat will mitigate these complications even more.

Male vs. Female

As with most dog breeds, the male Great Danoodle tends to be taller and heavier than females. Males will also be more stable in character and slightly more difficult to train. Females are generally easier to train and can begin training earlier than males and are more lovable and affectionate.

With Great Danes, the female matures faster and is thus ready to train earlier than males. Generally speaking, males are more easygoing and sociable, while females can be moody and commonly attach themselves to one particular person. Poodles share many similar traits with Great Danes, with females being more independent and less affectionate than males.

The above observations are generalizations, and every dog will have unique variations of these traits, no matter the sex. Also, neutered and spayed dogs will have a more stable temperament and are less prone to aggression and mood swings. All that said, a dog’s upbringing and environment have a bigger part to play in character than their sex.

Final Thoughts: Great Danoodle

The Great Danoodle is a rare breed, and if you can get your hands on one, they make for loving, loyal pets. Their high level of trainability makes them both great guard dogs and family pets. Great Danoodles are large animals and require a large yard to run around in and burn off energy. This also needs to be supplemented by daily walks in order for them to remain obedient, good-natured, and healthy overall.

The Great Danoodle’s large size and its tendency for separation anxiety make them a breed that comes with a large amount of responsibility. The Great Danoodle is not for everybody and will require an owner with the time and attention to spare.

If you do have the space and time, the Great Danoodle will make a loyal and trustworthy family pet.

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Featured Image Credit: Karolina Kruczynska, Shutterstock