Dog class -Working
Average height - 28 to 36 inches
Average weight - 130 to 165 pounds
Size - Large
Average life span - 10 years

The Great Dane is a large, mild mannered, easygoing breed, but can be spirited on occasion. While a good family dog, it's not such a good idea to have a Great Dane if you have toddlers. The dog is large, and tends to be slightly clumsy with toddlers. In addition, the Dane is wary of strangers and can be aggressive with other dogs. Because of its size, it requires lots of exercise to stay fit. Space and companionship are priorities for this breed!

Despite its Americanised name, the Great Dane, or German Mastiff, actually originated in - you guessed it - Germany! Some date the breeds origin as far back as 2200 B.C. Initially the dog was used for guarding and for hunting the savage European wild boar. When it was eventually introduced as a show dog, it was listed under the name Siberian or Ulm Dog.

The Great Dane loves a good, long walk. In addition, it gets very lonely when not included in family activities. If you are the athletic type, train your Dane to work-out with you. They are very athletic dogs, and do especially well with sports such as competition obedience, fly-ball, and tracking.

A family-oriented dog who likes companionship, the Dane is a good watch dog to boot. This is an active breed and likes an active owner, although the dog does adapt well to apartment living. In addition, the Dane makes a good dog for a novice owner, as it is slow to mature and responds fairly well to training. Its coat is short and requires little grooming - a good weekly brushing will do the trick!

The Great Dane is a fairly short-lived breed, but can suffer from several, common health problems: hip dysplasia, bloat, bone cancer, heart disease, and tumours.

The Dane can be aggressive with other dogs, so it does not make for a good dog if you have other pets. In addition, it requires a lot of companionship and can become destructive if abandoned for significant periods of time.

The Great Dane's ears can be cropped or left hanging, his eyes are dark but may be lighter. In harlequin-colored Danes, the eyes are often blue or two different colors! However, be cautious when buying from a poor breeder. Danes can become hyperactive or aggressive if bred improperly.

Further Great Dane Dog Resources

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