A Second Sight
During the Middle Ages, Great Danes - or more accurately,
the boar-hunting dogs who were their early ancestors - were
said to have the ability to see and guard against spirits.
According to an old Germanic tale, the early Danes would not
attack the warrior-hero and deity Odin when he traveled among
men, but they would bark at and attack the death goddess,
Hel, whenever she passed by.
Today, the exploits of Scooby Doo aside, experts attribute
the breed's reputation for second sight to its keen vision,
not psychic abilities. Unlike many breeds, the Great Dane
sees better than it smells. Most dogs use their nose as a
type of security system, alerting them to potentially dangerous
changes in the environment, but the Great Dane relies more
on its eyes. According to this theory, the breed's comic behavior
is probably just a reaction to some minute change in the environment
spotted with eagle eyes, not the presence of ghosts and goblins.
This sightfulness also contributes to the breed's famous
poise and alertness, creating an alert, noble demeanor that
has earned the Great Dane the titles "King of Dog" or "Apollo
of the Dog World." Like any good king, the Dane's reputation
stems from its courage and spirit rather than an ability to
intimidate or bully. Though never timid, the ideal Great Dane
is always friendly, dependable and sensitive -- an easygoing
companion who is reliable and stable but also watchful over
its family and home.
These qualities make the Great Dane a wonderful family dog.
They are devoted to their people and generally good with children,
although small children may be overwhelmed by the large dog's
friendly attention. Despite their intimidating size, Danes
are usually friendly toward other dogs and pets. Great Danes
are happiest when surrounded by loved ones. In fact, Danes
have a reputation for making themselves too much at home.
Lovers of creature comforts, they are notorious for confiscating
a favorite chair or bed.
The Royal Line
The Dane's gentle temperament is a fairly recent development,
made possible by the conscientious efforts of breeders during
the last hundred years. Early Danes were so aggressive as
to be almost unmanageable and were banned from dog shows in
the United States for several years in the late 1800s.
It's not surprising the first Great Danes were in a perpetual
bad mood, given the work for which they were bred. Savage,
strong, well-armed boar roamed the European forests during
the Middle Ages, and in the days before firearms, huntsmen
looked to dogs for help in killing these fierce creatures.
The large, powerful mastiff-type dogs that traveled with Roman
and Greek traders from Assyria, Tibet and other eastern locales
were most often selected to perform this dangerous task.
Male boar-hounds worked together in the attack to divide
the masses of boars until eventually a single boar was driven
toward the hunters, who were concealed behind screens. The
most powerful and strongest hounds were kept behind the screens
and let free against the boar as it approached. The dogs would
get a firm hold on the beast, allowing the hunter to kill
it with a spear at close range.
Boar-hounds existed throughout Europe as a variety of large
dogs. The development and unification to a type, however,
was carried on mostly in Germany, where native boar-hounds
were evidently cross-bred with numerous imported English hounds.
The English hounds, bred in royal courts during the 15th and
16th century, were high-legged, strong animals probably originating
from the crossing of English mastiffs with Irish greyhounds
and wolfhounds. This English influence remained with the breed
throughout its development; many early Great Danes were imported
back to England, where they were popular coach dogs, heralding
the arrival of their royal masters.
The German boar-hound continued to develop along a variety
of lines until after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. To
celebrate the country's unification created by the war, German
dog lovers decided to declare a national dog. The boar-hound,
renamed Deutsche dogge, literally "German dog," was selected
as this national breed, and the various types were soon conformed
into the breed we know today.
One of the enduring mysteries of the Great Dane is how it
came by its English name, since the Danish influence on the
breed was minor. According to the best guesses of breed historians,
many German dogs were exported to Denmark, where the Danes
in turn sent them all over the world as Grand Danios, or "Great
Danes." Some of the first specimens imported to England may
have been of these Danish dogs, which would account for the
name. Whatever the explanation, the name causes great consternation
for German enthusiasts, who insist the dog should be referred
to as the "Deutsche dogge." The English have paid no heed,
and the old name stuck in the English-speaking world.
Size XXL
Although the Great Dane is no longer needed to hunt wild
boar, members of the breed retain the large, athletic bodies
that were required for that task. Adult males typically stand
30 inches or higher at their shoulder, with a body that is
squarely in proportion to its height. Females are often a
few inches shorter and may be slightly longer than they are
tall. Typical Danes weigh from 100 to 120 pounds.
Despite the strength and athleticism of a Great Dane, their
exercise needs are relatively moderate, especially for adult
dogs. A daily walk or good backyard romp is all most Danes
need to stay healthy and happy. Puppies are a different story,
primarily because their rapid growth rate makes them injury
prone. Discuss an appropriate exercise program for young Great
Danes with your breeder and a veterinarian, and make sure
a young Dane receives plenty of training. When your Dane puppy
reaches its full height and size, you'll be glad he or she
is a well-behaved, obedient dog.
The Great Dane's short, thick, glossy coat requires little
care. It should be brushed frequently to encourage healthy
growth and appearance and bathed only as necessary to prevent
drying. The coat comes in a variety of colors, including blue,
black, brindle and the striking harlequin. The harlequin pattern,
unique to Danes, is a series of black patches set against
a white coat. Unlike the symmetrical spots of the Dalmatian,
the patches are jagged and irregular. Prized by the European
aristocracy for its distinctive appearance, the harlequin
pattern is widely acknowledged as the most difficult color
to breed correctly in all of dogdom and is unique to Great
Danes. Some Danes exhibit a Boston pattern, featuring black-and-white
markings similar to a Boston terrier, or a blue merle pattern,
consisting of a bluish-gray base color with irregular black
markings sprinkled on the coat, which are the by-products
of unsuccessful attempts at harlequin breeding.
Unfortunately, this distinguished breed comes with more than
its fair share of problems. Temperament issues, attributed
to indiscriminate breeding, have arisen in recent years. Top
trainers note increasing fearfulness and aggression but report
these problems can often be addressed with vigorous training.
The breed's health can also be problematic. A rapid growth
rate takes its toll on bone development, creating orthopedic
problems of every kind. For this reason, it's important to
get the balance of a youngster's diet just right so that muscle
can be built up sensibly from an early age. Eye problems,
thyroid problems, stomach problems and heart problems all
affect the breed. Seek out breeders who check hips, elbows,
eyes and hearts, at a minimum. Even healthy Danes only have
a typical lifespan of eight years, and many die younger.
Hail to the King
Obviously real-life Great Danes never make it to Scooby
Doo's grand old age, but that shouldn't prevent responsible,
educated people from bringing a member of this breed into
their homes and families. Size and health issues do present
a challenge, but thousands of breed devotees swear by the
dog's regal presence and sensitive, loving personality. This
legion of devotees continues to grow - the breed ranked 28th
among the 147 new American Kennel Club registrations in 1999.
Prescient and watchful, capable of both great dignity and
serious clowning around, the Great Dane truly earns its title
as the "King of Dogs."
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