General Information

Dog NameGreat Dane
Other NamesApollo of Dogs
Scientific NameCanis lupus familiaris
Breed TypePurebred
GroupWorking
Breed ForHunting small and big game
ExtinctNo
Country of OriginGermany

Physical And Size

SizeGiant
Min Life Span7
Max Life Span10
Min Ideal Weight for male63
Max Ideal Weight for male63
Min Ideal Weight for female49
Max Ideal Weight for male63

Ranking

Intelligent Rank
Trainability
Playfulness
Affection Level
Social Needs
Barking
Watchdog Ability
Territorial
Mouthiness
Adaptability

Characterisitics

TemperamentFriendly, Calm, Protective
Prey DriveYes
Fighting DogNo

Friendliness

Stranger FriendlyMedium
Child FriendlyMedium
Cat FriendlyMedium
Dog FriendlyMedium
Office FriendlyLow
Apartment FriendlyHigh
Senior Citizens FriendlyHigh
Service DogHigh
Search and Rescue DogHigh
Biting PotentialLow
Country of OriginGermany
Nicknames and Other NamesGentle Giant
Apollo of Dogs
Scientific NameCanis lupus familiaris
Breed TypePurebred
GroupWorking Group
Guardian Dog
Non Sporting Group
Bred ForHunting both small and big game
SizeLarge-sized
Recognized ByFCI, AKC, UKC, NZKC, CKC, KC
Life Span7-10 years
Ideal WeightMale: 140-175 pounds
Female: 110-140 pounds
Ideal HeightMale: 30-32 inches
Female: 28-30 inches
Fur TypeShort, dense
Common ColorsBlack, Blue, Brindle, Fawn,
Blue, Black and White, Merle,
White, Mantle
MarkingsWhite markings, Black markings,
Black Mask
AvailabilityWidely available
AchievementsState dog of Pennsylvania
Suitable for ApartmentsNot suitable
Used in World WarUsed one as a military dog in
World War II
Most Similar ToGerman Pinscher

The Great Dane, which is also known as the”Apollo of dogs” is a sweet, affectionate, and large-sized breed of dogs that was originated in Germany.

The Great Danes are also considered the gentle giants as they are very gentle, kind and friendly despite their large size. A dog named Zeus of the Great Dane breed holds the record of tallest dog in the world.

Origin & History

The Great Dane originated in Germany where the breed is commonly known as Deutsche Dogge. The breeds involved in the creation of the Great Danes are believed to be the Irish Wolfhound, the Mastiff and the Greyhound.

Irish Wolfhound is a breed where the Great Dane got their height from, heft from the Mastiff and sleek physique from the Greyhound. The calm dog was created to hunt down boar in which the breed was excellent.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu5_0e7lpxW/
A 18 weeks old Great Dane fetching.

The Great Dane was named the national dog of Germany in 1876 and known as estate guardian. The breed was appreciated in other countries as well including the United States.

The Great Dane ranks currently as the 17th breed registered by the American Kennel Club.

Are the dogs child-friendly?

Yes, the Great Danes are very much friendly with kids and other pets as well. They are known to be friendly and gentle with kids despite their large size. They are a family-oriented breed that each family should have.

Great Dane with a small girl. Image Source: The Australian

The Great Dane is a great choice to have if you are willing to buy a canine buddy for your kids. They get along with children very easily and form a close bonding.

Behavior, Temperament & Personality

The Great Dane are often very gentle and calm in nature. Their behavioral traits are less likely to cause damage to people and more likely to entertain them.

The Great Dane dogs are spirited, courageous, friendly and dependable. They are very calm and even-tempered dogs which are not known to be aggressive.

Talking about the personality of the Great Dane, they are affectionate, obedient and intelligent dogs. They get along with kids and other animals very easily if raised together.

Trainability

Training a Great Dane is not so difficult if you start the training at a very early age. Most of the owners consider the big size of Danes may cause problems training them. This may be partially true but these dogs are very intelligent and easy to train as they are very obedient being.

A black Great Dane being trained.

Facts about the Great Dane

Here are some of the facts about the Great Dane:

  • Great Danes were used to hunting boars.
  • A great Dane was also used in the Navy force.
  • They are well-suited to live wherever.
  • A Great Dane named Zeus holds the world record for being the tallest dog.
  • They have a very short lifespan.

Health issues of Great Dane

General HealthHealthy
Common Health IssuesBloat, Hip Dysplasia, Mitral Valve Disease,
Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis,
Patent Ductus Arteriosis,
Persistent Right Aortic Arch
HypoallergenicNo
Vaccination RequiredRabies, Canine Distemper,
Kennel Cough, Canine Parvovirus,
Leptospirosis, Canine Parainfluenza,
Canine Coronavirus
SheddingModerate Shedder
DroolingHeavy Drooler
GroomingEasy and Minimal Grooming Required
Weight Gain PotentialLow To Average
Separation AnxietyHigh Chance
AllergiesNone
Diets and SupplementsProtein: 35%
Fat: 15%
Fiber: 8%
Omega-3 and 6 Fatty Acid
Glucosamine
Digestive Enzymes

Having a very short lifespan of 8-10 years, the Great Dane tends to suffer from various health issues which are described as follows:

Hip Dysplasia

The hereditary malformation in the hip joint of the dog’s body is known as Hip Dysplasia.

Gastric Torsion

It is a condition when the stomach twists which causes the abdomen to swell stopping blood circulation.

Cancer

Some of the most common types of cancer seen in the Great Dane are bone cancer, lymphoma, and osteosarcoma.

Size

The height of a male Great Dane dog is 76-86 cm with a weight of 54-90 kg. Whereas the height of a female Great Dane dog is 71-81 cm weighing a total of 45-59 kg.

A Great Dane with his owner. Image Source: Instagram@greatdane,lovers

Color patterns

Great Danes are found in six different colors which are as follows:

  • Brindle
  • Fawn
  • Blue
  • Mantle
  • Harlequin
  • Black

Cost of Great Dane puppies

A healthy Great Dane gives birth to 8-10 puppies at a time. You’ll have to spend an amount of $600 and $3,000 for a Great Dane depending the purity of the breed.

A blue Great Dane mother with her puppies. Image Source: Gumtree

Which dogs are they similar to?

Here are some dog breeds that are similar to the Great Dane in terms of height:

Visit Doglime for more dog bred information.

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