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Great Dane
The Great Dane, Danish Hound, or German Mastiff, is a breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) known for its giant size and gentle personality.[1] The breed is commonly referred to as the "Gentle giant" and the "Apollo of all breeds."[2] Great Danes are considered one of the tallest dog breeds along with the Irish Wolfhound. More recently, Great Danes have been in the Guinness World Records for tallest dog. The Great Dane was named the state dog of Pennsylvania in 1965.[3]
DescriptionAppearance
This Dane is fawn mantle, a non-standard color not recognized by the Great Dane Club of America In the United States, the breed standard for the Great Dane is described on the American Kennel Club website. [4] The male should appear more massive throughout than the female, with larger frame and heavier bone. In the ratio between length and height, the Great Dane should be square. In females, a somewhat longer body is permissible, providing she is well proportioned to her height. Coarseness or lack of substance are equally undesirable. The male shall not be less than 30 inches (75 cm) at the shoulders, but it is preferable that he be 32 inches or more (>80 cm), providing he is well proportioned to his height. The female shall not be less than 28 inches (70 cm) at the shoulders, but it is preferable that she be 30 inches or more (>75 cm), providing she is well proportioned to her height. Danes under minimum height must be disqualified. Males must weigh a minimum of 120 lbs (54.5 kg).[5] In August 2004, a Great Dane named "Gibson" from Grass Valley, California was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest dog, measuring 107 cm (42.2 in) at the withers.[6] It is not in the best interest of the breed to attempt to achieve the "tallest" dog. Breeding for height will sacrifice structure and confirmation in the Great Dane and produce dogs that are unsound. Coat colors
Blue puppy There are six show-acceptable coat colors for Great Danes:[7]
Great danes of several coat types, from left to right: harlequin, black, brindle, blue and fawn Other colors occur occasionally but are not acceptable for conformation showing, and they are not pursued by breeders. These colors include white, fawnequin, merle, merlequin, fawn mantle, and others. These are sometimes advertised as "rare" colors to unsuspecting buyers. Cropping of the ears is common in the United States and much less common in Europe. In some European countries such as the UK, Denmark, Germany, parts of Australia, and in New Zealand, the practice is banned, or controlled in such that it may only be performed by veterinary surgeons for health reasons. The original purpose of Ear Cropping was to cut the ears so that wolves and wild boar (often the objective of great dane hunts) would not be able to grab a hold of the ear. Now, however, it is used to obtain a more regal or majestic look in showdogs. The original ear cropping can be seen in the pictures below. TemperamentThe Great Dane's large and imposing appearance belies its friendly nature; the breed is often referred to as a gentle giant. Great Danes are generally well-disposed toward other dogs, other non-canine pets, wild animals, and humans (including strangers and children). Some Great Danes ? as with dogs of any breed ? may have dominance issues, may be aggressive with other dogs of the same sex, or chase small animals; however, this is quite rare.[8] HealthGreat Danes, like most giant dogs, have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in small breeds. Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds. Bloat (a painful distending and twisting of the stomach formally known as Gastric volvulus) is a critical condition that can affect Great Danes and results rapidly in death if not quickly addressed. Drinking large amounts of fluid in a short period of time can provoke Bloating in Great Danes, as well as other larger breeds of dogs. It is a commonly recommended practice for Great Danes to have their stomachs tacked (Gastropexy) to the right abdominal wall during routine surgery such as spaying or neutering if the dog or its relatives have a history of bloat, though some veterinary surgeons will not do the operation if the actual sickness has not occurred. Elevated food dishes are often believed to help prevent bloat by regulating the amount of air that is inhaled while eating, although one study suggests that they may increase the risk.[9] Refraining from exercise or activity immediately before and after meals may also reduce risk,although this has not been validated with research. Another problem common to the breed is hip dysplasia. Typically an x-ray of the parents can certify whether their hips are healthy and can serve as a guideline for whether the animals should be bred and are likely to have healthy pups. Great Danes generally live 8-10 years, but with responsible breeding and improved nutrition they can live to be 12-14. 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. For example, if a Great Dane lacks color (is white) near its eyes or ears then that organ does not develop and usually the dog will be either blind or deaf.[10] History
A female blue Great Dane 
Great Danes Gislev church, Denmark 1500-25 According to Barbara Stein, "The breed originated in Germany, probably from a cross between the English mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound." [15] However, other sources maintain that the breed originated in Denmark,[16] and still others report the question as controversial and unsettled.http://animal-world.com/dogs/Working-Dog-Breeds/GreatDane.phpIn 1749 Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon [17] used the name ?le Grand Danois,? (translated by William Smellie (encyclopedist) as ?Great Dane?). Up until that time the hound was referred to in England as ?Danish dog.?[18] 
The Great Dane Raro, Denmark 1655 According to Jacob Nicolay Wilse the Danes called the dog ?large hound,? a terminology continued well in to the 20th Century.[19] 
The Great Dane Sultan, Denmark 1699 In Germany in 1780 the hound is referred to as ?Grosse Dänische Yagd Hund? ().[20] At the first dog exhibition, held in Hamburg 14-20 July 1863, eight dogs were called ?Dänische Dogge? and seven ?Ulmer Doggen.?[21] 
Le Grand Danois Danes in popular culture
ReferencesExternal links
cs:N?mecká doga da:Granddanois de:Deutsche Dogge es:Gran Danés eo:Danhundo fr:Dogue allemand ia:Dogge it:Alano he:??? ??? lt:Vokie?i? dogas hu:Német dog ml:???????? ????? nl:Duitse dog ja:???????? no:Grand danois pl:Dog niemiecki pt:Dogue Alemão simple:Great Dane fi:Tanskandoggi sv:Grand danois th:??????? tr:Danua zh:??? Source: Wikipedia | The above article is available under the GNU FDL. | Edit this article
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