Mary Allen
The Great Dane is one of the largest dog breeds and inspires people all over the world with its uniquely friendly nature. Here you can find out everything you always wanted to know about the breed.
History of the Great Dane
The ancestry of the Great Dane can be traced back to the beginning of the 16th century. The English at that time bred large, strong dogs from crosses of the broad mastiff with the large Irish wolfhound. They were introduced to Germany and breeding continued independently here from the beginning of the 17th century. When hunting wild boar and bear, the dogs’ job was to keep the prey under control until the hunter was able to kill it. Since the dogs were very valuable, they were often given their own armor.
As traditional big game hunting began to fall out of fashion in the 19th century and new firearms emerged, the bold, large hounds also began to disappear. However, some nobles from Ulm and the surrounding area were still fascinated by the noble and imposing appearance of the breed. They began to breed the Great Dane as a luxury dog and status symbol.
The breeders now placed more value on a friendly, undemanding nature and called their breed the Ulmer Hund. Gradually, the Great Danes found more and more enthusiastic supporters and in 1888 they founded the Deutsche Doggen Club in Berlin. The word Great Dane is derived from the English word “dog”, which simply means dog. In the 19th century, the term Danish mastiff also prevailed, which is still sometimes used today, although the breed has little to do with Denmark.
On November 18, 1961, the FCI finally recognized the Great Dane as an independent breed. The breed belongs to FCI Group 2, Section 2, and thus to the Molossoids. This group also includes, for example, the Rottweiler, the German Boxer, and the Hovawart.
Traits and Character Traits
The immense size and impressive appearance of the Great Dane are relatively intimidating at first glance. However, the fear of the big dog is usually completely unfounded. On the contrary: the mastiffs are extremely cuddly and loving. When breeding the Great Dane, more emphasis is placed on a friendly and calm nature. Like clingy giant babies, they often underestimate their own size and try to snuggle into their owner’s lap. The Great Dane gets along well with other pets and is fond of children. The breed is generally wary and reserved towards strangers. They are particularly well suited as guard dogs due to their impressive appearance.
How Do I Keep a Great Dane?
What do I need to pay attention to when purchasing?
A Great Dane is not a dog for beginners simply because of its size. So if you want to get a Great Dane, you should think twice about it beforehand. The most important question is of course whether you can offer the huge dog enough space. In a small city apartment, a mastiff is definitely out of place. Likewise, you should not keep your dog in a house where he has to climb a lot of stairs, as this damages the bones and joints of the large animals. Most mastiffs only have a very short life, but during these eight years, you bear full responsibility for the animal.
If you can meet all the criteria, it is a matter of finding a suitable breeder. For a purebred Great Dane from reputable breeding, you have to calculate around 1000€. There are also some private breeders where you can buy undocumented dogs a lot cheaper. But you should be careful here since the dog breed is one of the more disease-prone four-legged friends if it is poorly bred. The Great Dane is officially available in five different colors in the three color varieties “yellow and brindle”, “spotted and black” and “blue”. The choice of gender is also an important criterion for the Great Dane. Males can be significantly larger and heavier and thus appear more imposing, the bitches are smaller and lighter but more elegant.
Puppy development and education
Although the Great Dane has a friendly character from the ground up, the upbringing is decisive for how the puppy later develops. The main problem with training such a large dog is the animal’s enormous physical superiority. A full-grown male can easily weigh 90 kilos and can hardly be led if he is not trained properly. Since very few people can actually physically control a Great Dane, there are alternative measures. The use of a halter, a leash held in front of the dog’s shoulders, or an anti-pull harness is quite helpful in training.
To ensure that your dog is obedient without any aids, you should ensure consistent training from a young age. Don’t let your puppy get away with anything that he shouldn’t do as an adult. Because the Great Dane has a sensitive nature, it responds well to positive reinforcement and cannot endure harshness and harshness. A poorly trained Great Dane can become dangerous and aggressive.