Giant10.6 yr avg
Great Dane
AKC · Working
View breedComparison
Great Dane vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Side-by-side comparison from peer-reviewed sources. Lifespan and health figures draw on Royal Veterinary College VetCompass and AKC breed data.
At a glance
Side-by-side
The numbers that most change day-to-day care. A citrus border marks a meaningful advantage.
Giant
Great Dane
Lifespan10.6 yrrange 10–11
SizeGiant
Weight110–175 lb49.9–79.4 kg
Height28–32 in71.1–81.3 cm
Senior at5 yrgeriatric at 8
AKC groupWorking
Energy4/560 min/day
Trainability3/5
Shedding3/5
With kids3/5
With other dogs3/5
Medium
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Lifespan13.2 yrrange 12–14
SizeMedium
Weight14–30 lb6.4–13.6 kg
Height10–12 in25.4–30.5 cm
Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11
AKC groupHerding
Energy4/560 min/day
Trainability4/5
Shedding4/5
With kids3/5
With other dogs4/5
Health
Common health issues
Top 3 prevalence-ranked conditions for each breed. See each breed's full health profile for screening schedules and source data.
Great Dane
- Moderatetypical onset ~7 yr
Cataracts
Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~5 yr
Periodontal Disease
Description and veterinary guidance for Periodontal Disease land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr
Osteochondritis Dissecans
Description and veterinary guidance for Osteochondritis Dissecans land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- High prevalencetypical onset ~8 yr
Degenerative Myelopathy
Description and veterinary guidance for Degenerative Myelopathy land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~7 yr
Cataracts
Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~6 yr
Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram)
Description and veterinary guidance for Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram) land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Synthesis
Which is right for you?
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi tends to live about 2.6 years longer on average than the Great Dane (13.2 vs 10.6 years).
Size gap is meaningful: the Great Dane is giant and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is medium-sized. Expect different considerations for housing, travel, and vet-care costs.
Both breeds have similar energy requirements — roughly 60 minutes of daily activity keeps either satisfied.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis carry a heavier breed-specific health burden (1 high-prevalence conditions vs 0 for the Great Dane). Budget for screening accordingly.