Description

The Great Dane also known as the German Mastiff or Danish Hound is a breed of domestic dog known for its giant size. The Great Dane combines, in its regal appearance, dignity, strength and elegance with grand size and a well-formed body and is often referred to as “King of Dogs”. It is spirited, courageous, never timid; always friendly and dependable. This physical and mental combination is the characteristic which gives the Great Dane the majesty possessed by no other breed. The Great Dane is one of the largest working breeds and never appears ugly. It is the tallest among the dogs and is affectionately referred to as a “Gentle Giant”. Charming and affectionate, they are playful and patient with children. The Great Dane’s general conformation is so well balanced that it never appears clumsy.

The Great Dane is a short haired breed with a strong galloping figure. In the ratio between length and height, the Great Dane is usually square. The male dog is not usually less than 30 in (76 cm) at the shoulders; a female is around 28 in (71 cm). The minimum weight for a Great Dane over eighteen months is 120 lb (54 kg) for males, 100 lb (45 kg) for females. The male appears more massive throughout than the female, with a larger frame and heavier bone. Great Danes have naturally floppy, triangular ears. The long head is rectangular in shape. The muzzle is deep, with a pronounced stop. The nose is black, blue/black on blue Danes or black. The dark, deep-set eyes are medium in size. The well arched neck is set-high, firm and muscular. The front legs are perfectly straight. The feet are round with dark toenails. The tail is set high, thicker at the base and tapering to a point. Elegant and noble, the Great Dane is intelligent and lively. A powerfully muscular body, long neck, rectangular head with a long face and a large nasal canal, and tall pointed ears give the dog an unforgettable silhouette.

Coat

The Great Dane’s coat is short, thick and clean with smooth glossy appearance. The coat is very close-fitting and the skin is tight with no wrinkles. The Great Dane’s coat can be fawn, brindle, black, blue, mantle harlequin and even merle. Dark coated Danes have dark eyes while light coated Danes have lighter eyes. Brindle is yellow gold brindled with strong black cross stripes in a chevron pattern with a black mask and black eye rims and eyebrows. Black may appear on the tail and ear tips. Fawn is a yellow gold with a black mask, black eye rims and eyebrows. Blue is a pure steel blue all over. Black should be glossy black all over. Harlequin is a base color of pure white with black torn patches distributed over the body. Mantle is black and white with a solid black blanket extending over the body, a black skull with white muzzle, and often a white blaze, white color, white chest, white on the legs and/or tail. Other colors include white, fawnequin, merle, merlequin, fawn mantle. Although not a recognized color, chocolate does occur in a recessive gene.

History

Great Danes have a long history. Greek coins from 36 B.C. carry the image of a dog similar to the Great Dane. There are also drawing's of these dogs on Egyptian monuments from roughly 3000 B.C. The earliest writings of dogs that sounded like Great Danes were in Chinese literature dating back to 1121 B.C. in 407 A.D. It has been called the “Apollo of all dogs.” Similar dogs were used by the Asiatic people called the Alans who invaded Germany, Italy, and Spain in 407 AD. Their dogs were admired for their ability to bring down bear and wild boar. The dogs were thought to have been Wolfhound mixed with the old English Mastiff. With selective breeding the Greyhound was added in to create the Great Dane. Besides being used as a hunter, they were also used as estate guard dogs. Despite the fact that they are called Danes in English, they have nothing to do with Denmark. In 1749 Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon used the name "le Grand Danois," (translated by William Smellie as "Great Dane"). Up until that time the hound was referred to in England as "Danish dog." According to Jacob Nicolay Wilse the Danes called the dog "large hound," a terminology continued well in to the 20th century. As late as in the 1780 Germany the hound is referred to as "Grosser Dänischer Jagdhund" (English: Large Danish Hunting Hound). At the first dog exhibition, held in Hamburg 14–20 July 1863, eight dogs were called "Dänische Dogge" and seven "Ulmer Dogge". The Great Dane was recognized in 1887. Some of the Great Dane's talents are tracking, watchdog and carting.

Temperament

The Great Dane's large and imposing appearance belies its friendly nature; the breed is often referred to as a gentle giant. They have a good disposition and are very good with children. They love everyone and need to be around people. They are reliable, trustworthy and dependable. Courageous and loyal, they are good watchdogs. With their deep, resounding voice, Great Danes won't fail to announce visitors, but guarding and territorial instincts vary. Some lines and individuals are friendly with everyone; some are sensibly protective, while others are standoffish or skittish. Great Danes drool and slobber and lumber around in a rather bumptious manner. They are not good choices for fastidious housekeepers. They are generally well-disposed toward other dogs, other non-canine pets and humans, although, when feeling threatened, have been known to attack humans. This is usually brought on by an unfamiliar person to the dog. Some breeds may chase or attack small animals, but this is not typical with Great Danes. Young Great Danes can be boisterous, and unless supervised, can dismay with the magnitude of their destructiveness.

Health

The Great Dane is not a breed that will live an exceptionally long life, with 10 years being about the average. However, some Great Danes have lived to be 12 or 13 years old. One of the keys to getting a good start with a Great Dane is to purchase from a reputable breeder, someone that uses good breeding parents and is well aware of the health problems that can affect purebred dogs. Great Danes, like most giant dogs, have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in small breeds. Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds, including gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) (a painful distending and twisting of the stomach). This is a critical condition that can affect Great Danes and other deep-chested breeds, and which may cause death if not quickly addressed. Drinking large amounts of fluid in a short period of time can provoke GDV in Great Danes, as well as other larger breeds of dogs. It is a commonly recommended practice for Great Danes to have their stomachs tacked (Gastropexy) to the right abdominal wall if the dog or its relatives have a history of GDV.  Elevated food dishes are often believed to help prevent GDV by regulating the amount of air that is inhaled while eating. Refraining from exercise or activity immediately before and after meals may also reduce risk, although this has not been validated with research. Signs that GDV may have occurred include, but are not limited to, visible distension (enlargement of the abdomen) and repeated retching that resembles repetitive non-productive attempts to vomit. GDV is a condition that is distinct from another condition referred to as bloat; though, bloat may precede the development of GDV. GDV is a surgical emergency; immediate veterinary evaluation should be sought if a dog demonstrates signs of this condition.

Great Danes are also considered a risk for the condition commonly called “wobblers.” This occurs when there is unusual pressure on the spinal cord at the neck and the dog walks with a stumbling gait and seems unsteady. Other conditions to be aware of and to watch for include hypothyroidism and heart problems such as cardiomyopathy. The Great Dane is susceptible to many congenital diseases which combined with its shorter lifespan earns the nickname of the Heartbreak Breed. Generally their diet should consist of lean meats, vegetables and the right amount of protein.

Grooming

The Great Dane needs very minimal grooming. Their smooth short-haired coat is easy to groom. The coat should be brushed with a firm bristle brush and shampooed when necessary. Especially when the Great Dane sheds its coat it should be regularly brushed. Bathing a Great Dane is a major chore. Their nails should be regularly trimmed and teeth should be cleaned.

Exercise

Great Danes need only a moderate amount of exercise. This amount is less than breeds such as German Shepherd Dogs, Dobermans, Dalmatians, and the other active sporting and herding breeds. They are not a lazy breed. Daily walks are highly recommended and offer mental stimulation, socialization and fitness for the Great Dane. A close watch should be kept on a Great Dane running around with the pack. They tend to tire more quickly than many smaller breeds due to their massive frame and body weight. Over exercising a Great Dane, especially a growing puppy is not recommended as they grow very large, very fast, which puts them at risk of joint and bone problems.

Training

Great Danes by nature are loving and caring animals, somewhat sensitive and want nothing more than to please their owners; they're pretty smart and often catch-on quickly. The Great Dane does not stay little for long and consistent training and rules should start right from puppyhood. This giant dog should be taught not to jump or lean on people.   The need to bond with humans is already instilled in the breed; with minimal training a Great Dane will achieve its full potential as a magnificent companion and friend.