Breed Comparison: Golden Cocker Retriever Versus Great Dane

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Golden Cocker Retriever Versus Great Dane: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever or the Great Dane.

Golden Cocker Retriever versus Great Dane: Overview

A very important difference between the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Golden Cocker Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Great Dane is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Golden Cocker Retriever belongs to the Mixed Breed Dogs group. Mixed Breed Dogs are not purebred dogs.

On the other hand, the Great Dane belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs 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.

Golden Cocker Retriever versus Great Dane: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane

Factor Golden Cocker Retriever Great Dane
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 2/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 7 to 10 years
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 1/5
Height 20 to 24 inches 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Weight 30 to 45 pounds 100 to 200 pounds
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 8.5 years
Average Price $1870 $1560
Price Range $1500 – $2000 $1000 – $2000
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Great Dane is 73 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Golden Cocker Retriever is a better pet than the Great Dane. So, you should get the Golden Cocker Retriever!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane

    Below is a list of where the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are most different:

  • Golden Cocker Retrievers do not have the tendency to drool. However, Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Golden Cocker Retrievers do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Great Danes do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Golden Cocker Retrievers are good for new dog owners. However, Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • The Similarities Between the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane

    The Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are most similar:

  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are very easy to train.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Golden Cocker Retriever versus Great Dane

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers weigh 30 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Golden Cocker Retrievers are 20 to 24 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Great Danes weigh 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. Great Danes are 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Golden Cocker Retriever versus Great Dane

    The lifespan of Golden Cocker Retrievers is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Golden Cocker Retrievers is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Great Danes is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Great Danes is 8.5 years.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers live longer than Great Danes.

    Price of Golden Cocker Retriever versus Price of Great Dane

    The average price of the Golden Cocker Retriever puppy is $1870. The price of the Golden Cocker Retriever typically ranges from $1500 – $2000. However, the price of a Golden Cocker Retriever can be as low as $1000 and as high as $3975. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 40 Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever is more expensive than the Great Dane.

    Golden Cocker Retriever Great Dane
    Average Price $1870 $1560
    Price Range $1500 to $2000 $1000 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Golden Cocker Retriever and Great Dane. For different price points, the charts show how many Golden Cocker Retriever puppies or how many Great Dane puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Cocker Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Cocker Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes?

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes?

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Golden Cocker Retriever 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Golden Cocker Retriever versus Great Dane

    Golden Cocker Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Great Danes do not like to be left alone.

    Do Golden Cocker Retrievers shed more than Great Danes?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Golden Cocker Retriever or the Great Dane

    Golden Cocker Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Golden Cocker Retriever or the Great Dane?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Great Danes are very easy to groom.

    Does the Golden Cocker Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Great Dane?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Golden Cocker Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Great Danes?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Golden Cocker Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Golden Cocker Retriever vs. Great Dane

    Golden Cocker Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily 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 Golden Cocker Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Golden Cocker Retriever or the Great Dane?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Golden Cocker Retrievers good family dogs? What about Great Danes?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Golden Cocker Retrievers and Great Danes?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Golden Cocker Retriever Easier to Train than the Great Dane?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Great Danes are very easy to train.

    Is the Golden Cocker Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Great Dane?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Golden Cocker Retriever or the Great Dane?

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are very good for new dog owners.

    Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Golden Cocker Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Golden Cocker Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Golden Cocker Retriever:

  • Dalmatian (80 percent match with Golden Cocker Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Great Dane vs Dalmatian.
  • Boxerdoodle (77 percent match with Golden Cocker Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Great Dane vs Boxerdoodle.
  • Field Spaniel (79 percent match with Golden Cocker Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Great Dane vs Field Spaniel.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Great Dane

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Great Dane that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Great Dane:

  • Flat-Coated Retriever (72 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Golden Cocker Retriever vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Labrador Retriever (72 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Golden Cocker Retriever vs Labrador Retriever.
  • Shiloh Shepherd (70 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Golden Cocker Retriever vs Shiloh Shepherd.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Golden Cocker Retriever and how the Great Dane compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Golden Cocker Retriever and of the Great Dane to other breeds:

    Golden Cocker Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Golden Cocker Retriever versus Frenchton     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Cavapoo     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Pug     Golden Cocker Retriever versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Spanish Mastiff     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Cavachon     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Cockalier     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Bearded Collie     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Keeshond     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Gordon Setter     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Great Pyrenees     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Mal Shi     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Whoodle     Golden Cocker Retriever versus West Highland White Terrier     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Australian Terrier     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Black Russian Terrier     

    Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Great Dane versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Great Dane versus German Shepherd Dog     Great Dane versus Scottish Deerhound     Great Dane versus Korean Jindo Dog     Great Dane versus Kishu Ken     Great Dane versus Affenpinscher     Great Dane versus Australian Terrier     Great Dane versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Great Dane versus Jack Russell Terrier     Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel     Great Dane versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Great Dane versus Chow Chow     Great Dane versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Great Dane versus English Setter     Great Dane versus Peek A Poo     Great Dane versus Shihpoo     Great Dane versus Cockalier     Great Dane versus Chihuahua     Great Dane versus Samoyed     Great Dane versus Brittany     Great Dane versus Siberian Husky     Great Dane versus Toy Fox Terrier     Great Dane versus Puli     Great Dane versus Afador     Great Dane versus Black Mouth Cur     

    Conclusion: Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever and the Great Dane better suits you and your family.