Great Dane

Originally bred to hunt boar, the Great Dane is a giant dog with a loving disposition, making him an ideal family companion.

Temperament

The Great Dane is friendly, patient and dependable.

Characteristics

Great Danes make great companions because they are friendly, gentle and loving. Danes are patient with kids, provided they have been properly socialized with children from a young age, and are big people pleasers. Despite their sweet nature, they are also alert guard dogs.

Though a Great Dane may seem sedate, he does require daily exercise, whether in the form of a brisk walk or as your jogging or hiking partner. Keep your Dane leashed, as he tends to follow his nose and may take off to follow a scent.

Many Great Danes enjoy sports like agility, obedience, tracking events, weight pulls and flyball.

As previously mentioned, Great Danes love to please their owners, but they respond best to firm, consistent training methods.

Lifespan

7 to 10 years

Colors

The coat of a Great Dane comes in many different colors and combinations, including brindle, fawn, blue, black, harlequin and mantle.

Shedding

The Great Dane’s short and smooth coat doesn’t shed much throughout the year. They do have a shedding season once or twice a year, so daily brushing is recommended.

Health

Bloat is the most common health ailment for Great Danes. Learn to recognize the signs of this life-threatening condition and what to do if it occurs.

Other health issues that may affect the breed include eye and cardiac diseases, hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis and hip dysplasia.

Best Dog Food For Great Danes

Since they are considered a giant breed, select a giant dog breed formula to support your dog’s joint health and mobility and maintain his ideal body condition.

These foods include:

• Purina Pro Plan Essentials Large Breed Formula
• Purina Pro Plan Specialized Giant Breed Formula
• Purina One SmartBlend Large Breed Adult Formula

For an exceptionally active Great Dane, consider a formula with a protein-to-fat ratio to meet their activity level. Formulas like Purina Pro Plan SPORT 26/16 can help maintain lean muscles.

Best Dog Food For Great Dane Puppies

When choosing food for your Great Dane puppy, remember puppies of any breed have specific nutritional needs for proper development. A formula with DHA will nourish brain and vision development and antioxidants support their developing immune system to help them thrive during their first year of life. A giant breed-specific puppy formula can also support the joint health of your growing puppy.

The following foods meet the needs of a growing puppy:

• Beneful Healthy Puppy
• Purina Puppy Chow
• Purina One SmartBlend Healthy Puppy
• Purina Puppy Chow Large Breed
• Purina Pro Plan Specialized Giant Breed Puppy

History

The Great Dane’s origin story is mysterious. Although they are a German breed, they became associated with Denmark. At one time, German nobles used Danes for hunting ferocious wild boars. Later, the dogs became the protector of the home and family.

Facts

• The popular cartoon character “Scooby Doo” is a Great Dane.
• The name “Great Dane” is the English translation of the French name for the dog: “grand Danois” which means “big Danish”.
• The Great Dane has been a distinct breed for over 400 years.