Calypso

Great Danes may seem intimidating, but inside their enormous bodies are even bigger hearts. Their size and loyalty make them good watch dogs, but intruders won’t realize their bark is worse than their bite. Although they appear energetic, Great Danes would rather grab a pillow indoors and relax by your side. Full-grown, they typically weigh 110-175 pounds and stand 28-32 inches tall.

Great Danes are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. Great Danes gets along well with children, other dogs, and household pets. Some Great Danes are dominant with other dogs of the same sex or have a high prey drive with small cats. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

This breed is fairly calm when young and needs a moderate amount of exercise when fully grown. Great Danes should be taken on a daily walk or allowed to play in a large, fenced yard where they can run and explore. They may seem like outdoor dogs, but their favorite spot is actually indoors where they can relax and be by your side. Overall, their exercise needs are very high.

The Great Dane has a short, smooth coat that comes in several colors. Most dogs are fawn (gold with a black mask, ears, and tail tip), brindle (gold with a black stripe pattern), steel blue, glossy black, “Harlequin” (white with black patches), or “Mantle”/”Boston” (black with white muzzle, chest, and tail tip). This breed isn’t high maintenance when it comes to grooming. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Great Danes are best suited for a house with a good-sized yard. Great Danes gets along well with children, other dogs, and household pets. Due to their size, apartments and small spaces just aren’t practical for this breed. They are moderately trainable with consistent effort.

Rottweilers (or “Rotties) may have a bad-to-the-bone reputation, but their diehard protectiveness comes from a positive place. These large and powerful pups make it their mission to keep you safe but are surprisingly calm when they aren’t on high alert. Full-grown, they typically weigh 80-135 pounds and stand 22-27 inches tall.

Rottweilers are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. Socialization is the top priority if your Rottie is going to be around kids or other animals. Rottweilers can be good playmates for children, cats, and pets, but they need to be socialized early and have positive experience when they’re young. They're relatively quiet and don't bark much.

Rotties need daily exercise to get their energy out and their heart pumping. It’s safe to take them running with you in the open country or the woods, as they don’t like to wander far from their families. Rottweilers are very smart and also love sports like swimming, running beside a bicycle, and playing fetch with a ball. Overall, their exercise needs are moderate.

The Rottweiler has a distinct outer coat of short, thick, coarse fur with a thick layer of hair underneath. All dogs in this breed are black with brown markings. You may find ones with long hair or white chest markings, but these traits are not as common. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Rottweilers are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.