How Much To Feed A Great Dane Puppy? [Answered]

If you're thinking about getting a Great Dane puppy or already have one, you've probably noticed their voracious appetites and wondered what you should feed him.

Burt, how much to feed a great dane puppy?

When it comes to establishing whether or not your Great Dane puppy is growing properly, knowing how much to feed him is critical.

To ensure that he grows properly, you must consider not only the amount of food, but also the frequency and type of food.

You want your Great Dane puppy to grow up to be healthy and robust.

Here's a feeding chart for Great Danes that's simple to understand.

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How Much Should A Great Dane Puppy Eat?

A Great Dane puppy requires approximately 2,500–3,000 calories per day.

Although an adult Great Dane requires only 2,500 calories, developing puppies require significantly more calories to maintain their growth.

Three times a day, in equal portions, they should be fed.

To keep your puppy as healthy as possible, stick to a feeding regimen.

Whether you have a male or female puppy, as well as the pup's natural size, will determine the amount of food your puppy requires.

Puppies will require more nourishment as they progress through puppyhood.

On the upper end, a Great Dane may require up to 15 cups of food every day.

Great Dane Puppy Feeding Chart

How mucht? Between the ages of 3 and 6 months, a Great Dane puppy will require 4 to 8 cups of puppy food per day, divided into 3 to 4 meals.

Female puppies often consume less food than male puppies. You should give your Great Dane 6 to 10 cups of food per day from the age of 8 months to a year.

What to Expect: Your puppy's appetite will continue to grow until he is fully grown, which will take about 18 months.

Keep in mind that Great Danes are prone to bloat, although regular feeding should help to prevent it.

Feeding them just before a workout raises the risk of injury.

  Here Are The Feeding Suggestions For A Great Dane Puppy

2 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

Your Great Dane puppy will have opened his eyes and began to take in the world around him when he is two weeks old.

At this age, a puppy is entirely reliant on his mother's milk and will nurse whenever the dam permits.

Keep an eye on any pups who aren't gaining as much as the others in larger litters.

Formula should be given to puppies that are unable to gain weight.

3 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

Your puppy will still be fully reliant on his mother's milk at 3 weeks and will be fed at her discretion.

At this point, your puppy will be more aware of his surroundings and should be able to go away from the litter to urinate.

Do not introduce foods at this moment or try to wean him yet. It's still too early.

4 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

Your four-week-old Great Dane puppy will still be dependent on his mother's milk, but you can start feeding him solid food now.

To begin, combine 14 puppy food and 34 water in a mixing bowl.

To see if the puppy is interested, offer it to him. If that isn't the case, take it away from him and give him some more time.

If he's interested, he'll probably just take a bite or two because his stomach is still little.

5 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

When your puppy reaches the age of five weeks, you can try feeding him more of the food and water mixture, but he may still be uninterested.

His mother should be able to give him milk without issue.

Keep an eye out for puppies that are significantly smaller than their littermates.

Contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your growth.

If your dog isn't eating and isn't getting enough milk, the formula may be required.

6 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

Your puppy should be exhibiting more interest in your meal mixture around the age of 6 weeks.

If he enjoys the mixture and eats it without causing stomach trouble, you can gradually reduce the amount of water while increasing the amount of food.

If all goes well, you'll be able to feed your puppy only dog food. His mother will continue to breastfeed him.

7 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

Weaning a 7-week-old Great Dane from his mother may or may not be possible.

At this point, most mother dogs will be restless and less willing to lie down to feed.

Instead, the puppies will most likely be given a brief swallow of milk before their mother leaves.

By now, your puppy should be eating puppy food without difficulty, but if he isn't, you may need to reconsider the water mixture or food selection.

8 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

Puppies have a huge week at 8 weeks.

This is the week they will be separated from their mother and littermates and rehomed.

The adjustment should not be too tough for an 8-week-old Great Dane puppy who has been weaned.

When a puppy is only fed, make sure to feed him 3 to 4 times a day to ensure he grows properly.

Always take any uneaten food away so you can see what he's had.

9 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

A 9-week-old Great Dane puppy should be settling in and eating steadily.

Remember that this is a huge dog with a big appetite.

4 cups of food, split into equal amounts throughout the day, should be fed to your dog.

If feasible, stick to three to four meals per day to get him on a proper feeding pattern.

He should be rapidly growing and gaining weight.

10 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

A 10 week old Great Dane puppy has a lot of energy, as you can see.

In a short period of time, your puppy will grow tremendously.

To keep up with his quick growth, he'll need a lot of calories.

Depending on his appetite, your Great Dane will require 4 to 5 cups of food each day on average.

If he appears to be underweight, you may need to increase his food intake.

11 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

You should start feeding your Great Dane puppy on a precise Great Dane puppy feeding regimen when he is 11 weeks old.

If the meal hasn't been consumed, leave it out for only 10 to 15 minutes before taking it away.

This will assist in teaching the puppy to adhere to a timetable.

Meals broken up are a fantastic strategy to avoid bloating by ensuring that he does not overeat and that his meals are appropriately divided for proper digestion.

12 Weeks Old Great Dane Puppy

Your Great Dane puppy should be a voracious eater with plenty of mischief and energy at the age of 12 weeks.

Continue to feed your puppy three times a day to keep his digestive system in good shape.

You'll probably be feeding your puppy 6 cups of food every day because he's developing quickly and requires the nourishment to keep up.

To maintain appropriate growth, your puppy will require a lot of food.

How To Take Care Of Your Great Dane?

The Great Dane was developed over 1,000 years ago in Germany to hunt wild boar.

It is a cross between the Irish wolfhound and the old English mastiff.

These huge dogs are commonly referred to as the “Apollo” of dogs because of their mild nature and majestic appearance.

They were first recognized as part of the working group by the American Kennel Club in 1887.

Your Great Dane will become an obedient, loyal member of your family with the correct training, care, and physical space.

1st step

Once your Great Dane is 7 weeks old, begin exposing him to a range of people and canines.

This will correctly socialize your dog, making him less likely to be violent later in life, which is vital given his big, scary size — according to PetPlace.com, fully grown Great Danes weigh between 120 and 160 pounds.

For show reasons, the AKC recommends that Great Danes be sociable and outgoing; aggressive or shy dogs are not appropriate.

2nd Step

From an early age, use positive reinforcement tactics to train your Great Dane.

Because Great Danes are often calm and sweet-tempered, they are easier to train in dog obedience training than other breeds.

Without adequate training, these dogs can be difficult to control because they are so passionate and huge.

3rd step

Brush your Great Dane's coat every day with a natural-bristle body brush, and bathe him only when necessary.

Because the coat is short and does not shed excessively, grooming should just take a few minutes.

Because some Great Danes drool, use a damp washcloth to wipe your dog's face and mouth before brushing.

4th step

Every day, take a lengthy walk around your neighborhood or play fetch in the yard with your Great Dane.

Because they are prone to arthritis and hip dysplasia, these enormous dogs require activity, but not very hard exercise.

When walking your Great Dane, use a harness rather than a leash to give you more control; a harness is also more comfortable for large-chested dogs like the Great Dane.

Because their coats are so short, you may need to wrap your Great Dane in a blanket or sweatshirt while taking him outside for walks and exercise during the harsh winter months.

5th step

Provide a large dog bed or soft blanket for your Great Dane to curl up and nestle on.

Because Great Danes can develop arthritis, hip dysplasia, and bone ailments including osteochondrosis and elbow dysplasia, they require a comfortable, orthopedic bed.

6th step

As a puppy, feed your Great Dane four meals each day, and as an adult, two or three.

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for your dog's daily caloric intake, splitting it into smaller portions based on his weight.

Bloat, which is caused by a build-up of air in the dog's stomach and can be fatal, is common in Great Danes.

Feeding your Great Dane from raised bowls, feeding him a high-fat diet, feeding him one huge meal, or exercising him before or after eating are all factors that increase his risk of developing bloat, also known as stomach torsion.

Avoid exercising your Great Dane within one hour of eating and within two hours of eating.

Don't free-feed your Great Dane to keep track of his meal times.

While higher bowls may make your Great Dane feel more at ease while eating, they can also contribute to the development of bloat, especially in older dogs.

Even as puppies, Great Danes should be fed adult food since high-protein puppy food can cause bone and joint problems later in life, according to the Heartland Great Dane Rescue.

7th step

Bring your Great Dane to the veterinarian on a regular basis to check for any health issues and to get him properly vaccinated as per your doctor's instructions.

As Great Danes age, they may have bone and joint problems, as well as visual disorders like as glaucoma, entropion, and cataracts.

Chronic valvular disease and dilated cardiomyopathy are two cardiac problems that might affect this breed.

Glucosamine and chondroiton can help arthritis in older Great Danes; ask your veterinarian about these natural supplements.

How Many Calories Does A Great Dane Puppy Need?

With such a rapid growth rate, NUTRITION should be your main focus when it comes to puppy food! Puppies of Great Danes who do not receive the proper nutritional balance are at danger of developing major bone and joint disorders as they mature.

Furthermore, if hunger exists, the risk of cancer increases.

Whether you feed your four-legged buddy dry kibble, wet food, homemade dog food, or a raw diet (all of which will be discussed today), be sure the food fits these nutritional requirements:

• Between 23 and 25 percent protein
• Between 12 to 15% of your body weight is made up of fat.
• Between 1.2 to 1.5 percent calcium

Calories– Your Great Dane puppy will require 800-1000 calories on most days.

During adolescence (a Great Dane's most active stage of life), this will grow to about 3000 calories per day, then level off at around 2500 calories per day in adulthood.

The importance of the puppy food he (or she) eats is due to the quick growth and development of Great Dane puppies.

Feeding puppies too much food or adding superfluous supplements can cause issues, as can a diet that is deficient in quality nutrients or is too calorie-dense (or not dense enough).

As a general rule, your puppy's appetite will differ.

Unless your dog goes more than two days without eating, this isn't a problem.

A healthy puppy's natural instincts will not allow him to hunger!

Even if a finicky eater isn't eating as much as you'd like, he (or she) will eat enough to survive.

What Human Foods Can A Great Dane Puppy Eat?

Many items that Great Danes can eat in moderation are also consumed by humans.

Humans, for example, eat animal protein, and your dog can as well.

Beef, eggs, turkey, fresh, and chicken are examples of these meats.

They can also eat a range of vegetables and fruits, as well as a modest amount of carbohydrates.

They may take dairy products on occasion, but this should not be done excessively.

Be aware that Great Danes can become overweight if not given the right nutrition and activity, so watch what you feed them.

To maintain good health, they should always be provided a high-protein diet.

Fruits and vegetables include fiber, which is beneficial to their digestive system.

What Human Foods Are Dangerous For A Great Dane Puppy?

As a Great Dane owner, you must understand that while there are some human foods that your dog can eat, there are also others that can harm him.

He might get diarrhea or an upset stomach, but if he eats the incorrect stuff, he could be gravely hurt or even die. The following are some of these foods:

• Alcohol with Raw Bread Dough – Alcohol contains ethanol, which can be toxic to your Great Dane. When swallowed, raw bread dough can cause major damage to your dog's stomach, since it expands and causes respiratory difficulties as well as stomach expansion.
• Chocolate is a well-known item that many people are familiar with. Chocolates are unquestionably damaging to your dog's health and can result in major health issues. Seizures and muscular tremors are common symptoms, and your dog may even die.
• Caffeine – Caffeine is hazardous to dogs and their systems cannot manage it. Caffeine can be present in a variety of everyday goods, which is why you should not offer your dog snacks if they include caffeine.
• Grapes and Raisins – Some dog breeds are poisoned by grapes and raisins, however it is unclear which ones. If you don't want to risk your dog's health, avoid grapes and raisins because they might induce kidney failure.
• Onions and garlic – All members of the onion family, including shallots, are poisonous to your dog's system, so avoid them.

Should You Feed Wet Or Dry Food To Your Great Dane Puppy?

When it comes to feeding your Great Dane, you have a few alternatives, but it generally boils down to dry or wet food.

You must evaluate what is best for your Great Dane in particular before making this selection.

Although dry food is handy and safe for your Great Dane, it is not appropriate for all dogs.

Kibble is a nutrient-dense food that can last a long time and is particularly prepared to fulfill your dog's nutritional requirements.

Wet food, on the other hand, can be in the form of canned goods or foods packaged in trays or pouches and marketed commercially.

However, these diets have been demonstrated to induce periodontal disease and are incapable of removing plaque as effectively as kibble.

You can also feed your puppy a raw diet and prepare meals at home when it comes to wet food.

It all comes down to personal preference, but Great Danes can thrive on kibble while still doing well on a raw food diet.

Is It Possible To Free Feed A Great Dane Puppy?

There are a few things to think about when it comes to free-feeding your Great Dane.

To begin with, free-feeding will only work if you plan to offer him kibble; wet food would be a catastrophe, not to mention make him sick.

Because the food will be exposed to the elements for the most of the day.

Even with kibble, though, free feeding your Great Dane puppy is not recommended.

Great Danes have a tendency to carry water in their lips, which can leak out as they eat.

The dribble that gets into their food might make it sour, making them sick.

Your best bet is to establish a planned feeding routine for your Great Dane so that whatever food you give him is well fed.

Switching From Great Dane Puppy Food To Adult Food 

A Great Dane is considered an adult when he is roughly 1 to 1.5 years old.

This is a reasonable estimate of when you should consider switching.

When a Great Dane's overall growth has reached roughly 80-90 percent, it's time to make the move.

Make sure to ease into it, as a sudden change may not be appropriate.

If you don't want to upset your dog's stomach or cause diarrhea, introduce the new food gradually.

Over the course of a few days, you can transition from puppy formula to adult nutrition.

What If My Great Dane Puppy Won’t Eat?

When your dog isn't eating or doesn't have a healthy appetite, it's always a cause for concern.

Changes in activity level or hormones, illness, overfeeding, stomach sensitivities, dental problems, nervousness, and immunizations or drugs are all common reasons why Great Danes refuse to eat their food.

Some pets' stomachs are naturally more sensitive than others.

This is also true of Great Danes.

First, make sure your dog has access to everything they might have ingested by accident.

An upset stomach could be caused by stray food that your dog ate from the floor, such as a piece of trash or other non-edible substances.

What Nutrients Does A Great Dane Puppy Need?

Giant breed puppy diets should generally be low in fat, high in calcium, and high in high-quality protein.

Puppies of large and enormous breeds, such as

Great Danes should consume a diet that contains at least 30% high-quality protein and 9% fat.

You should be aware that the quality of protein varies depending on the source, thus high-quality foods may be more expensive.

If you offer your dog treats, keep track of how many calories they add to the diet.

Choose low-carbohydrate treats that aren't high in calcium.

Fruits and vegetables are low-calorie snacks that are good for your health.

However, hazardous fruits and vegetables should be avoided.

Weight of a 2-Month-Old Great Dane Puppy

Your Great Dane puppy should weigh between 15 and 30 pounds when he or she is two months old.

Because the weight varies depending on whether you have a male or female dog, as well as the natural size of your dog, the range is wide.

Although Great Danes are huge canines, they are also physically slender.

Don't worry if your puppy has a little belly; he or she should still have a lot of baby fat.

He's still a toddler.

Weight of a 3-Month-Old Great Dane Puppy

Your Great Dane puppy's weight at three months might range from 25 to 45 pounds.

The puppy will develop at a steady and rapid rate.

Although the sudden growth may surprise you, you should already be aware of how big your puppy will develop.

Feeding him three times a day will help him maintain his calorie intake as he grows.

As your puppy grows larger, you should notice that he is becoming thinner.

Weight of a 4-Month-Old Great Dane Puppy

Your Great Dane should weigh between 45 and 65 pounds at the age of four months.

Your dog will be alright if he is slightly outside of that range but still on the same growth curve as before.

Remember that, much like humans, each Great Dane is unique, thus your puppy's healthy weight may range from that of other puppies.

Just check sure he's eating well and appears to be in good shape.

Weight of a 5-Month-Old Great Dane Puppy

A 5-month-old Great Dane puppy should weigh somewhere between 60 and 85 pounds, depending on his natural size.

It's likely that you won't be able to carry your dog any longer.

His waist should be visible, and he should not have any additional fat anyplace on his body.

Your Great Dane should be roughly half the size he will be when fully grown.

Weight of a 6-Month-Old Great Dane Puppy

Your Great Dane puppy should weigh between 65 and 100 pounds by the time he is six months old.

However, he is still a puppy and will exhibit typical puppy behavior.

Do not be swayed by his stature into giving him more freedom than you would otherwise.

His eating plan should be rigid and consistent, with three meals each day.

Eventually, you'll be able to feed him simply two meals every day.

Should You Feed Great Dane Puppy Supplements?

Great Dane puppies will reach their developmental milestone if they eat a nutritious and well-balanced food.

They won't require any food supplements, either.

Supplements may be required if their diet lacks the appropriate nutrients or if they have developmental difficulties.

Even if supplements aren't always necessary.

There are, however, some supplements that can be taken ahead of time to assist lower the risk of future health problems.

Vitamin A should be fed to your Great Dane if you want him to have healthy skin and a lustrous coat. 

What is the recommended amount of water for a Great Dane puppy?

Great Danes are enormous dogs that are bred to be large.

Great Danes can weigh between a hundred and two hundred pounds when fully mature.

Because Great Danes are similar in size to humans, they require similar amounts of water.

Your dog's water needs will be similar to yours during the day.

The amount of water a Great Dane requires is also determined by its age.

Puppies require more water per pound of body weight than adults, so keeping their bowls full all day is a good idea.

They should drink roughly a half cup of water per hour, although in humid weather, this increases.

What kind and how much activity should a Great Dane puppy have each day?

At least once a day, Great Danes require a lengthy walk or a spacious yard to play in.

An adult Great Dane requires 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise, depending on their age and degree of energy.

Puppies and teens require approximately 90 minutes of daily physical activity.

Great Danes are excellent joggers, but you should only take them jogging with you if they are at least 18 months old.

Their bones are still developing at this age, and they are unable to maintain the running distance.

Creating A Consistent Feeding Schedule for Great Dane

Maintaining a consistent feeding plan for your Great Dane, or any dog for that matter, is critical to your puppy's overall health.

The secret to a happy life for a Great Dane puppy is knowing how much to feed him.

Serving a puppy three meals each day, at regular intervals, will teach him when he should be hungry for dinner.

Outside of his meal times, his growth will be consistent, and he will not bother you.

If your puppy's food consumption is steady, you'll be able to keep track of it.

Great Dane Background Information

The easygoing Great Dane, often known as the “Apollo of Dogs,” is a real delight to be around, but owning a dog of such imposing size, weight, and power is a commitment that should not be taken lightly.

This breed is wonderful, but it is not a Dane.

Danes are taller than most other dogs, standing up to 32 inches tall at the shoulder and taller than most people when standing on their hind legs.

These imposingly muscular giants are the epitome of grace and equilibrium, walking with the effortless grace of noblemen born into the world.

The coat is available in a wide range of colors and patterns, the most well-known of which is the “harlequin” pattern, which is a patchwork pattern composed of black and white squares.

The Danes are known for their calm demeanor; nonetheless, they are watchful guardians of their homes.

The sheer appearance of these peaceful giants is usually enough to deter would-be intruders.

Those who misjudge the breed's friendliness for weakness, on the other hand, will come up against a strong adversary who possesses genuine strength and vitality.

The Danes have a reputation for being people-pleasers who easily make new acquaintances and are gentle with youngsters.

Frequently Asked Question Great Dane