Boerboel vs Great Dane: Height, Weight and Temperament
Short answer: The Great Dane is the taller dog, at 30 to 32 inches or more for males, but it is lean for its height at up to 175 lb. The Boerboel is shorter and more heavily muscled, at 150 to 200 lb. Danes are easygoing, gentle giants. Boerboels are calm but serious guardians. Both are giant breeds with shorter lifespans.
Boerboel vs Great Dane at a glance
Trait | Boerboel vs Great Dane |
Origin | Boerboel: South Africa Great Dane: Germany |
Original job | Boerboel: Farm and homestead guardian; first line of defense against predators Great Dane: Hunting dog for boar, later an estate guardian and companion |
Height | Boerboel: Males 24 to 27 in; females 22 to 25 in Great Dane: Males at least 30 in, preferably 32 in or more; females at least 28 in, preferably 30 in or more |
Weight | Boerboel: 150 to 200 lb Great Dane: Males up to about 175 lb; females up to about 140 lb |
Typical lifespan | Boerboel: 9 to 11 years Great Dane: 8 to 10 years |
Coat | Boerboel: Short, dense and smooth; low grooming Great Dane: Short and smooth; moderate shedding |
Registry group | Boerboel: AKC Working Group Great Dane: AKC Working Group |
Guarding style | Boerboel: Calm, confident home and family guardian Great Dane: Easygoing, friendly, gentle |
Boerboel height comes from the AKC breed standard and weight from the AKC breed weight chart. Typical lifespan reflects what we see in the breed. Great Dane figures come from the breed standards and AKC resources listed under Sources.
Size and build
A Great Dane is much taller. The AKC standard sets males at no less than 30 inches and prefers 32 inches or more. The AKC says males can weigh up to 175 lb. A Boerboel male stands 24 to 27 inches and the breed weighs 150 to 200 lb. So a Boerboel can weigh as much as a Dane, or more, in a much more compact and muscular frame.
Temperament and guarding style
The AKC calls the Great Dane "easygoing" and "a total joy to live with." Most Danes are friendly gentle giants. The Boerboel is calm in the house too, but it is a natural guardian that is watchful of strangers.
More on how Boerboels behave with family, children and visitors is in our Boerboel temperament FAQ.
Training and handling
Danes are generally easy to live with but need early training simply because of their size. Boerboels need more consistent structure because they are both big and strong-willed.
Our puppies start that work early through Cold River HomeStart™, the early foundation every Cold River puppy receives, and our Boerboel training FAQ covers house training, leash work, mouthing and more.
Exercise, work and performance
Danes need moderate daily exercise. Boerboels need regular exercise and do well in strength sports. Their compact, muscular build is better suited to pulling than a Dane's tall, lean frame.
Performance is how we measure the breed at Cold River. Cold River's Sun Wukong and Cold River's Mr. Wednesday both pulled 22,039 lb at a UPF event on May 9, 2026, the heaviest pull in any weight-pull federation's published results. Sun competes at about 164 lb and Wednesday at about 186 lb. The full results and sources are on our world record page, and our dog weight pulling guide explains how the sport works.
Health and lifespan
The AKC lists the Great Dane lifespan as 8 to 10 years and names bloat and heart disease among the breed's main health problems. Boerboels generally live 9 to 11 years. Both breeds are deep-chested, so bloat awareness matters for each. For growth, lifespan and bloat prevention in Boerboels, see our Boerboel size, growth and health FAQ.
Which breed is right for you?
Choose a Boerboel if:
You want a guardian rather than a gentle companion
You want a compact, muscular giant
You are interested in strength sports
Choose a Great Dane if:
You want the tallest, friendliest gentle giant
You want a companion more than a guardian
You have room for a very tall dog
Whichever breed you choose, pick a breeder who can show you health results and what their dogs actually do. Our guide on how to choose a Boerboel breeder covers what to ask.
Common questions
Is a Boerboel bigger than a Great Dane?
A Great Dane is taller. A Boerboel is more muscular and can weigh as much or more, at 150 to 200 lb.
Which breed is the better guard dog?
The Boerboel. It was bred as a guardian. Most Great Danes are friendly and easygoing.
Thinking about a Boerboel?
Start with our puppy application, see our available puppies, or read the Boerboel puppy price FAQ. To compare the Boerboel with more breeds, see Boerboel vs other breeds.
Sources
By Cold River Boerboels. Updated October 2026.
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