Great Dane - A Gentle Giant

Did they really originate in Denmark? That turns out to be a very good question. You would think with a name like Great Dane, that Denmark is where they started. But, that is unclear.

It is more believed that they were first bred by Germans, at least 400 years ago. A mix of English Mastiff and Irish Wolfhound, Great Danes were bred to fight off wild boars and guard the family estate. Some believe that the Greyhound dog was also bred into these dogs. To watch a Great Dane run, you can see why people believe that.

When I first adopted my boy, he was horribly thin. He was at least a year old, meaning he was at his full height, but he weighed only 76 pounds. His vet believed he might not be a full Great Dane, but mixed with Greyhound, meaning he would never gain much more. Well, he grew into his full Great Dane weight of 125 pounds with proper nutrition, proving himself to be a pure breed. And, he showed the amazing speed and grace that is typical of his breed.

To watch a Great Dane run at full speed is a beautiful experience. In spite of their super size, these dogs are graceful and sure-footed. There is nothing clumsy about them.

Being a lover of Great Danes, I had the chance to meet a one-day old puppy. The tiny one fit in my hand, measuring just over 7 inches in length. But, he grew. And grew quickly. Great Dane puppies can easily be over 60 pounds when they are only 3 months old.

Think about how big that is. A full grown female Labrador Retriever is between 55 and 70 pounds. Imagine having a 3 month old dog that size!

Puppies are big. Plain and simple. Great Dane puppies are just as sweet and adorable as all puppies. And they chew just like all puppies. But, they don't just chew up a corner of the chair, they chew up the whole chair. They dig like other puppies. But the hole they dig becomes a lake when it rains.

As with any of the giant breeds, Great Danes require giant stuff. Very large food bowls, very large water bowls, very large crates, very large amounts of food. And chew toys, very large, of course. With a puppy that size, a little toy can be swallowed whole.

When I first researched about this breed, I ran across a story that seemed to say it all.

Great Danes are wonderful with children. They are patient, gentle and sure-footed around the wobbliest toddler. But, they have a sensitive side to them.

A cutie-pie little two-year girl was best friends with a fully-grown male Great Dane. One day she was practicing her running ability and tripped over him. She didn't cry. Instead, she walked straight to him, cupped his massive head in her tiny hands and proceeded to chew him out. This was still baby gibberish that her parents didn't understand. But, the dog did. He got so upset by his chewing out, that he went to his room (yes, he had his own room) and wouldn't play with her for three days.

That was the kind of dog I wanted. One so gentle, yet sensitive to me. In the past 10 years, my guy has seen many dogs and cats come and go in my life. That's how it works as an animal rescuer. At first, he wasn't sure about all of this. The first dog rescued, then adopted out, had been a playmate of his. It took my big guy a week before he stopped missing his friend and returned to his happy self. Of course, I think the addition of another puppy helped.

The cats are a slightly different story. He basically ignores them and allows them to walk under him with no issue. But each time I bring a new one into the house, I get "that look." It is clearly reserved only for the addition of a cat. Oh, brother, you did it again!

Great Danes are just great to live with. That's pretty simple. These are loving, gentle and intelligent dogs. They like other dogs, are just fine with cats, but mostly they love humans.

Wonderful as that is, remember the size we are talking about. You are being loved by a 125 pound darling that thinks he is a 10 pound lap dog. In other words, some training is necessary, just because of their size.

When my big guy first joined my life, he had no understanding that he couldn't fit in my lap. And he tried. Riding in the car was especially difficult since I couldn't have him sitting in my lap while I drove. So training was in order. As an intelligent breed, he learned quickly. But, he tested me every chance he got! Early and consistent training was very important.

I have never had a problem with my dogs joining me on the furniture. If you prefer the dog to stay off the furniture, that requires training. Just because of his size, my guy has his own couch. With both of us on the couch, I tend to get squeezed off when he stretches out. Therefore, his own couch.

Besides, the enormous amount of food they eat, Great Danes are basically easy to care for. They are always short-haired breeds and they shed no excessive amount. Basic brushing is easy since these dogs consider a brushing to be attention from their humans.

A bath is a slightly different scenario. My guy and I live on a large chunck of property with a few cows. Now, I have to tell you that cow droppings seem to be a delightful aroma to a dog. All of my many dogs who get the chance, will roll in cow droppings. They may think it smells like heaven, but I don't. Ergo, a bath.

Luckily this happens during summer only when the cow droppings are the most fragrant. Luckily because the bath takes place outside. I can't imagine convincing my big guy to climb into the bathtub and I certainly couldn't lift him in. But he stands still for that dreaded bath, hanging his head as low as he can get it.

Great Danes are generally laid-back dogs, known as the consumate couch potato. But they do require exercise. If you aren't lucky enough to live where he can have room to run, then he needs to be walked. Remember we are talking about a huge, powerful dog here. Training him to walk with you is vital. No human, with the exception of Mr. Muscle, can control a dog this size with sheer brute force. Training them is not hard, though, since they want most to be with their humans. Training with love and reward is the only way to train a dog as sensitive as a Great Dane.

Being short-haired dogs, they can get cold in the winter months. Putting a sweater on them when going out for a walk is useful. And don't worry, they have no problem being "dressed." Just more attention!

First: NEVER, EVER buy a dog from a pet shop. They come from puppy mills and puppy mills need to be shut down!

Second, since I am an animal rescue person, I want to urge you to adopt a dog. You can find many rescue groups that specialize in the Great Dane breed. In fact, there is a rescue group for just about every pure-bred dog you can think of. The Internet has a wealth of resources for people who want to adopt. Check out Petfinder.com or Adopt-a-Pet.com to find many dogs needing a good home.

Third, if you do want to purchase your puppy from a breeder, do some more homework. You've done your homework on which breed of dog will be best for you, your family situation, and your lifestyle. Now, do you're homework on breeders. Good breeders are numerous, but so are bad breeders. Don't support the bad breeders!

Good breeders charge more for their dogs. With good reason. They have spent much more to assure that they are breeding good quality dogs, without genetic health issues. They give their dogs the best health care and the best nutrition. Good breeders aren't in this for a profit, but because they love the dogs they are breeding. The typical price for a good, well-bred Great Dane puppy is $1,500. If someone is trying to sell you a puppy for $200, watch out! Good breeders will also give you a health guarantee. They will also insist that you return the dog to them if you find that you cannot keep him. Good breeders will also interview you, just as much as you need to interview them. They want their dogs to go to good homes. These are a few of the ways you can tell you have a good breeder.

Although, I do not recommend breeders as a rule, I have an example of a good breeder. I have researched their website and found them to do all the things that say to me: Good breeder. Highlands Great Danes is very proud of their breeding program and eager to show you. The picture here is of their current litter.

For any breeder, their website is just a starting point. Remember to interview them! Do your homework.

This author gratefully acknowledges that Wikipedia provided some of the photos, Great Dane Dog World.com provided others and the puppy photos came from Highlands Great Danes.