Great Dane
Dogs
Great Dane
Great Dane |
Fawn coat color
|
Alternative names |
Deutsche Dogge
German Mastiff
Alano
Dogue Allemand
Grand Danois
Dog Niemiecki |
Country of origin |
Germany |
Common nicknames |
Gentle Giant |
Classification and breed standards |
FCI: |
Group 2 Section 2 #235 |
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AKC: |
Working |
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ANKC: |
Group7 (Nonsporting) |
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CKC: |
Group 3 (Working) |
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KC (UK): |
Working |
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NZKC: |
Nonsporting |
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UKC: |
Guardian Dogs |
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Not recognized by any major kennel club |
This breed of dog is
extinct |
Notes |
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The Great Dane is a
breed of
dog known for its
large size and gentle personality. The breed is commonly referred to as the
"Gentle Giant".
Appearance
Harlequin coat color
There are six show-acceptable coat colors for Great Danes.
- Fawn: Yellow gold with a black mask. Black should appear on the
eye rims and eyebrows, and may appear on the ears and tail tip.
- Brindle: Fawn and black in a chevron stripe pattern. Often also
referred to as a
tiger-stripe pattern.
- Blue: Deep grey with a bluish tinge. Reminiscent of
Weimaraners.
- Black: Pure jet black.
- Harlequin: Torn black patches on white. The Great Dane is the
only dog breed that shows this particular coat color pattern. (Dalmatians
have round black spots.)
- Mantle: Black coat and mask on white. Looks like the markings on
Boston Terriers.
Other colors occur occasionally but are not acceptable in the show ring.
Because they are not valid for show dogs, they are not pursued by breeders.
These colors include white, fawnequin,
merle, merlequin, fawn mantle, and others. These are sometimes advertised as
"rare" colors to unsuspecting buyers. Any coat that includes "mouse grey" is
disqualified from show.
Cropping
of the ears is common in the United States and much less common in Europe.
Indeed, in some European countries, in parts of Australia, and in New Zealand,
the practice is banned, or controlled such that it may only be performed by
veterinary surgeons for health reasons.
Height and weight requirements for
show dogs
vary from one kennel club's standards to another, but generally the minimum
weight falls between 100 to 120 lb (46 to 54 kg) and the minimum height must be
between 28 and 32 inches (71 to 81 cm) at the
withers. Most
standards do not specify a maximum height or weight. In
August
2004, a Great Dane
named "Gibson" from
Grass Valley,
California
was recognized by the
Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest dog, measuring 42.2 inches
at the withers.
[1]
Temperament
Typically they are smart, strong dogs who are protective and loyal to their
owners. Many are gentle and delicate, although not to the extent of being timid.
They take to training well and are fairly low maintenance compared to many other
breeds. The Great Dane must be spirited, courageous, always friendly and
dependable, and never timid or aggressive.
Puppy with mantle coat
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.
Bloat (a painful
distending and twisting of the stomach) is a rare but critical condition that
affects Great Danes and results rapidly in death if not quickly addressed. It is
a commonly recommended practice for Great Danes to have their stomachs tacked (Gastropexy)
to the interior rib lining during routine surgery such as
spaying and neutering if the dog or its relatives have a history of bloat.
Another problem common to the breed is in the hips (hip
dysplasia). Typically an
x-ray of the
parents can certify whether their hips are healthy and can serve as a guidline
for whether the animals should be bred and are likely to have healthy pups.
Dilated
Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and many
congenital
heart diseases are also commonly found in the Great Dane.
Great Danes also suffer from several genetic disorders that are specific to
the breed. For example, if a Great Dane lacks color (not white) near its eyes or
ears then that organ does not develop and the dog will be either blind or deaf.
The brindle coat can be lightly brindled, as here, or with more distinctive
stripes.
History
Often referred to as the "Apollo of Dogs", the Great Dane we know today is
thought to have originated from larger German
Bullenbeisser dogs. The Bullenbeisser was used in Germany for hunting large
wild boar. Some texts about Great Danes say this breeding was accidental. There
are also those who believe that the Great Dane was created by crossing a
Greyhound
with an
English Mastiff. The origin of the "Dane" appellation is unclear; the breed
almost certainly did not originate in Denmark, and indeed is still known in
German as the Deutsche Dogge and in French as the Dogue Allemand, both meaning
"German mastiff".
Miscellaneous
The Great Dane is the
state dog of
Pennsylvania.
The Great Dane is the team mascot at the
University at Albany.
Famous Danes
-
Hanna-Barbera's
Scooby-Doo
-
Brad Anderson's newspaper comic character
Marmaduke
- Einstein in
Disney's
Oliver and Company (1988)
-
Just Nuisance - A member of the South African Navy
- Ace from
Batman Beyond
- Mars and Jupiter, two Great Danes from
The Patriot
External links
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