Are you considering getting a Great Dane? Or are you just interested in the breed? Well, this is the perfect place to start! This post is a short summary of the Great Dane breed characteristics from their size to how much exercise they need.
Breed overview
Great Danes were bred in Germany to hunt wild boar in packs. So, they needed to be intelligent, strong and have a very good stamina and vision. Some people still believe that due to the sight work Great Danes were bred for they should be classes in the hound group rather than working group. Great Danes have a short coat meaning that they need minimal grooming but will shed lots! They come in a few standard colours, black, blue, brindle, fawn, harlequin, and mantle. They stand at 28 to 32 inches to the shoulder so are classed as a giant breed and have a lifespan of under 10 years.
Grooming
As I mentioned above Great Danes need very little grooming. So, will need the occasional brush (about once a week) and bath. But they do shed and slobber a LOT so it will be beneficial to brush them more during shedding season and keep a wipe or bib on hand. Obviously, Great Danes will also need their nails trimmed and teeth cleaned regularly exactly the same as all other dogs.
Exercise
Because Great Danes were originally hunting dogs they have an incredible stamina so need a lot of exercise (more than 2 hours a day). Not only do they need physical exercise like running or swimming but also mental stimulation. This can be done by training, which your Great Dane will love as they have a strong desire to please or using puzzle toys.
Health
Great Danes, like most breeds are predisposed to a few health conditions. These include development issues, hip dysplasia, gastric torsion, bone cancer and heart disease. However, all good breeders have both parents genetically tested/screened for these common health conditions. This means that when you buy a puppy you know it’s got a much smaller chance of developing these problems when its older.
Temperament
Great Danes are trusting, intelligent, eager to please and gentle giants! They are also Velcro dogs which means they want to be with the family all the time and truly believe they are lap dogs despite their size.
So, overall Great Danes are a very high energy but happy go lucky breed which makes them the perfect family pet for an active household! However, they do need lots of good quality early socialisation and desensitization to get them used to all sorts of people, sights and sounds. This is because they can become protective of their family or home. But with good socialisation and training you will have a reliable and funny friend for life!
P.s. You can shop all of our Great Dane products here!
