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Great Dane
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Great Dane, Danish Hound, Danish Gallant, Deutsche Dogge,
Boarhound, Grand Danois or German Mastiff is a breed of
domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) known for its giant size. The
breed is commonly referred to as the "Apollo of all breeds." The
Great Dane is one of the world's tallest dog breeds, with only the
Irish Wolfhound being taller on average. The last Great Dane to
hold the world record as tallest living dog was Gibson , who was
3½ feet (110 cm) tall at the withers and 7 feet 1 inch (215.9 cm)
on his hind legs.
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Description
Appearance
As described by the American Kennel Club, "The Great Dane
combines, in its regal appearance, dignity, strength and elegance
with grand size and a well-formed body. One of the largest working
breeds, it never appears clumsy."
The Great Dane is a short haired breed with a muscular, galloping
figure. In the ratio between length and height, the Great Dane
should be square. The male dog should not be less than 30 inches
(76 cm) at the shoulders, a female 28 inches (71 cm). Danes
under minimum height are disqualified.
The minimum weight for a Great Dane over eighteen months is 120
pounds (54 kg) for males, 100 pounds (45 kg) for females.
Unusually, the American Kennel Club dropped the minimum weight
requirement from its standard. The male should appear more
massive throughout than the female, with a larger frame and
heavier bone.
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. Today, the practice is somewhat common in the
United States and much less common in Europe. In some
European countries such as the UK, Denmark, Germany, parts of
Australia, and in New Zealand, the practice is banned, or controlled
to only be performed by veterinary surgeons.
Coat and color
There are six show-acceptable coat colors for Great Danes:
- 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.
- 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,
merle, merlequin, fawn mantle, and others. Some breeders may
attempt to charge more for puppies of these "rare" colors.
However, the breeding of white and merle Danes is particularly
controversial, as these colors may be associated with genes that
produce deafness. Although they cannot be shown, white or merle
Danes can usually still be registered as pedigree dogs.
Temperament
The Great Dane's large and imposing appearance belies its
friendly nature; the breed is often referred to as a gentle giant.
Great Danes are generally well-disposed toward other dogs, other
non-canine pets and humans. As with all dogs, they should be
supervised around young children. Great Danes can be protective
and make good guard dogs. Some Great Danes — as with any
breed — can have dominance issues, can be aggressive with
other dogs, or chase small animals; however, this is not typical.
Health
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 gastric
dilatation-volvulus (GDV) (a painful distending and twisting of the
stomach). This is a critical condition that can affect Great Danes
and other deep-chested breeds, and which may cause death if not
quickly addressed. Drinking large amounts of fluid in a short period
of time can provoke GDV in Great Danes, as well as other larger
breeds of dogs. It is a commonly recommended practice for Great
Danes to have their stomachs tacked (Gastropexy) to the right
abdominal wall during routine surgery such as spaying or
neutering if the dog or its relatives have a history of GDV, though
some veterinary surgeons will not do the operation if the actual
sickness has not occurred. Elevated food dishes are often
believed to help prevent GDV by regulating the amount of air that
is inhaled while eating, although one study suggests that they may
increase the risk. Refraining from exercise or activity immediately
before and after meals may also reduce risk, although this has not
been validated with research. Signs that GDV may have occurred
include, but are not limited to, visible distension (enlargement of
the abdomen) and repeated retching that resembles repetitive non-
productive attempts to vomit. GDV is a condition that is distinct
from another condition referred to as bloat; though, bloat may
precede the development of GDV. GDV is a surgical emergency;
immediate veterinary evaluation should be sought if a dog
demonstrates signs of this condition.
Another problem common to the breed is hip dysplasia. Typically
an x-ray of the parents can certify whether their hips are healthy
and can serve as a guideline for whether the animals should be
bred and are likely to have healthy pups.
Great Danes generally live 8–10 years, but with responsible
breeding and improved nutrition they can live to be 12-14.
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and many congenital heart
diseases are also commonly found in the Great Dane, leading to
its nickname of the Heartbreak breed, in conjunction with its
shorter lifespan. Great Danes also suffer from several genetic
disorders that are specific to the breed. For example, if a Great
Dane lacks color (is white) near its eyes or ears then that organ
does not develop and usually the dog will be either blind, deaf, or
both.
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Great Dane
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Country of origin
Denmark or Germany
Weight
Male: 120-200 lbs
Female: 100-130 lbs
Height (average)
Male: 30-34 in
Female: 28-32 in
Coat
Smooth, short
Color
Multiple, see text
Life span
10-12 years
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