The Great Dane and the Newfoundland are among the most recognized giant purebred dogs which are affectionate, gentle, friendly, and loyal dogs.
Now, what about the crossbreed of these two adorable dogs?
If you’re wondering what owning and raising one may be like, read on to find out if the mixed breed is suitable for you!
What Is a Great Dane Newfoundland Mix?
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a crossbreed between a Great Dane and the Newfoundland dog breeds.
Crossbreeding between different purebred dogs has become popular in recent times and the Great Dane Newfoundland mix is one of these mix breeds.
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a sweet-natured, gentle, social, intelligent, and loyal dog with a fluffy appearance due to its coat.
The mixed breed is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club which recognizes hybrid crossbreed dogs bred from purebred ancestry.
A Look Into The Origins of Great Dane Newfoundland Mix
To understand more about the Great Dane Newfoundland mix dog, let’s take a look into the origins and breed characteristics of the parent breeds.
Great Dane
The Great Dane is a giant dog breed commonly referred to as a ‘Gentle giant’ or ‘Apollo of dogs’ because of its massive size.
The Great Dane’s origin dates back to Egyptian artifacts in 3000 BC however from breed history, German breeders are credited to the breeding of the dog that we know today.
The breed was originally bred for hunting wild boars.
Physically they have a large majestic body frame with a short coat which comes in different colors, that is, brindle, fawn, blue, black, mantle, and harlequin.
Male Great Danes weigh an amazing 140 -175 lbs with a height of 28 – 32 inches, while female dogs weigh 110 to 140 lbs with a height of 28 to 32 inches.
Despite their size, they have a very sweet-natured personality as gentle, friendly, loving, laid-back, loyal, intelligent, affectionate, protective, and people-oriented dogs. They are rated as one of the most affectionate dog breeds.
They love being close to humans, love children and with proper socialization and training, they also get along with other pets.
Recommended Reading: What do Great Danes like to do?
Newfoundland
The Newfoundland dog, also referred to as a Newfie, has its origin in Newfoundland in Canada.
The breed is a hard-working dog that was used as a working dog for hauling wood from the forest and helping fishermen pull nets. They are also great swimmers and have webbed feet that help them with this activity.
The Newfoundland is a large dog weighing between 130 to 150 lbs with a height of 28 inches for males while females weigh 100 to 120 pounds with a height of 26 inches.
The dog has a thick water-resistant double coat which makes them thrive in cold climates but they can also adapt and live in warmer climates.
The coat sheds heavily, especially during the spring and fall time. Another interesting thing about them is that they also drool a lot.
The Newfoundland’s personality comprises a dog that is sweet-natured, loving, people-oriented, intelligent, eager to please gentle nature, courageous, loyal and affectionate.
They like to be with people and do not do well when left alone for a long time.
Physical characteristics of the Great Dane Newfoundland Mix
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix inherits physical characteristics from both its parent breeds.
The mixed-breed may inherit more characteristics from one parent or have a balance between the parent characteristics.
The following are the physical characteristics of the Great Dane Newfoundland mix breed:
Appearance
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix has a range of appearances with natural features from their parent breeds.
Many have the head shape and build of a Great Dane and fur type of a Newfoundland. In almost every case, however, the Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a giant large-sized dog with a fluffy coat that comes in different shades.
Lifespan
On average, the lifespan of a Great Dane Newfoundland mix is between 8 to 11 years. This lifespan also varies due to several factors such as diet, parent breeds’ genetics, overall health, and lifestyle.
The Great Dane as one of the parent breeds has a lifespan of 7 to 10 years while the Newfoundland dog has a lifespan of 9 to 12 years.
Size and weight
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a giant dog due to the breeding of two giant dogs. The size of a Great Dane Newfoundland mix will vary depending on the individual dog but the average weight is 150 pounds in weight with a height between 28 to 32 inches.
Coat
The coat of the Great Dane Newfoundland mix varies between a shorter to dense fluffy coat.
This is because one parent of the mixed breed has a thick double coat while the other parent has a short coat. The coat also sheds a lot.
Colors
The coat of the Great Dane Newfoundland mix varies between a shorter to dense fluffy coat. This is because one parent of the mixed breed has a thick double coat while the other parent has a short coat. The coat also sheds a lot.
Personality and temperament
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a majestic large dog, however, they have a sweet-natured personality that comes from their parent breeds.
This makes them good family pets and companions. The mixed breed is:
Affectionate
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a very affectionate dog that loves to be near their human families and craves closeness with them.
They thrive being close with people and love spending time with them. If you are looking for a cuddly companion that will shower you with love, the Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a good choice!
Gentle
Despite the dog breed’s huge size, they are gentle dogs, having a kind and tender temperament. This means they are not aggressive dogs.
They can be stubborn but just like every dog, they need good socialization and training for them to have desirable behaviors as well as get along with other pets and dogs.
Intelligent
The dog breed is also an intelligent dog. They have a high cognitive ability and are highly trainable. This means they can quickly pick up new tricks or behavior that they are taught.
Friendly
Friendly dogs love to interact with humans and love their company. The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is just that. They play and live happily with children which makes them a great choice as a family dog.
Devoted
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a loyal and devoted dog. They are eager to please their owners and perform as instructed.
Protective
Although the Great Dane Newfoundland mix has a gentle nature, they are also protective of their owners. They will protect their owners from any dangers when needed.
Potential health conditions and risks
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix breed faces different health conditions and risks that are common in both their parents’ breeds.
As giant breed dogs, they are also more susceptible to bone and joint disorders. The Great Dane Newfoundland mix health conditions and risks include:
- Bloat
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Sub valvular aortic stenosis
- Hypothyroidism
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
When considering getting a Great Dane Newfoundland mix puppy, make sure you purchase them from a reputable breeder who will provide the health history of the puppy’s parent breeds.
The awareness of their health status will enable you to know what to expect as well as the proper care to give your puppy as preventive measures against some of the diseases.
Health histories and clearances from your breeder also prove that your puppy has been tested and cleared of certain conditions.
Maintenance of the Great Dane Newfoundland mix
Grooming
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a heavy shedder therefore if you are planning on owning them make sure that you and your family members do not have allergies. This means this mixed breed is not a hypoallergenic dog.
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix coat is dense and requires brushing 2 to 3 times a week to prevent matting and also to remove excess fur. The coat shedding increases during the fall and winter.
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 done as needed depending on how frequently they get dirty based on level of activity, however, every 1 to 2 months is the recommended frequency.
Brushing of the teeth should also be done 2 to 3 times a week to remove tartar and food build-up as well as prevent bad breath and gum disease.
Nails are trimmed once a month and regular checkups of the ears should be done weekly for any potential health problems as well as cleaning them to prevent infection.
Exercise and training
The energy levels of a Great Dane Newfoundland mix are not as high.
They have a moderate energy level and are not very active dogs. They require medium exercise which keeps them healthy.
A brisk walk of about 30 minutes to 1 hour per day is adequate for them.
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a giant dog breed that is prone to bone and joint disorders therefore do not exert them to strenuous exercise before they are two years old.
This timeline allows for their bones and joints to adequately mature to prevent injury as well as orthopedic illnesses.
Diet
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a big dog that requires a high-quality diet appropriate for giant and large breed dogs for the provision of proper nutrition for growth.
The formulations of these specific dog foods offer the right balance of calories and protein to support healthy weight gain with good levels of phosphorus and calcium for joint and bone health.
The amount of food to feed them will vary depending on the gender, age, and activity levels of individual dogs.
A good daily amount for an adult Great Dane Newfoundland mix is 8 to 10 cups of dry dog food a day divided into two meals.
Puppies should be fed 3 meals a day until the age of 4 to 5 months, thereafter 2 meals a day for life.
The puppy food should also be selections designed for giant or large breed puppies. Wet dog food should also be incorporated into the diet.
When selecting a dog food brand the following are the main requirements for a giant/large breed dog, which is suitable for the Great Dane Newfoundland mix dog:
- At least 23 to 29% protein for puppies/ 25 to 30% for adult dogs (Real meat fish or poultry as the first ingredients)
- At least 12 to 18% fat ( Moderate fat)
- All-natural ingredients
- Additional supplements such as DHA, glucosamine, and chondroitin for bone and joint health
- No artificial preservatives or additives
Improper nutrition can adversely affect their growth, therefore it is important to have high-quality well-balanced dog food packed with high-quality nutrients and vitamins.
Also, ensure that our Great Dane Newfoundland mix has access to clean drinking water throughout the day.
Top giant and large breed dog foods on Amazon:
Environment and living conditions
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a large dog and because of this, it is highly recommended that you have a big enough room for your dog to roam free.
This means they are not particularly suitable for apartments and would be much happier in a more spacious house, if possible with a fenced backyard.
Space allows for moderate exercise and play.
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix can live in cold climates because of their fluffy fur that protects them from the cold and can also live in warm climate areas.
Prevent them from having heat stroke by having air conditioning when temperatures get high.
Recommended Reading: How big does the Great Dane Pitbull mix get?
Cost of a Great Dane Newfoundland mix
When considering getting a Great Dane Newfoundland mix puppy, it is vital to be aware of the costs that are involved in owning and raising them.
The following is a breakdown of the costs:
Category | Potential Cost |
Purchase (one time) | $ 600 – $ 3000 |
Food and snacks (per year) | $ 1800 |
Accessories and toys | $ 50 |
Spay/Neuter (one time) | $ 250 – $ 400 |
Vet checkups (per year) | $ 50 – $ 100 |
Total First Year Cost: | $ 2750 – $ 5350 |
Afterward annual cost: | $ 1900 – 1950 |
The above is the estimated cost. These costs can be used as a guideline for how much it will cost to own a Great Dane Newfoundland mix.
Conclusion
The Great Dane Newfoundland mix is a sweet-natured, intelligent and affectionate dog that is perfect as a companion and as a family dog.
They are playful, love playing with children, and also with proper socialization and training they also get along with other pets.
After consideration of their personality and care, they are one of the most affectionate, loving, and devoted dogs to have.
They however may not be ideal as a hypoallergenic dog or for a first-time dog owner that has never had a giant dog.
If you are an experienced dog owner or an aspiring dog parent that loves giant or large breed dog breeds then the Great Dane Newfoundland mix might be the right fit for you!