Great Dane vs English Mastiff
A side-by-side look at two breeds people often weigh against each other. Every line below comes from each breed's own care profile on this site, so both sides are described the same way.
Key differences at a glance
- Both have a similar life expectancy - 7-10 years for the Great Dane and 6-10 years for the English Mastiff.
- Both are giant dogs, close in size (60-90 kg and 70-100 kg).
 Great Dane The Great Dane, nicknamed the "Apollo of dogs", is a towering, elegant giant that ranks among the tallest breeds in the... |  English Mastiff The English Mastiff - usually just called Mastiff - is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Giant | Giant |
| Typical weight | 60-90 kg | 70-100 kg |
| Lifespan | 7-10 years | 6-10 years |
| Temperament | Calm, affectionate, and gentle. | Calm, affectionate, and naturally watchful. |
| Exercise needs | Modest. | Modest. |
| Grooming | The short coat is low-maintenance: weekly brush with a rubber curry, baths every 6-8 weeks. | The short coat is low-maintenance: weekly brush with a rubber curry, baths every 6-8 weeks. |
| Good with kids | Yes, with their own family - gentle, patient, and protective. | Outstanding. |
| Best suited for | Families with secure outdoor space and tall doorways. | Calm households with secure outdoor space. |
Which one suits you?
Both are giants, both are gentle, and both ask you to accept a short life and a large bill. The Great Dane is the taller, leggier one; the Mastiff is the heavier, more solidly built one with more drool. Neither is an athletic dog, and neither is a budget dog - food, medication doses and specialist veterinary care all scale with body weight.
Health, and what it costs you
The Great Dane averages 7-10 years, the English Mastiff 6-10, both among the shortest of any breed. Bloat is the first thing to learn the signs of in either: it is fast, it is fatal untreated, and it is common in deep-chested giants. Beyond bloat, cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, osteosarcoma and eyelid problems appear in both profiles. The Dane adds wobbler syndrome and hypothyroidism; the Mastiff adds elbow dysplasia and cystinuria, a hereditary urinary condition with a DNA marker test. Puppy growth in both needs carefully controlled exercise to protect developing joints.
What each one asks of a normal week
Modest, and that surprises people. The Dane needs 45 to 60 minutes of calm walking; the Mastiff 30 to 45, with hard exercise actively damaging to the joints. Adult Danes sleep 14 to 18 hours a day. Both are affectionate and good with children, both are watchful without being aggressive, and both are ruled out of apartments, hot climates and tight budgets by their own profiles.
Choose the Great Dane if
you want the taller, slightly more active giant and a marginally longer average life.
Choose the English Mastiff if
you want the calmest, heaviest guardian in the house and do not mind drool.
Health figures above come from each breed's own profile on this site, and breed averages are exactly that - averages. An individual dog from screened parents can do far better than its breed's statistics, and one from an unscreened litter can do far worse. Ask any breeder which tests the parents have had, and walk away from anyone who finds the question rude.
Common questions
Is the Great Dane or the English Mastiff better with kids?
For the Great Dane, our profile notes: Yes, with their own family - gentle, patient, and protective. For the English Mastiff: Outstanding. With either breed, supervise young children and pick the individual dog's temperament over breed rules.
Which one fits depends on your home, your time and your experience with dogs. Read the full guides for Great Dane and English Mastiff, or compare two other breeds.
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