Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Great Dane Versus Miniature Poodle: Introduction
- Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle: Overview
- Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle
- The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle
- Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle
- Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle
- Lifespan of Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle
- Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Miniature Poodle
- Price of Great Dane versus Price of Miniature Poodle
- Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Miniature Poodle
- Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle
- Do Great Danes shed more than Miniature Poodles?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Miniature Poodle?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Miniature Poodle?
- Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Miniature Poodles?
- Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Miniature Poodle?
- Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Miniature Poodle
- How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Miniature Poodles?
- Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Miniature Poodle?
- Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Miniature Poodles?
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Miniature Poodles Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Miniature Poodle
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Miniature Poodles Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle. Which One is a Better Pet?
Great Dane Versus Miniature Poodle: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle better suits you.
We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.
Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Great Dane and for the Miniature Poodle. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Great Dane or the Miniature Poodle.
Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle: Overview
A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Miniature Poodle is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Great Dane belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.
On the other hand, the Miniature Poodle belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.
Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Great Dane to the Miniature Poodle based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.
When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets
Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.
However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle
| Factor | Great Dane | Miniature Poodle |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 100 to 200 pounds | 12 to 20 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Height | 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder | From 10 to over 15 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Life Span | 7 to 10 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Average Lifespan | 8.5 years | 13.5 years |
| Average Price | $1560 | $2500 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $2000 | $1500 – $3000 |
| Temperament Score | 81.5 percent | 76.7 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Great Dane in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Miniature Poodle. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.
The Better-Pet score for the Great Dane is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Miniature Poodle is 88 out of 125.
Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Miniature Poodle, we still believe that the Great Dane is a better pet than the Miniature Poodle.
This is because Great Danes are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Great Dane will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Great Dane :-). We are for the Great Dane. So get a Great Dane!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle
Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle are most different:
The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle
The Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle.
The Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Miniature Poodle weighs 12 to 20 pounds when fully grown. The Miniature Poodle is From 10 to over 15 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle
Great Dane Colors
The Great Dane comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Black
- Harlequin
- Merle (Blue)
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Brown / Chocolate
- White / Cream
- Brindle
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Merle (Red)
- Bicolor
- Gray / Blue / Silver
The Great Dane comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- White / Cream
- Brown / Chocolate
- Black
- Gray / Blue / Silver
- Golden
- Merle (Blue)
- Harlequin
- Brindle
Miniature Poodle Colors
The Miniature Poodle comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Black
- White / Cream
- Apricot / Beige
- Gray / Blue / Silver
- Bicolor
- Brown / Chocolate
The Miniature Poodle comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- White / Cream
- Brown / Chocolate
- Black
- Gray / Blue / Silver
Lifespan of Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle
The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 years.
The lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is 13.5 years.
The Miniature Poodle live longer than the Great Dane.
Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Miniature Poodle
The Great Dane has a better temperament than the Miniature Poodle.
This is because the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 percent while the temperament score for the Miniature Poodle is 76.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.
Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.
The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.
With its temperament score of 81.5 percent, the Great Dane has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 76.7 percent, the Miniature Poodle has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle by measuring the temperaments of 314 Great Danes and 73 Miniature Poodles.
Price of Great Dane versus Price of Miniature Poodle
The average price of the Great Dane puppy is $1560. The price of the Great Dane typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Great Dane can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1324 Great Dane puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Miniature Poodle puppy is $2500. The price of the Miniature Poodle typically ranges from $1500 – $3000. However, the price of the Miniature Poodle can be as low as $350 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1190 Miniature Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Miniature Poodle is more expensive than the Great Dane.
| Great Dane | Miniature Poodle | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1560 | $2500 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $2000 | $1500 to $3000 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Great Dane and Miniature Poodle. For different price points, the charts show how many Great Dane puppies or how many Miniature Poodle puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Miniature Poodles
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Great Dane puppy or the Miniature Poodle puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Miniature Poodle
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Great Danes and many Miniature Poodles are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Great Dane named Curly that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Great Danes like Curly on pefinder.com.
Also, like Great Danes, Miniature Poodles are also available for adoption. For example, Milo is a Male Miniature Poodle that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Miniature Poodles like Milo that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Moe is the name of another Great Dane (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also, Clyde is an adorable Male Miniature Poodle on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Great Danes and Miniature Poodles that are available for adoption on petfinder.
Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle
Great Danes do not like to be left alone.
Miniature Poodles do not like to be left alone.
Do Great Danes shed more than Miniature Poodles?
Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Miniature Poodles do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Miniature Poodle?
Great Danes are very easy to groom.
Miniature Poodles require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Miniature Poodle?
Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.
Miniature Poodles get along very well with other dogs.
Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Miniature Poodles?
Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Miniature Poodles are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Miniature Poodle?
Great Danes are very easy to train.
Miniature Poodles are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Miniature Poodle
Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
Miniature Poodles do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Miniature Poodles?
Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Miniature Poodles get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Miniature Poodle?
Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Miniature Poodles have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.
Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Miniature Poodles?
Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Miniature Poodles are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Miniature Poodles Tolerate Cold Weather?
Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Miniature Poodles can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Miniature Poodle
Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Miniature Poodles have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Miniature Poodles Tolerate Hot Weather?
Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Miniature Poodles can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Miniature Poodle?
Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.
Miniature Poodles adapt very well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Miniature Poodle?
Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Miniature Poodles are very good for new dog owners.
Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Great Dane compares to other breeds aside from the Miniature Poodle. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:
Great Dane versus Stabyhoun Great Dane versus Carolina Dog Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer Great Dane versus Miniature Schnauzer Great Dane versus Saluki Great Dane versus Flat-Coated Retriever Great Dane versus Lagotto Romagnolo Great Dane versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Great Dane versus Yorkipoo Great Dane versus Valley Bulldog Great Dane versus Golden Cocker Retriever Great Dane versus Leonberger Great Dane versus Saint Berdoodle Great Dane versus Bernedoodle Great Dane versus Morkie Great Dane versus Dachshund Great Dane versus American Hairless Terrier Great Dane versus Shiranian Great Dane versus Akita Chow Great Dane versus Pomsky
Conclusion: Great Dane versus Miniature Poodle. Which One is a Better Pet?
In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Great Dane and the Miniature Poodle better suits you and your family.