How to Adopt a Great Dane in the United States | PetzLover
To adopt a Great Dane in the United States, apply to a Great Dane breed rescue or a shelter, expect a written application, vet and landlord references and a home visit, and pay an adoption fee that usually covers spay or neuter, vaccines and a microchip. Spot Pet Insurance puts typical adoption fees at $100 to $300, while some breed rescues charge more: Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue listed $600, or $450 for seniors, when this guide was written.
Adopting suits many people who want a Dane, because a rescue can tell you an adult dog's size, health and manners. This guide covers where to look, the process, the costs and the first weeks with a giant dog.
Key points
- The Great Dane Club of America lists breed rescues state by state on its rescue page.
- Rescues often ask for a securely fenced yard, and landlord permission if you rent.
- Ask whether the dog has had a gastropexy and a heart check; the AKC calls bloat the breed's number-one killer.
- Expect about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn the routine and three months to feel at home.
Should you adopt from a Great Dane rescue or a shelter?
| Feature | Great Dane breed rescue | Public or private shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Where dogs live | Mostly in volunteer foster homes | In kennels at the shelter |
| What you learn | Behavior in a home, with notes from the foster family | Behavior seen by staff |
| Process | Application, references and a home visit; can take weeks | Often faster, sometimes the same day |
| Fee | Often higher, reflecting vet and foster costs | Often lower |
| Breed knowledge | Volunteers who know Danes and their health issues | General; may know less about giant breeds |
The Great Dane Club of America's rescue page lists groups by state, from Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue, which covers Colorado and neighboring states, to Harlequin Haven in Ohio, Great Dane Rescue New England and Northwest Great Dane Rescue in Washington. Shelters take in Danes too, so search both.
How does the Great Dane adoption process work?
Steps differ by group. Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue, for example, describes a process like this:
- Complete an application about your home, family, dog experience and lifestyle.
- Volunteers check references, including your veterinarian.
- A home visit confirms the home is safe and checks your fencing; renters need landlord permission, which the rescue verifies.
- You join a waiting list for a dog and talk with its foster family.
- You sign the adoption contract and pay the fee.
That rescue asks for a securely fenced yard or an explanation of how you will exercise the dog, and requires your current pets to be spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations. On PetzLover you can also browse Great Danes for adoption and save the search to get alerts.
How much does it cost to adopt a Great Dane?
Fees vary by group, age and medical needs. Spot Pet Insurance puts typical adoption fees at $100 to $300, often including vaccinations and spay or neuter. Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue listed $600 for most dogs and $450 for seniors, covering spay or neuter, current vaccinations, a microchip, heartworm testing and medical records.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Food | About $100 to $120 a month |
| Routine vet care | About $25 to $75 a month |
| Giant crate, bed and other supplies | About $400 to $500 at the start |
| Lifetime cost | About $30,000 to $35,000 |
PetMD notes that giant dogs need larger doses of medication, so prescriptions cost more too. The FTC advises walking away from any adoption that asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer or cash app, or will not let you meet the dog.
Is an adult or senior Great Dane right for you?
The AKC gives Great Danes a life expectancy of 7 to 10 years, so a Dane of 5 or 6 is already middle-aged. Adopting an adult means you know its size and manners, and many rescues also have seniors that need a quiet home.
- Families: the AKC calls Danes patient with kids, but a 150-pound dog can knock a small child over, so supervise.
- Apartments: PetMD says Danes can live in apartments with a dedicated owner, though a fenced yard is best. Check any weight limit in your lease.
- Exercise: the AKC says a brisk walk two or three times a day can be enough, with no rigorous exercise around meals.
- Other pets: ask how the dog has done with the foster family's dogs and cats.
If you want a puppy instead, read how to buy a Great Dane puppy, or compare taking in a rehomed Great Dane directly from an owner.
What health questions should you ask before adopting a Great Dane?
- Has the dog had a preventive gastropexy, or any bloat episode? The American College of Veterinary Surgeons notes gastropexy can often be done during spay or neuter.
- Has its heart been checked? The breed club says dilated cardiomyopathy is suspected to be inherited in Danes.
- Is it on thyroid medication? The AKC lists autoimmune thyroiditis among breed problems.
- Any limp, stiffness or wobbly gait? The Great Dane Club of America names wobbler syndrome and bone cancer among breed problems.
- Is it at a healthy weight? The AKC warns that a heavy Dane will have a shorter life span.
What should you expect in the first weeks with an adopted Great Dane?
- Many shelters use a 3-3-3 guideline: about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn your routine and three months to feel at home.
- Feed two meals a day at set times from a bowl on the floor, and keep walks gentle around meals; a Purdue study linked raised bowls and fast eating with more bloat.
- Give the dog a large, quiet resting place; a crate must let a Dane stand up and turn around.
- Use a secure collar or harness with an ID tag, and register the microchip in your name; the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup shows which registry holds the chip.
- Book a vet visit in the first week or two, and learn the bloat signs the American College of Veterinary Surgeons lists: drooling, a swelling belly and retching with nothing coming up.
Rescuers and owners can read the companion guide on how to list a Great Dane for adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to adopt a Great Dane?
Spot Pet Insurance puts typical adoption fees at $100 to $300. Breed rescues can charge more: Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue listed $600, or $450 for seniors, including spay or neuter, vaccines and a microchip.
Where can I find a Great Dane rescue near me?
The Great Dane Club of America's rescue page lists breed rescues by state. Also check local shelters and adoption listings, and save a search so you hear about new Danes.
Do I need a fenced yard to adopt a Great Dane?
Many rescues ask for one. Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue, for example, asks for a securely fenced yard or an explanation of how you will exercise the dog. The AKC advises letting Danes off leash only in areas with a tall fence.
Can I adopt a Great Dane if I rent?
Usually, if your landlord agrees in writing. Rescues often verify landlord permission, and a Dane can exceed the weight limit in many leases, so check yours first.
Should an adopted Great Dane have a gastropexy?
Ask the rescue and your vet. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons says many surgeons recommend preventive gastropexy for at-risk breeds, and a 2003 Purdue analysis found it cut a Dane's estimated risk of dying from bloat nearly 30-fold.
Helpful guides
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Great Dane for Adoption in the United StatesSet clear criteria for a giant dog, publish a fee and what it covers, describe health and behavior honestly, screen adopters with references and a home check, and use a contract with a return clause when you list a Great Dane for adoption.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Great Dane Puppy in the United StatesPick a breeder who shows both parents' OFA hip, eye, heart and thyroid results, meet the mother, get a written contract, and budget for a 110- to 175-pound dog with a high bloat risk before you buy a Great Dane puppy in the US.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Great Dane Puppies in the United StatesHealth-test both parents for the breed club's four CHIC tests, follow your state's age and lemon-law rules, price against local litters, screen buyers for space and budget, and use a written contract when you sell Great Dane puppies in the US.
Pet for FreeHow to Get a Free Great Dane Safely in the United StatesMeet the owner and the dog in person, ask about bloat, heart and thyroid history, have a vet check it within days, and budget about $100 to $120 a month for food before you take a free Great Dane in the US.
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a Great Dane for Free Without Risk in the United StatesCheck your breeder's contract and the breed rescues first, then write an honest listing, screen every home for space, budget and bloat know-how, and hand your Great Dane over in person with records and a signed agreement.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Great Dane in the United StatesAsk about the dog's bloat, heart, thyroid and behavior history, meet it at home, check records and the microchip, pay any fee only at handover, and give the dog calm weeks to settle when you take in a rehomed Great Dane in the US.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Great Dane Responsibly in the United StatesOffer your Great Dane back to the breeder or a Dane rescue first, then write an honest listing, disclose health and behavior, set a modest fee, screen homes for space and budget, and hand over in person with records and an agreement.