A Blue Great Dane who can jump and touch 9 feet in the air! This dog stands over 6′4″. He weighs about 135 pounds, and is hilarious to play with.

My great dane knows how to get ice out of the fridge’s ice machine…very smart.

Dreaming Dane deep in slumber is awakened

www.bighoneydog.com / Honey the Great Dane has a special way of making up her beanbag bed…

A short clip of Hope, a black Great Dane, and her encounter with a very scary banana.

The origin of Great Danes, like that of many other varieties of dogs, is so obscure that all researches have only resulted in speculative theories. But the undoubted antiquity of this dog is proved by the fact that representatives of a breed sufficiently similar to be considered his ancestors are found on some of the oldest Egyptian monuments.

A few years ago a controversy arose on the breed’s proper designation, when the Germans claimed for it the title “Deutsche Dogge.” Germany had several varieties of big dogs, such as the Hatzrude, Saufanger, Ulmer Dogge, and Rottweiler Metzgerhund; but contemporaneously with these there existed, as in other countries in Europe, another very big breed, but much nobler and more thoroughbred, known as Great Danes.

When after the war of 1870 national feeling was pulsating very strongly in the veins of reunited Germany, the German cynologists were on the lookout for a national dog, and for that purpose the Great Dane was re-christened “Deutsche Dogge,” and elected as the champion of German Dogdom. For a long time all these breeds had, no doubt, been indiscriminately crossed.

The Great Dane was introduced into this country spasmodically some thirty-five years ago, when he was commonly referred to as the Boarhound, or the German Mastiff, and for a time the breed had to undergo a probationary period in the “Foreign Class” at dog shows, but it soon gained in public favour, and in the early ‘eighties a Great Dane Club was formed, and the breed has since become one of the most popular of the larger dogs.

The Kennel Club has classed Great Danes amongst the Non-Sporting dogs, probably because with us he cannot find a quarry worthy of his mettle; but, for all that, he has the instincts and qualifications of a sporting dog, and he has proved himself particularly valuable for hunting big game in hot climates, which he stands very well.

Respecting the temperament of the Great Dane and his suitability as a companion writers have gone to extremes in praise and condemnation. In his favour it must be said that in natural intelligence he is surpassed by very few other dogs. He has a most imposing figure, and does not, like some other big breeds, slobber from his mouth, which is a particularly unpleasant peculiarity when a dog is kept in the house. On the other hand, it must be admitted that with almost the strength of a tiger he combines the excitability of a terrier, and no doubt a badly trained Great Dane is a very dangerous animal.

It is not sufficient to teach him in the haphazard way which might be successful in getting a small dog under control, but even as a companion he ought to be trained systematically, and, considering his marked intelligence, this is not difficult of accomplishment.

The Great Dane breed is thought to be around 400 years old but dogs resembling the Great Dane were depicted in drawings in Egyptian tombs dating back to 2200BC. These were Mastiff type dogs and shorter of leg than the modern day Great Danes. It was the Germans who further developed the breed into the dog we recognize today.

Sources suggest that the breed was made up of the Mastiff, boarhound, Irish wolfhound and the Greyhound. At first they were used as bull baiters, and then they became popular with nobility and were used for hunting wild boar and deer. By the 1800’s these were commonly used for large game hunting. The UK Great Dane club was started in 1885 and the American version in 1889.

The Great Dane has a short, thick, glossy coat which doesn’t require much maintenance. It is a relatively clean dog which is handy because bathing one can prove difficult. There are six acceptable show colours for the breed which are:

* Fawn – Yellow gold with a black mask

* Brindle – Fawn and black chevron stripes

* Blue – Pure steel blue without any white markings

* Black – Pure glossy black

* Harlequin – White base with irregular black patches

* Mantle – Black and white with a solid black blanket and head and white muzzle, chest and collar

Others colours do exist but are not allowed in the show ring and therefore not encouraged by breeders.

Despite the Great Dane’s imposing appearance the breed has a friendly nature; they mix well with other dogs and household pets as well as children. They become very close and loyal to there owners, family members and frequent visitors.

They are active dogs and need to be exercised regularly. These dogs are quick to alert the family of any approaching strangers which make them excellent guard dogs although they don’t bark much. It is important to start training and socialising at an early age as they grow very quickly into large dogs and can become dominant and aggressive to others animals if not trained.

As with all deep chested dogs the Great Dane is prone to gastric torsion or bloat, this can be prevented by taking precautions with feeding regimes. Some suggest an elevated feeding bowl reduces the risk of bloat but other studies claim that this increases the chances of the disease. Refraining from exercise immediately before of after eating will reduce the risk. The breed can also have problems with hip dysplasia which can be controlled with exercise and nutrition.

X-rays of the parents can usually certify whether the hips of their offspring are healthy. Like all large dogs these have a slow metabolism and therefore have less energy and eat less per pound of dog than smaller breeds. As with all pure white dogs, many white ones are deaf. The breed’s average lifespan is between 8 and 12 years.

Great Danes have appeared in several movies including The Patriot, Batman Beyond, Swiss family Robinson, Good Boy. Other famous Great Danes include:

The Hanna-Barbera character Scooby Do

Comic strip character Marmaduke

Captain Kirk’s dog in Star Trek

Astro in the Jetsons

Schmiechel in the British TV soap Coronation Street

World’s tallest dog ‘Gibson’ who measured 42.2 inches at the withers

Four-year-old Titan just earned the title of tallest dog in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records.

When you bring your great dane puppy home for the first time, a new section of both of your lives begin. Here are some tips to help you facilitate your work:

Try to be enthusiastic. Training puppies can be exhausting, but motivate yourself to be patient with your great dane puppy. Puppies are just like human babies! They’re very curious and they require a lot of attention. For the first few months your puppy will cry when it’s hungry, scared, cold, bored, or when it has to go to the bathroom. Never yell at your great dane puppy for crying, this will only frighten him/her and make him/her cry more.

Your Great Dane puppy has emotions just like you! When your great dane does something good (like urinate or make a bowel movement outside) praise him/her.

Giving your great dane puppy a treat is always nice. Nevertheless, a treat is a treat. It should be given as a reward when your puppy does something very special.

Be prepared for mischief! Just like the ‘pokey little puppy,’ your great dane puppy is interested in everything in your home. He/she may poke into things that are not to be touched. Don’t scream at your puppy. A simple, stern “no” will suffice. Don’t expect your puppy to know what the word “no” means within the first week. These things take time.

Your puppy will look to urinate after napping, playing, drinking, and getting excited. Take your great dane outdoors to do his/her ‘business’ as often as possible. This will prevent accidents from occurring in your household. It will also teach puppy to ‘go’ outside.

Designate eating and sleeping areas for your great dane. Do not switch these areas around, as it will only confuse the puppy. If you decide to crate train the puppy, never use the crate for punishment. This will only make your great dane fearful of the crate. If the crate is the puppy’s ‘bed,’ refer to it as his/her ‘bed.’ As the puppy gets older, phrases like “it’s time for bed,” will inform your great dane that he/she should go to their crate.

Try to set a schedule for feeding. If you feed your puppy at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 5PM on Monday, make sure you follow through with the routine schedule.

All work and no play makes for a sad great dane. While it is important to teach your great dane puppy to be obedient, you still need to provide lots of love and attention. Shower your great dane puppy with affection and he/she will never leave your side.

All these Great Danes were rescued from kill shelters throughout Texas. Many were in bad shape, underweight, Heartworm positive. All went to PAWS of Austin Great Dane Rescue. They are now in new loving homes. Can you see yours in there?

For more information bit.ly ========================= Thank you FreeFoto.com for the use of your pictures Great Dane “The Great Dane, Danish Hound, or German Mastiff, is a breed of domestic dog (Latin: canis familiaris) known for its giant size and gentle personality. The breed is commonly referred to as the “Gentle giant” and the “Apollo of all breeds”. Great Danes are considered the tallest dog breed 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. History ———- Some sources state that dogs similar to Great Danes were known in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Various sources report that the Great Dane was developed from the medieval boarhound, and of the Mastiff and Irish wolfhound lines. It is also reported that the Great Dane was developed from mastiff-like dogs taken to Germany by the Alans. The breed may be about 400 years old. The Bullenbeisser may be its direct ancestor, composing about the 40% of its make-up. According to Barbara Stein, “The breed originated in Germany, probably from a cross between the English mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound.”; however, other sources maintain that the breed originated in Denmark, and still others report the question as controversial and unsettled. In 1749 Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon used the name “le Grand Danois,” (translated by William Smellie (encyclopedist) as “Great Dane.”) Up …

Dog picture taken by Warchild.

Siro? Siro? Are you there?

Dog picture taken by pwcorgigirl.

Dog picture taken by Matt Niemi.

northeastgreatdanes.com TheGreat Dane Is The Worlds Tallest Dog. They Can Weigh Anywhere From 120 to 200lbs. There Are Six Coat Color Varieties. Needs plenty of space. Lots of issues, Watch out for bloat. Short Haired, easy to groom. Obedient, but start early. Really loving, really wonderful dogs. Good family dog.

Routine grooming is just as important for your Great Dane as it is for you. Cleansing of your Great Dane will improve their overall appearance, prevent disease and infection, and contribute to their overall mental and physical well-being.

Routine grooming is just as important for your Great Dane as it is for you. Cleansing of your Great Dane will improve their overall appearance, prevent disease and infection, and contribute to their overall mental and physical well-being. Our Great Danes become members of our family, and like any member of our family – we must love them and care for them. The following tips are to be used as a guideline to ensure proper care of your Dane:

Bathing
Unlike humans, who shower on a daily basis, your Great Dane should be bathed on a “as needed” basis. The frequency of bathing varies depending on the individual pet. Naturally, you’ll want to wash your Great Dane when his appearance is unkempt or when he starts to give off an odor. In the colder months, never wash your Great Dane and let him go outside afterwards. Make sure that he is completely dry first, as this will prevent him from getting sick. NEVER use shampoo intended for human use. Dog shampoos are specially formulated for your Dane’s skin, which is very sensitive. Human shampoos can cause excessive drying and skin irritations. Take precautions when washing your Great Dane to make sure shampoo doesn’t get in their eyes.

Brushing
You should introduce a dog brush to your Great Dane when he is a puppy. Let him get comfortable with brushing early and he’ll look forward to it as he matures. Brushing will prevent matted hair and remove excess fur. It will also remove pet dander, preventing build-up on your dog’s skin and coat.

Ears
Examine your pets ears regularly for dirt and wax. Use a soft cotton ball on the ear. Never lodge the cotton ball into the ear. NEVER stick a Q-tip in your Great Danes ear. The cotton applicator can damage his ear drum to an irreparable state. If you’re unsure how to clean your pet’s ears, ask your veterinarian to demonstrate for you.

Nails
It’s very important to keep your Great Dane’s nails trimmed. Remember, there are veins in the nails. If you’ve never clipped a dog’s nails before, take him to a groomer. When you feel more comfortable you can purchase clippers and do it from the comfort of your own home. Failure to keep your Dane’s nails clipped can result in painful in-grown nails. Prevent your Great Dane from experiencing such pain and/or infection by keeping up with their nails.

Kaya the fawn Great Dane (20 months) and Luna the blue Great Dane (13 months) play fight in the front yard. See Kaya and Luna’s blog at www.greatdanesaustralia.net

Dog picture taken by Bryan Peters.

Kitten playing with Great Dane