Great Dane
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General Description
(German Mastiff, Deutsche Dogge) Commonly called the “Gentle Giant”, the Great Dane possesses an intelligent expression and a loving demeanor. The breed is infamous for its tall stature and powerful build, but despite their large size, Great Danes are not klutzy or awkward. Rather, the Great Dane is a noble, statuesque dog that carries himself with dignity and grace. Great Danes have a long, narrow head with a box-like snout and a comparatively large nasal canal. Their entire body is long and muscular, and their feet are round and have dark nails. Great Danes have a medium-length tail and strong legs. Their eyes are round and dark and their teeth are white, well-developed, and close in a scissors bite. Especially in the United States, a Great Dane’s ears may be cropped so they are pointed and stand upright. Great Danes feature a substantial coat of short, glossy, close-cropped hair. Great Danes are classified into varieties based on the color of their coat:· Black- The coat is glossy black.· Blue- The coat color is a pure steel blue.· Brindle- The coat is a chevron-stripe pattern of fawn and black.· Fawn- The coat is a dusty, yellow gold with a black face mask.· Harlequin- The base coat is pure white. Patches of black are evenly distributed across the whole body.· Mantle- The coat is black and white. Spots and markings on show dogs are in specific places across the whole body. Other coat colors may occur, but they are not suitable for show dogs. Thus, they are not sought after by breeders.The Great Dane has a regal appearance. These dogs are loyal, loving, and obedient. Mantle and Fawn and Harlequin are probably the most common colours seen.
These dogs are known for their great size and kindness. They are very trust worthy too their owners.
Character
Great Danes make excellent companions. They are very mild and patient with children, and they can usually live well with other dogs. Their demeanor is very sweet and kind, and they seek affection from people. Also very loyal and brave, Great Danes make fine watchdogs. Very rarely are Great Danes aggressive, but they can be competitive toward other dogs of the same sex. Because of their large size, Great Danes should be obedience-trained so they do not lean on people or objects. Great Danes have a number of instinctual talents, and are capable of becoming terrific tracking, carting, and/or watchdogs.
Size
28 - 34 inchesas large as 36 inches
Females are 30 - 34 inches, males are 34 - 36 inches, but some males can be much taller.
Females as small as 28 inches. Males are usually 32 - 36 inches. They can be much taller, however. The tallest dog is Guinness World Record Holder 42 inch tall Gibson, the Harlequin Great Dane.
Weight
100 - 200 poundsA female Dane may be approx. 155 lbs. A larger male Dane will be approx. 190-200 lbs.
A female dane can be approx 110-150 lbs. A male can be 140-200 or more.
General Health
By nature, Great Danes are not a long-lived breed. Some Great Danes can live for 12-13 years, but their average life span is less than 10 years. Because some poor specimens are being sold to buyers that can’t distinguish the difference, buyers should make sure to purchase Great Danes from a high-quality breeder. Great Danes are prone to several diseases and injuries including bloat, heart disease, tail injuries, and tumors.Great Danes have many potential health problems, but some (not all) can be prevented. Purchasing a Great Dane from a responsible breeder that has OFA/CERF screened dogs, healthy dogs and dogs that have correct conformation is the first step. Good conformation is a part that creates a healthy dog. A dog with a sway back, for example, will have back problems. Next, feeding your dog a natural diet or a homemade diet will keep him MUCH healthier then feeding commercial foods. Normally, Danes on commerical foods live 6-9years, usually having to be put down due to tumors, cancer or other problems, but naturally fed animals live up to 13years and have a decreased amount of cancers.
History
Similar dogs to the Great Dane are thought to have originated in Egypt, Rome, or Greece. Some sources say they were found on Grecian currency as far back as 36 B.C. It’s believed that the Great Dane spawned from the medieval boarhound, and/or the mastiff-like dogs that were transported to Germany by the Alans. After exhibiting great strength and abilities like killing bears and wild boars, a process of selective breeding began to take place in Germany. Dogs similar to the Great Danes were bred with Irish Greyhounds, and the result was the present-day Great Dane. Great Danes are a breed that may be about 400 years old.
Maintenance
The Great Dane’s short, thick hair is easy to groom and maintain. This breed’s coat should be combed with a firm bristle brush and dry-shampooed as necessary. Daily grooming is good idea if one wants to avoid the massive chore of giving a Great Dane a bath. Great Dane’s are average shedders, and their nails need to be trimmed regularly. Keeping a large dog like the Great Dane requires lots of maintenance. These dogs are fairly easy to groom and only need a quick rub down with a rubber brush and a finishing shine with a chamois cloth.
Ideal Environment
Because of the Great Dane’s large size, he does best in spacious environments where he has room to run and play. If a Great Dane is properly exercised on a regular basis, he can tolerate a house with a smaller backyard or an apartment. Great Danes have a tendency to be inactive indoors, so it’s important for their health to spend time outside each day.
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Danes
Great dames are wonderful animals and I'll never own any other type of dog again. I will always have a dane.MAIN thing is to keep the food you feed your dane puppy under about 23% protein to prevent future health/bone problems. Avoid feeding puppy food if you can. READ as much as you can about feeding danes before getting one.Allow the dog to be at rest a minimum of a half an hour before feeding. Allow the dog to be at rest a minimum of a half an hour after eating. All to help prevent bloat.
Pros: Excellent temperments, easy going.
Cons: Bloat, hip displaysia, cancer, tumors, tail damage
Great Danes! Only Dane owners.
We, unfortunately lost our two adult Danes just after Christmas. Lexus was 6 and her 1/2 sister Chloe was 2. They jumped a deer of which there is alot of trafic near our home. We searched for days, offered a reward but when they were found they had been hit buy a train. We brought them home and laid them to rest on the hill behind our home overlooking the pool where they would sit on the lounge chairs and sun themselves for hours in pleasant weather. I've lost loved ones but still never has my heart broken like this. A few days later a very dear and precious friend came to our door with her daughter holding 2 new 10 week old fawn and brindle pups. Nothing heals like a puppy's kiss! I'll never forget Lexus and Chloe and never own another breed of daog then a Great Dane. Minimal, early training and you will not find a better, more loyal and loving companion.
Pros: Very loving social and protective family memebers. Easier to house and crate train than most breeds.
Cons: Not a weather hearty breed, cold or heat they need to be indoors (with the rest of the family)
Forever danes
I was first introduced to danes when my roommate rescued Bach. He was the ideal dog. He would sneak in your bed at night stopping everytime it would creak...like he knew. We laughed all the time with him. He got a brain tumor and we had to put him down. It broke my heart because that same weekend I found my other dog dead at the foot of my bed. I hurt so much inside I could not wait a long time to get another dog. So I found Soldier. He is 2 now and we have fought with early blindness from his retna detatching. Also I have another rescue dane that I got as a 2 week old puppy. Veda is a fawn and was very poorly taken care of so as a result she has many problems. She has had demodex, a tumor taken off, she has arthritis very bad, she has only one eye and her tail has been broken off. But yet she is the most loving dog of them all. Both are loving but Soldier is more of a guard dog than Veda. I would never have the heart to not have at least one of these dogs even though they have had lots of issues. The laughs and love you receive from this breed out wiegh everything else.
Pros: Always there to make you laugh, Easy going if well socialized, well suited to be inside dog
Cons: Die early! bloat, cancer, some eye problems with poor breeding, lots of heartache but definately does not out weigh the pros
Moose:D
I have a 10 month old blue merle named Moose, and after owning him, I will never get another breed. He was so easy to train, learning most tricks after just one try. He's very good at keeping me company. He likes to sit on the couch with me and watch movies, go for drives downtown, and play with babies. We live in a 2 bedroom, 950sq ft apartment, and he does just fine in a smaller space. We take daily walks, and he loves people watching. Whenever people approach us, he'll walk in front of me, like he's protecting, and stands his ground until I let him know it's okay. I always feel safe and loved with him. I would recommend this breed to anybody that can give a decent amount of love, and that wants tons and tons of love in return.
Pros: loving, good with children, good in public, obedient and protective
Cons: large poops, loud barks from time to time