Great Danoodle Pros and Cons (Before Adopting a Puppy)
Do you seek an adorable giant canine to adopt? Why not go for the Great Danoodle? The Great Danoodle is an excellent family dog and a mix of the Great Dane (the world’s tallest dog) and Poodle.
Despite being a large dog, the Great Danoodle has an easygoing temperament and tends to learn quickly. You’ll also love the dog because of its low grooming needs and ability to coexist with other pups. However, this dog is susceptible to health issues and can eat a lot.
I’ll take you through various pros and cons of the Great Danoodle to help you know if they’re worth adopting.
About Great Danoodles: At a Glance
| Characteristic | Description |
| Height | 28-30 inches |
| Weight | 90-110 lbs |
| Lifespan | 8-13 years |
| Temperament | Friendly, loving, loyal, polite, social, smart, and eager to please |
| Best suited for | A family with a large house and a yard |
| Dog parents | The Great Dane and Poodle |
| Food | High-quality dry dog meal |
| Training needs | Easy to train |
| Exercise requirements | Regular physical activities |
| Grooming | Low grooming needs |
| Health issues | Gastric torsion, Addison’s disease, mitral valve disease, cardiomyopathy, and entropion |
Pros of Great Danoodles
Below are some reasons why the Great Danoodle is an excellent family dog to adopt.
Great Danoodles Have Easy-Going Temperament
The easy-going temperament of these dogs makes them great companions. The Great Danoodle is polite, sweet, loving, and social.
It blends well with family members, including children. Your dog will carry the poise of its Poodle parent, so you can rest assured you are bringing home a calm, intelligent, and friendly dog.
If you want your Great Danoodle to display the desired behaviors, offer them plenty of exercises, such as walks around the neighborhood.
As your puppy ages, it becomes intelligent enough to be self-conscious about its size. As a result, you can leave the dog with small children without worrying about them getting hurt. The dog is also gentle to visitors at home but may become overprotective if it becomes suspicious of them.
Even though these dogs love their families, they won’t jump on people or lick them. They take after the quiet and calm Great Dane parents, allowing them to make up for their large, intimidating size.
Great Danoodles Learn Quickly
Like the Poodle parent, Great Danoodles are intelligent, easy to train, and will remember everything taught quickly.
They’re also patient and willing to please their family members. The best way to raise a Great Doodle puppy is to train them early. You want to ensure your dog grows big and is aware of its size and strength.
Some basic training your Great Doodle will quickly master are commands and where to pee or poo. You can also teach them tricks such as throwing things into the bin and carrying stuff.
Proper training will help your dog avoid destructive behaviors when left indoors alone. Remember, repetition and consistency will allow your dog to learn quickly.
Make training easier and more effective by incorporating positive reinforcement such as treats and praise. If Great Danoodles know they’re likely to receive treats after responding positively, they will be willing to stick to the training program.
Great Danoodles Make Excellent Guard Dogs
The Great Danoodles are protective of their families and will always alert you by barking if an intruder gets into your premises.
These dogs take after their fearless Great Dane parents, that used to guard people’s houses and hunt. Your puppy will grow huge and love every family member so deeply that it might become overprotective of them.
With proper training, your dog can grow into a reliable guard. Despite being gentle and quiet, they like to keep a vigilant eye to ensure there are no signs of danger. They won’t attack, but their size and deep barks are enough to scare intruders.
One thing you’ll love about Great Danoodles is that they don’t incessantly bark to disturb family and neighbors. If you hear your dog barking, you’ll know there’s an intruder or something is wrong.
Great Danoodles Have Low Grooming Needs
Your Great Danoodle might have the wiry, thick, and short coat of the Great Dane or the dense and curly coat of the Poodle parent.
If its coat takes on many characteristics of the Great Dane parent, you won’t have to worry about everyday grooming needs. However, regular coat maintenance will be necessary if it has the trademark curls of the Poodle.
The good news is that your dog’s curls won’t have high grooming needs. Unlike your dog’s Poodle parent, you don’t need to brush its coat regularly to avoid matting.
Even if they play outside or sweat, the fur doesn’t get matted. Brush your dog once a week and bathe them when they play outside and get dirty.
Buy the best dog-grooming brush and a comb to brush your Danoodle’s fur. Consider looking for a gentle dog shampoo, then bathe the dog twice a month or when the need arises.
Great Danoodles Coexist Well With Other Pets
Every puppy needs socializing from an early age to help them coexist with people and other pets.
If you have other pets, you can train your Great Danoodle to exist with them in harmony. Since these dogs are easy to train, your dog will be conscious of its power and size when interacting with other dogs.
Good socialization allows Great Danoodles to be gentle with smaller pets. If they’re playing in the house or outside, they’ll avoid getting too rough in a way that they can unintentionally hurt other pets.
Cons of Great Danoodles
As a Great Danoodle owner, I can affirm that the dog’s pros outweigh the cons. However, you may consider a few shortcomings before adopting this dog. Below are the drawbacks of Great Danoodles.
Great Danoodles Are Prone to Health Issues
Since the Great Danoodle is a large, hybrid dog, it’s susceptible to several health issues. Your puppy might inherit some health issues common with the parents.
Below are health conditions that might affect your Great Danoodle:
- Addison’s disease
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Gastric torsion
- Entropion
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Joint dysplasia
- Skin allergies
- Epilepsy
You can avoid inheriting a dog prone to diseases by buying the Great Danoodle from a reputable breeder. Enquire more about the pup’s parents to learn about their health history.
If your Great Danoodle is a mix of healthy Poodle and Great Dane, it might be less prone to the above health issues.
Knowing that your dog is prone to health problems can help you keep its medical needs up-to-date. Take them to your vet regularly and feed them properly to stay healthy.
Great Danoodles Eat a Lot
Because Great Danoodle puppies grow into large dogs, they’ll need a lot of food throughout the day. Remember, these dogs require regular exercise and might get hungry more often.
Unlike smaller dogs, you’ll need to purchase more dog food and treats to raise your Great Danoodle into a healthy canine. The cost of your dog’s food and treats, medical care, grooming, and training can add up and drain your wallet.
Since these dogs are susceptible to stomach issues, you should not feed your pup standard kibble. Ask your breeder for the best Great Danoodle diet recommendations.
If you’re unsure about the best food for your Danoodle, look for high-quality dry dog food. Ensure this food has plenty of proteins and healthy fats.
Great Danoodles Might Be Too Big for Smaller Apartments and Condos
While the Great Danoodle is a gentle and calm dog, it might feel too cramped in your small apartment or condo.
Like all large dog breeds, your dog will need plenty of space to move around or play. The tiny space of your house won’t allow your dog to enjoy indoor play, especially during rainy or snowy days.
If the weather is good, take your dog outside for walks or to dog parks to play. This will help your Great Danoodle drain some energy and return home to laze around in the house. Your dog will also love laying on the couch to keep you company as you watch your favorite TV show.
Final Thoughts
I hope the above pros and cons of the Great Danoodle help you decide whether it’s the right dog to inherit.
Despite growing into a large and intimidating dog, your Great Danoodle will be friendly, gentle, polite, and eager to please. These dogs love humans and can make good companions and guard dogs.
