Great Dane: temperament, size, care and health

About the Great Dane

The Great Dane is a giant: males commonly stand 30 inches or taller at the shoulder, and a standing dog can look a grown person in the eye. Despite the size, the build is elegant and balanced, with a long neck, a deep chest and a smooth coat. Recognized colors include fawn, brindle, black, blue, harlequin (white with torn black patches) and mantle (black and white with a blanket pattern). Ears are cropped in some countries and left natural in others.

The breed was developed to hunt boar and to guard estates. Today it is chosen as a house companion, valued for its gentle manner and quiet presence, though it asks for room, food and time.

Temperament and family life

A well-bred Dane is typically friendly, affectionate and surprisingly sensitive. It tends to be calm indoors, enjoys lounging on any available furniture and often attaches itself to family members. Most greet visitors politely, but the breed is large enough to be intimidating by size alone, which is useful to some owners and a worry to others.

With children it is usually kind and patient, although its long tail and sheer bulk can topple small children by accident. It generally gets along with other dogs and with cats it has grown up with. Danes do not like to be left alone for long stretches, and separation can lead to unhappy chewing and pacing.

Exercise and training

Despite its size the Dane does not need extreme exercise. A daily walk or two and some free play in a secure area are enough for most adults. Puppies grow fast and should not be pushed to run long distances or jump from heights, since growing bones and joints are vulnerable. Short, frequent outings suit them best.

Training is crucial because a pulling or jumping adult is hard to manage. Danes usually want to cooperate, but they can be slow to mature, and some are stubborn. Start with manners at a young age, use rewards and keep sessions cheerful. A Dane that learns to sit calmly rather than lean on people is a better house guest.

Grooming and shedding

The short coat requires little more than a weekly brush with a rubber mitt or firm bristle brush. Shedding is moderate, and the short hairs weave into upholstery and carpet. Baths are only occasional. The coat gives little protection against cold or wet weather, so many Danes wear a coat outdoors in winter.

Trim nails regularly, since they are thick and grow quickly, and watch the elbows and hocks for calluses from lying on hard floors. A thick, supportive bed helps. Clean the ears if they look dirty and brush the teeth.

Health

Bloat, in which the stomach fills with gas and may twist, is the best-known emergency in the breed, and owners are advised to learn the signs. Dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease, also occurs often, and breeders usually screen hearts. Other concerns include hip dysplasia, wobbler syndrome affecting the neck, bone cancer and tail injuries from wagging. Lifespan is short for a dog, often 7 to 10 years. Remember this is a general overview, and any health decision about a specific dog should come from a veterinarian.

History

Despite the name, the Great Dane is a German breed, where it was called the Deutsche Dogge. It is generally traced to boarhounds crossed with mastiff and hound types in Germany over several centuries, and it was refined by German breeders in the nineteenth century, and a committee in Berlin settled on the name Deutsche Dogge in 1878. It has been popular in North America since the early twentieth century.

Is the Great Dane right for you?

A Dane suits owners who have space, a sturdy budget for food and veterinary care, and a wish for a gentle, quiet giant. It is a poor fit for people who cannot lift or control a very large dog, who live in a small rental with strict size limits or who dislike drool and a tail that clears coffee tables. Those wanting a somewhat heavier, steadier dog may like the Mastiff. The Irish Wolfhound is similarly tall but rougher in coat, and the Leonberger is a furrier giant.