Great Dane

Befriending a gentle giant for life

42-46 Inches*

Great Dane

In Kg*
54- 90

Great Dane, translated to English from its French name ‘Grand Danois’, meaning Big Danish. However, the breed has nothing to do with Denmark as they are totally bred in Germany.

  • Size
  • Efforts
  • Shedding
  • Giant
  • Regular Exercise
  • Negligible Hair Everywhere
  • Monthly keeping cost
    • Premium*
    • Standard*
  • Rupee13,000
  • Rupee5,000

Great Dane Dog Breed Information

  • 9 to 10 years
  • Expensive *
  • Star Superstar
  • Rare Easy to get
Introduction

A Great Dane is commonly called the gentle giant of the dog world and  rightly so. It has the perfect temperament to be a suitable . Due to their formidable size, it is safe to call them one of the world’s tallest dog breeds. In fact, the current record holder of the tallest dog in the world as per the Guinness World Record is held by Zeus, a Great Dane in the United States. Some even call them Apollo because of their presence in ancient Roman as depicted upon coins and scriptures.

This Tall lanky breed belongs to Germany. A number of people confuse this breed of having Dutch origins because of the word, Dane in its name but it is originally from Germany where it was called the large dog. The primary purpose of this breed was to hunt boars. And for the purpose of hunting boars, the Great Dane had to be strong and powerful. This made this breed quite strong and powerful which is unlike the great boars of today. Hints about its existence has been present since the year 3000 BC in Egypt. This breed has had gentleness and homeliness bred into it. This breed was supremely aggressive but as hunting of boars were stopped, they had to be trained to be gentle and kind. One of the most famous Great Dane was Scooby doo, the cartoon? The reason why Scooby Doo was a Great Dane is because this breed, and freakishly so is known to ward off evil spirits. While picking up Great Dane for playing Scooby Doo, the criteria of a large cowardly dog was picked up. Great Dane’s are not the largest breed out there, the largest breed are Irish Bloodhound. Though the largest dog in the world was a Great Dane known as Zeus. This breed is also known as the Gentle giant as they go against their appearance of being scary and intimidating. This breed often seeks physical affection from their owners and loves cuddling up to them. This breed loves protecting its owners as can be seen in the case of Julian who peed on a bomb one time to stop it from exploding and the other time alerted the authorities of a raging fire in the owners place. There was another Great Dane who joined the Navy, known as Just Nuisance. The navy got the dog enlisted so that it could ride on the train with them. It was also given a naval burial. The official dog of the state of Pennsylvania is the Great Dane. This breed is one of the fasted growing breeds, it puts on weight and height like a miracle. This breed makes it to the top 20 list of the most popular breeds and it can live wherever. It is non fussy about its accommodations and can be suited to live wherever. This breed has the best genes among dogs, it’s a mix of the Irish wolfhound, the mastiff and Greyhounds.

Do not be alarmed by their demeanour and size. The tallest dog breed is also one of the most loving temperaments you will choose to share space with. Although, with great stature comes great costs; they are likely to knock down a objects in their way including the young humans and the frail-bodied. This issues is of course with no intent of the dog in doing so; being extremely attached to their immediate human pack, that is their families.

History

The Great Dane was a hunting dog, it was developed as a mix breed of three powerful breeds so that it could hunt boars and other wild animals. At that time hunting the English Boar was a matter of great prestige and there was this breed specially bred to make the sport better. This breed is an intelligent breed which led the nobleman of England take this breed as a guarding breed.

In comparison, The Great Dane today is a breed which is fairly docile, domesticized and friendly. It has a German Lineage but it was bred in England as well. The name Great Dane or Grand Donois was given to the breed by a French Naturalist though it has no resemblance or similarity with anything Dutch, the name surprisingly stuck. They are also referred to as German Mastiff or Detuche Dogge. There are imprints and Images of creatures which highly resemble the Great Dane in ancient Greece. These imprints were seen and discovered till as late as the Hermeneutics era. Around the 16th century, people started transporting dogs who were a mix of the English Mastiff and Irish wolfhound, this mix breed was long legged and were just referred to as the English dog. This breed wasn’t found in abundance but was rather rare and was just kept around when a Nobel or a highly influential man wanted it out of hobby or luxury. It was at one point globally called the German mastiff but later it was known as Great Dane again because of the increasing tensions between Germany and other countries. This breed was also the national dog of Germany around 1876. The Great Dane arrived in the United States in around mid-1800 by William Buffalo Bill. It was recognized by the American Kennel club around 1887.

The Great Dane is known to be first bred and recorded around the 16th Century in Europe, however scriptures of an almost identical dog have been revealed dating back to about 3,000 B.C. The most likely originators of this dog are known to be English Mastiff and Irish Wolfhound. Also known as 'German Mastiff', it is still quite a mystery where the name 'Great Dane' came to be. The Romans have a known affiliated culture where this dog was kept to ward off evil spirits.

This humungous dog was bred to hunt wild boar while being a companion dog. They were even used as war dogs because of their size and guarding instincts. However, the intensity and aggression was eventually bred out over the span of a century when the English Greyhound was added for a more mellow temperament. Germany named this monstrous but friendly beast as their National Dog in 1876.

Unique Aspects

There are many giant-sized dog breeds today and in fact the Irish Wolfhound is their fiercest rival when it comes to height comparison. But what sets them apart from other giant dogs is their own perception! Most people will obviously not miss out their towering presence but what is much more evident is their puppy behaviour till about 3 years of age, when they start maturing as a dog. 

When they are about 12 months of age, they are already almost bigger than a 5-year old human. During the entire time they are growing, they seem to be completely oblivious of their size and presence. Hence, knocking down anything and everything in the way is a common occurrence. What's more ironic is that they feel they are better lap dogs than the Chihuahuas and the French Bulldogs of the world. Many a times, their gesture of affection would be to sit on a humans lap. 

Fun Trivia

Great Dane has been portrayed in various comics and movies as a loveable and docile pet. We bring to you some famous Great Danes that have been stars in movies and the celebrities that you share your giant with.

Movie Characters

Marmaduke and Scooby Doo are lovable comic strips featuring Great Danes that are known for their clumsiness. These strips have been made into movies and the Great Danes have been the stars in these movies. This breed was also a part of the Original Disney movie The Ugly Dachshund. In addition to this there is Back to God’s Country and Head over Heels.

Celebrity Great Dane owners

Great Danes have been a part of the White House under the reign of Fraklin D. Roosevelt and have caught the fancy of various celebrities such as Greg Louganis, Tom Mix, Jim Carey and Mark Sennett. Closer home, this giant breed dog was owned by Amitabh Bachchan and was called Shanouk.

Vital Stats:

Dog Breed Group: Working Dogs

Height: 35-43 Inches

Weight: 50-90 Kg

Life Span: 9 to 10 years

Pros
    • Affectionate pet
    • Calm disposition towards family
    • Easy to train and groom
Cons
    • Need room to move around
    • Short life span
    • Prone to bloat and joint problems

Great Dane Maintenance & Effort

  • Low
  • Yes
  • Rare
  • Get a heatstroke Basks in it
  • Need warmth Loves snow
  • Little Lots
Grooming

Grooming a Great Dane is not much of a task, their short hair coat do not need much effort in grooming. Even the baths required are not too often as it would not be easy to drag this giant pet of yours to the tub for a bath. The shedding for this short haired giant dog is not much but you will have to remember that they are larger dogs hence the surface area is more so you will see hair lying around everywhere in the house.

The Great Dane isn’t a breed that needs to be bathe regularly rather it should be bathe according to the need. Over bathing will lead to loss of essential oils from the skin of the breed. The Great Dane sheds hair like any average breed. Generally the Great Dane when suffering from any major health problems starts shedding more. The Great Dane also has dry skin. There should be regular cleaning of the ear so that it doesn’t suffer from any infections per say. It is important to clean the air canal of the breed. Teeth are easier to clean and maintain of the Great Dane. The Nails should be trimmed and kept short.

There are approximately 6 coat colors which are recognized by the Kennel Club, they are fawn, brindle, black, harqueline, mantle and blue. There are other colors too but they are generally not acceptable. The coat of the Great Dane maintainable as shedding is not too much. The breed should be checked for regular checkups, they should be checked for patches, red sores etc.

Your Great Dane will also require regular care to maintain its oral hygiene and clean its ears regularly to prevent infections. The easiest way is to brush it with a rubber hound mitt and a soft bristle on a weekly basis. One of the areas that require immediate care is your dog’s paws and nails. A split toenail or splinter can be serious concern in your pet. Just look at this in another way. If a small breed steps on a sharp object there will be prick in the paw that can be easily treated but because of its weight the Great Dane it will exert a larger pressure and that can result in a gush in the paw, which can pose a problem for it to walk. The nails should be trimmed regularly.

Feeding and Nutrition

It is important to keep a check on feeding and nutrition requirements of the breeds as a balanced diet and sufficient nutrition helps the breed in fighting diseases and live a longer healthier life. A Great Dane should be kept slim and fit as an overweight puppy can encounter diseases more likely. The levels of protein should be monitored while feeding the Great Dane. The levels of Protein in the diet of Great Dane shouldn’t be more than 24% and the level of fat shouldn’t be more than 14%. Proper protein amount will prevent the breed from running into health problems such as Pano and Wobblers Syndrome. A Male Great Dane should be fed 4-8 cups of food which should be split between 3 servings, this is applicable to the puppies. Females should also roughly get the same amount of food. This should be increased slightly when the breed is olden that is between 8 to 12 months old. Adolescent Danes should be fed more, approximately between 8-15 cups depending upon the gender of the breed.  An average Great Dane requires roughly 2500 calories per day. This breed is generally fed more than any other breeds. 

Great Dane Hair & Coat

  • No
  • Fawn/Brindle/Harlequin/Black/Blue
  • Short
  • Short Flowing
  • Sparse Dense

Great Dane Health & Care

  • Rare
  • No
Common Health Issues

The Great Dane is a majestic, large breed but with its size comes an abundance of health issues. This is one of the prime reasons that this breed has a short life span of about seven to ten years. Though your pet might have a healthy life, here are a few problems that are most common to your Great Dane.

One of the most common problems in your Great Dane is that of bloat, in fact this is the number one killer for this breed. This commonly occurs in breeds where the stomach is not attached to the ribs; in this case the stomach distends and has a tendency to rotate. This can cut off the blood supply to the various other parts of the body, which further shuts down the digestion process. Such a situation leads to bloating. It is advisable to not exercise your dog for at least an hour after they have food.

In addition to this the other common problem your Apollo is prone to is hip dysplasia, which is an abnormal growth in the hip and needs surgery to correct. In addition to this common health problem they can easily get cell tumors. 

Almost every breed runs risks of suffering from genetic health problems and so does the Great Dane. Apart from the major health concerns that each breed faces, there is always a fear of suffering from any genetic problems that the breed has.  One of the conditions that affects the Great Dane is that of bloating, in this condition the stomach expands because of air trapped in it. This problem is more complex that stated, if there is gastric torsion then there is a fear of the blood supply getting cut off because the stomach can get twisted. In this situation the only way that relief can happen is by an immediate surgery. One way of preventing this in future is getting the stomach tacked in the Great Dane. This is one of the primary causes of fatality in the breed. The Great Dane is one the specie most prone to suffer from bloating. Bloating can be genetic and such information should be provided by the breeder to people who are purchasing the Great Dane Pup. 
Another disease that is prominent in the Great Dane is cardiomyopathy, this disease is one in which the heart muscle malfunctions which leads to a heart that becomes larger that its usual size. This disease is not only pertinent to the Great Dane but is often found in many large breeds. If this occurs when the breed has aged then it can be managed well with medication. The best way to avoid this is to catch it at an early stage by regular testing done at an early stage. There is a fair chance that this disease is genetic in nature. There are no preventive measures but to get the breed checked regularly. 
There are certain bone diseases that the Great Danes can suffer from, one of the most prominent ones is Hip Dysplasia, and this happens when there is a malformation that happens in the hip socket. This is generally a very costly disease and has long term effects that occur towards the second part of their life. This is also a genetic condition, the only way it can be avoided is through regular screening and trying to get a pup whose parents weren’t affected by this disease. A leaner Great Dane is less likely to suffer from this condition. hypertrophic osteodystrophy is another condition  that affects the breed especially in the early years. One way to control this is through a better diet, a balanced diet can help the Puppy in growing slowly which can prevent this condition. Another condition that affects this breed is Bone cancer. 
Other than these conditions, a Great Dane is also prone to other conditions like problems related to the vision and the nervous system of the breed. 

Great Dane Behavior

  • No
  • Low
  • Snappy Patient
  • Prefer Adults Nanny
  • Aloof Best Buddy
  • Poor Excellent
  • Headstrong Obedient
  • Moody Always Ready
  • Mute Woofer
  • Intolerant Best Buddies
  • Intolerant Best Buddies
  • Carefree Doting
  • Couch Potato Energy Bundle
Temperament

There is a reason they are called Gentle Giants. Great Danes in general have a calm disposition. They are great family pets and affectionate with children, their size can at times knock down infants and toddlers by mistake, so you have to ensure that they have ample space to move around. They do not bark much so are perfect as pets. They are dependable and loyal.

Great Danes can be good watch dogs for their family but 100 years of breeding have taken off the aggression and prey drive from them effectively. They are good with strangers but you would have to train them as a puppy to not jump or lean on people as it can be a problem later. In fact these loveable dogs are considered couch potatoes. They will be happy to laze around the house but you have to remember that their large size needs regular exercise. They need as much possible leash-free exercise everyday to ensure optimal health.

Some people are apprehensive of this dog breed as pets because of their large size but they can be one of the most affectionate pets. The only hind sight is that they have a short life but the mild and even temperament makes those memorable for all Dane owners. Your Great Dane is a working dog and is an excellent guard and herding dog, if trained properly. They are intelligent and make exceptional police and rescue dogs. Their general habits of a working dog makes them protective against the families. In ancient times they were used to patrol the estates.

Environment

We have stated it earlier and will say it again that Great Danes are the biggest lap dogs in the world and can be considered the perfect couch potatoes but this does not mean that they can be cramped in a small apartment space. You have to remember that these are large dogs. They can easily knock off things accidentally.

Your gentle giant has a large frame and need space to walk around. The best place for a Great Dane will be a house with a yard, where this handsome breed can run or at least stretch its limbs. You can keep them in an apartment but certain things have to be kept in mind at all times. They need regular exercise and take into consideration whether you will be able to bring her down from the apartment in case it is unwell. Great Danes are perfect partners when it comes to jog and bike rides and they are perfect companions for all your long walks.

Training & Intelligence

Training your Great Dane is not difficult. They are an easy breed to train though you should start early. The basic obedience training is required early only as it becomes difficult at times when your puppy grows larger. These gentle giants need to be socialized early. This will ensure appropriate behavior in the company of other pets and children. They grow to be large size dogs and it is difficult to maintain control. They should be trained early to walk properly.

Great Danes are not difficult to house train, they are intelligent and toilet training them is not at all difficult. If you are an owner or an aspiring one, remember that they grow to be large in size and people in general can be a little scared of them. Just remember that whenever you go out ensure that they are on a leash. This will make the regular walks easy for you as well as your pet.

Great Dane Breeding

  • 10 to 15 puppies
  • No
Procreation

Great Danes in general are a healthy breed and even their breeding does not have many complications attached. The only thing you have to think about is giving the adorable puppies up for sale or adoption. An average male and female Great Dane attains sexual maturity anywhere between six to nine months of age. Though your pet is still very young to breed.

A dog takes around 18 months to reach his or her full height and structure. It is advisable to breed your dogs after at least two years of age. If you are a first timer at breeding then taking a vet's help is advisable. You just sit back and enjoy the company of eight to ten adorable little puppies, an average litter size of the breed. You can get more than one color in the same litter. The most common colors of Great Dane are blue, black, combination of black and white, harlequin, brindle and fawn.

Puppies

Great Dane puppies are like any other puppy but when you bring this home just remember to socialize her regularly. It will ensure that your puppy does not grow to be aggressive later. If not socialized early there can be times that she can grow to be aggressive later in life and it can be a little intimidating size.

The other thing to keep in mind is to train your Great Dane from a young age as it can become a problem later because the large breed has to be trained to not jump on people. They have to be trained properly to ensure proper training. Other than this the happy go lucky puppy is sure to keep you busy. This energy bundle loves to exercise and be the perfect family dog, so let him indulge. Just have space within your house to ensure easy movement as he or she can easily knock down things.

Great Dane Appearance

  • No
  • Whip
  • Medium and deep set
  • Folded
  • Scissor
  • Atheletic Stuff Toy
  • Handsome Awe
Body

This is a majestic large breed dog but the only con is that they have a short life. An average Great Dane lives for around seven to nine years. This athletic dog has a very deep chest with short strong back with slightly arched lions. They have a flat, narrow skull along with a broad and deep muzzle which is pronounced.

The legs of an adult Great Dane are straight and oval boned with hind legs that are long and powerful. This is accompanied with a long and tapering tail with a slight curve towards the end. This is carried in line with the back when the dog is moving. Great Danes have medium sized ears that are triangular, set high and it is folded forwards.

They are cropped as well then it stays erect and pointed. This is a usual practice in the US and Canada and usually done when they are three months of age. They have broad and large nostrils. In addition to this they have medium sized deep set eyes, which are mostly dark in color. The coat is short, thick and glossy. In addition to this the toes are well arched and set close together, the nails are dark.

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