Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | Boxer | Great Dane |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $36,605 | $44,330 |
| First year | $6,305 | $7,595 |
| Monthly average | $270 | $349 |
| Puppy price | $1,200 to $3,000 | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,831 | $3,721 |
| Expected health cost | $0 | $0 |
| Documented conditions | 19 | 12 |
| Median lifespan | 11.3 yrs | 10.6 yrs |
| Adult weight | 50 to 80 lb | 110 to 175 lb |
| Daily food | 3.7 cups | 6.7 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $200 | $220 |
| Risk profile | High, late onset | High, mid life |
| Biggest single risk | Degenerative myelopathy | Skin disease |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Degenerative myelopathy | 50% | not priced |
| Skin disease | 36% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Hip dysplasia | 13% | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 11% | $169–$455 |
| Ear infection | 10% | $100–$270 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Skin cancer/tumour | 6% | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 6% | not priced |
| Hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder | 5% | $629–$1,694 |
| Lipoma | 5% | not priced |
| Corneal Ulcer | 5% | $469–$1,264 |
| Skin lump | 5% | not priced |
| Arthritis | 4% | $281–$756 |
| Colitis | 4% | $354–$954 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 1% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 1% | $534–$1,438 |
| Patellar luxation | 1% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Cancer | n/a | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Aortic stenosis | n/a | $534–$1,438 |
| Brachycephalic airway signs | n/a | $1,784–$4,802 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Hip dysplasia | 13% | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Ear infection | 10% | $100–$270 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 5% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 5% | $169–$455 |
| Patellar luxation | 1% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 1% | $534–$1,438 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0% | not priced |
| Bloat | n/a | $3,709–$9,986 |
| Dilated cardiomyopathy | n/a | $534–$1,438 |
| Wobbler syndrome | n/a | $3,776–$10,168 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
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Expected vet costs are $0 for the Boxer and $0 for the Great Dane. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
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Common questions
Is a Boxer or a Great Dane more expensive?
The Boxer is cheaper by about $7,726 over a lifetime. Boxer: $36,605. Great Dane: $44,330. The gap comes mostly from health costs rather than routine care.
Which lives longer, a Boxer or a Great Dane?
The Boxer has the longer typical lifespan. Boxer: 11.3 years. Great Dane: 10.6 years.
Which is healthier, a Boxer or a Great Dane?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The Boxer's biggest single risk is degenerative myelopathy, seen in 50% of the breed. For the Great Dane it is skin disease, at 36%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.