The tallest dog breed in the world, powerful, yet elegant, the ‘fight’ has been mostly bred out of Great Danes and they can be big gentle clowns, as this picture shows. The American Kennel club refers to the breed as hunting dogs, but the UK Kennel club classifies them as a guardian dog; they are generally considered working dogs.

The breed was developed around the middle ages to hunt wild boar and deer, and they coupled as guard dogs for large wealthy estates. They were developed by crossing the Wolfhound with mastiff.

The breed is German and in 1880, Germany banned the name ‘Great Dane’and called them ‘Deutsche Dogge’. Why is the breed called Dane if not Danish? Some say, during the middle ages Demark was a part of northern Germany. Others say a famous French naturalist came across the dog in Denmark and called it ‘Grand Danois’ in French, Great Dane in English; the name stuck, but it is a misnomer.

These dogs can weigh between 45 - 60 kg, depending on the sex of the dog. Their lifespan is quite short, 6-8 years, rarely 10. What makes this breed so special is their gentlness and affection for people, especially children. They have a great desire to please and are playful which can make them easy to train, even though some stuborness may be experienced. Other positive traits are their low tendency to bark and dig. They generally get along with other animals, particularly if raised with them. However, some individuals can be aggressive with dogs they do not know. A negative is their high tendency to drool, I have seen show competitors carrying special face cloths to wipe away drool.
Because of their size they can be costly to feed, and for veterninary care. These dogs were bred to follow scent, so it is wise to keep them on lead when out walking.

They also need a securely fenced yard at home.
‘Scooby-Doo’- the main character on an animated television franchise created in 1969 was a Deustche Dogge. It was a favourite for children and their parents for over 50 years. Scooby, the crime fighting dog is still recognised as one of the most popular cartoon characters ever.

Pam Brandis,
Dip. Canine Prac.