History of the Great Dane

Description:

The great dane is a sturdy breed, with males measuring anywhere from 32" to 40" at the withers. Females typically measure between 30" and 34" inches. A well bred great dane should not appear weak, or whippety, but rather well muscled and strong.

Great Danes come in a wide array of colors, although only six are approved for show. The six recongized colors are: Fawn, Brindle, Black, Blue, Harlequin and Mantle.

Please visit the Photo Gallery page for photos of all colors.

Great danes may or may not have cropped ears. This is based on personal preference. Some prefer the look of the cropped, and feel it makes the dane appear more regal. Some prefer the soft, floppy earred look and feel that it makes them retain their puppyish looks.

A dane's coat is short, and easily maintained.

To learn about the breed standard, please visit the Great Dane Club of America's website (Click Here).



Temperament:

The official standard set forth by the Great Dane Club of America calls for the great dane to be be spirited, courageous, always friendly and dependable, and never timid or aggressive.

Poor breeding practices by unethical breeders have wreaked havoc among great dane temperaments. When looking for a dane, make sure to talk to your breeder in depth about the temperament in their lines. While most danes are big pussycats, you don't want to take a risk by buying one from a backyard breeder, pet store, or other irreputable source. Do your research, in a breed this large, temperament is as important as health.

See some great examples of the true dane temperament (Click Here)

Grooming:

Grooming a great dane is simple, however, it should not be neglected just because they are short coated. My danes have always benefited from a twice a week brushing as well as having their nails dremeled or clipped every two weeks. The ears should be wiped out once a week unless their are ongoing problems that require a more frequent routine.

Brushing my danes has always been done with a Zoom Groom. This is a rubber bristled tool that pulls the loose fur off. The danes seem to think of it as a massage. During shedding season, I do this more often. You can also add a quick sheen to your dane's coat by spritzing him with Magic Touch (a grooming aid) or even plain water, and wiping him down with a chamois cloth (you can pick these up anywhere that has a car care section - they are used for drying cars). This will pull alot of the loose fur off.

Dremeling nails is simple also, but I would encourage you to start young so that get accustomed to the tool. You can purchase a Dremel from any Walmart. I use the Mighty Mite, which ran about $20.00. You will use the grinding tool which looks like a little ring of sandpaper. The important thing to remember is to not apply to much pressure to the nail, as it will cause discomfort, and to not stay on the same nail for longer than three to four seconds at a time. Most danes become quickly acclimated.

Cleaning ears is simple if your dane does not have pre-existing ear problems. If so, please consult your veterinarian for his recommended treatment. The following ear cleaning advice is solely for maintenance, not for treatment.

I use baby wipes to wipe my dane's ears out once a week. If she has been swimming and has gotten especially grimy, I will use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Never use hydrogen peroxide in your dane's ears, it will break down into water and cause ear infections, especially in an uncropped dane.

Feeding:

Feeding your dane has a lot to do with personal choice. You may choose to feed Raw, a commercially prepared diet, or even homecooked. I cannot stress enough the importance of researching whichever method you choose thoroughly. To venture into it lightly can cause serious harm to your Great Dane.

Feeding your dane puppy is even more critical. Protein levels must not exceed 23% and most breeders will recommend 21%. High protein levels may cause excruciating skeletal deformaties and should be avoided. Look for a diet low on fillers, and one that uses a specified meat source as the first ingredient.

Please click on the following link for more great feeding information.

     THE DOG FOOD PROJECT

Please check out the following links for more information on the diets listed above.
RAW links:
     RAW LEARNING

Choosing a Commercial diet:
     THE DOG FOOD PROJECT

Home Cooked:
     HOME COOKING FOR DOGS