Great Dane
About Great Dane : The Great Dane is a giant of a dog with a patient and gentle personality. These sweet natured dogs make great family pets, and are attentive and devoted to their owners. The Great Dane is best suited to those with some experience of dog ownership, as they can be stubborn and bossy. Early and extensive socialization is also important to promote a stable, confident manner. The Great Dane is a bold, spirited breed, and his size alone means that he makes an effective watchdog. These dogs do need plenty of attention and devotion from their owners, and are not suited to those with little time to commit to a pet. Training should be consistent and firm, yet positive. The house proud may want to think twice before considering this breed, as they can be very messy and do drool.
Younger Great Danes can be very destructive and boisterous, and will need a good deal of supervision. These giant dogs do need a fair amount of exercise, and plenty of space will be needed because of their sheer size. When not on a leash the Great Dane will need a large, secured, safe area in which to exercise. The Great Dane is good with children when raised with them, but his size could cause a problem if you have very small children. When it comes to other pets, some Great Danes will be accepting but others may see themselves as the dominant one, and supervision may be required. Again, early socialization is important. The reaction of the Great Dane around strangers can also vary, and can depend upon the individual personality of the dog. These dogs are very sensitive, and some can come across as quite aloof. However, with consistent training and extensive, early socialization the Great Dane can make a very loyal and loving – if rather large – pet.
History and origin: The Great Dane has been in Britain for many centuries and may have resulted from a cross between the ancient Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound. He was first used as a hunting and guarding dog.
Appearance: The Great Dane is a large, elegant breed, standing 30 to 34 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 120 and 165 pounds. The harlequin Danes, white with black patches, are the largest variation, whereas the brindle and fawn-colored Danes are more slender. The black Danes and the blues are usually somewhere in between. The ears can be cropped or uncropped. The body is massive, lanky, and well muscled, and the shedding coat is short, glossy, and of low maintenance, requiring regular brushing. The color may be black, black-and-white (harlequin), bundle, fawn, or blue-black.
Grooming : The grooming requirements for the Great Dane are quite low, and an occasional brushing will help to keep his coat looking good. You may need to brush more regularly when he is shedding more heavily. The Great Dane is a medium shedder, and can shed all year round and more heavily at certain times of the year, so he may not be the best choice for allergy sufferers.
Health Problems and Life Expectancy : The life expectancy of the Great Dane is around 6-8 years, which is far shorter than many other dog breeds. There are a number of problems associated with this breed, and this includes deafness, heart problems, bloat, HD, HOD, cataracts, and bone cancer. Care should also be taken in extreme temperatures, as the Great Dane is sensitive to extreme heat or cold.
Feeding: Recommended feeding for the Great Dane is 4 cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added or at least 5 cupfuls of a complete dry dog food. A Great Dane will eat eight to twelve cups of food a day.
Ideal home: A Great Dane needs a large house with a big yard with a fence at least six feet high. The owner of a Dane should be a physically strong, confident, and easygoing leader. Physically weak, nervous, and spoiling types should avoid this breed, as should the elderly and the disabled. The Dane can be very dog-aggressive and needs strong leadership and socialization with people and other dogs from day one. No roughhousing should be allowed. Time to exercise this giant breed must be available everyday.
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