Why the Great Dane is Better than the Coton de Tulear as a Pet

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Great Dane Versus Coton de Tulear: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear? 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 Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear. 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 Coton de Tulear.

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 Coton de Tulear.

Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear

Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear: Overview

A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Coton de Tulear is a tiny-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 Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Great Dane to the Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear

FactorGreat DaneCoton de Tulear
Adapts Well To Apartment Living1/55/5
Good For Novice Owners1/54/5
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Weight100 to 200 pounds8 to 13 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather2/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight4/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Height26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder8 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Hot Weather3/53/5
Intelligence3/54/5
Low Prey Drive3/55/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/53/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
General Health4/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/54/5
Easygoing1/51/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Dog Friendly5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/55/5
Does NOT Shed1/55/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
Easy To Train5/53/5
NOT Rambunctious1/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/54/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Life Span7 to 10 years14 to 16 years
Average Lifespan8.5 years15.0 years
Average Price$1560$1980
Price Range$1000 – $2000$1600 – $2400
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Cardiac Exam
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds1575
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    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 Coton de Tulear. 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 Coton de Tulear is 94 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Coton de Tulear, we still believe that the Great Dane is a better pet than the Coton de Tulear.

    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!

    Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear

    Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are most different:

  • Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Coton de Tulears adapt well to apartment living.
  • Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Coton de Tulears are good for new dog owners.
  • Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool. However, Coton de Tulears do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Coton de Tulears do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Great Danes are very easy to groom. However, Coton de Tulears require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Great Danes do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful. However, Coton de Tulears do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear

    The Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are most similar:

  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear.

    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 Coton de Tulear weighs 8 to 13 pounds when fully grown. The Coton de Tulear is 8 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Great Dane versus Size of Coton de Tulear

    Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear

    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

    Coton de Tulear Colors

    The Coton de Tulear comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn

    The Coton de Tulear comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

      Lifespan of Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear

      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 Coton de Tulear is between 14 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Coton de Tulear is 15.0 years.

      The Coton de Tulear live longer than the Great Dane.

      Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear

      Price of Great Dane versus Price of Coton de Tulear

      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 Coton de Tulear puppy is $1980. The price of the Coton de Tulear typically ranges from $1600 – $2400. However, the price of the Coton de Tulear can be as low as $550 and as high as $3200. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 253 Coton de Tulear puppies listed for sale from various sources.

      The Coton de Tulear is more expensive than the Great Dane.

      Great Dane Coton de Tulear
      Average Price $1560 $1980
      Price Range $1000 to $2000 $1600 to $2400

      The charts below show the price distribution for the Great Dane and Coton de Tulear. For different price points, the charts show how many Great Dane puppies or how many Coton de Tulear 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 Great Danes. The typical price range is shaded Green.

      A breakdown of the prices of Coton de Tulears

      A breakdown of the prices of Coton de Tulears

      Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Great Dane puppy or the Coton de Tulear 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.

      Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear

      Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Coton de Tulear

      You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Great Danes and many Coton de Tulears 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, Coton de Tulears are also available for adoption. For example, Jalo is a Male Coton de Tulear that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Coton de Tulears like Jalo that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

      The Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

      Marmaduke is the name of another Great Dane (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

      You can find more Great Danes and Coton de Tulears that are available for adoption on petfinder.

      The Popularity of Great Dane versus Popularity of Coton de Tulear

      Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

      The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear over the years.

      Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Great Dane is more popular with dog owners than the Coton de Tulear. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Coton de Tulear is 75 out of about 200 dog breeds.

      Popularity of Great Dane

      Popularity of Great Dane

      Popularity of Coton de Tulear

      Popularity of Coton de Tulear

      Year Great Dane Popularity Rank Coton de Tulear Popularity Rank
      2013 16 no data
      2014 15 31.0
      2015 15 85.0
      2016 14 80.0
      2017 14 81.0
      2018 16 81.0
      2019 17 81.0
      2020 15 80.0
      2021 17 83.0

      Health Problems of Great Dane versus Health Problems of Coton de Tulear

      Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

      Both the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

      The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

      Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Great Dane is prone to more genetic health problems than the Coton de Tulear.

      This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Great Dane than for the Coton de Tulear.

      4 health tests are recommended for Great Dane while 3 tests are recommended for the Coton de Tulear.

      Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Great Danes and in Coton de Tulears.

      Great Dane Health Problems

      Great Danes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Great Dane puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

      The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

      If you want a Great Dane puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Great Dane breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

      The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Great Danes for:

    • Autoimmune thyroiditis
    • Cardiac Evaluation
    • Eye Examination
    • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Danes here.

      Coton de Tulear Health Problems

      Coton de Tulears are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Coton de Tulear puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

      The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

      If you want a Coton de Tulear puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Coton de Tulear breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

      The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Coton de Tulears for:

    • Cardiac Exam
    • Eye Examination
    • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Coton de Tulears here.

      More Discussions on Health Problems in Great Danes and Coton de Tulears

      Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Great Dane Breed is Shoulder problems.

      This is because the Great Dane ranks 4 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 183 Great Danes, 10 of them had Shoulder problems.

      The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Great Danes, and how common these diseases are in Great Danes relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

    • Shoulder problems: Rank 4 out of 22 Dog Breeds
    • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 33 out of 71 Dog Breeds
    • Dentition Database problems: Rank 35 out of 49 Dog Breeds
    • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 159 Dog Breeds
    • Thyroid problems: Rank 42 out of 115 Dog Breeds
    • Eyes problems: Rank 59 out of 182 Dog Breeds
    • Elbow problems: Rank 75 out of 144 Dog Breeds
    • Hips problems: Rank 92 out of 198 Dog Breeds
    • Patella problems: Rank 130 out of 145 Dog Breeds
    • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Coton de Tulear Breed is Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems.

      This is because the Coton de Tulear ranks 1 out of 2 dog breeds for Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 51 Coton de Tulears, 47 of them had Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems.

      The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Coton de Tulears, and how common these diseases are in Coton de Tulears relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

    • Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems: Rank 1 out of 2 Dog Breeds
    • Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems: Rank 2 out of 5 Dog Breeds
    • Patella problems: Rank 36 out of 145 Dog Breeds
    • Thyroid problems: Rank 61 out of 115 Dog Breeds
    • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 71 out of 159 Dog Breeds
    • Elbow problems: Rank 103 out of 144 Dog Breeds
    • Hips problems: Rank 121 out of 198 Dog Breeds
    • Eyes problems: Rank 168 out of 182 Dog Breeds

    • The table below lists the common health problems in Great Dane and in Coton de Tulear and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Great Dane and the Coton de Tulear:

      Disease Great Dane Rank Coton de Tulear Rank
      Shoulder problems 4 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
      Advanced Cardiac problems 33 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
      Dentition Database problems 35 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
      Congenital Cardiac problems 40 out of 159 dog breeds 71 out of 159 dog breeds
      Thyroid problems 42 out of 115 dog breeds 61 out of 115 dog breeds
      Eyes problems 59 out of 182 dog breeds 168 out of 182 dog breeds
      Elbow problems 75 out of 144 dog breeds 103 out of 144 dog breeds
      Hips problems 92 out of 198 dog breeds 121 out of 198 dog breeds
      Patella problems 130 out of 145 dog breeds 36 out of 145 dog breeds
      Chondrodysplasia (Cdpa) problems Not Common 1 out of 2 dog breeds
      Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems Not Common 2 out of 5 dog breeds

      *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

      Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

      Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear

      Great Danes do not like to be left alone.

      Coton de Tulears do not like to be left alone.

      Do Great Danes shed more than Coton de Tulears?

      Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

      Coton de Tulears do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

      Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Coton de Tulear?

      Great Danes are very easy to groom.

      Coton de Tulears 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 Coton de Tulear?

      Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.

      Coton de Tulears get along very well with other dogs.

      Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Coton de Tulears?

      Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

      Coton de Tulears are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

      Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Coton de Tulear?

      Great Danes are very easy to train.

      Coton de Tulears are fairly easy to train.

      Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Coton de Tulear

      Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.

      Coton de Tulears do have a very low tendency to drool.

      How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Coton de Tulears?

      Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

      Coton de Tulears get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

      Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Coton de Tulear?

      Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

      Coton de Tulears 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 Coton de Tulears?

      Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

      Coton de Tulears are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

      Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Cold Weather?

      Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

      Coton de Tulears can moderately tolerate cold weather.

      Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Coton de Tulear

      Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

      Coton de Tulears 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 Coton de Tulears Tolerate Hot Weather?

      Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

      Coton de Tulears can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

      Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Coton de Tulear?

      Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.

      Coton de Tulears adapt very well to apartment living.

      Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Coton de Tulear?

      Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

      Coton de Tulears 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 Coton de Tulear. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:

      Great Dane versus Borzoi     Great Dane versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Great Dane versus Irish Water Spaniel     Great Dane versus English Springer Spaniel     Great Dane versus Golden Retriever     Great Dane versus Alaskan Malamute     Great Dane versus Westiepoo     Great Dane versus Komondor     Great Dane versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Great Dane versus German Shepherd Dog     Great Dane versus Boykin Spaniel     Great Dane versus Border Terrier     Great Dane versus Goldador     Great Dane versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Great Dane versus Tibetan Spaniel     Great Dane versus Scottish Deerhound     Great Dane versus American Eskimo Dog     

      Conclusion: Great Dane versus Coton de Tulear. 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 Coton de Tulear better suits you and your family.