Great Dane Dog Breed

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Great Dane

Dog Breed

The Great Dane, also denoted as Grand Danois, is a German breed of domestic dog known for its giant size. The name of the breed in Germany is Deutsche Dogge. They are known for their enormous bodies and great height. Wikipedia

Lifespan: 6 – 8 y

Origin: Germany

Colors: Mantle, Fawn, Brindle, Blue, Harlequin, Black

Temperament: Devoted, Reserved, Gentle, Friendly, Confident, Loving

Height: 76 – 86 cm (Adult, Male, At Shoulder), 71 – 81 cm (Adult, Female, At Shoulder)

Mass: 45 – 59 kg (Female, Adult), 54 – 91 kg (Adult, Male)

The Great Dane, also denoted as Grand Danois, is a German breed^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) known for its giant size.^[8] The name of the breed in Germany is Deutsche Dogge (German Mastiff). They are known for their enormous bodies and great height.

The Great Dane is one of the world's tallest dog breeds; the current world record holder, measuring 112 cm (44 in) from paw to shoulder, is "Zeus".^[9]Their large size belies their friendly nature, as Great Danes are known for seeking physical affection with their owners.^[10]

Description[edit]

Fawn Great Dane (female).

As described by the American Kennel Club:

The Great Dane combines, in its regal appearance, dignity, strength and elegance with great size and a powerful, well-formed, smoothly muscled body. It is one of the giant working breeds, but is unique in that its general conformation must be so well balanced that it never appears clumsy, and shall move with a long reach and powerful drive.^[1] The Great Dane is a short haired breed with a strong galloping figure.^[61]

In the ratio between length and height, the Great Dane should be square. The male dog should not be less than 30 in (76 cm) at the shoulders, a female 28 in (71 cm). Danes under minimum height are disqualified.^[1]

From year to year, the tallest living dog is typically a Great Dane. Previous record holders include Gibson, Titan and George however, the current record holder is a black Great Dane named Zeus who stands 112 cm (44 in) at the shoulder.^[62] He is also the tallest dog on record (according Guinness World Records),^[62] beating the previous holder who was a blue Great Dane named George, who stood 110 cm (43 in) at the shoulder.

The minimum weight for a Great Dane over eighteen months is 120 lb (54 kg) for males, 100 lb (45 kg) for females.^[61][63] Unusually, the American Kennel Club dropped the minimum weight requirement from its standard.^[64] The male should appear more massive throughout than the female, with a larger frame and heavier bone.^[1]

Great Danes have naturally floppy, triangular ears. In the past, when Great Danes were commonly used to hunt boars, cropping of the ears was performed to make injuries to the dogs' ears less likely during hunts. Now that Danes are primarily companion animals, cropping is sometimes still done for traditional and cosmetic reasons. In the 1930s when Great Danes had their ears cropped, after the surgery two devices called Easter Bonnets were fitted to their ears to make them stand up.^[65] Today, the practice is common in the United States but much less common inEurope. In some European countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, parts of Australia, and in New Zealand, the practice is banned, or controlled to only be performed by veterinary surgeons.

Coat colors[edit]

Brindle Great Dane (male)

There are six show-acceptable coat colors for Great Danes:^[1]

• Fawn: The color is yellow gold with a black mask. Black should appear on the eye rims and eyebrows, and may appear on the ears.
• Brindle: The color is fawn and black in a chevron stripe pattern. Often also they are referred to as having a tiger-stripe pattern.
• Blue: The color is a pure steel blue. White markings at the chest and toes are not desirable and considered faults.
• Black: The color is a glossy black. White markings at the chest and toes are not desirable and considered faults.
• Harlequin: The base color is pure white with black torn patches irregularly and well distributed over the entire body; a pure white neck is preferred. The black patches should never be large enough to give the appearance of a blanket, nor so small as to give a stippled or dappled effect. Eligible, but less desirable, are a few small grey patches (this grey is consistent with a Merle marking) or a white base with single black hairs showing through, which tend to give a salt and pepper or dirty effect.
  Merle Great Danes (Grautiger) are acceptable in conformation shows under the F.C.I.. Their status is that they are "neither desirable nor to be disqualified".^[66]
• Mantle (in some countries referred to as Bostons due to the similar coloration and pattern as a Boston Terrier): The color is black and white with a solid black blanket extending over the body; black skull with white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole white collar preferred; a white chest; white on part or whole of forelegs and hind legs; white tipped black tail. A small white marking in the black blanket is acceptable, as is a break in the white collar

Other colors occur occasionally but are not acceptable for conformation showing, and they are not pursued by breeders who intend to breed show dogs. These colors include white, fawnequin,brindlequin, merle, merlequin, blue merle, fawn mantle, and others. Some breeders may attempt to charge more for puppies of these "rare" colors. The breeding of harlequin, merle and especially white (homozygous merle) Great Danes is controversial, as these colors are associated with the merle gene. In some European countries, for example in Germany, is the mating of two merle specimen forbidden by animal protection law, because this will produce a litter of puppies with a quarter of "double merles", which are often deaf or blind.

Blue puppy

Temperament[edit]

The Great Dane's large and imposing appearance belies its friendly nature. The breed is often referred to as a "gentle giant".^[1] Great Danes are generally well disposed toward other dogs, other non-canine pets, and familiar humans. They generally do not exhibit extreme aggressiveness or a highprey drive.^[67] The Great Dane is a very gentle and loving animal and with the proper care and training is great around children, especially when being raised with them. However, if not properly socialized a Great Dane may become fearful or aggressive towards new stimuli, such as strangers and new environments.^[68]

Great Danes are a breed recommended for families provided that they get trained early and onwards, regarded by animal experts due to their preference for sitting on and leaning against owners as 'the world's biggest 'lapdog.'^[10]

Exercise[edit]

Like most dogs, Great Danes require daily walks to maintain their health. However, it is important not to over exercise this breed, particularly when young. Great Dane puppies grow very large, very fast, which puts them at risk of joint and bone problems. Because of a puppy's natural energy, Dane owners often take steps to minimize activity while the dog is still growing.^[69][70]

Given their large size, Great Danes continue to grow (mostly gaining weight) longer than most dogs. Even at one year of age a Great Dane will continue to grow for several more months.^[70]

Health[edit]

Black Great Dane

Great Danes, like most giant dogs, have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in small breeds. Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds, including bloat (gastric dilatation volvulus(GDV)). The average life span of Great Danes is 6 to 8 years.^[71][72] Like many larger breeds, Great Danes are at particular risk for hip dysplasia.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and many congenital heart diseases are also commonly found in the Great Dane, leading to its nickname: the Heartbreak breed, in conjunction with its shorter lifespan. Great Danes also may carry the merle gene, which is part of the genetic makeup that creates the harlequin coloring.^[73] The merle gene is an incomplete dominant, meaning only one copy of the gene is needed to show the merle coloring; two merle genes produce excessive white markings and many health issues such as deafness, blindness, or other debilitating ocular issues.