danes

A Thumbnail Sketch of The Great Dane

The breed as we see it today was developed primarily in Germany
and England out of mastiff-type and Greyhound stock. The principal
purpose of the breed in early years was to be an estate, or guard dog;
and to hunt wild boar. Some Danes still retain their hunting instincts,
especially around pigs! At that time, ear cropping was performed to
prevent the boar's long, sharp tusks from shredding the Dane's ear
during the hunt. Today's ear crop is much longer and elegant.
Great Danes currently rank about 35th in popularity of purebred dogs, so they
can be
considered a fairly common breed. As a giant breed they are not the dog for
every
household.

In Dane Outreach's experience, most of the Danes coming into shelters are
unclaimed
strays; or dogs that have been owner released due to moving, divorce, lack of
time, lack
of training, or lack of breed education and understanding before
purchase. Any person considering adding a Dane to their
household would be well advised to first research the breed.
Danes come in six "recognized" (colors that can be shown) colors;
fawn (tan with black mask), brindle (tiger stripped), black (a solid
black), blue (a steel blue), Mantle (marked like a Boston Terrier)
and Harlequin (a white base coat with evenly distributed torn
black patches). However, besides these colors there are numerous others that
show up
and are termed as mismarks. These can include merle, white, and black with
white
markings; which all come from the Harlequin color family. White Danes can
often be
deaf. Other colors, such as a white dog with fawn or brindle patches or a "blue
brindle"
are dogs that have come out of mixed color breeding. Mixed color breeding is
considered unacceptable by the Great Dane Club of America. Irregardless,
once
spayed or neutered, all can make fine family pets. It should also be noted, that
while
hearing whites and Mantles are used in an established breeding program, it is
never
acceptable to breed white dogs with fawn spots, etc.

Ears can be cropped or uncropped. If uncropped, the ears have
a houndy appearance and have a slight rise at the ear where it
meets the base of the skull. Ear cropping should always be
done by a qualified vet familiar with the breed.
Males are about 33" to 36" at the shoulder and weigh about 140
to 175 pounds. Bitches are smaller; with height about 31" to 33" and weight at
about
110 to 140 pounds. Danes should never be rib thin. Full height is not usually
reached
until 12 to 15 months of age.

Diet is very important with young and growing Danes. A diet too high in protein
can
and will cause growing (bone) problems. Established breeders usually have a
set
feeding program for puppies they sale.
There can be great variation in breed type, but most Danes usually are big
boned,
should have long tails (although sometimes docked due to injury), a relatively
long
neck and a head with a longish muzzle, definite flews (lips), and a defined stop.
Most
Dane books found will have several good examples of different breed type in
them.
The body should be squarish. A Dane should never
resemble a mastiff (be too coarse) or look
"greyhoundy" (be too whippety).

Most Danes are very friendly, but can be reserved or
frightened in an unfamiliar kennel or shelter situation.
Aggressive, excessively shy, or vicious Danes should
not be placed into homes, and certainly never bred.
When viewing puppies in a litter they should be happy
and outgoing. Avoid purchasing shy or standoffish puppies.
The breed as a whole is a wonderful family pet for a household who wants a
large,
indoor, affectionate short-haired breed who will offer a measure of protection.
They
are a very people oriented breed and need to be a part of the family. They are
loving,
good with kids, clean, easy to housebreak as puppies, simple to groom, and of
average
intelligence. They are versatile and can participate in a number of canine
sports such as
agility, obedience competition, and flyball. While puppies can be quite active,
adults
do not require a lot of exercise; many adults have to be encouraged off the
couch to go
for a romp!

The negative aspect of the breed includes a short life span of 7 to 10 years;
and
predisposition to certain health problems such as bloat, certain types of cancer,
and
heart problems and wobblers. Puppies and young adults can be prone to
certain
growing, or bone problems, which usually are attributed to a improper diet;
customarily
one that is too high in protein/fat/calories or has been supplemented.
Occasionally
some Danes can be dog aggressive and others do not tolerate
livestock-especially pigsor
small animals well. Older unaltered adult males can be prone to prostate
infections;
and unaltered adult bitches to false pregnancies. Spaying or neutering pets is a
good
idea for the health of the dog. Breeding should be left to those who have a
complete
understanding of the breed and its unique needs.

The household considering a Dane should have a well built
large kennel run or a fenced yard. Most Danes are not jumpers
and a six foot fence is sufficient. However, nothing can
contain a jumper if you should get one! Do not expect your
yard to remain beautifully landscaped if you put a young Dane
in it; they have their own agenda when it comes to pruning and
replanting! If a nice yard is a priority for you, don't get a
Dane! They will dig and chew! Chaining, staking out, tying, or allowing to roam
free
are all highly unacceptable for obvious reasons.

Time and commitment are crucial factors in ownership of this breed as they do
not do
well as an outside dog. They need and crave human companionship. Also, their
coat is
not sufficient enough to keep them warm in the winter. The young puppy will
benefit
greatly from a set of properly taught puppy kindergarten classes-it should be
considered
mandatory; and the adopted adult will benefit from a set or two of obedience
classes.
These classes help the owner to learn how to properly trained their dog, and
will also
assist with the bonding process.

Households with children who are considering an adult should only consider a
Dane
whose history with kids is known. Although most Danes are very good and
gentle with
kids, one unfamiliar with them can accidentally knock them over.
Expense should also be a consideration as this is a pricey breed to take care
of. Quality
food, supplies, training classes, properly fenced yard, and vet expenses can
quickly add
up. Everything is "more" with a Dane because of the size!

The proper use of a crate as a training tool will help assist in housebreaking
with a
young puppy; and prevent major destruction from a chewing adolescent. To
prevent
problems, young Danes should not be allowed free roam of the house until they
have
proved themselves to be trustworthy. A Dane on a chewing spree can destroy a
house!
Danes should never be encouraged to be over-protective or aggressive. Their
large size
is sufficient to scare off most intruders. Their natural tendency is to protect if
needed;
always using good judgment. It is the responsibility of the Dane owner to
properly
socialize and train their Dane so he can learn good judgment.

Owners of Great Danes should recognize that some people
are very frightened of large dogs and should always act in a
responsible manner; keeping their Dane leashed and under
control when in public places and in their fenced yard when
at home.

Text by Georgia Hymmen
June 1995 (revised May 2004)
Distributed by Dane Outreach
www.DaneOutreach.org
Permission to reprint as long as text is not
changed and credit given to author.