Great Danes are large, alert and short-haired dogs with noble and dignified appearance. They have a flat skull and a wide blunt nose. Their head is strong, long and flat between the ears. The ears are triangular, high set and fold down. Their coat is short and dense. The eyes are medium size and dark. They have long, muscular legs and the long tail is thick at the base and tapers to a point.

These dogs are active and affectionate. As pets, they can become very close and loyal to the family and frequent visitors. They do get on well with other dogs, household pets and children. They are ideally suited to the active family. They are excellent guard dogs and quick to alert the family though they do not bark often.

Average size

Great Danes are about 30-32 inches tall at the shoulders. They weigh about 45-55 kg.

Coat colour

Their coat comes in many colours including brown, black, blue-black and white with black patches.

Intelligence

These dogs are intelligent and can be trained for protection work. They should be trained at an early age as they grow very quickly into a very large dog. They require lots of socialisation and training when they are young.

Food requirements

Diet of Great Danes should be very strictly taken care of. Too much, or too little of the wrong types of food can result in growth problems. And the problem may not be noticed until the dog is older.

Lifespan

The lifespan of this dog is 9-15 years.

Pet grooming

Great Danes require grooming once a week. The loose and dead hairs can be removed using a rubber-grooming mitt. Their short and dense coat is easy to take care of.

Country of origin Germany

Dogs resembling the Great Dane have been seen in drawings in Egyptian tombs dating back to 2200 BC. They were shorter of leg and resembled mastiffs in body type. It was in Germany that the breed was further developed into the dog that we recognise today. It is thought that the original mastiff type was crossed with a greyhound to develop a Great Dane. They were first used as bull baiters and in 1592. By the 1800’s it was a very popular dog and was used by estate owners for large game hunting. The club for these breeds was started in the UK in 1885 and in America in 1889. They were originally used as war dogs and for hunting wild boar, wolves and other large game. Today they are companion and guard dogs.