Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Average Litter Size of Great Dane
- Calculator to Predict How Many Puppies Great Dane Will Have
- How Much Does the Great Dane Puppy Weigh at Birth?
- How Big Will a Great Dane Puppy Get?
- How Much is a Great Dane Puppy
- How Long is a Great Dane Pregnant?
- How to Ensure a Successful Pregnancy in Great Dane
- Conclusion on Great Dane Litter Size
Average Litter Size of Great Dane
Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 29 different Great Dane birth litters.
From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that Great Danes can have is 7 puppies. Also, the Great Dane can have as few as 1 puppies per litter and as many as 13 puppies per litter.
See how the litter size of the Great Dane compares to that of other dog breeds below:
Read this article to learn about how many puppies dogs have.
Calculator to Predict How Many Puppies Great Dane Will Have
Great Dane Litter Size Predictor
According to the result of the research carried out by researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, the number of puppies a Great Dane will have depends on the following main factors:
- The size of the breed (most important factor): Giant dog breeds tend to have a bigger litter size, while smaller breeds give birth to a smaller number of puppies
- The method of mating: Natural mating results in a larger litter size than artificial insemination.
- The age of the female dog: Check out the chart below to see how many puppies a female Great Dane is likely to have at different ages.
According to research, the following factors do not affect litter size:
- The time of the year of the litter was born (season of birth): Although, from the study, litters born in the Spring seem to be larger than litters from other seasons, however, the difference was not of significance.
- The number of times a female dog has given birth in the past (known as parity): The age of the female dog is more important to the extent that it makes parity insignificant.
Based on the important factors that affect litter size, the researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science developed formulas for predicting the litter size of dogs.
We have developed the Great Dane litter size calculator above based on their formulas. Use the calculator to predict how many puppies a Great Dane will have based on the age, and method of pregnancy for a Great Dane
The calculator tells you how many puppies your Great Dane will have if your Great Dane gets pregnant today. The calculator assumes that the length of pregnancy will be two months.
Note that we are NOT in any way encouraging you to breed your Great Dane. Dog breeding requires expertise. If you want to be breeding dogs, get the necessary training. Also, work closely with a veterinarian when breeding a dog.
The table below shows the average litter size to expect from a Great Dane at different ages. This table applies to a Great Dane that conceives through natural mating.
| Age (Years) | Average Litter Size | Litter Size Range |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 8 puppies | 6 to 9 puppies |
| 3 | 7 puppies | 6 to 9 puppies |
| 4 | 7 puppies | 5 to 10 puppies |
| 5 | 7 puppies | 4 to 10 puppies |
| 6 | 7 puppies | 4 to 10 puppies |
| 7 | 6 puppies | 3 to 10 puppies |
| 8 | 6 puppies | 2 to 10 puppies |
| 9 | 5 puppies | 1 to 9 puppies |
How Much Does the Great Dane Puppy Weigh at Birth?
Veterinarian researchers did a study to find out how much Great Dane puppies weigh at birth. These researchers weighed 44 Great Dane puppies at birth.
Based on the study of the weight of 44 Great Dane puppies, the average weight of the Great Dane at birth is 647 grams (22.8 ounces). The birth weight of the Great Dane puppy typically ranges from 512 grams (18.1 ounces) to 698 grams (24.6 ounces).
16 ounces equal one pound.
The factors that affect the weight of a Great Dane puppy at birth include the size, weight, and age of the mother.
Importantly, research has also shown that female dogs that give birth at ages between 2 and 8 years give birth to puppies that are heavier than puppies birthed by younger or older female dogs.
Furthermore, according to another research study that weighed Great Dane puppies from 4 litters, Great Danes can weigh 500–930 grams at birth.
How Big Will a Great Dane Puppy Get?
A Great Dane puppy will grow up to weigh around 100 to 200 pounds. Furthermore, a Great Dane puppy will grow up to be 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder.
Learn more about Great Dane weight and how big Great Danes grow here
How Much is a Great Dane Puppy
The average price of a Great Dane puppy is $1560. The price of a Great Dane puppy ranges from $1000 to $2000.
Since the Great Dane has an average litter size of 7, therefore a Great Dane litter birth is worth $10920.
To learn more about the price of Great Dane puppy, check our review on how much Great Dane puppy cost, and Great Dane buying advice.
How Long is a Great Dane Pregnant?
Great Danes are pregnant for 63 days on average (2 months) after conception. However, this is an average value. The length of pregnancy in Great Danes can range from 58-68 days.
However, note that it is difficult to know the exact day that your Great Dane conceives because conception may not happen at the same time that mating happens.
Sperm can live inside a female Great Dane for several days after mating before conception occurs.
How to Ensure a Successful Pregnancy in Great Dane
To ensure that your Great Dane successfully gets pregnant and deliver its puppies, here at the things you can do:
- Feed your Great Dane well: A good diet will ensure that your Great Dane has the nutrients and the energy it needs to get pregnant and maintain the pregnancy.
- Make sure your Great Dane is in good health: Ensure you take your Great Dane to the Vet care regularly for checkups, make sure your Great Dane gets regular exercise. Also, make sure that your is not overweight or underweight.
To learn how to check if your Great Dane is overweight or underweight, check out this resource.
Conclusion on Great Dane Litter Size
Great Danes can have 7 puppies per litter birth on average. The number of puppies that a Great Dane will have depends on factors such as the age of the Great Dane and the method of pregnancy (natural or artificial insemination).
Breeding Great Danes the right way requires expertise and should be done after sufficient training.
Also, you should work closely with a veterinarian when breeding a Great Dane. There are a lot of nuances involved in breeding a dog, which we do not have the time or the space to discuss here.
However, working with a veterinarian will ensure that your Great Dane gets the right treatment necessary to make healthy puppies.
The litter size research study that we used for this article was conducted on Great Danes in Norway. However, the authors of the research believe that the results can be generalized to other countries that have similar dog management systems as Norway.