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Editor's Choice
DaynakinDanes
(2)
Ferndale,, Washington

11/30/2008
On owning a Great Dane
Great Danes are a wonderful breed, but far too many people get them without doing appropriate reseach. If you ask any Great Dane rescue, you will find out the vast majority of Danes are released because the home didn't realize the care, cost and training requirements these giants need. Anyone who desires to obtain a Dane needs to do more research than read a book or visit a site. Most books...
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earthling
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Ontario, Canada
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Home > Dogs > Great Dane
Great Dane

Great Dane

Breed group: Working Group dogs

Other name(s): Dane; Grand Danois;
Dogue Allemand; Deutsche Dogge

Country / place of origin: Germany

History: It is possible that the Great Dane’s forebears date back to 2200 B.C. based on tomb carvings that have been found. The Great Dane is said to be descended from the Molossus hounds of the Roman Empire as there is evidence to suggest that there were dogs similar to the Great Dane in ancient Greece and Rome. It is theorized they were developed to hunt boar and bait bear by crossing them with the Mastiff and Irish Wolfhound in the Middle Ages. The Iron Chancellor of Bismarck owned Great Danes for guarding and was known to always have them along side; he refined the breed a bit more by crossing them with the mastiffs of south Germany, which developed the Great Dane to an appearance very similar to the breed we know today.

The Great Dane was initially known by two names, though they were the same breed: “Ulmer Dogge” and the “Danisch Dogge.” Then, in 1876, the Great Dane was named the National Dog of Germany under just one name, “Deutsche Dogge.” Additional name changes were made until 1882 when the British formed a dog club for the Great Dane and kept that name. The Germans are given credit to have developed the breed as it is known today.

Appearance

Details: The Great Dane has a broad and well developed head with a pronounced stop and a large, rectangular-shaped muzzle; his head is very refined and chiseled in appearance; forehead is flat and on a plane parallel to the muzzle; ears are either cropped (long, pointed, erect) or left natural; his jaws are well developed. His eyes are round, generally dark, and well set with a sparkling and intelligent expression; the nose is quite noticeable and black (except in blue Danes, which are permitted to have a dark blue-black nose, and Harlequins, which are permitted a black spotted nose); the lips are somewhat pendulous but not exceedingly loose; his white teeth are well developed and must close in a scissors bite.

Average height and weight (mature size and weight):  25-34 inches, 100-200 pounds

Color / coat variations: Great Danes should have short, dense, sleek hair that lies close to the body and they are an average shedder. The color of the coat includes:

  • Fawn (tan with dark mask and legs)
  • Black (solid)
  • White (solid)
  • Mantle (black with a white face and legs)
  • Brindle
  • Blue (solid; actually appears to be a dark gray color)
  • Harlequin (white with irregular black or blue patching)
  • Merle (many people do not realize that Merle is a typical result of harlequin breeding)

Care

Lifespan: 6-10 years

Litter size: 5-11 puppies

Grooming and shedding: The Great Danes short-haired, smooth coat is easy to groom. Comb her with a firm bristled brush and use dry shampoo when necessary. Keep the nails trimmed short and level with the ground so that they do not push up into the foot as she walks.

Food habits: Never feed Great Dane puppies any puppy food! Even “large breed” puppy food can create very serious health consequences. Great Danes have an astounding growth rate, growing faster than one might expect for the first 8 months and they continue to grow quite rapidly for their first 18 months. The fat and protein levels of virtually all puppy foods are too high for the growth rate of the Great Dane. Most Great Dane breeders and owners believe a premium dog food containing protein levels not greater than 24% and fat levels no less than 12%, but no greater than 14%, is the correct ratio for proper growth and development. Your breeder or Veterinarian can properly guide and instruct you in this matter. You want, optimally, a slow, steady rate of growth during her first 18 to 24 months. Feeding her for extra growth will gain you nothing but a sick, or even dead, dog. She will continue to grow and reach her full growth at about 3 years of age.

Great Danes are extremely susceptible to Gastric Dilattation/Volvulus (also known as “bloat/torsion”), so immediately establish a precise feeding schedule that does not vary and do not allow her to free feed. The use of an elevated feeding station will help enormously to lessen the risk of bloat, as does not exercising her for 2 hours before or after meals. Additionally, do not allow her to drink water for about an hour before or after eating. In the event you put your Great Dane on a kibble diet, mix her kibble with a little lukewarm water. This will keep her from wanting to drink immediately after eating, which will also reduce risk of bloat. Be mindful that a kibble containing soy should not be fed as soy tends to swell when wet and will increase the chance of bloat.

Climate and environment: Believe it or not, despite their enormous size, the Great Dane does well in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. They are not very active indoors and would, of course, do best with at least a large yard with a six foot tall fence. They are not an outdoor or kennel dog though they will enjoy several hours outside in moderate temperatures and climates. They are very intolerant of damp or cold conditions.

Temperament

Behavioral aspects: The Great Dane is a giant – a gentle, sweet, kind, affectionate, dignified giant. They are playful and patient with children. They are loyal, brave, and a good watchdog. They seldom become aggressive toward people unless the situation merits it, though they can be same-gender dog aggressive. They are a good breed for the novice dog owner.

The Great Dane is a gentle-tempered and calm dog with a deep loyalty to his family. He can be a strong protector. Proper socialization when young is very important to this breed if you want him to be a great companion. He needs to be socialized to all ages of people and many varieties of pets, as well. The younger this socialization process is started, the easier and more successful your long-term results will be. Great Danes are a spirited and friendly breed and should never be shy or nervous.

With children: The Great Dane does very well with children but should not be allowed unsupervised time with children due to her size. Additionally, she should be taught when very young not to lean against people and not to jump up on people as either actions can easily knock someone over, especially a child. Children should also be monitored when with her because she is sensitive and needs to be treated with kindness – an area in which small children do not always excel.

With other dogs and animals: If raised with other household pets from puppyhood, he will do very well with them though, again, supervision should always be part of the process. Males, especially, can be same-gender dog aggressive. Neutering or spaying your Great Dane, along with early and consistent socialization, will help your Great Dane get along with everything.

Training and learning rate: The Great Dane is rated high in learning rate, obedience and problem solving. Training is considered easy with this breed as long as it is done with the positive reinforcement method due to their sensitivity. Because the Great Danes can be very destructive during puppyhood, proper crate training is highly recommended. Never allow rough play during puppyhood, either with people or with larger dogs. They should never be teased. Supervise all playtimes, whether with other dogs or with children, during puppyhood. The fast growing Great Dane puppy can easily suffer injuries during play and children should be educated in the proper way of handling the puppy. Highly recommended for the Great Dane, obedience training will combine both the very necessary socialization to people and pets with training at a young age. Leash training is also a necessity for this breed. Because of their great size, it is critical to deal with behavioral issues immediately as they occur and never allow any bad habits to develop, much less become established.

Activity Level

Agility: The Great Dane has a medium activity level. They are too large to participate in agility trials. They tend to be couch potatoes when in the house and a good walk or, when fully grown, a jog, will usually take care of burning any excess energy they may have.

Affinity to water: Some Great Danes enjoy a child’s swimming pool filled with water and placed in the shade during warm weather.

How noisy are they: The Great Dane is not noted to be a barker, typically only barking in alert.

Exercise: Care should be taken not to exercise your Great Dane puppy excessively to avoid injury to developing bones, joints and muscles. Avoid strenuous activities such as jogging or hiking until he has fully developed. They do need a long daily walk and plenty of room to stretch out those long legs. They will self-exercise if put out into the yard and most will enjoy a game of fetch with their owner. Without this exercise, your Great Dane will likely become very rowdy and independent to the point of ignoring your commands. Once fully grown, any signs of weight gain should be immediately be addressed with monitored food intake and increased exercise.

Health issues: Due to their size, Great Danes are prone to more health problems than a smaller dog. Potential health concerns for Great Danes include genetic heart problems, skin and bone tumors, hip dysplasia, Wobbler Syndrome and Dilattation/Volvulus (“bloat/torsion”), skin allergies, and von Willebrands Disease.

Ensuring you purchase your Great Dane puppy from a reputable breeder with OFA certified parent stock and one who offers lifetime support in terms of answering any questions you may have as your Great Dane develops will go far toward avoiding many of these health issues.

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Owners say:
Wonderful:
marvelous dogs, wonderful companions, constant companion, fearsome watchdog, greatest dogs
Challenging:
deaf danes, Great Danes Bloat, average life span, joint problems, financial responsibility, bloat
Interesting:
elevated food dish, smaller frequent meals, big couch potatoes, prophylactic gastropexy, soulful eyes
Overall review
  • Currently 100
4.6 (42)
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Average member reviews
(0 = low; 5 = high)
Appearance 
4.9
Temperament 
4.7
Overall activity 
3.3
Trainability 
4.0
Barks a lot 
2.5
Health vigor 
3.6
With adult family members 
4.9
With children below eight 
4.7
With children above eight 
4.8
With strangers 
4.0
With cats 
4.1
With strange dogs 
3.9
Watch dog ability 
4.3
Guard dog ability 
3.4
Low cost to own 
1.0
Easy to groom 
1.7
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