Great Dane

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.

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.

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.