Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | Golden Retriever | Great Dane |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $48,931 | $44,330 |
| First year | $7,175 | $7,595 |
| Monthly average | $309 | $349 |
| Puppy price | $1,500 to $3,500 | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Routine care, yearly | $3,301 | $3,721 |
| Expected health cost | $0 | $0 |
| Documented conditions | 18 | 12 |
| Median lifespan | 13.2 yrs | 10.6 yrs |
| Adult weight | 55 to 75 lb | 110 to 175 lb |
| Daily food | 3.7 cups | 6.7 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $600 | $220 |
| Risk profile | High, late onset | High, mid life |
| Biggest single risk | Dental disease | Skin disease |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dental disease | 70% | $246–$663 |
| Skin disease | 36% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 12% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Ear infection | 10% | $100–$270 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 6% | $169–$455 |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 3% | not priced |
| Arthritis | 3% | $281–$756 |
| Lipoma | 3% | not priced |
| Hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder | 3% | $629–$1,694 |
| Skin cancer/tumour | 3% | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Cruciate disease | 3% | $2,468–$5,640 |
| Acute moist dermatitis | 1% | $252–$679 |
| Patellar luxation | 1% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 0% | $534–$1,438 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0% | not priced |
| Cancer | n/a | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Hip dysplasia | n/a | $3,500–$7,000 |
| 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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Common questions
Is a Golden Retriever or a Great Dane more expensive?
The Great Dane is cheaper by about $4,601 over a lifetime. Golden Retriever: $48,931. Great Dane: $44,330. The gap comes mostly from health costs rather than routine care.
Which lives longer, a Golden Retriever or a Great Dane?
The Golden Retriever has the longer typical lifespan. Golden Retriever: 13.2 years. Great Dane: 10.6 years.
Which is healthier, a Golden Retriever or a Great Dane?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The Golden Retriever's biggest single risk is dental disease, seen in 70% 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.