Last Updated: Jun 17, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Great Dane Versus Australian Kelpie: Introduction
- Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie: Overview
- Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie
- The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie
- Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie
- Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie
- Lifespan of Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie
- Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Australian Kelpie
- Price of Great Dane versus Price of Australian Kelpie
- Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Australian Kelpie
- Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie
- Do Great Danes shed more than Australian Kelpies?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Australian Kelpie?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Australian Kelpie?
- Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Australian Kelpies?
- Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Australian Kelpie?
- Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Australian Kelpie
- How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Australian Kelpies?
- Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Australian Kelpie?
- Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Australian Kelpies?
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Australian Kelpie
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie. Which One is a Better Pet?
Great Dane Versus Australian Kelpie: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie? 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 Australian Kelpie 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 Australian Kelpie.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie 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 Australian Kelpie. 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 Australian Kelpie.
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 Australian Kelpie.
Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie: Overview
A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Australian Kelpie 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 Australian Kelpie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.
Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Great Dane to the Australian Kelpie 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 Australian Kelpie
| Factor | Great Dane | Australian Kelpie |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 100 to 200 pounds | 25 to 46 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Height | 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder | 15 to 20 inches |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Life Span | 7 to 10 years | 10 to 15 years |
| Average Lifespan | 8.5 years | 12.5 years |
| Average Price | $1560 | $590 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $2000 | $500 – $600 |
| Temperament Score | 81.5 percent | 83.3 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 Australian Kelpie. 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 Australian Kelpie is 72 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Great Dane is a better pet than the Australian Kelpie. So, you should get a Great Dane!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie
Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie are most different:
The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie
The Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie.
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 Australian Kelpie weighs 25 to 46 pounds when fully grown. The Australian Kelpie is 15 to 20 inches when fully grown.
Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie
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
Australian Kelpie Colors
The Australian Kelpie comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Brown / Chocolate
- Black
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
- Bicolor
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
The Australian Kelpie comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- Bicolor
- Brown / Chocolate
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- White / Cream
- Gray / Blue / Silver
- Black
Lifespan of Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie
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 Australian Kelpie is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Australian Kelpie is 12.5 years.
The Australian Kelpie live longer than the Great Dane.
Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Australian Kelpie
The Australian Kelpie has a better temperament than the Great Dane.
This is because the temperament score for the Australian Kelpie is 83.3 percent while the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 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 83.3 percent, the Australian Kelpie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Great Dane and the Australian Kelpie by measuring the temperaments of 314 Great Danes and 6 Australian Kelpies.
Price of Great Dane versus Price of Australian Kelpie
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 Australian Kelpie puppy is $590. The price of the Australian Kelpie typically ranges from $500 – $600. However, the price of the Australian Kelpie can be as low as $100 and as high as $1000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 20 Australian Kelpie puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Great Dane is more expensive than the Australian Kelpie.
| Great Dane | Australian Kelpie | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1560 | $590 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $2000 | $500 to $600 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Great Dane and Australian Kelpie. For different price points, the charts show how many Great Dane puppies or how many Australian Kelpie 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 Australian Kelpies
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Great Dane puppy or the Australian Kelpie 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 Australian Kelpie
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Great Danes and many Australian Kelpies 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 Moe that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Great Danes like Moe on pefinder.com.
Also, like Great Danes, Australian Kelpies are also available for adoption. For example, Boss is a Male Australian Kelpie that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Australian Kelpies like Boss that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Titan is the name of another Great Dane (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also, Fannie'S Dash Lonestar is an adorable Male Australian Kelpie on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Great Danes and Australian Kelpies that are available for adoption on petfinder.
Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie
Great Danes do not like to be left alone.
Australian Kelpies do not like to be left alone.
Do Great Danes shed more than Australian Kelpies?
Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Australian Kelpies shed moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Australian Kelpie?
Great Danes are very easy to groom.
Australian Kelpies are very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Australian Kelpie?
Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.
Australian Kelpies get along fairly well with other dogs.
Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Australian Kelpies?
Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Australian Kelpies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Australian Kelpie?
Great Danes are very easy to train.
Australian Kelpies are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Australian Kelpie
Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
Australian Kelpies do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Australian Kelpies?
Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Australian Kelpies do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Australian Kelpie?
Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Australian Kelpies have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Australian Kelpies?
Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Australian Kelpies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Cold Weather?
Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Australian Kelpies can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Australian Kelpie
Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Australian Kelpies have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Hot Weather?
Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Australian Kelpies can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Australian Kelpie?
Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.
Australian Kelpies do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Australian Kelpie?
Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Australian Kelpies are not the best dogs 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 Australian Kelpie. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:
Great Dane versus Great Dane Great Dane versus Chorkie Great Dane versus Shiba Inu Great Dane versus Lakeland Terrier Great Dane versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Great Dane versus Akita Great Dane versus Cesky Terrier Great Dane versus Bearded Collie Great Dane versus Beagle Great Dane versus Pomsky Great Dane versus Scottish Deerhound Great Dane versus Bouvier des Flandres Great Dane versus Bloodhound Great Dane versus Chi-Poo Great Dane versus Norwich Terrier
Conclusion: Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie. 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 Australian Kelpie better suits you and your family.