Great Dane vs English Mastiff

Side-by-side comparison of two popular breeds — temperament, exercise, grooming, lifespan and common health issues. Use it to decide which breed fits your home.

	🐕 Great Dane	🐶 English Mastiff
Group	Working	Working
Origin	Germany	England
Weight	50–82 kg	54–104 kg
Height	76–86 cm	70–84 cm
Lifespan	7–10 years	6–10 years
Energy level
Trainability
Grooming needs
Good with kids
Good with other pets
Hypoallergenic
Watchdog instinct
Novice-owner OK

🐕 Great Dane

Temperament

Friendly, patient, dependable. Great Danes are usually gentle with children and sociable with other dogs and pets. They tend to be "leaners" — physically affectionate with their humans.

Exercise

60 minutes a day of moderate exercise. Avoid impact in puppies under 18 months — long walks and jumping can damage developing joints.

Grooming

Short coat, weekly brush. Bathing every 6–8 weeks.

Health

Bloat / GDV (the #1 cause of death — feed twice daily, slow feeders, never exercise around meals). Cardiomyopathy. Hip dysplasia. Wobbler syndrome. Bone cancer (osteosarcoma). Lifespan tragically short — 7–10 years.

Full Great Dane profile →

🐶 English Mastiff

Temperament

Calm, affectionate, dignified, protective. Mastiffs are famously good with children of their own family. Wary of strangers but rarely aggressive — they tend to body-block rather than attack.

Exercise

30–45 minutes a day of moderate walking. Heavy-bodied breeds shouldn't jog or run on hard surfaces. Puppies must avoid impact until 18 months+.

Grooming

Short coat, weekly brush. Drool prevention bibs help.

Health

Bloat / GDV. Hip / elbow dysplasia. Cardiomyopathy. Cancers (lymphoma, osteosarcoma). Eye conditions. Lifespan 6–10 years.

Full English Mastiff profile →

Which is right for you?

Pick the Great Dane if

Calm families with space, owners who can budget for giant-breed food and vet care.

Pick the English Mastiff if

Calm households with space, owners who can budget for giant-breed care.

🎯 Take the breed match quiz → 💰 Compare lifetime cost

Great Dane vs English Mastiff

🐕 Great Dane

Temperament

Exercise

Grooming

Health

🐶 English Mastiff

Temperament

Exercise

Grooming

Health

Which is right for you?

Pick the Great Dane if

Pick the English Mastiff if

Products both breeds would love

Perfect Cat & Dog Macroneedle Comb

Male Dog Restraint Courtesy Belt Pet Supplie Washable Sanitary Diapers

Kennel Four Seasons Universal Pet Bed Mat Supplies

Dog Safety Pants | Soft Pure Cotton Physiological Dog Diaper