Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Great Danes Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Great Danes Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Great Danes Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Great Danes Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Great Danes Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Great Danes Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Great Danes Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Great Danes Easy to Train?
- Do Great Danes Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Great Danes Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Great Danes have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Great Danes Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Great Danes Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Great Danes Playful? What is the Energy Level of Great Danes
- Conclusion on Great Dane Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Great Dane
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Great Dane out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Great Dane based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Great Dane breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Great Dane by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Great Dane.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Great Dane for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Great Dane.
The summary table below shows the score of the Great Dane for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Owner Directed Aggression | 6.1 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 52.6 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 39.8 percent |
| Energy Level | 36.5 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 34.8 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 34.6 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 34.4 percent |
| Excitability | 33.0 percent |
| Stubbornness | 29.1 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 28.4 percent |
| Prey Drive | 28.0 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 26.5 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 24.9 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 21.3 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Great Dane`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Great Dane, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Great Dane.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Great Danes Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Great Danes are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Great Dane ranks average for aggression towards strangers.
The Great Dane ranks number 54 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 34.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | American Bulldog | 36.3 % |
| 52 | Great Pyrenees | 36.0 % |
| 53 | Border Collie | 35.2 % |
| 54 | Great Dane | 34.8 % |
| 55 | Akita | 33.6 % |
| 56 | Mastiff (English) | 33.1 % |
| 57 | Beagle | 32.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Great Danes Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Great Danes are not aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Great Dane ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.
The Great Dane ranks number 111 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has an owner-directed-aggression score of 6.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | Collie | 6.5 % |
| 109 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 6.4 % |
| 110 | Poodle (Standard) | 6.4 % |
| 111 | Great Dane | 6.1 % |
| 112 | Border Terrier | 6.0 % |
| 113 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 5.7 % |
| 114 | Mastiff (English) | 5.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Great Danes Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Great Danes are a little bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Great Dane ranks low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Great Dane ranks number 74 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a dog-directed aggression score of 39.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit dog-aggressive just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | Poodle (Miniature) | 41.1 % |
| 72 | Papillon | 40.3 % |
| 73 | Gordon Setter | 40.2 % |
| 74 | Great Dane | 39.8 % |
| 75 | Bulldog | 39.4 % |
| 76 | Vizsla | 38.3 % |
| 77 | American Bulldog | 37.3 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Great Danes Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Great Danes are quite a bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Great Dane ranks high for fear of strangers.
The Great Dane ranks number 45 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a stranger-directed-fear score of 34.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit stranger-fearful just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 34.8 % |
| 43 | English Springer Spaniel | 34.6 % |
| 44 | Australian Shepherd | 34.6 % |
| 45 | Great Dane | 34.4 % |
| 46 | Bearded Collie | 34.4 % |
| 47 | Border Terrier | 34.2 % |
| 48 | Greyhound | 33.7 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Great Danes Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Great Danes are a little bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Great Dane ranks low for fear of other dogs.
The Great Dane ranks number 92 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a dog-directed-fear score of 24.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit other-dog-fearful just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | Portuguese Water Dog | 26.3 % |
| 90 | Bouvier des Flandres | 25.7 % |
| 91 | Pit Bull | 25.2 % |
| 92 | Great Dane | 24.9 % |
| 93 | Newfoundland | 24.9 % |
| 94 | Schipperke | 24.3 % |
| 95 | Alaskan Malamute | 23.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Great Danes Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Great Danes are somewhat fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Great Dane ranks average for non-social fear.
The Great Dane ranks number 69 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a nonsocial-fear score of 28.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat nonsocial-fearful just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 30.6 % |
| 67 | Great Pyrenees | 29.7 % |
| 68 | Whippet | 29.6 % |
| 69 | Great Dane | 28.4 % |
| 70 | Bulldog | 27.2 % |
| 71 | Belgian Tervuren | 26.1 % |
| 72 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 26.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Great Danes Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Great Danes are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Great Dane ranks very low on dog rivalry.
The Great Dane ranks number 111 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a dog-rivalry score of 21.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 21.7 % |
| 109 | Eurasier | 21.6 % |
| 110 | Redbone Coonhound | 21.5 % |
| 111 | Great Dane | 21.3 % |
| 112 | Keeshond | 20.1 % |
| 113 | Pug | 19.2 % |
| 114 | Golden Retriever | 18.6 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Great Danes Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Great Danes are somewhat easy to train.
This is because the Great Dane ranks average for trainability.
The Great Dane ranks number 54 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the trainability of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a trainability score of 70.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat easy to train just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 71.2 % |
| 52 | Brittany | 71.2 % |
| 53 | Norwegian Elkhound | 71.2 % |
| 54 | Great Dane | 70.9 % |
| 55 | Gordon Setter | 70.5 % |
| 56 | Irish Setter | 69.5 % |
| 57 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 68.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Great Dane is and how the intelligence of the Great Dane affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Great Dane is.
Do Great Danes Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Great Danes are not into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Great Dane ranks very low for small-pet-chasing.
The Great Dane ranks number 106 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a chasing score of 28.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not into chasing after smaller pets just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 103 | Pointer | 29.6 % |
| 104 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 28.7 % |
| 105 | Eurasier | 28.5 % |
| 106 | Great Dane | 28.0 % |
| 107 | Basset Hound | 27.9 % |
| 108 | Shetland Sheepdog | 27.1 % |
| 109 | Saint Bernard | 27.0 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Great Danes Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Great Danes are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Great Dane ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Great Dane ranks number 61 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 52.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Lhasa Apso | 54.4 % |
| 59 | Irish Setter | 53.0 % |
| 60 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 52.7 % |
| 61 | Great Dane | 52.6 % |
| 62 | Bullmastiff | 52.2 % |
| 63 | Poodle (Standard) | 52.2 % |
| 64 | Golden Retriever | 51.7 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Great Danes have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Great Danes are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Great Dane ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Great Dane ranks number 67 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a separation anxiety score of 34.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | Boston Terrier | 37.1 % |
| 65 | Tibetan Terrier | 35.7 % |
| 66 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 34.7 % |
| 67 | Great Dane | 34.6 % |
| 68 | Rat Terrier | 33.5 % |
| 69 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 33.2 % |
| 70 | Bullmastiff | 33.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Great Danes Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Great Danes are somewhat touch-sensitive.
This is because the Great Dane ranks average for touch sensitivity.
The Great Dane ranks number 67 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has a touch-sensitivity score of 26.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat touch-sensitive just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 27.2 % |
| 65 | Bearded Collie | 27.0 % |
| 66 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 26.6 % |
| 67 | Great Dane | 26.5 % |
| 68 | Weimaraner | 26.3 % |
| 69 | Newfoundland | 26.0 % |
| 70 | Old English Sheepdog | 25.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Great Danes Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Great Danes are a little bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Great Dane ranks low for excitability.
The Great Dane ranks number 96 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has an excitability score of 33.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit excitable just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 93 | Greyhound | 35.1 % |
| 94 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 35.0 % |
| 95 | Shih Tzu | 34.2 % |
| 96 | Great Dane | 33.0 % |
| 97 | Chinook | 32.7 % |
| 98 | Rottweiler | 32.1 % |
| 99 | Alaskan Husky | 32.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Great Danes Playful? What is the Energy Level of Great Danes
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Great Danes are not energetic.
This is because the Great Dane ranks very low for energy level.
The Great Dane ranks number 100 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 109 Great Dane owners reported on the temperament of their Great Dane in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Great Dane has an energy-level score of 36.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not energetic just like the Great Dane are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 97 | Collie | 38.7 % |
| 98 | Keeshond | 37.4 % |
| 99 | English Setter | 37.0 % |
| 100 | Great Dane | 36.5 % |
| 101 | Akita | 34.1 % |
| 102 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 33.8 % |
| 103 | Alaskan Malamute | 32.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Great Dane Temperament
The temperament of your Great Dane comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Great Dane is exposed to.
You cannot change your Great Dane`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Great Dane to.
Exposing your Great Dane to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Great Dane to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Great Dane`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Great Dane.
If you think the Great Dane is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Great Danes cost and Great Dane puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Great Dane breeders in the United States and the prices of their Great Dane puppies.