|
The Great Dane It is believed that a dog breed similar to that of the Great Dane lived in Greece, Rome and Ancient Egypt. These dogs were developed from various bloodlines including the Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound and the medieval boarhound. It was also reported that these dogs were taken to Germany by the Alans. These dogs were known as the "Apollo of all dogs" and have been seen on Greek money dating back to 36 B.C. The original purpose of these early dogs was to hunt wild boar, deer and wolf. These dogs were often referred to in literature and poems as well, most notably the guard hounds to the next world in Denmark and England, as depicted in "The Hound of the Baskervilles." These hounds were considered holy to the kings of Denmark and England as seen through the literature of this time. The most treasured version of the Great Dane was the white and black dog, known today as the Harlequin. These dogs were used in a unique type of hunt and because of this these first Great Danes were lighter than today's dogs. They were not allowed to kill the deer, but instead had to hunt it, knock it down and then hold down the deer until the hunter came to kill the deer. These dogs had to be strong and light at the same time. The Great Dane varies in height and weight requirements depending on the kennel club. Generally they are between 100 and 120 pounds and 28 to 32 inches tall. Most standards do not specify a maximum height and weight. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized a Great Dane named "Gibson" from Grass Valley, California in August 2004 to be the world's tallest dog, measuring at 42.2 inches. There are six colors that are acceptable for the breed including fawn (with black mask), brindle, blue, black, Harlequin, and Mantle. These are the only colors allowed in the show ring, although others may exist such as white, merle, fawn mantle, merlequin and fawnequin. The Great Dane has a large and imposing appearance, but they are well-known as "gentle giants." They are generally friendly towards other dogs, other pets, wild animals and children. The Great Dane is well known as a dignified, kid and affectionate dog. They are playful yet patient with children and they rarely become aggressive. These dogs should be taught not to pull or lean on you, especially on children. It is best if you can raise your dog from puppyhood and establish obedience early, as they can be difficult to train. There are some dogs, however, that may be aggressive towards dogs of the same sex or chase small animals. Some may also have dominance issues and require extensive dog obedience training. The dogs actually do quite well in an apartment, but they do need to be walked on a regular basis. They are relatively inactive indoors and like to take over the sofa. They do best when they have a large yard to play in. The average life span of a Great Dane is around ten years. |
Beagles Beagles Beagle Story Poodles Taking care of your Poodle Poodles Poodle Story Great Danes Great Danes Taking Care of your Great Dane Great Dane Story Yorkshire Terriers Our Yorkshire Terrier Taking Care of your Yorkshire Terrier Yorkshire Terrier Labradors Taking care of your labrador Labrador Retriever Story Labrador Retriever German Shepards German Shepherd German Shepard Story Taking care of your German Shepard |