What is the difference between a show quality puppy and a family pet? If you get your pet puppy from a Great Dane breeder who shows regularly, there is VERY LITTLE difference, except in price, which is awesomely good for the pet buyer. Getting a companion pet puppy from a reputable responsible breeder is like getting a puppy on sale, a healthy puppy for a lesser price than a puppy deemed as show quality. Reputable breeders health test the parents, so your pet puppy has had their parents health tested, reputable breeders only breed animals who have good temperaments, so your puppy is likely to have a good temperament.
Classifying a puppy as show quality or pet quality has to do with color, (not all colors can be shown), structure and type. These are very fine points and won’t affect a puppies long term health (as long as the parents were health tested). Most reputable breeders sell their companion pet puppies for less money than a show quality puppy and with neuter/spay agreements. So in summary, the difference between a companion pet puppy and a show quality puppy is very little, less expensive, perhaps color or minor structural differences and usually sold with a neuter/spay agreement.
