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Australian Shepherd vs Great Dane: Which Suits Your Home?

Australian Shepherd or Great Dane? On paper they differ most on exercise need, and on the scales Great Dane is the heavier at 110–175 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Australian Shepherd and Great Dane and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on exercise need and grooming need, so those are covered first and in most detail. Both rate 1/5 for flats, so housing does not settle this one. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.

Quick verdict

Between Australian Shepherd and Great Dane, exercise need is what separates them, and Great Dane is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.

Choose australian shepherd if...

Choose Australian Shepherd if you want a dog that picks up training quickly, a smaller dog suits your car, your home or your back and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.

Choose great dane if...

Choose Great Dane if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature	australian shepherd	great dane	Winner
Size class	medium	giant	Equal
Weight	40–65 lbs	110–175 lbs	Equal
Height	18–23 in	28–34 in	Equal
Lifespan	12–15 years	7–10 years	australian shepherd
Exercise need	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	great dane
Grooming need	Moderate (3/5)	Very low (1/5)	great dane
Shedding	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	great dane
Energy level	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Barking	Moderate (3/5)	Low (2/5)	great dane
Apartment suitability	Very low (1/5)	Very low (1/5)	Equal
Good for first-time owners	Low (2/5)	Low (2/5)	Equal
Tolerates being alone	Low (2/5)	Low (2/5)	Equal
Trainability	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	australian shepherd
Good with kids	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	great dane
Good with other dogs	High (4/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Friendly to strangers	Low (2/5)	Moderate (3/5)	great dane
Cost level	Moderate (3/5)	Very high (5/5)	australian shepherd
Coat	Medium-length double coat	Short, smooth	Equal
Origin	United States	Germany	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$100–$200	$200–$400	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,500–$2,800	$3,000–$5,000	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

The gap here isn't subtle. An Australian Shepherd tops out around 65 lbs and 23 inches at the shoulder, a compact, athletic herder. A Great Dane can weigh up to 175 lbs and stand 34 inches tall, easily eye-level with a seated adult. You're not choosing between two dog sizes so much as two different animals to live with: one you can lift into a car, one that takes up a full back seat by itself.

Energy and exercise

On paper the Aussie rates a 5/5 for exercise need against the Dane's 3/5, and that tracks with what each breed was bred to do. The Aussie wants a job, herding runs, agility, hours of structured activity, while the Great Dane is content with a couple of solid walks and then a long nap. Don't mistake the Dane's size for endless stamina; those long legs cover ground fast but tire out sooner than you'd expect.

Grooming and shedding

Grooming favors the Dane outright, a 1/5 need against the Aussie's 3/5, since a short smooth coat needs little more than an occasional wipe-down. Shedding tells a similar story: the Aussie's double coat rates 4/5, the Dane's 3/5. Neither is hypoallergenic, but you'll spend far less time with a brush in hand if you go with the Dane.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

Both breeds score a 1/5 for apartment suitability, so neither is a realistic small-space dog regardless of which one you pick. Barking runs moderate for the Aussie (3/5) and low for the Dane (2/5). Alone time is the bigger shared problem: both sit at 2/5 for tolerating solitude, meaning a Dane's calm demeanor doesn't translate into independence, it still wants you around.

Training and owner experience

Trainability splits clearly in the Aussie's favor, 5/5 versus the Dane's 3/5, and both rate a 2/5 for first-time-owner suitability. That means neither is a beginner's dog, but for different reasons, the Aussie needs an owner who can channel its intelligence and drive, while the Dane needs one who can manage sheer size and impulse control in a body that outweighs most adults.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

Great Danes edge out Aussies with kids (5/5 vs 4/5) and with strangers (3/5 vs 2/5), fitting their reputation as gentle giants who lean toward everyone they meet. Both handle other dogs well at 4/5. The Aussie's reserve around new people is worth planning for if you host often, it's not unfriendly, just watchful.

Health and lifespan

Lifespan is where the Aussie pulls ahead hard: 12-15 years against the Dane's 7-10. Both share hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cancer risk, but the Dane adds bloat (GDV), dilated cardiomyopathy and Wobbler syndrome, conditions tied directly to its size and deep chest. A Great Dane's health risks are largely a function of scale; there's no getting around that with a giant breed.

Cost to keep

Cost level rates 3/5 for the Aussie and 5/5 for the Dane, and the monthly ranges back it up, $100-200 versus $200-400. First-year costs run $1,500-2,800 for the Aussie against $3,000-5,000 for the Dane, mostly food volume and larger-dog vet pricing. Budget for the Dane like you would a second car payment in year one.

Australian Shepherd vs Great Dane at a glance

Australian Shepherd weighs 40–65 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Great Dane weighs 110–175 lbs and lives 7–10 years. The two diverge most on exercise need, grooming need and energy level and 2 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, apartment suitability and good with other dogs, so those cannot decide it. The table below marks a winner only where one breed is genuinely easier for a typical owner; size and origin are facts rather than merits and stay level. Ratings come from one source applied to both breeds, so they are meaningful against each other rather than as absolute scores.

Frequently asked questions

How much bigger is a Great Dane than an Australian Shepherd?

A lot, the Dane can weigh 110-175 lbs against the Aussie's 40-65 lbs, and stands up to 11 inches taller. Expect to plan furniture, car space and doorways around a Dane in a way you wouldn't for an Aussie.

Which sheds less?

The Great Dane, rated 3/5 for shedding against the Aussie's 4/5, though its short coat still sheds year-round. Neither breed is a good match if you want a shed-free home.

Is either breed good for a first-time owner?

Not really, both rate a low 2/5. The Aussie's challenge is its intelligence and work drive; the Dane's is managing a 150-lb dog with basic obedience in place before it's fully grown.

Which fits an apartment better?

Neither. Both score 1/5 for apartment suitability, and both also struggle to tolerate being left alone (2/5 each), so small-space, long-hours-away households should look elsewhere.

How much should I budget monthly?

Plan on $100-200 for an Aussie and $200-400 for a Great Dane, with first-year costs of roughly $1,500-2,800 and $3,000-5,000 respectively once initial vet work and gear are factored in.

Do the two breeds share health risks?

Yes, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cancer show up on both lists. The Dane carries extra size-linked risks like bloat and Wobbler syndrome that the Aussie doesn't share.

Which one will outlive the other?

The Aussie, usually by several years, 12-15 years against the Dane's 7-10. That's the single biggest practical difference between these two dogs.

Quick answers

View more answers

Behavior

Aussie or Great Dane, which is the better overall pick?

Go Aussie if you want an active partner for years of hiking and training; go Dane if you want a calm, kid-friendly giant and are prepared for a shorter lifespan and higher costs.

Costs

What's the monthly cost difference?

The Aussie runs $100-200 a month, the Dane $200-400, roughly double, mostly food volume.

Training

Which dog needs more daily exercise?

The Aussie by a wide margin, it rates 5/5 for exercise need against the Dane's 3/5, so it wants real work, not just a stroll.

Health

Which breed lives longer?

The Aussie, at 12-15 years versus the Dane's 7-10, plan for a much shorter time with a Great Dane.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Australian Shepherd breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Australian Shepherd before deciding.
Great Dane breed guide – The same for Great Dane, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
Australian Shepherd vs German Shorthaired Pointer – German Shorthaired Pointer is the closest breed to Australian Shepherd on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
Great Dane vs Saint Bernard – Saint Bernard sits closest to Great Dane, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
Australian Shepherd vs Saint Bernard – Saint Bernard is the other breed Great Dane is most often weighed against.
Great Dane health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.

Related guides

Guide

Important reminder

Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.

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