Buying from an AKC approved breeder also gives you a better chance of getting a dog with good health, a vitally important consideration with many large breeds, like Great Danes, that often have tragically short lives.
That is how I see it-I’m hopefully investing 15+ years in my companion dog-I’m not going to be stingy with the money-I want the best of breed-I was also taught to look for the healthiest, best looking livestock-won’t do less for a companion animal.
After losing two dear German Shepherds at barely 13, and only liking large working/guarding breeds, I carefully chose a Chow, which has a longer lifespan in general. He died peacefully at 17. I didn’t want another Chow-he was one of a kind-so I chose a Siberian Husky-she was as fine a companion and protector as any of the other 3 dogs-quite possibly the best dog I’ve ever had. After slowing down a bit for several months, her heart just quit in her sleep -she was 17-that was nearly 2 years ago, and I still miss her so much I haven’t gotten another dog. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for...