A Great Dane needs the X-Large PetSafe Freedom aluminium dog door. It is the largest flap we install at 36 by 65 centimetres, and the Great Dane is the largest breed we fit. Danes stand 74 to 82 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh 50 to 80 kilograms, so your dog will duck slightly to pass through. That is normal, and our dog door size guide explains why a tall dog can use a flap shorter than its shoulder height.
The short answer on sizing
We install the PetSafe Freedom aluminium dog door in three sizes. The Medium flap measures 23 by 35 centimetres, the Large flap 28 by 45 centimetres, and the X-Large flap 36 by 65 centimetres. We do not install the Small size, which is too small for comfort.
For a Great Dane there is exactly one option, the X-Large, and even it asks your dog to duck. A flap top at 65 centimetres sits below a 74 to 82 centimetre shoulder, so the Dane lowers its head and steps through in one smooth motion. Dogs do this instinctively. The 36 centimetre width handles a Dane’s broad chest, and the aluminium frame carries the weight of an 80 kilogram dog leaning into the flap without flexing. A plastic frame would bow under that load and eventually crack, which is why the aluminium door is the only one we fit for giant breeds.
The gentle giant’s door
Great Danes are famously gentle. They move slowly, lean on everything and everyone, and treat the house like it was built around them. That weight is the main reason the aluminium door matters for this breed. Every pass through the flap puts a large dog’s shoulder and chest against the frame, dozens of times a day for years. Aluminium takes it without complaint.
Installation works the same as for any breed. We build a new tempered glass panel with the door fitted in, and it goes into your glass sliding door, French door, patio door, aluminium door or screen door. Your existing glass is never cut. Rental-friendly inserts are available for tenants who need the door to come out cleanly at the end of a lease.
How to measure a Great Dane
You will want a helper for this. Stand your Dane square on a flat floor and have your helper hold a book or a level flat across the withers, the ridge between the shoulder blades, while you measure from the floor to the underside. Tall dogs sway, so take the measurement three times and keep the tallest reading.
For a Dane it helps to make a small pencil mark on a doorframe at wither height and measure the mark afterward. It is easier than chasing a tape around a moving giant, and the mark gives you a visual reference you can check against the 65 centimetre flap height. Measure the chest width too, at the widest point of the ribcage. The X-Large flap is 36 centimetres wide, which suits even a broad male Dane.
If your Dane is still under two years old and growing, remeasure close to installation day. Danes keep growing long after most breeds have stopped, and an old measurement can easily be several centimetres short. One more measurement worth taking is the step-over height at your door. Danes have long legs so a low threshold is no problem, but note it down and mention it when you book so the panel is built to suit.
Training a Great Dane to use the flap
Never push a Great Dane through a flap. It does not work with a 70 kilogram dog, and a bad experience makes a cautious breed avoid the door entirely. Danes are sensitive and they learn at their own pace, so slow training wins every time.
Tape the flap fully open for the first few days. Walk your Dane through on a loose lead with treats, letting the dog get used to the route without any pressure. Then lower the flap a little at a time, rewarding every nose push. Keep sessions to five minutes. A Dane that is tired or bored simply lies down, and no training happens after that point.
Reward calm entries. Danes that learn to barge through at speed can knock the flap hard enough to startle themselves, which sets training back days. A gentle, steady pass is the goal, and most Danes settle into it within a week or two. Once it clicks, they use the door the way they do everything, slowly and with great dignity.
FAQ
Will my Great Dane really fit through a 65 centimetre flap?
Yes. The X-Large is the biggest flap we install, and it is the correct size for a Great Dane. Your dog ducks its head and steps through, which dogs do naturally. The 36 centimetre width fits a Dane’s chest comfortably.
Is the flap strong enough for an 80 kilogram dog?
The PetSafe Freedom door we install has an aluminium frame, which is why we recommend it for giant breeds. It holds its shape under the weight of a large dog leaning through, where a plastic frame would flex and crack.
What if my Dane is scared of the flap?
Go back to the flap taped fully open and rebuild from there. Never force the dog through. Most nervous Danes come around within a week of short, treat-heavy sessions.
Which doors can you fit it into?
We fit the X-Large into glass sliding doors, French doors, patio doors, aluminium doors and screen doors. A new tempered glass panel is made for each installation, so the glass you have now is never cut. Rental-friendly inserts are available too.
Where do you install?
Our installation areas are Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Do you install the Small size?
No, we skip the Small entirely. It is too small for comfort. The Medium, at 23 by 35 centimetres, is the smallest door we install, and your Great Dane needs the X-Large.
To book for your Great Dane, contact us with your dog’s shoulder height and the type of door you have.
At the other end of the scale, also see our guide on what size dog door for a French Bulldog, a compact breed with very different sizing needs.
