Last Updated: Jun 16, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Boxer Versus Great Dane: Introduction
- Boxer versus Great Dane: Overview
- Boxer versus Great Dane: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Boxer and the Great Dane
- The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Great Dane
- Size Comparison of the Boxer versus Great Dane
- Appearance (Colors) of the Boxer and the Great Dane
- Lifespan of Boxer versus Great Dane
- Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Boxer
- Price of Boxer versus Price of Great Dane
- Adopting the Boxer versus Adopting the Great Dane
- The Intelligence of the Boxer versus the Intelligence of the Great Dane
- The Popularity of Boxer versus Popularity of Great Dane
- Tolerates Being Alone: Boxer versus Great Dane
- Do Boxers shed more than Great Danes?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Boxer or the Great Dane?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Boxer or the Great Dane?
- Are Boxers good family dogs? What about Great Danes?
- Is the Boxer Easier to Train than the Great Dane?
- Which one drools more, the Boxer or the Great Dane
- How Kid-friendly are Boxers and Great Danes?
- Does the Boxer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Great Dane?
- Do Boxers Bark and Howl? What about Great Danes?
- Can Boxers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Great Dane
- Can Boxers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Boxer Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Boxer versus Great Dane. Which One is a Better Pet?
Boxer Versus Great Dane: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Boxer and the Great Dane? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Boxer and the Great Dane better suits you.
We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Boxer and the Great Dane.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Boxer and the Great Dane is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.
Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Boxer and for the Great Dane. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Boxer and the Great Dane.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Boxer or the Great Dane.
Boxer versus Great Dane: Overview
A very important difference between the Boxer and the Great Dane is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Boxer is a medium-sized dog while the Great Dane is a giant-sized dog.
Furthermore, both the Boxer and the Great Dane are Working Dogs. This means both the Boxer and the Great Dane were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.
Boxer versus Great Dane: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Boxer to the Great Dane based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.
When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets
Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.
However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Boxer and the Great Dane
| Factor | Boxer | Great Dane |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 7 to 10 years |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder | 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Easygoing | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Weight | 60 to 70 pounds | 100 to 200 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 8.5 years |
| Average Price | $1530 | $1560 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $1800 | $1000 – $2000 |
| Temperament Score | 83.9 percent | 81.5 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data | |
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 11 | 15 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 48 | 48 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Boxer in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Great Dane. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.
The Better-Pet score for the Boxer is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Great Dane is 73 out of 125.
Despite the equal Better-Pet score of the Boxer and the Great Dane, we still think that the Boxer is a better pet than the Great Dane.
This is because Boxers are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Boxer will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Boxer :-). We are for the Boxer. So get a Boxer!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Boxer and the Great Dane
Below is a list of where the Boxer and the Great Dane are most different:
The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Great Dane
The Boxer and the Great Dane are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Boxer and the Great Dane are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Boxer versus Great Dane
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Boxer and the Great Dane.
The Boxer weighs 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The Boxer is 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Appearance (Colors) of the Boxer and the Great Dane
Boxer Colors
The Boxer comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- White / Cream
- Brindle
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Black
- Bicolor
- Brown / Chocolate
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
The Boxer comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- Black
- White / Cream
- Brown / Chocolate
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Brindle
Great Dane Colors
The Great Dane comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Black
- Harlequin
- Merle (Blue)
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Brown / Chocolate
- White / Cream
- Brindle
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Merle (Red)
- Bicolor
- Gray / Blue / Silver
The Great Dane comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- White / Cream
- Brown / Chocolate
- Black
- Gray / Blue / Silver
- Golden
- Merle (Blue)
- Harlequin
- Brindle
Lifespan of Boxer versus Great Dane
The lifespan of the Boxer is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of the Boxer is 11.0 years.
The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 years.
The Boxer live longer than the Great Dane.
Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Boxer
The Boxer has a better temperament than the Great Dane.
This is because the temperament score for the Boxer is 83.9 percent while the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.
Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.
The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.
With its temperament score of 83.9 percent, the Boxer has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 81.5 percent, the Great Dane has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Boxer and the Great Dane by measuring the temperaments of 472 Boxers and 314 Great Danes.
Price of Boxer versus Price of Great Dane
The average price of the Boxer puppy is $1530. The price of the Boxer typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Boxer can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1292 Boxer puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Great Dane puppy is $1560. The price of the Great Dane typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of the Great Dane can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1324 Great Dane puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Great Dane is more expensive than the Boxer.
| Boxer | Great Dane | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1530 | $1560 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $1800 | $1000 to $2000 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Boxer and Great Dane. For different price points, the charts show how many Boxer puppies or how many Great Dane puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Boxers. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Boxer puppy or the Great Dane puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Boxer versus Adopting the Great Dane
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Boxers and many Great Danes are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Boxer named Max that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Boxers like Max on pefinder.com.
Also, like Boxers, Great Danes are also available for adoption. For example, Titan is a Male Great Dane that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Great Danes like Titan that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Also, Kryptonite is an adorable Male Great Dane on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Boxers and Great Danes that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Boxer versus the Intelligence of the Great Dane
| Boxer | Great Dane | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 48 out of 130 dog breeds | 48 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Boxer has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Boxer belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Boxers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Great Dane has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Great Dane belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Great Danes tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Boxer and the Great Dane are of the same intelligence.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of Boxer versus Popularity of Great Dane
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).
The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Boxer and the Great Dane over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Boxer is more popular with dog owners than the Great Dane. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Boxer is 11 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Boxer
Popularity of Great Dane
| Year | Boxer Popularity Rank | Great Dane Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 7 | 16 |
| 2014 | 8 | 15 |
| 2015 | 10 | 15 |
| 2016 | 10 | 14 |
| 2017 | 11 | 14 |
| 2018 | 11 | 16 |
| 2019 | 14 | 17 |
| 2020 | 14 | 15 |
| 2021 | 14 | 17 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Boxer versus Great Dane
Boxers do not like to be left alone.
Great Danes do not like to be left alone.
Do Boxers shed more than Great Danes?
Boxers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Boxer or the Great Dane?
Boxers are very easy to groom.
Great Danes are very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Boxer or the Great Dane?
Boxers get along fairly well with other dogs.
Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.
Are Boxers good family dogs? What about Great Danes?
Boxers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Boxer Easier to Train than the Great Dane?
Boxers are very easy to train.
Great Danes are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Boxer or the Great Dane
Boxers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Boxers and Great Danes?
Boxers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Boxer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Great Dane?
Boxers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Do Boxers Bark and Howl? What about Great Danes?
Boxers bark and howl, but not very much.
Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Boxers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather?
Boxers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Great Dane
Boxers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Boxers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather?
Boxers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Is the Boxer Better for Apartment Owners than the Great Dane?
Boxers adapt very well to apartment living.
Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Boxer or the Great Dane?
Boxers are OK for new dog owners.
Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Boxer Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Boxer compares to other breeds aside from the Great Dane. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Boxer to other breeds:
Boxer versus Pekingese Boxer versus Scottish Deerhound Boxer versus Lhasa Apso Boxer versus Pomeranian Boxer versus Shih Tzu Boxer versus Bulldog Boxer versus Skye Terrier Boxer versus Saluki Boxer versus Basenji Boxer versus Maltipoo Boxer versus Pug Boxer versus Miniature Pinscher Boxer versus Pointer Boxer versus Black Mouth Cur Boxer versus French Spaniel Boxer versus Maremma Sheepdog Boxer versus Pomchi Boxer versus Afador Boxer versus Bernese Mountain Dog
Conclusion: Boxer versus Great Dane. Which One is a Better Pet?
In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Boxer and the Great Dane better suits you and your family.