Also known as: "Grand Danois", "Danish Hound", "German Mastiff", "Gentle Giant", "Dane", "Dogue Allemand", "Deutsche Dogge"
Breed Overview
The Great Dane is a XL dog breed, with a starting weight of 100 lbs for females, and can reach 200 lbs for males. It is officially part of the Working group and recognized by the ACR, AKC, ANKC, APRI, CKC, DRA, FCI, KCGB, NKC, NZKC, UKC. Some critical information for potential owners. The Great Dane breed has a typical lifespan of 7 to 13 years, Short hair, and an average price of around $796. Breeders interested in the Great Dane should know that the average litter size is between 5 to 12 puppies.
Doggie Vitals
| Group: Working |
Size: XL |
Male Height: 30-34" |
Female Height: 28-32" |
Litter Size: 5-12 pups |
| Origin: Germany |
Hair Length: Short |
Male Weight: 120-200 lbs |
Female Weight: 100-130 lbs |
Lifespan: 7-13 years |
Official Description:
The Great Dane is not only famous for its size. The Guinness Book of World Record holder for the tallest dog, Scooby Doo, the state dog of Pennsylvania, these are all Great Danes. Upon first glance, the breed appears overbearing, but really they tend to be affectionate, loyal, and loving companions.
Great Dane Breed Characteristics
| Group |
Working
|
Drooler |
|
| Size |
XL
|
Guard Dog |
|
| Yard Needs |
Large Yard |
Easy to Train |
|
| Shedding |
|
Hypoallergenic |
|
| Kid Friendly |
|
Active Indoors |
|
| Apartment Friendly |
|
Exercise Demands |
|
| Stranger Friendly |
|
Intelligent |
|
| Pet Friendly |
|
Grooming Requirements |
|
| Barks |
|
Dangerous |
|
| Tolerates Cold |
|
Tolerates Heat |
|
Great Dane Temperament
Great Danes are gentle giants; they do quite well with children as well as other dogs and pets. Be careful if you have children however; as the dog may accidentally knock a young child over due to its large size, always supervise child-Dane interaction. Not known to be easy to train, the Great Dane must be taught by a strong leader who will enforce rules and make their place known. Without this leader the dog may become unmanageable as an adult. Overall they are a very loving breed, they’re brave, loyal, and enjoy the company of people.
Great Dane Living Area
The Great Dane is relatively inactive indoors making it a candidate for apartment living. If your apartment is compact and cluttered it might not be a good idea, remember you are dealing with a GIANT dog. Also be sure to exercise the dog via long daily walks, but be careful not to over exert your dog, especially while they’re still growing as this may lead to joint and / or bone problems.
Health Problems
When buying a dog, one should always be sure to purchase by a reputable breeder who has been certified to breed healthy and happy pups. This is even more important with a giant breed like the Great Dane, who already has shorter than average life span, and is known to suffer from bone and joint issues. Hip Dysplasia, Dilated cardiomyopathy, and Gastric Torsion are common amongst the breed. Other health risks include bone cancer, tail injuries, tumors, and heart disease.
Great Dane Coat
Great Danes have a clean short coat, its glossy and smooth to the touch.
Grooming Your Great Dane
A firm bristle brush and a daily brushing should keep your Great Danes coat in good condition. Bath and shampoo as needed, but brush frequently to save yourself the hassle because as you can imagine, a dog of this size is not easy to force into the bath tub. Inspect your Danes ears often for signs of infection which may include bad odor or redness. If bad breath is a problem, brushing the Great Danes teeth daily is fine; it will also help prevent gum disease.
Great Dane Dog Colors
There are 6 colors accepted for show lines of Great Dane: Fawn, Brindle, Blue, Black, Harlequin, and Mantle. Other common colors of Great Danes which are not shown are white, merle, fawnequin, merlequin, and fawn mantle. Although not technically colors, the Dane also comes in brindle and reverse brindle (onyx) color patterns. Know that mixing parents of white and merle colors has been known to cause deafness in some pups.
Recognized By
ACR, AKC, ANKC, APRI, CKC, DRA, FCI, KCGB, NKC, NZKC, UKC
Famous People Who Own Great Danes
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jim Carrey, Olivia Newton-John, Willaim Shatner, Rebecca Gayheart, Bruce Lee, Wilt Chamberlain, Kelsey Grammer, Greg Louganis, Mario Andretti, James Brolin, Mack Sennett, Tom Mix, Brad Anderson, Meredith MacRae, Mark McGwire, Sid Caesar, Chubby Checker, Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, Priscilla Presley, Andy Warhol, Burt Ward
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