The Danoodle, which is commonly referred to as the Great Danoodle, is not exactly your average designer dog. These Poodle and Great Dane mixes are large yet kind-hearted. What are the pros and cons of owning a Great Danoodle?
Owning a Great Danoodle has many advantages, as the dog has a good temperament and is very trainable. However, the dog also presents some downsides, including health issues, shedding, and a huge size not appropriate for apartments and condos.
In today’s detailed guide, you’ll learn all about the Danoodle. We’ll also present an extensive list of pros and cons so you can decide whether getting a Great Danoodle is the right choice for you. If you’re on the fence, this is one article you will not want to miss!
What Is a Danoodle?
Let’s begin with an introductory section that will provide lots of facts and details about the Great Danoodle, also known as the Danoodle dog, the Danepoo, the Danedoodle, and the Great Danepoo.
Lineage
The Great Danoodle is not a purebred dog, so if this is the first you’re hearing of this crossbreed, that’s why. Instead, the Great Danoodle is bred by combining the DNA of the Great Dane with a Poodle.
The “Dan” in Danoodle comes from the Great Dane whereas the fun-sounding “oodle” is from the oft-bred Poodle.
Unlike many designer dogs, which have really only come into existence within the last 20 or 30 years (some are even newer than that!), the Great Danoodle is a long-standing hybrid breed. The dog was first bred in the 1900s.
Why was the Great Danoodle bred in the first place? Was its purpose to become a hunting dog that could easily catch smaller creatures? Or perhaps it was a herding breed that could bring livestock into a pen at the end of the day?
The answer is neither. The Great Danoodle was always bred for one reason and one reason only, and that’s companionship.
That’s quite a noble cause!
Appearance
So what does a Great Danoodle look like?
Well, as is the case with all mixed breeds, the answer is that it varies depending on which dog has the more dominant genes.
Some Great Danoodles have smoother coaters akin to a Great Dane (we’ll talk more about this dog’s coat shortly) while others have the trademark Poodle curls.
Danoodles are tall, stately dogs. They have flat, floppy ears that hang on either side of their head as well as big eyes, a protruding muzzle, and a large cranium. Their bodies are long and lean but not skinny or streamlined anywhere. The dog has a long tail that may or may not sport extra hair on the end.
The Great Danoodle usually has brown eyes and a black nose. Other eye colors are a possibility.
Size
The Great Danoodle, given its lineage, is not exactly a small canine. Males stand at 25 to 27 inches tall and weigh between 85 and 100 pounds.
Female Great Danoodles are 22 to 25 inches tall and weigh 70 to 85 pounds.
Coat
The coat of a Great Danoodle is medium-length and quite dense.
As discussed above, the texture of the coat can be either straight just like a Great Dane’s or curly and tightly wound like a Poodle coat.
Some Great Danoodles can even sport a coat that’s an in-between mix with slightly wavy fur.
The color of the coat varies by dog. While colors such as black, white, and gray are common in the Great Danoodle, you might also see this dog with fur hues such as blue (which is really just grayish-black), cream, red, silver, or brown.
Temperament
The Great Danoodle carries the poise of a Poodle with the stature of a Great Dane. The dog is intelligent, eager to learn, calm, and watchful.
Great Danoodles don’t require too much exercise a day, between 45 and 60 minutes, and their activity level is described as moderate. The dog should walk for at least eight miles a week to keep up with its health needs.
The Pros of Owning a Danoodle
For the next two sections, we want to delve deeply into the pros and cons of owning a dog such as the Great Danoodle.
These sections should largely influence your decision-making regarding which dog you’ll adopt.
The Great Danoodle Makes a Good Watchdog
Are you looking for a watchdog to alert your family to danger?
Although watchdogs will not attack an intruder on the premises, they will keep a vigilant eye over everything going on in and around the house. When trouble is afoot, the dog will let you know by barking.
The Great Danoodle is usually a quiet dog, so if you hear the deep bark of this dog, you know that something is wrong.
The peace of mind that you’ll feel knowing you have an imposing watchdog like the Great Danoodle in the house will be tremendous. You’ll sleep better at night and feel better about leaving your family if you have to take work trips.
The Dog Has an Amazing, Affectionate Personality
The Great Danoodle might enjoy a romp outside or a nice walk around the neighborhood, but one of its favorite activities is relaxing with its human companions.
You’ll recall that the purpose of breeding the Great Danoodle into existence was to create a companion animal, and that’s exactly what this large, fluffy dog is.
If you want to sit and watch Netflix on the couch with your feet up, the quiet demeanor of the Great Danoodle will not interfere. This pet will be at your feet or right beside you on the couch, lounging or snoozing away.
It’s not only adults that the Great Danoodle is a natural companion of but children as well.
Of course, we wouldn’t recommend introducing a Great Danoodle into a household with small children. It’s not that the dog has a bad temperament, but the Great Danoodle is so large that the kids could accidentally get hurt.
Once the children are a little older though, they won’t be so intimidated by the size and stature of the Great Danoodle!
Grooming a Great Danoodle Isn’t Too Difficult
All dogs require some degree of grooming, although how extensive it will depend on the breed.
The Great Danoodle, especially if yours has those trademark Poodle curls, isn’t necessarily the easiest dog on the block to groom, but regular coat maintenance won’t take hours upon hours either.
You need a good dog-grooming brush such as a slicker brush as well as a grooming comb. You can get away with brushing the Great Danoodle a couple of times per week, which isn’t too bad at all!
The Great Danoodle Has a Long Lifespan for Its Size
It’s no secret that most large dogs have incredibly short lifespans due to their gargantuan size. The good news is that that’s not the case for the Great Danoodle. Its projected lifespan is between eight and 13 years.
While eight years would be about the standard lifespan of a large dog, anything more than that, such as up to 13 years, is a lot of time to enjoy spending with the incredible dog that is the Great Danoodle.
Great Danoodles Train Easily
When we talked about the Great Danoodle’s temperament, we mentioned how this dog is smart and happy to train.
Whether you want to teach your dog the basic commands, how to run an agility course, or even how not to pee in the house, you can safely rely on the Danoodle dog to pick up on the commands quickly and soon express its mastery.
The Cons of Owning a Danoodle
As wonderful as Great Danoodle ownership can be, it’s not all doggy treats and walks in the park. There are some difficult parts you must be ready for as well, so let’s talk about them.
The Great Danoodle Is Too Big for Most Apartments and Condos
Do you rent an apartment and just signed a long-term lease? Perhaps you finally bought a condo.
Well, in either of those two living situations, a Great Danoodle just doesn’t fit into the plans.
Large dogs such as this hybrid breed would feel way too cramped in the tiny space constraints of your apartment or condo. Even if you gave your dog adequate time outside every day at the local dog park, indoor living wouldn’t provide the best quality of life.
On those days when it rains or snows and indoor play is all you have, you’d especially realize how much of a shoebox your home feels to your dog.
The Dog Has a Strong Prey Drive and Will Not Get Along with Smaller Pets
The Great Danoodle might have been bred as a companion animal and nothing more, but that doesn’t change the instincts of its parents.
Between the Great Dane and the Poodle, which do you think has the strong prey drive? If you answered the Poodle, you’re right.
Surprising, isn’t it? Yet the Poodle’s predilection to chase and catch smaller animals means your Great Danoodle very well could do the same.
If you have smaller dogs in the house, then they could be prey to the Great Danoodle’s chases. When we’re talking about such a big breed as the Danoodle dog, even a mid-sized dog can feel like a small dog.
Toy breeds would especially be in trouble.
It’s not only small dogs but any small pets in the house, from cats to hamsters or gerbils.
While you can and should socialize the Great Danoodle with the other animals in the house, that won’t overcome its prey drive. You’re best off not bringing the Great Danoodle into a house with smaller creatures.
It’s for the well-being of those animals!
Great Danoodles Are Predisposed to Health Issues
Every dog has at least some health issues, but the bigger the breed, the more issues there usually are.
The Great Danoodle is no exception. Here is an overview of some of the conditions that can affect this dog throughout its life.
- Mitral valve disease: The heart condition mitral valve disease can potentially cause heart failure later down the line, so it’s a serious one to pay attention to. Your dog may develop a cough, a higher respiratory rate, and exercise intolerance as the disease worsens.
- Addison’s disease: When a dog’s rate of aldosterone and cortisol release decreases, the animal could develop Addison’s disease. This condition can cause reduced appetite, gastroenteritis, bloody stool, more urination, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss.
- Cardiomyopathy: Canine dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM reduces the heart’s ability to produce enough pressure to send blood throughout the dog’s vascular system. This life-threatening disease can lead to collapse, excess drooling, a blue tongue, and heavy breathing.
- Gastric torsion: Gastric dilation volvulus or gastric torsion is a type of dangerous bloating that causes the dog’s stomach to fill up with gas. The stomach then twists. The broader the chest of your dog, the likelier they are to develop gastric torsion.
- Entropion: The eye condition entropion causes the eyelids to roll in. Now the eyelashes make direct contact with the dog’s cornea, which leads to irritation and potential corneal ulceration as well.
There Are No Breed Standards
The American Kennel Club as well as kennel clubs in other parts of the world do not recognize hybrid dog breeds. This means that no standards exist for these breeds.
Why does that matter? Well, whether you’re adopting a Great Danoodle or any other hybrid dog, you want to bring home a healthy, happy pet. Without breed standards, that’s harder to do.
You’ll want to carefully research breeders and ask about the lineage and pedigree of the Great Danoodle before you fork over your hard-earned money.
The Great Danoodle Can Shed a Lot
Poodles are incredibly low-shedding breeds due to their tightly-wound curls that catch loose hair, but the same cannot be said of the Great Dane.
This is a large dog with smooth fur that sheds regularly throughout the year. If your Great Danoodle has Poodle fur, then the dog might not shed too much, but don’t expect the same luck if your Danoodle takes more after the Great Dane.
Even if the Great Danoodle does have a Poodle coat, since the Great Danoodle is larger than a Poodle, it will shed more.
Should You Get a Danoodle?
Now that you know the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Great Danoodle, should you adopt one?
The Great Danoodle has both great and bad points, but in our humble opinion, the good outweighs the bad. This dog is sweet, affectionate, vigilant, smart, trainable, and quiet. Those are very desirable traits in any dog.
Of course, we do caution you against adopting a Great Danoodle if your home is small, as the dog will feel too cramped.
Conclusion
The Great Danoodle is a large hybrid dog that’s a cross between the Poodle and Great Dane. This dog is adorable, kind-hearted, and makes a great watchdog. We hope this guide helps you decide if you should bring home a Great Danoodle!
Related Reading:
Double Doodle Dogs: Pros and Cons
Cavapoo vs. Cavoodle – What’s the Difference?
Do Cavapoos Shed Hair or Their Coat? (Answered by an Owner)
Do Double Doodles Shed Hair? (Answered!)
