Great Danes are registered as the 15th most popular dog breed in the United States. They are playful, affectionate, sweet and love bonding with their owners. These gentle giants can look intimidating due to their large size, but they are soft-hearted dogs. The breed goes way back; large dogs resembling the Great Dane have been found in many ancient Egyptian carvings. But the modern Great Dane was bred in Europe in the 1800s for boar hunting purposes. The breed has transitioned a lot since then. Today, Great Danes make for beloved household pets.
Great Danes are also nicknamed ‘Apollo of Dogs’ due to their grace, beauty and courage.
Here are 9 things you did not know about Great Danes.
A fully grown male Great Dane can reach as high as 32 inches around its shoulders and can weigh up to 175 lbs. Females are slightly smaller and can measure up to 30 inches, and weigh around 140 lbs. Both male and female Great Danes can tower over humans if they stand on their hind legs. Despite their large size, Great Danes have an elegant gait and a good disposition.
Great Danes make wonderful family pets due to their affectionate nature and high patience levels. They are sweet-tempered and have an active need for socialization. They are great with children and can be trusted with them. But like all dogs, they should not be left alone with children and should be trained not to play rough. Great Danes are like giant teddy bears. Their hunter instinct was bred out by German nobles in the late 18th century. Despite their size, they were transformed into pampered and lovable lap dogs.
Great Danes are pleasant to have around the house and are extremely docile with children. But their owners still need to be careful around them because sometimes these dogs aren’t aware of their own strength and can be clumsy. These kind souls can make good guard dogs if they are trained properly. They are generally very protective of their home and family. Their loud bark, accompanied by their large, intimidating size, is good enough to scare off any burglar!
The bigger your dog is, the bigger its needs are. Great Danes can be expensive. They require more food than smaller dogs. You will also incur higher than average medical bills, and there will be more wear and tear to your car and home. Keeping a Great Dane is a serious decision as they are not cheap to keep.
Unfortunately, Great Danes tend to live between seven to ten years, on average. Some even live lesser than this. This breed is known to undergo major health difficulties due to its massive size. They also have a tendency to suffer from severe medical conditions such as bloating, stomach gas and stomach twisting. Anxiety is also known to kill Great Danes as it can trigger bloating and stomach twisting. This can kill a Great Dane in under an hour (petsworld.in). They are also prone to separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time. If you decide on keeping this breed, make sure you are aware of the symptoms of such conditions. This way, you can get medical assistance as soon as possible, if it’s required.
Great Danes don’t require intensive exercise but light daily exercise is a must. Two brisk walks of decent length are sufficient. Great Danes also make good jogging companions. However, Great Danes should not be exercised until they are two years old at least, as running before earlier can damage their fragile bones and joints. When taking this breed for a jog, make sure they are on a leash as they tend to follow their noses. Great Danes were originally bred to hunt boars, so if they get a scent, they will want to follow it. As they do not require intensive exercise, Great Danes are also suitable for apartment life. They also have a short-haired coat that is easy to brush and maintain.
When your dog is this big and so powerful, it needs to be properly trained. It needs to obey commands and be socialized. The plus side is that Great Danes are very friendly, eager to please and easily trainable. Training them is a pleasure but watch out for the odd stubborn streak that comes out now and then! Make sure you get your Great Dane from a reputable breeder. Also, make sure your dog is socialized adequately during its early months, as that is crucial.
This breed comes in a variety of different coat colors. Dog show clubs recognize Great Danes to be nine different colors, or a mixture of these nine colors. They can be Fawn – that is golden-ish-yellow and with black markings on their faces. They can also be Brindle that is black and fawn with a chevron pattern. Great Danes are also black, white, black and white, harlequin (white with black spots), Merle (mottled with patched of color) and mantle (mainly black with a white muzzle, neck, paws, chest and tail).
These lovable, gentle giants are easily recognizable with their huge and droopy faces, pointed ears, graceful bodies, and docile nature. These dogs are amazing pets for you and your family. They are eager, loving and easy to keep at home and easy to train. But you need to keep a close eye on them due to their health issues. Aside from that disadvantage, Great Danes are the ultimate house pets that you will instantly fall in love with.
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
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