About Great Danes

The Great Dane is considered the Apollo of Dogs. It is a gentle giant. Their history can be traced back as far as 3000BC but the Dane as we know it today was developed by the Germans to hunt wild boar about 400 years ago. Depending on where you get your information from, the Dane was bred from an Irish Wolfhound, and/or an English Mastiff and/or a Greyhound. The males should be no shorter then 30 inches at the shoulder and the females no shorter then 28 inches. Fawn, Brindle, Harlequin, Black, Blue and Merle are the normal range of colors.

The Great Dane is a gentle, affectionate dog that needs human companionship. They are elegant yet powerful creatures. Training should begin at an early age because of their size. Even though they love to exercise and play outdoors they do not fare well living outside and should always be considered indoor dogs.

The average lifespan of a Dane is 7 to 9 years but we have seen them live as long as 15 years even though this is very rare. Proper nutrition and care, genetics and size all play a role in their longevity. Great Danes are comedians and you have to have a sense of humor to live amongst them. We laugh constantly as they perform their acts of mischief everyday!

The Great Dane should only be fed a premium food. A few examples of great nutritious foods are: Dick Van Patton’s Natural Balance, Solid Gold, Innova, Pinnacle, Candidae. The protein and fat content are the proper amount. This is very important in a giant breed. The fast rate of bone growth and the weight on their hips need to be considered when you choose a food.

Please take a few minutes to read the following article: www.api4animals.org . You can find more information for nutritious foods at at: www.naturalbalanceinc.com  or  www.solidgoldhealth.com . We have seen magnificent results using these foods. Many brands of acceptable foods are available today and you should take special care when you are deciding on your dog’s nutrition.

Before deciding to adopt a Dane consider the following things. A giant breed costs more to keep. They need giant size beds, bowls, toys etc. Medications, operations all cost more because of the weight of the dog. This breed can be dangerous to small children merely because they are so large. Do you really have enough time to dedicate to this breed of dog? They are very needy for human attention. Do you have enough time to properly train this dog? A giant breed can chew your couch whereas a smaller breed might chew your shoe.