Great Dane Dog Breed Profile

by Amanda

AKC Group: Working Group

A tender giant, the Great Dane is simply majestic. Sometimes known as the king of dogs, this very large breed of dog is recognized for being powerful yet sophisticated, with an energetic, friendly personality. An iconic dog with an all too short of life span.

History

Historians claim that there are actually images of dogs that looked like the Great Dane on Egyptian ancient monuments from about 3,000 B.C. The first written description of the dog is located in Chinese literature of 1121 B.C. The roots of Great Dane as you may know it these days could be tracked to Irish wolfhounds with combinations of old English Mastiffs. The dog was first established by Germans to track down wild boar, a ferocious creature. When not utilized for hunting, the dog makes a great companion and house guard dog.

Physical Features

The color of the coat could be fawn, blue, black, brindle, mantle, or harlequin.

Males are normally about 30 inches tall at the withers and weigh 120 pounds minimum. Females are about 28 inches tall and weigh 100 pounds minimum. The world record for height was 43 inches.

They have a square muzzle, long floppy ears, and a medium length tail.

Personality

Affectionate and charming, they're patient and playful with children. They like everybody and must be around people. Great Danes don't bark a lot, but do get intense when the situation requires it. They're honest and dependable. Brave and devoted, they're good watchdogs.

Common Health Problems

Susceptible to bloat, heart disease, hip dysplasia, tail injuries and tumors. Jogging isn't advised till the dog is a year old, but walking is important. The average life span is only about 7 years max.

Return to: Complete AKC Dog Breed List

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