Brief description of the breed
Great Danes were originally bred to hunt wild boar. The dog was not very good at this task. Therefore, breeders stopped their attempts in this direction. Now Great Dane - This animal with a warm soul who gets along well with both people and other animals.
Although Great Danes are not distinguished by malice and aggression, nevertheless, the impressive size of the Great Dane is able to frighten off any robber or intruder, which often plays into the hands of the owners of such pets.
The Great Dane is descended from mastiff-like dogs, but unlike other descendants of these dogs, the Great Dane is more graceful. The dog has an athletic, muscular build. It has a massive head and a slightly elongated body. The Great Dane is the owner of an elongated, graceful neck, which gives the dog a special charm. The Great Dane's ears are often cropped, but this is not necessary. It all depends on the preferences of the owner.
The impressive size of the dog often brings trouble to the owner and his family. An animal can inadvertently collide decor or interior items. Therefore, the Great Dane is best kept in spacious houses or apartments.
Despite its size, the Great Dane is a kind and affectionate animal. He loves tenderness, affection, loves to play with children. At the same time, he is always ready to show courage, especially when it comes to protecting the family.
Although the Great Dane is distinguished by its gentle nature, the owner of this dog needs to pay due attention to the issues of raising a pet. It is best to seek the help of a specialist.
Dogs of this breed are always eager to please the owner, they try in every possible way to please him and family members. Great Danes experience great happiness when they are stroked, caressed, they are not averse to relaxing on the couch or in the owner's chair.
It is noteworthy that, despite its size, the Great Dane is not able to eat a lot of food. In addition, he does not need a large yard. The dog will feel comfortable in a small yard. Main - prevent the possibility of damage to interior items and decor in the house.
Thanks to grace and complaisant character, the Great Dane is extremely popular. To date, the breed is ranked 24th in popularity among those registered by the American Kennel Club.
The sad point is that due to its large size, the Great Dane has a short lifespan: up to 8 years.
basic information
| Breed name: | German dog |
| Country of origin: | Germany |
| The time of the birth of the breed: | 3000 BC |
| Type of: | Molossians |
| The weight: | 50 - 87 kg |
| Height (height at the withers): | 72 - 80 cm |
| Life Expectancy: | 7 – 8 years |
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ICF classification:
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Group 2, Section 2, Number 235 |
| Puppies price: | 450 – 1550 $ |
| Most popular nicknames: | list of nicknames for great dane |
Assessment of breed characteristics
| Adaptability
(a definition meaning how easily a dog can adapt to changes in life) |
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| Shedding level
(Level and frequency of hair loss in the animal) |
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| Tenderness level
(The level and amount of tenderness and affection that the dog gives in return for attention to itself) |
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| Exercise needs
(Dog's daytime activity level) |
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| Social need
(The required number of contacts of the dog with other animals, as well as people) |
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| Apartment content
(A factor that determines the level of noise and other inconveniences that a dog can deliver to owners in relation to the size of the apartment to the size of the dog) |
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| Grooming
(The number of bathing, brushing, and the number of professional grooming sessions required for the dog) |
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| Friendliness in an unfamiliar environment
(Features of the behavior of a dog in a society with strangers or in an unfamiliar environment) |
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| Tendency to bark
(Tendency to bark and its frequency and volume) |
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| Health issues
(Potential health status of the dog) |
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| Territoriality
(The dog's tendency to protect his home, yard, or even his owner's car) |
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| Friendliness to cats
(The tendency towards tolerance for cats and decreased manifestation of hunting instincts) |
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| Intelligence
(The ability of the dog to think and solve emerging difficulties (not to be confused with learning!) |
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| Education and training
(The level of difficulty in training the dog to perform certain actions) |
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| Friendliness to children
(A factor that determines how friendly a dog is to children, whether he likes to play with them and tolerate some childish pranks) |
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| Game activity
(The concept is determined by its very name, and, as a rule, is found in almost all dogs) |
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| Observation
(The ability of a dog to detect the presence of a stranger on its territory) |
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| Friendliness to other dogs
(The tendency of the dog to find common language with his other relatives) |
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Photo of Great Dane:
Origin story
Drawings depicting Great Danes were discovered during excavations in Egypt. They date back to 3000 BC. Also, images of these dogs are found in ancient Babylonian temples, the period of which exceeds 2000 BC. In addition, there are writings that say that the Great Danes were kept in ancient Tibet. These documents are dated 1121 BC.
It is believed that the breed originated from different breeds dogs. It happened during the time of the Assyrians, who were active in the dog trade around the world. It is believed that the Greeks and Romans crossed Great Danes with other dogs. There is a fairly plausible opinion that the ancestors of the Great Dane were the English Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound, as well as the Irish Greyhound.
Initially, Great Danes were bred to hunt wild boars. Therefore, ear cupping was performed. This was necessary so that during the fight the boar would not tear the dog's ears with its fangs.
In the late 1600s, many German nobles began to keep Great Danes in their homes. They began to call them "Kammerhunde" i.e. "homemade dog". Such dogs wore gilded and velvet collars and were a sign of the wealth of its owner.
Most researchers claim that German dog breeders made a significant contribution to the development of the breed. It was thanks to their work that it was possible to achieve the harmony and extravagance of the appearance of the Great Dane. In 1880, a conference of dog breeders took place in Berlin, in which official authorities also took part. As a result of this meeting, it was decided that these dogs should be officially called "Great Danes".
Shortly thereafter, the first Great Dane club was founded in Germany. Following Germany, such clubs began to form in other European countries.
An interesting fact is that Italians, as well as English-speaking countries, did not initially accept the name "Great Dane". They called this breed "alano", which means "mastiff". In Italy, and today Great Danes are called "alano".
In the nineteenth century, the improvement of the breed continued actively. The main emphasis was on the nature of the animal. The fact is that in those days the Great Danes were quite aggressive. Thanks to the hard work of German dog breeders, it was possible to breed a breed with an excellent docile character and an extremely kind soul. This is exactly what the modern Great Dane is.
The nature of the Great Dane
Maintenance and care
Training and education
Great Danes are classified as dogs with average intelligence, but, as a rule, they are very easy to train to the toilet, as well as to follow basic commands.
Dogs of this breed have a strong desire to please their owner. Many Great Danes excel in obedience, agility and other competitions.
The process of socialization of the Great Dane must begin at an early age, preferably from 3-6 months. Great Dane puppies grow very quickly, so even as a puppy they will be relatively large.
The first year of a Great Dane's life is compared to the first fourteen years of a normal child's life. These dogs must be provided with proper attention and consistent, systematic training. The right approach to this issue will make your dog a great pet.
Great Dane puppies should not be allowed to move freely around the house without supervision until you are sure that the puppy knows all the rules of behavior in the house. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to furniture and home decor items.
It must be borne in mind that Great Dane puppies are very similar to children. They love to play, chew on everything that comes across. Therefore, it is important to properly organize the learning process. Eliminate any manifestation of aggression. You need to learn to explain to the dog what is possible and what is not.
During training, it is better that children do not touch the dog, as this will degrade discipline and negatively affect learning outcomes. Be persistent and confident!
Health and disease
Some interesting facts
- The Great Dane has a good, docile character. He tries to please his master in everything.
- The dog is easy to train and educate.
- Like most large dogs , Great Dane has a short lifespan.
- The dog needs enough space in the house. This is mainly caused by the possibility of damage to the owner's property due to the size of the dog.
- Keeping a large dog is always associated with frequent visits to the veterinarian and the waste associated with the purchase of collars, leashes, etc.
- The formation of the musculoskeletal apparatus of the Great Dane takes quite a long time. You should not let your pet jump a lot and allow grueling runs until the pet reaches the age of one and a half years.
- The Great Dane needs a special diet, about the features of which you need to ask your veterinarian.
- Dogs of this breed may experience various problems associated with the musculoskeletal system.
- Although Great Danes can be kept in apartments, but still, if your home is very small, then it is better not to get such a large dog.
- If you want to become the owner of a healthy Great Dane puppy, you should not buy it from random sellers. Enlist the help of only trusted dog breeders.
Nurseries and breeders
We borrowed material from the wonderful site of our partners DOGCATFAN.COM about cats and dogs, the author dogcatfan