Spotlight Breed: The Great Dane
Spotlight on the Great Dane
by Kathleen McGrath
You only have to read one Marmaduke cartoon to get a glimpse
into the world of the Great Dane. The oversized body sprawled across
the couch. Stretched out in a king-sized bed on his back with his mouth
opened wide and snoring to rattle the windows. And the impossibly enormous
head lying in your lap staring up with incredibly sweet and soulful eyes.
That is what it is to love a Great Dane. Yes, you may find yourself
pinned to the sofa until he is ready to move. You may find yourself
camping out in the spare bedroom since he has taken over your bed. Unless,
of course, you have managed to somehow convey to him that you are the boss.
And with a dog as sensitive as this, that usually only requires a raised
voice. More than likely, you will take one look at that suddenly sad
face and feel extremely guilty. I have a lab/great Dane mix, and all
it takes from him is that pathetic, dejected look and next thing I know I’m
apologizing to him.
But there is another side to the Great Dane. They are incredibly
intelligent, and possess an almost regal air about them. They are strong,
yet dignified. Giant in size, but elegant in stature. Spirited,
yet friendly.
They come in many different colors: Brindle, Fawn, Black, Harlequin,
Mantle, Merle, White and even Blue. Unfortunately white Great Danes
do have a tendency toward deafness. They come in only one
size: BIG. Males are about 33"-36" at the shoulder and weigh
from about 140-175 lbs. Females are about 31"-33" and weigh about 110-140
lbs. Full height is not usually reached until 12-15 months of age.
Because of their sheer strength and size, it is recommended to attend
obedience training classes with your dog. They are not aggressive in
nature, but their size makes it quite easy for them to overwhelm you.
They do have a tendency to pull on a leash, so starting them off in a basic
obedience class would be ideal.
For a little bit of history, the Great Dane’s origins go back to Germany
and England somewhere between the 6th and 17th centuries. It is believed
that the English Great Dane was originally a cross between the Mastiff and
the Irish Wolfhound. These dogs were bred for hunting large game, such
as wild boar and even bear.
While they are no longer needed for that particular purpose, it is important
to give these gentle giants a lot of exercise. They have a tendency
to become very attached to the human leader of the “pack”, which can lead
to separation anxiety and loneliness. This is not a dog that would do
well in a kennel type situation. He needs to be with his family.
These dogs are so finely attuned to humans that they seem to be able to
read your body language. I know my guy knows precisely what mood I’m
in and he adjusts himself accordingly. He will snuggle when I’m feeling
lonely. He will patiently rest his head in my lap when I’m tired.
He will fling a toy in the air to cheer me up when I’m sad. And he will
roll over on his back and paw the air just to remind me that being cute is
far more important than being stressed. He also knows this will force
me onto the floor to give him smooches on his big old nose.
Two more endearing Great Dane traits: they are leaners, and “paw-ers”.
Their need for love and companionship will lead them to just lean up against
you for reassurance and affection. And if ignored, more often than not
they will insist that you take their paw. Probably the only breed I
know that actually likes to “hold hands” with their human.
All in all, the Great Dane takes some getting used to merely because of
his size. But trust, me – his heart and soul are every bit as big.
