Fast facts
- Weight: 110-175 pounds (49.90-79.38 kg)
- Height: 31-36 inches (78.74-91.44 cm)
The appearance of a Great Dane
Great Danes have large, powerful, yet elegant bodies. They have long, narrow heads with large nostrils and erect ears. Her eyes are dark, round and have a wakeful look. They have long necks, straight legs and chiseled bodies, medium-length tails, and round feet. Their fur is thick, shiny, and close-fitting. Great Danes can come in fawn, brindle, black, blue, harlequin (white with black spots), coat, and merle. Overall, Great Danes look proportioned, dignified, and powerful.
Trains
- Big and imposing
- Noble and dignified
- Adorable
- Carefree
- Persistent
Ideal human companion
- singles
- Active, sporty types
- Families with older children
- Strong people
How they live
Great Danes combine robust strength with refined dignity. In the house and on the farm you will find them uniquely endowed with mental and physical strengths. As truly gentle giants, Great Danes are loving, affectionate and pleasant companions who do nothing better than hang around the house with the family.
They are brave and loyal and make good watch dogs, even though they don’t bark much. They do bark when an intruder enters the house, however, but it is their size and strength that are most intimidating.
Great Danes are great with kids. Some may need a steady hand – simply because their size can be a bit unwieldy around the house – but once trained, they can make stable and reliable pets.
Things you should know
When buying a Great Dane, you need to consider the obvious: these are huge creatures. While they’re not particularly aggressive or dominant – they’re often quite gentle – Great Danes can damage gardens and furniture. Train them from an early age and always remind them who is in charge. This will help offset overly protective or territorial tendencies. After training, they need to be reminded of the rules on a regular basis.
Great Danes need regular brushing and grooming. Since they are difficult to bathe due to their size, regular checks of the feet, ears, nose and eyes also ensure order from week to week.
A healthy Great Dane can live up to 13 years (the average life expectancy is around 9 years). Common health problems include: hip dysplasia, gas, and congenital heart defects.
History of the Great Dane
In 400 AD, Asian tribes invaded Germany with huge, canine-like dogs. Over the centuries, these dogs have demonstrated their courage and tenacity in battling wild boars, bears, and other large animals. The Great Dane (originally called the Great Dane) came about when these dogs were bred with other breeds such as Irish Greyhounds. First exhibited in Germany in the mid-19th century, the Great Dane became popular in the United States after the Great Dane Club of America was founded in 1889.
