Great Dane Pitbull Mix – Gentle Giant with Friendly Personality

Think of the Great Dane, and you think of a giant breed. Even according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Great Dane is the largest dog breed ever.

Mix it with a Pitbull, and you get a new term for “gentle giant”. Same as the Great Dane, the Pitbull is a largely misunderstood dog.

The Great Dane is thought of as a scary large giant, while the Pitbull is classified as an aggressive and dangerous dog. In reality, both dogs are gentle and lovable.

With that in mind, what you get when you mix them?

The Great Dane Pitbull mix is becoming more and more popular and even has its own name nowadays. That is the Danebull, a puppy you can actually get from a reputable breeder.

We expect you have a couple of questions about this mixed breed, including how will it look, will there be any health problems, where can you get one from, personality traits, and so on. We hope to answer all of your questions.

History of the Breed

Both the Pitbull and the Great Dane are ancient dogs. They have quite a long tradition, and they both suffer from their history.

The American Pit Bull Terrier, for example, was bred in England to bait bulls, but when they were moved to the United States, they were used for fighting.

Same as the Pitbull, the Great Dane was used as a fighting dog during ancient times, especially during the Viking era. But nowadays, both breeds are gentle, friendly, kind, and loveable.

And when you cross-them, the Pitbull Great Dane Mix is a loving and affectionate puppy.

The appearance of the Danebull

When you cross a large breed with an extremely large breed, you cannot get anything less than a large dog breed. But the Danebull is still considered to be medium to large size dog.

Same as the Great Dane, the mixed breed will grow fast. Depending on which genes they inherit, they can grow larger, or smaller, if they inherit more of the Pitbull genes.

Most of these dogs have a muscular body, with the face of the Pitbull, but with the long muzzles of the Great Dane.

Coat colors and texture can vary, but most have a straight and glossy coat. Color possibilities include black, blue, chocolate, black and white, white, and fawn.

How Big they can Get?

Speaking of the size of this hybrid dog, you have to remember that the Great Dane is among the largest dog breeds. This dog breed is even the record holder in the Guinness Book of World Records. On average, the Great Dane puppy grows between 30 and 34 inches.

But a Great Dane Pitbull mix, grows between 24 and 28 inches. That is considerably smaller than its parent breed, yet, still large. That is probably because the American Pitbull terrier belongs in the medium dog group.

Grooming

Neither the Great Dane nor the Pitbull requires a lot of grooming. They have a short and smooth coat, which translates to their offspring.

A regular bath once per month is more than enough to keep the coat healthy. And make sure you are using shampoos that will not dry his coat.

This dog can be prone to itching and dryness, so make sure you use natural-shampoo formulated by a veterinarian.

Just do not think the breed will be hypoallergenic. Even though the Danebull has a short coat, he will shed. And if he inherits more of the American Pit Bull Terrier gene, he will shed a lot.

Like dogs with a short coat, Danebulls cannot handle extreme weather conditions. It is best that you keep them inside during the hot/freezing weather.

Fun Facts about the Breed

There are a couple of fun facts you might want to know about the Great Dane Pitbull Mix. Some are linked to the Pitbull, and some to the Great Dane.

• Jim Carey and Amy Winehouse are among the celebrities that owned a Great Dane
• Marmaduke, a dog made famous thanks to the Marmaduke movie is actually a Great Dane
• Great Dane is also the state dog of Pennsylvania
• The only dog enlisted in the Royal navy was a Great Dane called Just Nuisance
• Fang, another popular fiction dog, this one appearing in the Harry Potter books, is also a Great Dane
• Celebrities owning pitbulls include Kayley Cuoco, Jennifer Aniston, and former president Theodore Roosevelt

Personality traits

This is probably the most important thing you want to know about the Great Dane Pitbull Mix. How well do they behave? What is their character like?

Well, while they might seem aggressive because of their athletic build and muscular body, they are far from that. Of course, if not socialized early on, they can be rude.

However, this mixed breed has natural friendliness that shows. They grow up as calm adult dogs if socialized properly.

Ideal as a family pet, they will behave well in the company of children. Just do not expose them to young children if you are still learning how to interact with the dog and training him.

Expect for the dog to be affectionate and loving, and enjoy cuddling with you. Both breeds are eager to please their owners, so a cross is likely to inherit that trait.

One thing you have to be careful about is alone time. Do not leave your dog alone for a long period. They demand companion and enjoy playing. However, if left alone for a long period, they can become destructive.

Training

When it comes to training this hybrid dog, you will have easy time. Why? Because Pit Bulls are generally easy to train. If you give them affection, they will do anything for you.

Combine these two, and you have a mix breed that is highly intelligent. Now, we would not suggest the Great Danebull Puppy for a first-time dog owner. Why? Because these dogs can grow large, and it might be scary to guide them.

When it comes to training, this Great Dane Pitbull breed responds well to positive reinforcement. Make sure to add lots of treats and affection.

Any puppy mix should begin training and socialization at a young age, but it is even more important with big dogs. Why? Because big dogs can appear scary, and strangers might react.

Health Issues

The best thing about this breed is that you can solve some of the health issues and lifespan issues. It depends on where he inherits his genes from.

If your puppy inherits the Great Dane gene, he might live a shorter life, between 7 and 10 years. The Great Dane has one of the shortest lifespans in the canine world.

However, if he inherits the Pitbull gene, he will live between 12 and 14 years on average.

Some of the health concerns related to the mixed breed include:

• Bloating, stomach problem inherited usually from the Great Dane parent
• Cancer, another health issue related to the Great Dane and possibly inherited by the Great Dane parent
• Hip dysplasia, a condition both parents are susceptible to, but it can be prevented by limiting vigorous activities such as jumping
• Entropion, an abnormality of the eyelids where they are rolling inward and should be solved with a surgical treatment
• Cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart is not pumping well, and can result in enlargement of the heart chambers

Exercise needs

Danebull dogs can run up to 30 miles per hour. That is a long distance, and it is all made possible thanks to their powerful legs.

However, you should be careful with their exercise needs. As mentioned previously, jumping is not recommended.

These dogs can be pretty active, and make an energetic buddy. But they do not actually need a lot of exercise.

Short walks to keep them active is more than enough, as well as romps in the park. Schedule play sessions, but be careful not to use jumping. Walking and running are the preferred exercises.

Feeding Needs

As a large dog, the Danebull eats a lot. In fact, he needs about four cups of feeding per day. Serve meals in small portions multiple times to prevent bloating, another health concern related to the Great Dane.

Dry food or kibbles are great, as long as it is made of natural ingredients. Make sure the kibble is free from preservatives. You should also look for food with glucosamine to support your dog’s joint health.

We have to warn you that Great Danes are allergic to grains, and your cross Danebull might be sensitive to grains as well. Look for a grain-free food, just so that you are on the safe side.

Does Great Dane Pitbull Mix make a Good Family Dog?

From all that we talked about before, we can safely conclude that this crossbreed is a good family dog. They are good with small children, and they let children “play” with them. You just need to make sure you train and socialize your dog.

What you have to remember before you get one is that the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize any mix breed dogs. That applies to the Pitbull Great Dane Mix as well. But if you do not need a show dog, this giant dog will fit wonderfully in your family.