great danes
Great Danes were originally bred hundreds of years ago by crossing mastiffs with greyhounds. Designed to assist in hunting wild boars,
they were created with a good balance of size, strength and speed. Although great danes are no longer used for hunting, they still maintain
these characteristics.
Great Danes should have a friendly, courageous, outgoing and loyal
personality. A great dane should never be timid or aggressive. A great dane
should be majestic in appearance. Males have a heavier, more masculine
appearance, while females appear more feminine.
great dane information
Average Life Span: 5-13 years
Average Height at the Shoulder: 30"-36"
Average Weight: 120lbs. - 200lbs.
Average Exercise Requirements: Moderate
Typical Adult Activity Level: Low-Moderate
Grooming Requirements: Low
Personality: Friendly, Outgoing, Playful
lifestyle changes
An adult great dane can rest his/her chin
on your kitchen countertop while standing on all 4 paws, and if they jump up can
reach the top of the refrigerator. You can't leave your breakfast on the counter
while you refill your coffee - it will disappear in a matter of seconds.
A great dane's wagging tail is very powerful and will completely destroy
anything in it's path from three feet high and below.
Your great dane will probably take up more space on the bed than you do, and
you may find yourself sitting on the floor while your great dane sprawls out on
the couch.
Be prepared for a lot of attention. People tend to be very attracted to great
danes, and everyone will want to pet your dog, chat about him/her, and
ask if "you have a saddle for that horse."
The money you used to spend on designer clothes and shoes will now be spent
on hundreds of pounds of dog food, toys and treats.
Once you own a great dane, it will be practically impossible to imagine
living without one.
What's the Difference Between a Great Dane and a Mastiff?
great danes and kids
Great Danes tend to be good with kids. However, their
massive size and strength can pose a problem with small children and toddlers.
Small children can be easily
knocked over or injured by a wagging great dane tail or romping 100 lb. puppy.
Kids and dogs should always be supervised and never left alone together.
great dane potential health risks
- Bloat
- Hip Dysplasia
- Cardiac Disorders
- Thyroid Disorders
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Eye Disorders/Blindness
- Deafness
- Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD)
- Panosteitis (Pano)
- Osteochrondritis Dissecans (OCD)
- Cancer
- Valley Fever
akc confirmation show disqualifications
Docked tail, under minimum height, split nose, any non-approved color,
aggressive behavior.
Both natural ears (un-cropped) and cropped ears are accepted for show.
great dane colors
There are 11 common colors, 6 of which are approved for show. Show colors are
Black, Fawn, Brindle, Blue, Mantle and Harlequin. Other common colors include
Merle, White, Piebald, Mantled Merle and Merlequin.
