History of the Great Dane breed
This breed owes a lot to Germany, first of all, its name. However, no matter how the Germans try to find its roots in their native land, they are located much deeper, namely, in real antiquity.
The first mastiff-like dogs appeared in Tibet. These were excellent warriors, whose spirit conquered everyone who came across them directly. Therefore, the dog subsequently ends up in Babylon and Ancient Egypt, where they paid tribute to him. The Persians used mastiff-like dogs in battle, wearing iron armor that allowed them to defeat cavalry regiments. Later, Alexander the Great made the breed “titled”, announcing it to the world. In the Middle Ages, the Celtic Dog appeared, of course, with its own characteristics. Crossing at that time took place naturally, but later it became purposeful, which led to the appearance of an extraordinary dog.
There are several versions of the origin of the breed. According to one of them, the Great Dane was bred by crossing large guard dogs and a greyhound, according to another version - by crossing a boar dog and a bulldog.
- The image of a mastiff-like dog was encountered by archaeologists excavating in Ancient Egypt.
- He is also the main character in a miniature by the French artist Robin Tesar, created in the 16th century.
The mission of this dog in ancient times was hunter, warrior, friend.
In Germany, where breed standards were first registered and approved at the end of the 19th century, its purity is being monitored as vigilantly as possible, which leads to the incredible popularity of the Great Dane in the 20th century. The Germans studied the breed thoroughly.
The very concept of “dog” suggests that it is a very large animal. Due to their size (they are recognized as the largest in the world), Great Danes were primarily considered to be a guard dog, and due to their stature - to the role of a noble companion.
In the 20s of the last century, when Count Karl Brazovoll took up the issue closely, the first wave of popularity passed. The Second World War interrupted this process, but interest arose again in 1958, when Count Widerda de Sanclair became interested in the giant.
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Previously, depending on where this animal lived, it was given a local name:
- English;
- Danish;
- Ulm;
- hunting;
- German;
Now only one name has been approved - “German”, recognized throughout the world.
Why was it bred?
The first representatives of the breed were intended mainly for hunting. Their power and intelligence made it possible to control the dog in a given direction. Later, special attention was paid to the most striking qualities - intelligence and complaisance, which made it possible to use him as a sled dog. Good security qualities were noted.
The main purpose today is to be a guide dog. The reason is the character of the representatives of this breed: noble, intelligent, tolerant, courageous.
Description of the breed
According to the ICF classification, the Great Dane is included in group 2 (“Pinchers and Schnauzers - Great Danes and Swiss Cattle Dogs”), section 2.1 (“Dogs of the Molosser and Mastiff type”) under number 235.
Thanks to a very expressive head, powerful bones and muscles, combined with nobility of posture, harmonious structure, clear and proportional body contour, the Great Dane looks like a majestic statue. He is the Apollo of dogs.
Extract from the Great Dane breed standard
https://old.rkf.org.ru/rkf/Standards/group2.html
Appearance of representatives
The standard defines the following parameters of the appearance of Great Danes:
- The head is large and long. The distance from the tip of the nose to the stop and from the stop to the occipital protuberance should be the same. The forehead is flat, its line parallel to the muzzle. When viewed from the front, the cheekbones should not stand out. The bridge of the nose is wide. The stop is clearly visible.
- The nose is black. In merle colored Great Danes, spotted or flesh colored dogs are allowed. In blue-colored Great Danes, the color of the lobe may be anthracite.
- The jaws are powerful and have a scissor bite.
- Almond-shaped eyes with an intelligent expression, preferably dark in color. In the merle color, light and different colored eyes are allowed.
- The ears are set high and hanging.
- The back is strong, almost straight.
- The abdomen is moderately tucked.
- The tail is set high, wide at the base, tapering to the tip, reaching the length of the hock joints. When at rest it is lowered, when in motion it takes on a saber shape, rising to the top line or even slightly above it.
- Limbs are strong, muscular, straight and parallel. The paw is arched, the toes are gathered into a ball.
- The movements are wide and springy.
- The coat is short, close to the body, and shiny.
- Height at withers: males - 80–90 cm;
- females - 72–84 cm.
Great Dane colors
The standard talks about several colors of Great Danes:
- Fawn - from sandy to rich red-gold. A black mask is recommended. There should be no white markings, grey, blue or brown.
- Tiger. The main color is golden in different shades, the stripes are black, evenly colored, running in the direction of the ribs. A black mask is desirable, white markings are not acceptable.
- Marbled (white and black spotted). The main background is white, with black torn spots scattered throughout the body. Speckling is undesirable. Gray merle color is not acceptable, but is not disqualifying.
- Black: actually black, glossy, white markings on the chest and paws are acceptable;
- raincoat, in which black, like a cloak, covers the head and body (the blaze on the head, collar, chest, belly, limbs and the tip of the tail are white);
- Platen - the main color is white, it has large rounded black spots.
Photo gallery: different colors of the Great Dane
Marble color has another name - harlequin
The fawn color often comes with a black mask on the face.
The raincoat color is named for its resemblance to the fact that the dog is covered with a black cloak.
Black Great Dane - a classic of the breed
The nature and characteristics of raising Great Danes
According to the standard, the Great Dane is a friendly and loyal dog. In addition, she is very caring towards children. But you need to take into account the size of the dog. If she turns around poorly, she can knock the baby down, but this is the only danger. The best leisure time for a Great Dane is with the whole family; they do not like loneliness; they feel most comfortable if one of the family is at home.
Great Danes are very caring towards children.
But experts do not deny some stubbornness in these dogs, so the owner must have pronounced leadership qualities. However, this breed is easy to train. Only socialization should begin as early as possible, already from 2 months of age. Then the dog will grow up balanced and confident, as stated in the standard.
Great Danes can behave differently towards other pets. They will strive to take a leading position, and if the other side agrees with this, then they will coexist peacefully.
Great Danes are reserved towards strangers. They will not greet guests at the doorstep by wagging their tail, but they will not show aggression either. However, until the moment when real danger begins to threaten the owners. Here the pet will not hesitate to defend the family. Great Danes bark rarely and only for business. Their main weapons are their size and power, which in themselves terrify attackers. These dogs are devoid of aggression, their anger - exactly until the moment the danger has passed, they will not rush indiscriminately at strangers.
If you have a sofa in your home, your Great Dane will definitely settle down on it.
Disadvantages and defects of the breed
Any deviation from the standard is considered a fault in the breed, but its severity is assessed depending on the extent of the impact on the appearance and other qualities of the animal.
So, undesirable manifestations include:
- unexpressed stop;
- straight bite;
- bulging or deep-set eyes;
- curved limbs;
- insufficiently collected toes, dewclaws on the hind legs.
Serious disadvantages include:
- lack of confidence, nervousness, timidity;
- prominent cheekbones, rounded skull;
- tail crocheted, not tapered at the end, docked;
- ambling movements.
Vices serving as grounds for disqualification:
- cowardice;
- aggressiveness, including due to fear;
- brown nose or with a forked nose;
- shortened eyelids, inversion or inversion of the eyelids;
- snack, undershot;
- crooked tail (vertebral deformity);
- height below that specified in the standard.
Disqualification based on color characteristics:
- in fawn and brindle colors - blue-gray or isabella shade, white markings on the forehead, white collar, white paws or “stockings”, white tip of the tail;
- in marble - absolutely white without any black spots (albinos), deaf Great Danes, the so-called porcelain Great Danes (having predominantly blue, fawn or brindle spots on a white background);
- in blue color - white markings on the forehead, white collar, white “stockings”, white end of the tail.
Video: about the Great Dane breed
Great Dane character
This amazing animal is harmonious in everything. His aristocratic appearance is not at all deceptive, so is his character. This is an incredibly kind, peace-loving dog, often thoughtful, slow, but at the same time mischievous and cheerful. Its size can confuse a stranger, which will not be amiss in certain circumstances. Yes, he can protect, and this is justified. Such a dog will never offend its own, except perhaps accidentally by hitting it with its powerful tail. How will he behave with strangers? The answer is simple: the way the owner will behave with them. That is, he is peaceful with friends and wary of enemies.
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Another feature: patient, devoted, courageous, self-confident, cheerful and sociable, he does not like loneliness.
The dog strongly senses the mood of the one who is nearby, he is always on the same wavelength with his owner.
Two unique features:
- slow;
- has a good memory;
The most popular colors
The Great Dane is characterized by shiny, smooth fur and dense skin with bright pigment. Based on color, the breed is conventionally divided into three groups: fawn, harlequin and blue.
Pale yellow
It is usually a uniform color ranging from pale to deep gold. According to standards, a black mask is preferable. Additional spots in this color are not welcome, although they are possible.
Marble
This group includes two colors - merle and brindle. Brindle corresponds to fawn in all respects (shades and spots), but the presence of even black stripes in the direction of the ribs is mandatory.
The merle color is characterized by a general white background, on which ragged black spots are unevenly located. The general background in this case can be gray, but this color is less preferable.
Blue
There are also two options here: directly blue and black.
If we talk about black, then it is necessary to note its depth and richness. In the black color, the presence of white spots in different combinations is allowed - marked, spots, etc. The blue color is characterized by a steel tint, white spots are also allowed, only fawn and black shades on the coat are rejected.
Content
- What is color and suit in dogs
- Great Dane breed colors
- How to choose a healthy puppy
When a person chooses a pet, he gives preference not only to a certain breed, but also focuses his attention on the color (in this case, choosing a Great Dane puppy), it comes in different shades and colors, striking with its beautiful patterns and appearance. Genetics is one of the main points in a dog’s appearance; color, type of coat and proportions depend on it.
Care and maintenance of a Great Dane in an apartment
The character of the dog is not the only criterion when choosing, especially if we are talking about a large animal. The Great Dane requires careful grooming, despite its “short hair”:
- nutrition is an important point;
- grooming and standard hygiene;
- education, training and keeping in an apartment;
Nutrition
The Great Dane is omnivorous, but this is precisely the moment that is considered the most vulnerable for this breed. Healthy nutrition for a puppy is the basis for the further successful (or unsuccessful) development of the dog. A balanced menu at an early age must be strictly observed, otherwise serious disturbances will occur in the development of the skeleton and the activity of vital organs (liver, gastrointestinal tract, etc.).
Grooming and standard hygiene
Even short hair is subject to shedding. Yes, Great Danes shed. And this happens throughout the year. That is why combing is a mandatory procedure; it is recommended to do it every week. It is also necessary to regularly keep your eyes (every day) and ears (every other day) clean, which will prevent possible inflammation. Nails need to be trimmed once every ten days. It is recommended to wash your Great Dane every week; for this procedure it is important to choose a high-quality detergent.
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Education, training and maintenance
If you start education at an early age, then problems will not arise in the future. The emphasis is on training in the first two years, after which the dog’s character is fully formed. As a rule, there are no difficulties in training, since the Great Dane is an intelligent, understanding dog that tries to please its owner in everything. Particular attention is paid to the long walks that he needs.
He is easy to train. It is carried out in a standard or game form.
The puppy is very playful and active. However, this is also typical for an adult dog. Another quality is excessive curiosity. This point may cause additional trouble, since your friend will try to explore all the nooks and crannies. Conclusion: arrange your apartment in such a way that your pet does not spoil what is important to you.
Great Danes love their home; moreover, they completely consider it theirs. They, just like you, prefer to sleep on a bed rather than on the floor, and relax in a chair. One gets the feeling that this animal was created specifically for an apartment, not for an enclosure. Take into account his wishes, adapt to them, then the difficulties will “go away” by themselves.
What is the color and color of Great Dane dogs?
The visible pigment of the outer part of the hair. A significant number of dogs, along with pigmented hair, have white spots or marks in certain areas of the body that are devoid of pigment, i.e. hair lacking pigment. When mixing colors, the color of the dog is determined by the dominant color. A dog has such types of hair as downy, integumentary (smooth), guard hair. The different properties of wool are determined as an adaptation to different climatic conditions and their habitat. Each type of coat and its color requires special care. Breeders have studied how color and patterns are created on the body of an animal. Genes can be responsible for hair structure and color. This is general information that applies to all dog breeds, not Great Dane puppies.
- A. With the help of this locus, a solid color of the pet’s entire body is obtained (monochromatic).
- B. Dyes wool black. Some species have partial of this gene (spotting). Some dog breeds necessarily have this gene!
- C. This is the key component! With its help, the body produces color throughout the body. If this component is missing, the dog may be born without color (albino). The color of the nose and iris does not depend on this component.
- D. If there is little gene in the pet’s body, then the coat will be lighter. If there is a lot of gene in the body, then the dog will have a rich black color. The gene affects the viability of the dog; if a pet is born with a lack of the gene and a blue color, then he may most likely not live to see his senior years. When the gene is dominant, the color of the pet turns out to be black.
- G. With old age, this component is activated and gray hair appears. They call him gray-haired. When the color turns gray.
- E. With its help, in most cases, three-color colors are obtained, containing pigment of black, brown and yellow.
- M. The gene leads to anomalies for the pet and gives a harlequin pattern. Has a marble color. With old age, the gene can lead to lightening of color.
- S. This gene causes partial body pigmentation in dogs. (white spotting).
- T. The gene is characterized by mottling. It is opposite to the S gene and forms dark spots on white areas.
- R. Chastity - alternation of hair that is colored and not.
Zeus is the largest representative of the breed
In 2013, one of the representatives of this breed was included in the Guinness Book of Records. This dog's name is Zeus. This is no longer just a giant, but a real giant, whose height at the withers was 111.8 cm. He lived in Michigan. In 2013, he was 5 years old and weighed more than 70 kg at the time. To stay in shape, the dog ate a 14-kilogram bag of food every day! When the giant rose on its hind legs, that is, stretched out to its full height, its body length was 2.2 meters. It is not difficult to find photographs where Zeus is captured with his owners; the spectacle is amazing. The shepherd dog living with them could easily walk under this amazing beast. Zeus’s character was the most “Dogish”, that is, he was an excellent, sociable dog. He lived a short time, only 6 years, and in 2014 Zeus passed away.
Characteristics and breed standard
The height of a male starts from eighty centimeters, the female is slightly lower - from seventy-two centimeters. But you shouldn’t be afraid of them, because these giants are friendly and angelically kind. They have a harmonious physique, noble posture and expressive head.
The general characteristics of dogs of the Argentine Bulldog breed are very similar to the description of German bulldogs. Because these dogs are related. But Argentines are slightly smaller in size.
According to the standard, the weight of a Great Dane should be about ninety kilograms. The male body shape corresponds to a square, while the females have a slightly elongated body. These dogs have a rather large head, flattened on the sides and a pronounced transition from the forehead to the nose. Great Danes of all colors (with the exception of merle) have a black nose.
These dogs have very intelligent eyes. Most often they are dark. But in representatives of the merle color they can be light, and blue Great Danes sometimes have eyes of different colors. Dogs have large, high-set ears that hang freely.
A characteristic feature of Great Danes is the presence of a powerful neck with well-developed muscles. When the dog is actively moving, the neck bends slightly forward, and in the stand position it is placed vertically.
The breed standard calls for a flat back, which has a curve at the base of the tail. The tail is of medium length; during movement it rises slightly, but does not curl. The paws are smooth and have well-developed muscles.
