This entry was posted on 2014-09-22 by Schalk.

This breed is often referred to as the “Apollo of Dogs” and was created in Germany.  It was bred for hunting, it elegant appearance and huge size which all contribute to its landed gentry. This breed is very popular amongst Americans today because of these characteristics and has even appeared in popular culture, such as the Scooby Doo cartoon character, Marmaduke the newspaper comic character and Astro in The Jetsons television show.

Traits

·       Other names: Deutsche Dogge, German Mastiff, German Boarhound

·       Nickname: Gentle Giant

·       Weight: Males: 54–91 kg, Females: 45–59 kg

·       Height: Males: 76–86 cm, Females: 71–81 cm

·       Coat: Short and thick

·       Colour: Black, fawn, blue, harlequin, brindle, and on occasion merle.

·       Litter size: 1-16 puppies

·       Life span: 7-10 years

Physical Characteristics

This breed is very well regarded for its carriage and magnificent appearance. As well as it’s exuding elegance, its body that is like a big square frame allows the dog to have a powerful gait with strides that are easy and long. Its coat is shiny, dense, and short and comes in a variety of different colour patterns including black, fawn, blue, harlequin, brindle, and on occasion merle.

Personality and Temperament

As the Great Dane is so large and spirited it can be a bit hard to control, specifically for small children. Nevertheless, supervision and the correct training will ensure that you’re Great Dane is a mannerly family companion. The Great Dane also gets along well with other pets and household dogs.

Care

Minimal coat care is needed for this breed. Regular exercise is a must and can be meet by playing a fast paced game or going on a long walk. The Great Dane may look like a strong dog but actually cant live outdoors. Rather it is best suited to equal time spent indoors and outdoors. You should provide your Great Dane with lots of space and a comfortable bed for sleeping while indoors.

Health

The average lifespan of a Great Dane is about seven to ten years. The minor health conditions it may suffer from are hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), Wobbler's syndrome, canine hip dysplasia (CHD), osteochondritis and hypothyroidism. The major health issues include cardiomyopathy, gastric torsion and osteosarcoma. On occasion this breed may tend to drool. In order to identify some of these conditions a vet may do tests such as thyroid, cardiac, eye and hip exams. Certain colour variations of this breed are more prone to some of these issues.

History & Background

This breed is said to be a cross between an ancient Greco-Roman war dog breed named Molossus and the Greyhound. Initially during the 1300s it is said to have appeared in Germany and was used as a hunting companion catching wild boar and other prey.

It’s quite a mystery as to how the Great Dane actually got its name, it isn’t Danish. Whilst in Germany at present this breed is referred to as Deutsche Dogge. On the other hand the British who encountered the breed gave it the name German Boarhound, named after its function.

It became very popular amongst families in the United States. In 1889 in Chicago the Great Dane Club of America was created. The Great Dane Club of Germany in 1891 created a standard for the breed. At present in the U.S this breed continues to be adored and admired for its beauty and strength.

Nutrition

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