 Great
Dane
Description:
Referred to as the "Apollo of dogs",
the Great Dane combines such impressive physical
and mental characteristics as to make it one of
the most majestic breeds known. Pictures in Egyptian
tombs, dating as far back as 3000 BC, depict dogs
resembling the Great Dane; and, Celtic and Germanic
tribes used the early breed types as war dogs.
Authorities state that the breed was already established
in Britain before the Roman Conquest and that
Romans took the dogs home with them where they
were used as fighting dogs. Refinement and development
of the breed, however, started in Germany during
the Middle Ages, and not in Denmark as the name
might imply. Founding of Great Dane Clubs in Germany
and England took place in the late 1800s. The
breed, when it was introduced to America in 1877,
was markedly vicious. American breeders were credited
with transforming the Great Dane into a sweeter,
well-mannered breed by the early 1900s. The breed
continues to make a good family protector and
pet, and requires plenty of room and exercise.
Height:
32"
(81.3cm) for dogs, 30" (76.2cm) for bitches
Weight:
100 - 120 lbs (44.6 - 53.6 kg)
Coat
Type:
The coat
of the Great Dane is short, dense, flat-lying,
and shiny. Colors include all-black, brindle,
fawn, blue, or harlequin which is a mix of white
with black patches. Very little grooming is required
for this breed.
Temperament:
Although
the Great Danes in Germany were often bred and
used as estate guards and still maintain a protective
instinct, the breed today is a friendly and even-tempered
one. Great Danes are spirited, fearless, loyal
and dependable. They make superb family pets.
Health
Problems:
Special nutritional needs must be met during the
critical growth periods of this slow-maturing
breed's life. Be sure to ask the breeder about
these requirements. The Great Dane, because of
its deep chest, is one of the breeds most at risk
for gastric torsion (bloat).
Special
Interest:
One of the
original uses of this breed was as a hunter of
large prey. Nobility often gathered to hunt wild
boar, and it is recorded that in 1592, the Duke
of Braunschweig arrived at the event with a pack
of 600 male dogs! The Great Dane is (along with
the Irish Wolfhound) the tallest of breeds of
dogs, with some individuals having been measured
at 39" (99 cm). A Great Dane also is in the
Guiness Book of Records for the largest litter
with 23 pups (in a tie with a Saint Bernard and
an American Foxhound); however the American Foxhound
is considered to hold the record since all 23
of its pups survived.
Classifications:
AKC: Group 3 - Working Dogs
CKC: Group 3 - Working Dogs
KC: Non-Sporting - Working Group
FCI: Group 2
ANKC: Group 7 - Non Sporting
|
