The Great Dane is a gentle giant. Dignified, kind, sweet and affectionate, it is playful and patient with children. It loves everyone and needs to be around people. The Great Dane does not bark much and only becomes aggressive when the circumstances require it. A steady, responsible and dependable dog, brave and loyal, it is a good watchdog. Because of his giant size, the Great Dane should be thoroughly obedience trained when young so it will be manageable when fully grown.
While the size alone makes Great Danes so unique, it’s their personality that is the quality that most find so appealing. The Dane is a 'people dog' - a sensitive and affectionate companion. They can be elegant and dignified one moment, and then playful and silly the next. They do not make good 'yard' dogs or 'home alone' dogs because when segregated from human companionship, they can become very unruly and destructive. They are very mild and patient with children, and they can usually live well with other dogs. Their demeanour is very sweet and kind, and they seek affection from people.
History
The breed originated from dogs of the mastiff type
for size with the influence of the greyhound type for speed, and was
developed to hunt wild boar, guard castles, pull carts and participate
in battle.
Similar dogs to the Great Dane are thought to have
originated in Egypt, Rome, or Greece. Some sources say they were found
on Grecian currency as far back as 36 B.C. It’s believed that the Great
Dane spawned from the medieval boarhound, and/or the mastiff-like dogs
that were transported to Germany by the Alans. After exhibiting great
strength and abilities like killing bears and wild boars, a process of
selective breeding began to take place in Germany. Dogs similar to the
Great Danes were bred with Irish Greyhounds, and the result was the
present-day Great Dane. Great Danes are a breed that may be about 400
years old.
Feeding
All Danes should be fed twice a day when adult or
even three small meals a day as they become older. Puppies will need to
be fed more frequently when young. The Dane should be fed at his own
chest height, to avoid him having to bend down to eat. This is bad for
digestion as well as uncomfortable and possibly damaging to those
shoulder joints. Free access to clean water is essential and this too
should be at chest height. Read here about The Problem Feeder.
We have searched everywhere for a suitable food stand that was high enough and fitted our house, but we failed to find one so we decided to make our own.
As you can see by the photos, the dogs tend to slobber very much even at a young age and this does go worse as they grow older. Be prepared for a lot of slobber on your clothes and in your house if you decide to get a Great Dane.
General Health
By nature, Great Danes are not a long-lived breed. Some Great Danes can live for 12-13 years, but their average life span is less than 10 years. Great Danes are prone to several diseases and injuries including bloat, heart disease, tail injuries, and tumors.
Care
The Great Dane’s short, thick hair is easy to groom and maintain. This breed’s coat should be combed with a firm bristle brush and dry-shampooed as necessary. Daily grooming is good idea if one wants to avoid the massive chore of giving a Great Dane a bath. Great Dane’s are average shedders, and their nails need to be trimmed regularly.
Ideal Environment
Because of the Great Dane’s large size, he does best in spacious environments where he has room to run and play. If a Great Dane is properly exercised on a regular basis, he can tolerate a house with a smaller backyard or an apartment. Great Danes have a tendency to be inactive indoors, so it’s important for their health to spend time outside each day.
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The Great Dane
