Boxer or Great Dane?

Question
Labman, you gave me some advice on the Boxer a couple of weeks ago.  I am still in the studying stage and want to make the right decision because once I get a dog it lives its life out with my family.
I originally asked about introducing a Boxer into the home where I have a 10 year old Toy Rat Terrier and a 6 year old Toy Poodle.  The Terrier is very territorial, but I am the alfa character in the house.  The Terrier and I make a lot of eye contact and he respects me.
I really wanted a Great Dane years ago, but never thought about one as a house dog.  I keep all my dogs in the house except for their walks and to do their business.  The Great Dane is a proud and majestic looking dog.  I love the large size because I am 6'3".
I could love either dog, the Great Dane or the Boxer.  Once I pinned it down to which one all my attention will shift to it.  From what I have been reading, it seems there is a lot more potential for health problems with the Great Dane than the Boxer.  Is that true?  The Boxer seems to have a lot of health problems too.  Both just seem to be great family dogs, though.  I hate to buy either one and loose it in a year or two or something like that to some medical problem, such as bloat.  It isn't even the money I would be out, but the loss of the dog.  I think the life span on both of these two breeds is only like 8-10 years average.  Is that pretty typical in the larger dogs?  Will one of these breeds in particular have more potential to have hip or back problems?  Is that common in both breeds?  I have read up a lot, but just tell me what you know to be the real facts as you know them or please point me to someone where I can compare the two breeds and make a decision with enough information to make the right decision.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Jim

Answer
If you have done some reading on these 2 breeds, I am sure one book says one thing. and another book another. This reflects the authors' experience with different members of the same breed.  Most of the breeds were originally developed with one purpose in mind.  In more recent years, they have largely been bred for show, and may have lost many of the original characteristics, and unfortunately both the boxer and Great Dane often lack the robust health both breeds once had.  There are fine examples of each around, good bloodlines, but hard to find.  Too often good breeding means you can win prizes in the show ring while the dog is still young.  Maybe you should start searching for good breeders within both breeds in your area, and base the final decision on which breed on the quality of dog available in your area.  You are adopting a dog, not a breed.  The dog is more likely to favor its parents and their parents than the breed as a whole.  While the parents are likely to still be young, ask about the grandparents.  If they died young, move on. All your larger dogs have joint problems.  Demand OFA certifications.  Keeping a puppy lean and an early switch to adult chow also helps.    

I think the bloat is common to both breeds.  It can be controlled with smaller meals.  Perhaps some of the tricks we use to slow eating in Labs would help too.  

I do not have the specific information you have asked for, and doubt many others do.  Too many people make the mistake of expecting all members of a breed to be like the few they know or the description they read somewhere.  I think you can least find some of the common problems you need to ask about at www.akc.org.