The Great Dane and the Bloodhound are both dogs that have good qualities in personality and as family dogs.
If you’re wondering what owning and raising the mixed breed of these two great dogs is like, read on to learn more and find out if it is suitable for you!
What is A Great Dane Bloodhound Mix?
The Great Dane Bloodhound mix is a crossbreed between a Great Dane and the Bloodhound dog breeds.
Also known as the Great Hound, the Great Dane Bloodhound Mix is one of the several mix breeds of the Great Dane.
The Great Dane Bloodhound mixed breed is a large breed dog that is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC).
The organization recognizes mixed breeds bred from purebred ancestry.
A Look Into The Origins of Great Dane Bloodhound Mix
Let’s take a look into the origins as well as the breed characteristics of the Great Dane and Bloodhound, which are the parent breeds, to understand more about the Great Dane Bloodhound mix.
Great Dane
The Great Dane is also referred to as a ‘gentle giant’ because of its huge size and gentle nature. They are a giant dog breed.
German breeders bred the current Great Dane however their origin can be traced back to Egypt from evidence found from Egyptian artifacts dating back to 3000 BC.
They were originally bred as hunting dogs for hunting wild boars.
Males are usually slightly larger than females. The males weigh 140 -175 lbs having a height of 28 – 32 inches. Females weigh 110 to 140 lbs and have a height of 28 to 32 inches.
The Great Dane has a short coat that comes in different colors, that is, black, brindle, blue, fawn, harlequin, and mantle.
The Great Dane, despite its size, has a pleasant personality. They are very affectionate dogs, sweet-natured, friendly, gentle, loyal, loving, laid-back, intelligent, people-oriented, and protective dogs.
With proper socialization and training, they get along with other pets. They are also friendly with children.
They love being close to people and do not do well when away from their owners.
Bloodhound
The Bloodhound comes from a line of dogs bred for hunting, commonly referred to as hounds. These dogs include the Greyhound, Dachshund, Beagle, and the Whippet which are among several other hound dogs.
The dogs have a very strong nose with a keen sense of smell, hence their ability to be quite good at hunting and tracking scents.
The Bloodhound has its origin in medieval Europe where it was used to trail deer and boar.
Today they are commonly used as police dogs to trail people, in rescue organizations, and on farms. They love to follow scents.
They are generally hard-working dogs with a lot of energy.
The Bloodhound is a large dog. The males weigh between 90 to 110 lbs with a height of 25 – 27 inches while the females weigh 80 to 100 pounds with a height of 23 -25 inches.
The dog also drools a lot. They have a short coat that sheds, which comes in three main colors, that is liver and tan, black and tan, and red. White flecks can appear within the black coat.
The Bloodhound’s personality comprises a dog that is kind, sensitive, easy-going, and can be stubborn.
They can be stubborn because of the desire to be independent therefore they need firm and consistent training to be able to guide and control them.
They are social and love participating in family activities.
Also because of their strong scent-seeking nose, they are very inquisitive by following scents in their environment and need a well-fenced yard or a leash when taken out for a walk.
Physical characteristics of the Great Dane Bloodhound Mix
The Great Dane Bloodhound mix inherits physical characteristics from both its parent breeds.
A mixed-breed can inherit more traits from one parent breed than the other or have a mix of both. The traits are not always consistent compared to purebred breed dogs.
The following are the physical characteristics of the Great Dane Bloodhound mix breed:
Appearance
The Great Dane Bloodhound mix appearance resembles both of its parent breeds. In most cases, the physical form and build are that of a Great Dane and fur type of both breeds.
Generally, the Great Dane Bloodhound mix is a large-sized dog with a short sleek coat that has different color variations.
Lifespan
On average, the lifespan of a Great Dane Bloodhound mix is between 7 to 12 years.
The parent breed, the Bloodhound, has a lifespan of 11 to 15 years while the Great Dane has a lifespan of 7 to 10 years. The mixed breed’s lifespan varies between the parent breed’s lifespans.
The Great Dane Bloodhound mix lifespan is also determined by several factors including the parent breeds’ genetics, their diet, lifestyle, and overall health.
Size and weight
The Great hound is a large dog. Their size varies depending on the individual dog but the average weight is 100 to 200 pounds with a height of 23 to 29 inches.
Coat
The coat of the Great Dane Bloodhound mix is short and smooth because both parent breeds have short coats. The coat also sheds lightly throughout the year.
Colors
The color varieties of the Great Dane Bloodhound mix is a mixture of black and tan, red, liver, and tan colors with darker colors interspersed with light colors.
Personality and temperament
The Great hound is a good companion and family pet because of its pleasant personality. This mixed breed is:
Friendly
The Great hound is a very friendly dog that interacts well with people as well as with children.
They love to play with children and are patient with them. This is a quality that makes them great companions and family dogs.
Supervision around children is still important because they are large dogs and may not always be aware of their strength when they play with children and they can push them down.
Affectionate
The Great Dane Bloodhound mix is an affectionate dog. They love their owners a lot and desire to be near them.
Stubborn
The large breed dog can be stubborn at times wanting to do what they want and not follow through with direction.
This characteristic of being independent-minded can prolong their training. Because of this trait, they require consistent and firm training to guide them to have the desired behaviors and also to get along with other pets.
Devoted
The Great Dane Bloodhound mix is a devoted dog that is loyal to its owner.
When they are properly trained and socialized they are dedicated to pleasing their owners through following instructions and doing as what is expected of them.
Easy going
This mixed breed is also a very easy-going dog. This means they are laid back, good-natured, and do not require an aggressively active lifestyle compared to a German Shepherd.
Inquisitive
The dog breed is also very inquisitive. They have a high scent intuition thanks to the bloodhound’s scent abilities which makes them follow scents that grab their interest.
Potential health conditions and risks
The Great Dane Bloodhound mix breed is generally healthy, however, they are susceptible to their parent breeds’ health conditions.
Although this is the case, they will not develop all of the health conditions that they are susceptible to; however, by being aware of these health risks you can be informed on how to better care for them and what to expect.
These health conditions and risks include:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Bloat
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Cancer
- Hypothyroidism
The Great Found is very susceptible to joint and bone disorders as a large breed dog.
Extra care has to be provided in the early years of development for proper development to prevent bone and joint health conditions.
When considering getting a Great Dane Bloodhound mix puppy, always purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder. This minimizes the risk of having serious health concerns through responsible breeding.
A breeder that uses responsible breeding practices will provide the health history of the puppy in addition to full screening for the common diseases.
This ensures that the puppy you purchase is healthy and that you are aware of the conditions that they are susceptible to.
This informs you on the care they need as a preventive measure as well as the care they will require in case they develop these conditions.
Maintenance of the Great Dane Newfoundland mix
Grooming
The Great Dane Bloodhound lightly sheds throughout the year and their maintenance is minimal. Their coat requires brushing only 2 to 3 times to remove shed fur.
The coat is fluffy therefore it is also susceptible to the fast build-up of dirt which breeds bacteria. Because of this, brushing and bathing regularly is recommended.
Bathing is required periodically because of dirt accumulation and a small whiff of hound smell that the breed has. The frequency of bathing is also dependent on when the coat gets dirty based on the level of activity.
Brushing of the teeth is done 2 to 3 times a week to remove food build-up, tartar, and prevention of bad breath.
Nails should be trimmed once a month with weekly ear cleaning and inspection for signs of infection or any abnormality.
Exercise and training
The energy levels of a Great Dane Bloodhound mix are moderate. They require a moderate amount of exercise which translates to walks and play sessions that keep them healthy and fit.
Exercise should not be extreme because they are prone to joint and bone and disorders especially before the age of two.
Diet
The Great hound is a large breed dog and the appropriate diet that they need is a high-quality diet giant and large breed diet. This diet is well formulated to provide the nutrition they need.
The daily meal quantity for an adult Great Dane Bloodhound mix is 6 to 9 cups a day of quality dry dog food provided two times a day.
The puppy diet must also be for giant or large breed puppies which allows for healthy weight gain and balanced nutrition.
The Great hound puppy should be fed 3 meals a day up to 4 to 5 months, then a total of 2 meals a day for the first year, adolescent, and adult life stages.
The quantities of the food portions to feed also varies depending on a Great hound’s age, gender, as well as activity levels of an individual dog.
A Great Dane hound must have clean drinking water as well to keep them hydrated.
Poor quality nutrition can severely affect a Great hound’s health and growth, therefore feed them only high-quality well-balanced dog food that is enriched with high-quality nutrients and vitamins.
The best giant and large breed dog foods on Amazon:
Environment and living conditions
The Great Dane Bloodhound mix can be an indoor or outdoor dog. They are best suited to a spacious home with a high fenced backyard, at least 6 ft high.
This is because they have a strong desire to follow scents therefore this will prevent them from wandering off to investigate an interesting smell.
Cost of a Great Dane Newfoundland mix
When considering getting a Great Dane Bloodhound mix puppy, it is important to know the expected costs around owning and raising them.
The below is a breakdown of these costs:
Category | Potential Cost |
Purchase (one time) | $ 750 – $ 1600 |
Food and snacks (per year) | $ 1900 |
Accessories and toys | $ 50 |
Spay/Neuter (one time) | $ 250 – $ 500 |
Vet checkups (per year) | $ 50 – $ 150 |
Total First Year Cost: | $ 3000 – $ 4200 |
Afterward annual cost: | $ 2000 – 2100 |
The list is an estimated cost that can be used as a guideline on the cost of owning a Great Dane Bloodhound mix.
Factors that affect the cost include the dog’s age, gender, and the breeder’s location.
Summary
The Great Dane Bloodhound mix is an affectionate, friendly, and easy-going dog. They love human contact and thrive by being close to them.
In addition to this, they are friendly to children and are good family dogs. With consistent training and socialization, they get along with other pets in the home.
The Great hound is suited for experienced dog parents that can handle a large dog and provide consistent firm training.
If you are considering getting a Great Dane Bloodhound mix, you are well assured that you will get a great dog with a pleasant personality all contributed by their sweet-natured parent breeds.