Breed Details
Great Danes wrench heads . Their royal height , large size , and endearing jowls have made the giant breed a star in cartoons and comic strip while their gentle nature and tender , cushy dispositions have made them democratic companion animals .
Before adopt a Great Dane , spend some meter learning about this stock .
History and Origin
The descent of the Great Dane can be trace back to ancient Egypt where drawing of humanity walk giant dogs resemble Great Danes were set up on monuments go out back to 3,000 B.C.
Due to their size of it , Great Danes , known as Boar Hounds , were trusted hunters and valued guardian . German nobles breed big Danes in large bit and favored the largest and most attractive bounder , developing the breed and welcoming the aristocratical hulk into their menage .
The transition from ferment dog to companion fauna lead to the strain being recognize asKammerhundeor Chamber Dog . Only royal owned the breed , pampering them with ornate collar that were pad with velvet and adorned with fringe .
Over time , Great Danes became look for after and the stock could be found across Europe . The breed earned its current moniker when a man visiting Denmark noted that the breed was standardised in appearance to aGreyhoundbut much larger , causing him to note that the Danish clime had made the dog into “ Grand Danois ” or Big Danish . The name stuck and perpetuate the feeling that the breed hails from Denmark though its origins can be traced back to a much more ancient and remote part of the earth .
The American Kennel Club ( AKC ) recognize the breed in 1887 .
Great DanePhysical Characteristics
It ’s no surprise that most of the run-in used to describe Great Danes — impose , olympian , immense , massive — all concern to their size of it . Cinnamon Ellison , founding father and coordinator ofGreat Dane Friends of Ruff Lovein Charlotte , North Carolina , take note that “ gentle behemoth ” is often used to describe Great Danes , which is a nod to both their size and temperament .
The large Dane is a giant breed with males attain 30 to 32 in in stature and weigh in between 140 to 175 quid . Females are just a little smaller , reaching 28 to 30 inch tall and weighing between 110 and 140 pounds .
Great Danes are herculean , hefty wienerwurst with unspecific , mysterious chest , long pegleg , and orthogonal mind with potent gag and expressive , thinking eyes . Their coats are short and thick and have a glossy show .
capital Danes come in several dissimilar colour , including black , black and blank , blue , brindle , dun , harlequin , mantle , merle , and blanched and their coating may have distinct patterns or marker . Brindle dogs have black hybrid stripes on their backs , chevron patterns on their coats and black masks while harlequin Great Danes have a white and blackened base color with merle patches all over their bodies .
Great DaneTemperament
The term easy giant consult to this breed ’s temperament . These oversized lap dogs love spending clip with their owners and will blithely tag along for walking or curl up up on the sofa for movie night .
“ Great Danes are super sweet-smelling dogs that love to be around their owners , ” says Naomi Merino , a volunteer withHarlequin Haven Great Dane Rescuein Bethel , Ohio .
Although their size and deep bark might make them levy , Merino warns that Great Danes , while protective of their owners , are not the best safety dogs .
“ Great Danes are a sought after breed but often for the amiss reasons , ” she says . “ masses want to adopt them as safety frankfurter but these dogs are lover and too friendly to be precaution dogs . We tell them that if you necessitate a security organization , get an alarm , not a Great Dane . ”
Merino notes that most Great Danes get along well with child and other pets , let in humble dog and cat , as long as the frankfurter are well socialised and right introductions are made .
Their size and ebullience — the breed stay on in puppyhood until they reach 2 year quondam — might not make them the best match for families with modest nipper or flat bread and butter .
Ellison notes that Great Danes are n’t super active but during even “ zoomies ” the dogs could pick apart over small children . And a freehanded heel thundering across a small flat might not be the best melodic theme with neighbour hold out below . The well news : “ The zoomies last about 10 minute and then it ’s metre for nap , ” she says .
Great DaneCare Guide
Your Great Dane need even vet aid , a in high spirits calibre dieting , exercise , and train to secure they live long , healthy lives .
Diet and Nutrition
Like all dog breed , Great Danes do best on a dieting formulated for their age and sizing . Look for firedog foods made for enceinte breeds that meet AAFCO rule of thumb . As fast - grow puppy , a lower rich , lower protein diet is good for the colossus stock to encourage healthy bone and muscle growth .
“ A high fertile , high protein diet can make them to originate too quick and may cause deformities , ” Merino explains .
Exercise and Activity
If you are front for a running partner , this is not the stock to choose . For a bragging breed , Great Danes only require little amounts of drill .
“ groovy Danes tire out too easily to go long space , ” Ellison say .
Ellison recommends casual walks to provide forcible and mental stimulation . not bad Danes will also enjoy playing in a wall backyard . Due to their size , these dogs can easy acquit scant fences ( and sometimes grandiloquent fence , too ) and should never be leave unattended in the yard .
Due to their size of it , Merino notes that leash training is essential , bring , “ If they are n’t good on a ternary , you ’re go to have an issue with a 150 - Ezra Loomis Pound frump pulling you down the route . ”
To minimizethe risk of bloat , Great Danes should n’t exercise an time of day before or after mealtime .
Grooming and Nail Care
Thanks to their short coats , Great Danes do n’t shed much . Their grooming need are canonical and include regular brushing , nail trimming , and pinna cleanings and episodic baths .
Great DaneHealth Issues
Great Danes are terrific hound but it ’s important for possessor to be mindful of a few usual health issues .
Bloat : Great Danes , like other deep chested - breeds , are athigh risk for bloat . The stipulation happens when gas stretches the venter , have it to twist , thin out off the blood supply to the abdomen .
Ellison advises using mystifier toy to feed Great Danes and nix exercise one hour before and after meal to downplay the risk of bloat . If you mistrust your dog has bloat , “ go to the vet immediately , ” she adds . Untreated , bloat can be fatal .
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy : This precondition , considerably know as HOD , is a skeletal upset that affects fast - growing large - and jumbo - breed detent . It has a sudden attack and can cause symptom such as painful , aching arm , phlegm , febricity and partial palsy in puppy . In soft case , pup can recover but more knockout campaign of HOD can cause handicap and disfiguration . Unfortunately there is no remedy .
Dilated Cardiomyopathy : This shape , also known as DCM , is a form of heart disease . In dogs with DCM , the walls of the philia become thin and dilated , causing an abnormal rhythm and progressive personnel casualty of heart purpose . Without adequate line circulation to the gist , fluid can build up up in the lung , causing inveterate lethargy . DCM often go undetected for years . There is a strong genetic component to the disease . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is in the midst of on-going research to watch whether there is a link betweengrain - free dieting and DCM .
Interesting Great DaneFacts
slap-up Danes are the tallest dogs in the world . A Great Dane name Zeus attain a height of 44 inch , earning him a spot in theGuinness Book of World Recordsfor being the world ’s tall dog .
The majuscule Dane is the official state dog of Pennsylvania .
The breed inspire several adorable sketch characters , include Scooby Doo , Marmaduke , and Astro ( the infinite age dog on the Jetsons ) .
A dog refer Just Nuisance is the only dog to ever be enlisted in the British Royal Navy . He enlisted on August 25 , 1939 , and traveled with sailors assist as their companion and mascot . The keen Dane give out on April 1 , 1944 and was swallow with full military award .
Popular Great DaneMixes
Some of the most common Great Dane motley breeds include :
Great DaneAdoption Tipsand Things to Consider
enceinte Danes are a try - after breed that do n’t turn up often in shelters . Your best bet to find a Great Dane is a strain - specific deliverance . These include :
Most delivery will require an espousal app , veteran references , and a family sojourn to approve an acceptation . Before satiate out an app , Ellison advise thinking through the practical consideration . For starters , it ’s often more expensive to own a Great Danes than another breed .
The doses for most flea and tick and heartworm medicine go up to 100 Lebanese pound but Great Danes can weigh up to 150 pounds , which means two pills per month . Their anesthesia costs , also calculated by free weight , will be higher for procedures such as dental cleanup or surgeries . And food costs for gargantuan breed dog-iron are also unremarkably higher than those for small and medium - sized dogs .
“ You have to be prepared to commit to an expensive weenie , ” she says .
You ’ll also need to “ Dane - proof ” your home before receive one of these soft giants to guarantee that the dog ca n’t get at items on the countertop and steers exculpated of the range burners . These considerations often mean that it can take longer to take up a Great Dane .
“ If the saving is doing it flop and prove to find you the best fit so the dog goes to the right home , it can take time , ” Ellison says .
Great DaneFAQs
Before welcome a neat Dane into your home , it ’s important to be prepared with all the info you need to care for them . That ’s why we ’ve rounded up response to some of the most common interrogation about with child Danes .
How Long Do Great Danes Live?
The modal lifespan for a Great Dane is 7 to 10 years .
How Tall Is a Great Dane?
Males can stand 30 to 32 inch marvelous while female can reach top between 28 and 30 inch marvellous .
Do Great Danes Shed?
Like all dog breed , Great Danes do throw away some whisker but the desquamation is minimum thanks to their light , sleek coats .
What Were Great Danes Bred For?
Great Danes were bred to hunt boar ( and their posterity were known as Boar Hounds ) but the breed has evolved to a companion that is bred to serve as a four - legged unspoilt friend .
Are Great Danes Good With Kids?
Most with child Danes are in effect with venerating child . Their vapourous size of it increase the betting odds that nipper could get knock over but the breed is not love to be strong-growing . Children should never be allowed to treat a Great Dane like a gymnastic horse and effort to mount them , Ellison warn .
How Fast Can a Great Dane Run?
big Danes can black market at amphetamine of up to 30 miles per minute .
Picturesof Great Danes
With their giant statures and vary pelage colors , Great Danes provide endless aspect that make us need to give our homes to these ( very ! ) large dogs . pasture these pictures of Great Danes to see these stupendous canines in activity .
