The Great Dane is a very large and elegant dog breed that is known for its gentle nature and low energy. As a low-energy dog breed, many people wonder if a Great Dane will be a good fit for an apartment.
However, due to the Great Danes’ large size, they aren’t always the best dog breed for apartment living, and you may face a few issues trying to keep such a big dog in an apartment, especially if it is on the smaller side. Read on below to find out more.
Are Great Danes Good for Apartments?
When we think of an apartment-friendly dog breed, we usually think of small dogs like the Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, or Maltese poodle, but rarely of giant dog breeds like the Great Dane who can reach up to 40 inches in height and weigh over 150 pounds.
The Great Dane doesn’t lack when it comes to their size, and they do take up more space than other dog breeds. Most Great Danes will tower over other dogs, and even stand taller than many humans on their hind legs.
As a giant dog breed, and one of the largest dog breeds in the world, the Great Dane doesn’t meet the requirements to be a good dog breed for apartments, but that doesn’t mean that it is not possible to do so.
When it comes to fitting in the category of a good apartment dog, the Great Dane would need to meet the following requirements:
- Small size (usually no larger than 12 inches in height)
- Generally quiet
- Have low to medium energy requirements
- Easy to train
Now, the Great Dane doesn’t tick off the small size requirement, but they are quiet dogs with low energy requirements while being easy to train thanks to their high intelligence. This makes it possible to keep a Great Dane in an apartment if you can still meet their needs and give them the proper training to make them apartment-friendly.
Why Are Great Danes Not Suited for Apartments?
Even though you can make apartment living work with a Great Dane, this type of housing and lifestyle doesn’t seem to be the best option for this dog breed. Not only does the Great Dane take up a lot of space, but this small space can quickly become cramped and uncomfortable for both you and your Great Dane.
Size
These big dogs can be quite clumsy and knock over furniture and ornaments as they walk by, so any apartments or homes that are cramped or packed with furniture due to limited space can lead to stuff getting knocked over daily.
Since most Great Danes stand either taller or at the same level as many furnishing items like tables and cabinets, any items on those tables like vases, your special ornaments, and foot items can get knocked over by a swish of your Great Danes tail since the cramped space gives them less room to move around.
Another space issue to consider when keeping a Great Dane in an apartment is that their large bodies take up more space in hallways and small apartment rooms, which means you and your Great Dane will have to move around each other and any other people in the home to get around.
Their Bark
Aside from the small size of apartments and lack of garden space, Great Danes have a very loud and deep bark that can be a noise disturbance for neighbors.
Since you will have neighbors both above and below you (depending on the floor level you are on), then your Great Danes bark will echo throughout the apartment and barking is normal for Great Danes, who will bark at slight disturbances, other people, and even to communicate with you.
Can You Keep a Great Dane In An Apartment?
If you wanted to, you could make apartment living work with a Great Dane. Since Great Danes are dogs that are typically low energy, taking your Great Dane on daily walks can help make up for the lack of space in an apartment.
Certain types of apartments are more suitable for Great Danes than others, and apartments that have a balcony do not mix well with Great Danes.
If you live in a first-floor apartment that has a small courtyard, then you can definitely make it work with a Great Dane because they will still have an area to go to the bathroom and walk around outdoors. Keeping your Great Dane in an apartment with only a balcony as the outdoor access point then it will be more challenging.
Keep in mind that your Great Dane will need a place to poop, and since their poops are quite large, having to deal with them on a balcony is unpleasant. Your Great Dane may also bark at movement, cars, and people that they can see below from the balcony, which can become an irritation for you and your neighbors.
Another factor to consider when keeping a Great Dane in an apartment is that you will need to make sure that it is allowed, as many renters and apartment complexes will have a limit to the types of dogs you can keep in the apartment. If your Great Dane’s loud bark will be an irritation for the neighbors, you will deal with a few noise complaints due to your dog’s barking.
Conclusion
Overall, considering the Great Dane’s large size, loud and deep bark, along with the small size of an apartment and sometimes lack of yard space, the Great Dane is not the best apartment dog. Although you can make it work, keeping a Great Dane in an apartment will take more effort than smaller apartment-friendly dog breeds.
If you do keep a Great Dane in an apartment, you will need to take them on daily walks or runs in a secured dog park and give them plenty of toys to keep them entertained.
You will find that Great Danes aren’t the most active dog breeds and prefer lounging around on the couch, but they still need to keep active to stay healthy and prevent obesity from lack of exercise.
Featured Image Credit: belu gheorghe, Shutterstock
