The Great Dane is the tallest though not the most massive of all
dogs. , Belgian Shepherd Its size belies its nature, they are commonly referred to as the 'Gentle Giant'.
Appearance
There are six show-acceptable coat colours , Silky Terrier for Great Danes.
- Fawn: Yellow gold with a black mask. Black should appear on the eye rims and eyebrows, and may appear on the ears , Irish Horse and tail , English Bulldog / British Bulldog tip.
- Brindle: Fawn and black in a chevron stripe pattern. Often also referred to as a tiger-stripe pattern.
- Blue: Deep grey with a bluish tinge. Reminiscent of Weimaraners.
- Black: Pure jet black.
- Harlequin: Torn black patches on white. The Great Dane is the only dog breed , English Bulldog / British Bulldog that shows this particular coat colour , Chinese Crested Dog pattern. (Dalmatians have round black spots.)
- Mantle: Black coat , Chihuahua and mask on white. Looks like the markings on Boston Terriers.
Other colours , Korat occur occasionally but are not acceptable in the show ring. Because they are not valid for show dogs, , Otterhound they are not pursued by breeders , Papillon but this does make them cheaper as pets. These colours , Mangalarga include white, fawnequin, merle, merlequin, fawn mantle, and others. These are sometimes advertised as "rare" colours , Narragansett Pacer to unsuspecting buyers. Any coat , Peach Faced Lovebird that includes "mouse grey" is disqualified from show.
Cropping of the ears , Selle Francais Horse is common in the United States and much less common in Europe. Indeed, in some European countries, , Fell Pony and Dales Pony in parts of Australia, and in New Zealand, the practice is banned, or controlled such that it may only be performed by veterinary surgeons for health reasons.
Height and weight requirements for show dogs , Fell Pony and Dales Pony vary from one kennel club's standards , Soft Bills to another, but generally the minimum weight falls between 100 to 120 lb (46 to 54 kg) and the minimum height must be between 28 and 32 inches (71 to 81 cm). Most standards , Dog Body Language do not specify a maximum height or weight.
Temperament
Typically they are smart, strong dogs , Narragansett Pacer who are protective and loyal to their owners. Many are gentle , Fell Pony and Dales Pony and delicate, although not to the extent of being timid. They take to training , Cesky Terrier well and are fairly low maintenance compared to many other breeds. , Rat Terrier The Great Dane must be spirited, courageous, always friendly and dependable, and never timid or aggressive.
Health
Great Danes, like most giant dogs, , Scarlet Macaw have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food , Cesky Terrier consumption per pound of dog , Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo than in small breeds. , English Foxhound Don't think this means small amounts of food. , English Bulldog / British Bulldog It doesn't.
Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds. , Scarlet Macaw Bloat (a painful distending and twisting of the stomach) is a rare but critical condition that affects Great Danes and results rapidly in death if not quickly addressed. It is a commonly practice for Great Danes to have their stomachs tacked (Gastropexy) to the interior rib lining during surgery such as spaying , Chinese Crested Dog and neutering if the dog , Narragansett Pacer or its relatives have a history of bloat. Another problem affecting the breed is in the hips (hip dysplasia). Typically an x-ray of the parents can certify whether their hips are healthy and can serve as a guidline for whether the animals , Chinese Crested Dog should be bred and are likely to have healthy pups. Its a must with this breed , Peach Faced Lovebird to get a history from the breeder , Bearded Collie of their breed , Dogue de Bordeaux stock.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and many congenital heart diseases are also commonly found in the Great Dane.
Great Danes also suffer from several genetic disorders that are specific to the breed. , Bloodhound For example, if a Great Dane lacks colour , Quarab Horse (not white) near its eyes or ears , Welsh Springer Spaniel then that organ does not develop and the dog , Barbary Dove will be either blind or deaf.
History
Often referred to as the "Apollo of Dogs", the Great Dane we know today is thought have originally been bred in Germany for hunting , Pleven large wild boar. In October 2005, a 3-year-old Great Dane named "Gibson" from Sacramento, California was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest dog, , Pleven standing 7 feet tall when upright.
