Let's talk Great Danes
Official name: Great Dane
Origins: Germany
Drooling tendencies
4 out of 5Shedding Level
3 out of 5Energy level*
3 out of 5Compatibility with other pets
5 out of 5Warm weather?
2 out of 5Suited to apartment living
1 out of 5Family pet?*
3 out of 5Can stay alone
1 out of 5
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Height | Height |
| 76 - 81 cm | 71 - 76 cm |
| Weight | Weight |
| 63 - 77 kg | 50 - 63 kg |
| Life stages | |
|---|---|
| Puppy | Adult |
| 2 to 8 months | 3-5 years |
| Mature | Senior |
| 6-7 years | 8-10 years |
| Baby | Junior |
| Birth to 2 months | 8 months to 2 years |
Drooling tendencies
4 out of 5Shedding Level
3 out of 5Energy level*
3 out of 5Compatibility with other pets
5 out of 5Warm weather?
2 out of 5Suited to apartment living
1 out of 5Family pet?*
3 out of 5Can stay alone
1 out of 5
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Height | Height |
| 76 - 81 cm | 71 - 76 cm |
| Weight | Weight |
| 63 - 77 kg | 50 - 63 kg |
| Life stages | |
|---|---|
| Puppy | Adult |
| 2 to 8 months | 3-5 years |
| Mature | Senior |
| 6-7 years | 8-10 years |
| Baby | Junior |
| Birth to 2 months | 8 months to 2 years |
Get to know the Great Dane
All you need to know about the breed
Great Danes are the big friendly giant of dog breeds.
They are handsome hounds with a majestic demeanor, alert expression, and a dense, glossy coat in one of three evocative color combinations: fawn and brindle, black and harlequin,
or blue.
Once trained, Great Danes get along well with children and can make lovely family pets. However, they do require a level of commitment greater than what would be required for
smaller breeds.
Great Danes need a decent amount of exercise, though, despite their size, they are not the most energetic breed around. Once fully grown, they enjoy a variety of activities
—walks,
runs, and the chance to potter around in an enclosed space. One thing to keep in mind is that, due to their enormous size, Great Danes have a shorter than average lifespan.
On a day-to-day basis, the only real downside to having a Great Dane as a pet is the slobber. They drool a considerable amount. But these affable, larger-than-life characters more
than make up for that with the joy they bring to their human companions.
Facts about Great Danes
1. Scooby Doo, Where Are You?
The lovable but cowardly cartoon canine Scooby Doo is thought to be loosely
based on a Great Dane! The breed has had another brush with stardom in the
form of Marmaduke, the super-size star of a comic strip in the 1950s, which
was then transferred to the big screen in 2010.
2. Great (Not) Dane
The Great Dane doesn't originate from Denmark. The large breed's
origins begin in Germany during the late 1800s when a committee of judges
and breeders met in Berlin to classify several similar dogs known by different
names under just one: Deutsche Dogge which translates into English as
German Dog. So the breed became known in English as the Great Dane.
History of the breed
Great Danes were prized as wild boar hunters as well as guard dogs in Medieval Germany. When the breed first came to the United Kingdom, the dogs were known as German boarhounds.
In the 19th century, several similar varieties were classified together under the new name Deutsche Dogge. How that became Great Dane in English is not clear, but to complicate matters further, it may have been via the translation of a French name given to the breed: Le Grand Danois.
From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Great Danes
1.Head
2.Face
3.Body
4.Coat
5.Tail
Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Great Dane
Beware of bloat
Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), more commonly known as bloat, affects many large breeds but is the number-one problem associated with Great Danes. The signs of bloat to watch for are—bloated abdomen, restlessness, retching, salivation, and whining or abnormal stillness. If your Great Dane is experiencing any of these signs then seek immediate help from a veterinarian. Some owners opt for preventive surgery, which can protect their dogs, at least partially. The procedure, called gastropexy, involves stitching the walls of the stomach in place and should prevent the life-threatening torsion (volvulus) of the stomach, although not the dilatation (bloating). It’s a good start.
Hip problems
Due to their size, the Great Dane can be prone to osteoarticular diseases—or diseases of the bones and joints. In particular, the Great Dane breed can suffer from antebrachial growth deformities. These deformities of the dogs’ forelegs can lead to limited movement and pain. To avoid conditions like these, it’s important to feed Great Danes the correct food from puppyhood and avoid calcium supplements.
Tailored nutrition for Great Danes
When choosing food for a Great Dane, there are many factors to consider: age, lifestyle, activity level, physical condition, and health, including potential sickness or sensitivities. Food provides energy to cover a dog's vital functions, and a complete nutritional formula should contain an adjusted balance of nutrients to avoid any deficiency or excess in their diet, both of which could have health impacts.
As giant-sized breed dogs have a higher risk of a condition called gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), where the stomach becomes overstretched and rotated due to excess gas, often caused by overfeeding during a meal, it's recommended to split the daily allowance into three meals for puppies and maintain this routine into their adult years.
The following recommendations are for healthy animals. If your dog has health problems, please consult your veterinarian who may recommend an exclusively veterinary diet.
Strong Immune System
A Great Dane puppy’s requirements for energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins are greater than those of an adult dog. More energy and nutrients are required for puppies, not only to maintain their bodies, but to grow and build them. During their growth, Great Dane puppies’ immune systems develop gradually so a complex of clinically proven antioxidants—including vitamin E and C—can help support their natural defenses during this significant change.
Intense Growth Stage
This formula helps support your giant breed puppy's unique nutritional needs from 2 to 8 months and helps avoid excess weight gain.
Microbiome Support
Combination of prebiotics & highly digestible proteins to help promote a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria for digestive health.
Like many giant-sized breed dogs, Great Danes are prone to digestive sensitivity. Also, their body weight can place stress on their joints throughout their lifetime. Therefore, the nutritional needs of Great Danes should include high-quality protein and a balanced supply of dietary fiber to promote optimal digestibility. Additionally, the inclusion of glucosamine, chondroitin, and antioxidants are important to help support the health of their bones and joints. A formula enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, will help maintain healthy skin. An adapted taurine content is also essential to support healthy heart function.
Concentrated Energy
Due to them having really high muscle mass (80%), the energy needs of Great Danes are 50% higher than those of other dogs of the same size. The Great Dane, high energy formula is tailored to meet their unique nutritional needs without overloading their stomach.
Digestive Performance
The formula supports digestive health by using highly digestible proteins and a selection of specific fibers to support stool quality and digestive sensistivity as Great Danes are susceptible to a longer colonic transit as well as a higher colonic permeability.
Bone & Joint Health
The Great Dane's joints can be placed under stress due to their large stature and long growth period The formula is enriched with EPA and DHA to helps joints and maintain an ideal weight.
Caring for your Great Dane
Grooming, training and exercise tips
Great Danes require regular exercise—multiple daily walks are ideal as they require at least 2 hours of exercise. Also, once their joints are fully developed, around two years of age, they can also enjoy jogs or hikes. However, off-leash exercise sessions should be in a secure, enclosed space.
The Great Dane’s short, smooth coat isn’t too high maintenance, except during its shedding season (mid-late spring), when the usual weekly brushing will need to be stepped up to a daily routine.
Due to their size, Great Danes will require training from a young age, consistent training methods will turn your Great Dane into an affectionate and sociable mega-dog.
Great Danes require regular exercise—multiple daily walks are ideal as they require at least 2 hours of exercise. Also, once their joints are fully developed, around two years of age, they can also enjoy jogs or hikes. However, off-leash exercise sessions should be in a secure, enclosed space.
The Great Dane’s short, smooth coat isn’t too high maintenance, except during its shedding season (mid-late spring), when the usual weekly brushing will need to be stepped up to a daily routine.
Due to their size, Great Danes will require training from a young age, consistent training methods will turn your Great Dane into an affectionate and sociable mega-dog.
7/7
Frequently Asked Questions about Great Danes
Yes! Properly trained Great Danes are eager to please, sociable and affectionate to their famillies, However, you will have to weight up the time and space you have to accomodate for this giant.
Great Danes are not known to be aggressive, although their large size may understandably make some people nervous—all the more reason to make sure they are well trained. Great Danes are not particularly known for their barking either. But with great vocal chords to match great everything else, when they do decide to express an opinion you’ll certainly know about it.
Other breeds that might interest you
Read more on this topic
Sources
- Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
- Royal Canin Dog Encyclopedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
- Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
- Royal Canin BHN Product Book
- American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/
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