Jan 19 2009
Breed of the Week: Great Dane
The Great Dane was bred to hunt fierce wild boar, guard castles and forts, fight in battle and to even pull and haul equipment and carts. Commonly called the “Apollo” of dogs, the Great Dane is a giant of dogs. They are powerful, brave and loyal while at the same time playful, affectionate and sensitive.Growing as large as 36 inches at the shoulders and weighing as much as 200 pounds, Great Danes are by no means clumsy. For their great size they are very agile dogs with a long powerful, confident stride. They make great family dogs as they are dependable, behave very well and are great with children. Their size can be intimidating to Kids, but they are every sweet and loving
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Great Danes respond best to training when started as a puppy, although they may need a reminder now and again. Exercise is also very important. Long walks or a regular basis and plenty of room to run and play are necessary. This breed needs room to move and is NOT an ideal breed for apartment living.Regular grooming and brushing is also a good idea, although they shed lightly. Their coats and thick and short and come in a variety of colors including black, blue, brindle, fawn, white and white with non uniform black patches called harlequin.
Health concerns of a Great Dane include the following:
Bloat
Skin allergies
Hip dysplasia
Arthritis
Tail injuries
Heart diseases
VWD (von Wildebrands disease)
Dilated cardiomyopathy
With all the health concern with the Great Dane, they typically do not live past 10 years, however with proper care and regular vet check up, some can live to 13 years.
Great Danes are also sometimes referred to as:
Gentle Giants
Danish Hounds
Deutsche Dogge
German mastiff
Cute pictures of Dane’s. Our dog was also bread to hunt and protect against wild boar!! South African Boerboel she beautiful, we call her Boo!!
There’s some great articles here, i’ll be back