The Great Dane is one of the largest breeds of dogs. Its huge size and impressive appearance are intimidating at first glance. However, the fear of this large quadruped is completely unfounded. It is an extremely affectionate, loving companion, with an exceptionally friendly nature.
The origin of this breed goes back to the beginning of the XNUMXth century. At that time, the English began breeding large, strong dogs from a cross between an English Mastiff and an Irish Wolfhound. They needed endurance and a strong and intelligent runner who could successfully participate in a big game hunt. Thanks to the genes of the English Mastiff and Irish Wolfhound, the representative of the new breed received a more shapely body structure and long legs. When hunting a boar, deer or bear, it was supposed to keep the prey under control until the hunter was able to kill it. In a fairly short time, it turned out that these imposing dogs had a powerful defensive instinct, so the European nobility began to actively use Great Danes as personal bodyguards and guards. For a long time there was a real confusion in the nomenclature of the breed, there were variants: German Englische Docke, English German Greyhound, German Dogge, German Mastiff, Ulmer Dogge, Danische Dogge.
The Danes were the first to monitor the purity of the breed, although it was only the German breeders (at the end of the 1880th century) that united for a common goal: to create a single breed based on the Great Danes. In principle, this breed would combine the best external and functional characteristics of animals from different regions. In 18, the German breed standard appeared, and a few years later the first volume of the Great Dane stud book was published. The buyers were fascinated by the noble and impressive appearance of the breed and its friendly disposition. From that moment on, the Great Dane gained more and more enthusiastic followers and this working dog became a loyal member of the family, considered in many circles as a symbol of luxury and high social status. On November 1961, 2, the FCI finally recognized the Great Dane as an independent breed. According to the classification, it belongs to group 2, section XNUMX of the FCI, and therefore to molossers. This group also includes, for example, rottweiler, german boxer and hovawart.
The Great Dane is a giant breed. There is a clear sexual dimorphism. The height of the male at the withers should not be less than 80 cm, the bitch - 72 cm. The normal weight of an adult representative of the breed begins at 54 kg and 45 kg, respectively. Males look more massive due to their skeletal structure and more massive bones.
Head - long, narrow with clearly defined browbones. The stop stands out well and is located approximately in the middle, between the tip of the nose and the back of the head. The topline of the muzzle and skull are parallel.
Our - wide with large nostrils. The color of the auricle is generally black.
Jaws - broad and well developed.
Eyes - round, medium-sized, with tightly fitting eyelids, very dark in color. Ears - set high and triangular. Hanging in its natural state, the front part close to the cheeks.
Neck - long, muscular, vertical with a slight inclination towards the front. Provides a smooth transition from the upper body to the head.
Foliage - chest broad, well developed with movable ribs. Belly tucked up. Croup broad and muscular, slightly sloping towards the base of the tail.
Tail - set high. It tapers gradually from its broad base to the tip. It hangs freely when it is resting. When excited, it should not rise much above the level of the back.
Nogi - strong, muscular. When viewed from the front, they are completely straight with the back parallel to the front. The forelimbs with a long oblique shoulder blade form shoulders with well-developed muscles.
Hair - very short and dense, shiny, smooth. Color: fawn (from light gold to deep gold with a black mask), brindle (fawn background with black stripes parallel to the ribs), black and white (white with uneven, jagged black spots), black and blue in shade.
We can hear many compliments about the breed from every Great Dane owner. These giants are naturally very intelligent and friendly. Of course, a puppy loves play and mischief, which, given its size, can have different effects. However, with age, this behavior wears off and the adult dog becomes a stable and reliable companion. The developed instinct of a defender and guardian of the weaker members of the "pack" turns the Great Dane not only into a guard, but also into a protector and protector. In this dog's case, the outward calm and indifferent gaze are deceptive. It constantly monitors and controls the situation to react if necessary. At the same time, he does not show unmotivated aggression towards strangers.
The Great Dane is an outgoing and cheerful quadruped who loves spending time with his family the most. She loves children and gets along well with other pets. She does not take too long absences from her household. As representatives of this breed are characterized by high intelligence and good memory, an experienced guardian will have no problems with training the pet. It is important to start training as early as possible - from the very first days your puppy is at home. The same goes for socialization. The key to educational success is patience and kindness.
Despite the assurances of some breeders that the Great Dane, due to its calm nature and moderate need for physical activity, feels good even in a small apartment, most experts recommend that you buy this dog only for those who live in a private house with a fenced yard. At the same time, it is not recommended to keep it outside in a playpen. The Great Dane does not tolerate too high and very low temperatures, and the constant company of the household members provides him with psychological comfort.
The coat of representatives of this breed is very short and the moulting is moderate, therefore the care of the Great Dane is not difficult. It is enough to brush the dead hair once a week with a special massage mitt or a soft-bristled brush, and in spring and autumn perform this procedure two to three times more often. For bathing, it is worth using a special shampoo for sensitive skin, it is important not to overdo it with the frequency of the shampoo. Permanent treatments include: regular tooth brushing, cutting claws, inspection and cleaning of the auricle, and skin care around the eyes. Given the size of your pet, you should get your pet used to puppyhood through all of these hygiene procedures.
Unfortunately, the beautifully built Great Dane can boast neither good health nor a high life expectancy. According to statistics, the main cause of death of representatives of this breed is gastric torsion, which can develop very quickly even in a young and generally healthy animal. Without emergency surgery, the disease is potentially fatal. Sharp bloating, heavy breathing, vomiting foam, sudden weakness - this is a signal to contact your veterinarian immediately.
The gigantic size of the Great Dane causes problems with the musculoskeletal system. The most common diseases include: hip and elbow dysplasia, arthritis, wobbler syndrome, osteomyelitis, osteochondrosis, and bone cancer. Also problems with the heart (cardiomyopathy, stenosis of the aortic valve), kidneys (Addison's disease), thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), skin integuments (demodecosis, skin histiocytoma, granuloma, interdigital dermatitis) or the entropy of the eyelids are not uncommon. In order to ensure a good quality of life for an animal, it is important to take care of proper nutrition, proper selection of physical activity and regular veterinary examination.
In pop culture, Great Danes are best known for their paintings of Scooby Doo animated characters and comic book hero Marmaduke.
A dog named Zeus is entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest dog in the world, his height at the withers was 111,8 cm, but his overall height was surpassed by another Great Dane from America, Giant George - 109,2 cm tall and weighing 111 kg.
Among the famous admirers of Great Danes were the Chancellor of the German Empire Otto von Bismarck and the Emperor of Russia Alexander II, and their ancestors were held by the Macedonian Tsar Alexander the Great.
Another famous four-legged personality was the Great Dane Just Nuisance. He was the only dog that became an official member of the British Navy (August 25, 1939). He loved traveling by train with the sailors to the center of Cape Town. The railway company was not very happy about it and the dog was regularly thrown off the train. The dog, however, did not bother and waited patiently at the station, just getting on the next train. The railway company threatened to euthanize the dog, but the passengers turned to the Royal Navy for help. After a few days, Just Nuisance was formally proclaimed a military recruit. Since then, he has been able to enjoy free travel to Cape Town.
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