Akita vs Great Dane
Compare the Akita to the Great Dane. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Akitas and Great Danes.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Akita is an okay choice for new or inexperienced owners, but the Great Dane is not recommended for new owners.
- Children - The Great Dane is very child friendly. The Akita is not child-friendly and is not recommended for families with young children.
- Grooming - The Great Dane is very easy to groom. The Akita has high grooming requirements.
- Barking - The Great Dane bark/howls frequently. The Akita has a low tendency to bark.
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| Breed Name | Akita | Great Dane |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 7-10 yrs. |
| Height | 24-28 in. | 28-38 in. |
| Weight | 70-130 lb | 100-200 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Japan | Not Specified |
| Origin Year | 1600 AD | 1400 BC |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | No | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Yard | Yes | No |
| Large Yard | Yes | No |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 30°F to 75°F | 55°F to 85°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | Medium | Medium |
| Exercise Required | Medium | Medium |
| Top Running Speed | 25 mph | 30 mph |
| Strength | Very High | Very High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Medium | Medium |
| Shedding | Medium | Medium |
| Dander | Medium | Medium |
| Drool Amount | None | Medium-High |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Akita | Great Dane |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | Yes | No |
| Family/Pack | No | Yes |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | Yes | No |
| Average | No | No |
| Focused & Patient | No | Yes |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | Below Average | Average |
| Follow Commands | Below Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | High | Below Average |
| Herding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Hunting | Average | Average |
| Protection | High | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Below Average |
| Sledding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Watch | Average | Average |
| Breed Name | Akita | Great Dane |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 7-10 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Bloat | Yes | Yes |
| Cancer | No | Yes |
| Dilated Cardiomyopathy | No | Yes |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Hypothyroidism | Yes | No |
| Mitral Valve Disease | No | Yes |
| Patent Ductus Arteriosis | No | Yes |
| Persistent Right Aortic Arch | No | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Yes | No |
| Sebaceous Adenitis | Yes | No |
| Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis | No | Yes |
| Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Akita | Great Dane |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Medium | Yes | No |
| Short | No | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | Yes |
| Black Brindle | Yes | No |
| Brown | Yes | No |
| Brown Brindle | Yes | No |
| Fawn | Yes | Yes |
| Fawn Brindle | Yes | No |
| Red | Yes | No |
| Red Brindle | Yes | No |
| Silver | Yes | Yes |
| Silver Brindle | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | Yes |
| Black & White | No | Yes |
| Blue | No | Yes |
| Blue & White | No | Yes |
| Blue Brindle | No | Yes |
| Brindle | No | Yes |
| Chocolate | No | Yes |
| Chocolate & White | No | Yes |
| Chocolate Brindle | No | Yes |
| Harlequin | No | Yes |
| Mantle | No | Yes |
| Mantle Merle | No | Yes |
| Merle | No | Yes |
| Merlequin | No | Yes |