Giant Danoodle

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 8-13 years
Quirky and silly, the Great Danoodle, also known as the Great Danepoo or the Danedoodle, is a cross between a Great Dane and a Standard Poodle. The Poodle is notorious for developing a few serious health issues in their later years, but the Great Dane is generally a healthy, albeit gigantic, dog. Each Great Danoodle is different. Where one might inherit the healthier Great Dane genetics, another might wind up with major health issues like the Poodle parent breed. Unfortunately, there is no way to know what the future holds for your Great Danoodle’s health, so prepare for everything.

Addison’s Disease – This condition is a serious one that affects mostly middle-aged dogs between 6-7 years old. It occurs when hormones in the adrenal glands, near the kidneys, start acting a little weird. Improperly balanced hormones can result in serious health problems, like weakness, rapid dehydration, low blood pressure, severe depression, weight loss, violent vomiting, and in the worst cases, death. This condition, while incurable, is certainly manageable with intravenous fluids and a lifetime of hormone injections. Your vet will do everything possible to ensure your Great Danoodle lives a long, healthy life, despite dealing with this disease.

Cushing’s Disease – Another condition where hormonal imbalance is the prominent cause, this disease affects the cortisone levels, metabolism, and other natural, healthy bodily functions. Most of the time, the disease is caused by a benign tumor, located directly on the pituitary gland. Symptoms include an increase in hunger, constant panting, obesity, fat pads around head, hair loss, zero energy, muscle fatigue and overall weakness, and bruises. Through blood tests and examinations, vets can determine the cause of the condition and take measures to make your pup comfortable. Unfortunately, the disease is incurable, but medication and other treatments can ensure your Great Danoodle lives a long and happy life.

Other minor health issues that might affect a Great Danoodle are eye problems, such as cataracts and glaucoma, and skin problems, such as allergies, and joint dysplasia. The average lifespan of a Great Danoodle is 8 to 13 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

Gentle and affectionate, the Great Danoodle is an ideal family pet because he doesn’t get overexcited when you get home from a long day elsewhere. He is good being left alone for a few hours, and he is always happy to see you. He is calm, sweet, even-tempered, and loving towards his family. However, he can be shy around strangers at first. When he sees they’re not a danger, he warms up to new friends in a heartbeat.

The Great Danoodle is a sucker for praise, so he’ll go above and beyond to gain your approval and acceptance. This makes training him very easy, as he wants to please his loved ones with obedience and compliance. These crossbreed pups are slightly sensitive though, so make sure you keep a positive tone and encouraging attitude around them at all times. Never hit, yell at, or harshly punish your Great Danoodle. He doesn’t get over heartbreak easily, so you might find he shies away from your touch if you’re negative towards him.

These crossbreed canines are gentle and sweet, but you should still use a clear, commanding voice during training to solidify your role as alpha. Use a firm tone with conviction, but avoid shouting or any other negative training methods. If you have a Great Danoodle puppy, begin training and socializing him with children and other pets at a young age. This will help you develop a well-rounded, friendly family dog.

Because of their size, Great Danoodles are best kept in a spacious home with a fenced-in backyard for optimum playtime. However, a mid-size apartment will do just fine as long as your pup has room to lay down and move around comfortably. Take him on two walks per day, both lengthy, and stop at a dog park for playtime every once in a while.

Grooming

Great Danoodles are a cinch to groom and take care of. Their coat can be either curly and coarse, like a Poodle, or short and soft, like a Great Dane. Either way, brush your pup 2-3 times a week to get rid of excess fur and keep his coat shiny and smooth. Bathe him when he needs it, but no more than twice monthly. Bathing your Great Danoodle too much can strip the natural oils from his coat, which could make his skin vulnerable to dust, mites, and fleas.

Sometimes a Great Danoodle is simply too large to fit into a standard bathtub. Opt for a professional groomer instead. You will get a bath, brush, toenail trim, and ear cleaning in one go. Brush his teeth once a day to eliminate the risk of cavities.

Diet

Unsurprisingly, Great Danoodles have big appetites to match their big size. As they grow, pups will work up an appetite of 4-5 cups of high-quality, dry kibble per day. Split his kibble into at least two meals to keep him satisfied and full for longer. Ask a trusted, reputable vet for advice on the best dog food brand to feed your Great Danoodle. He needs plenty of protein and fiber, so his kibble needs to be extra nutritious.
 

Find A Giant Danoodle Breeder

Giant Danoodle Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Giant Danoodle

Cost

Great Danoodle puppies, from a breeder, will cost between $900 and $1,500, depending on coat, age, and color. You may be required to sign a waiver promising to spay or neuter your pup at the earliest opportunity. You should also consider the long-term costs of high-quality dog food, toys, micro-chipping, flea treatments, regular vet check-ups, and vaccinations.

While it’s rare to find a Great Danoodle at a local shelter, you should check anyway before opting for a breeder. These pups need a second chance at happy, loved lives. If you’re lucky enough to find a Great Danoodle at a shelter, expect to pay an adoption fee between $300 to $350, depending on health and age.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Great Danoodle scores a 2 on the integration scale. The negatives include the expense of healthcare, nutritious food, and space requirements. But the positives far outweigh the negatives, as these gentle pups make some of the best pets for families.

 

Great Dane

Poodle

Boxerdoodle

Pyredoodle