About The Great Dane
Originally bred to hunt wild boar, but he probably wouldn't
be very good at it today. The ferociousness necessary to track down such a
large, wily animal was eventually bred out of the Great Dane. He's now a gentle
soul who generally gets along well with other dogs, animals, and humans.
However, his size and his power bark will scare the wits out
of a burglar. Anyone who owns one of these dogs eventually understands that
while you may be used to his awesome size, others usually need a little time to
get there.
The Great Dane was developed from Mastiff - type dogs, but
he's more refined than other descendents of this ancient breed. A Great Dane is
sleek and elegant. He has an athletic, muscular body. His massive head - and
massive is the right word - is long and narrow. He's got a long, graceful neck.
His ears can be cropped or left natural. (Cropped ears are common in the U.S.,
but in other countries, ear-cropping is banned.)
His size can present problems. Eyeballing a dog who weighs
what you do makes some folks nervous. His tail can knock over a lot of things,
particularly in a small space. And given the opportunity, he's an impressive
counter surfer. Luckily, he isn't rambunctious or highly energetic.
Size notwithstanding, a Great Dane is a sweet, affectionate
companion. He loves to play and is gentle with children. He has a peaceful
disposition, although he hasn't lost any of the courageousness that helped him
hunt wild boar. Although he isn't particularly vocal (despite his killer power
bark), he wouldn't hesitate to defend his family.
Even given his inherent gentleness, it's advisable to teach
him good manners and attend obedience training classes when he's young. His
sheer size alone could make him impossible to control when he's an adult, and -
as with any dog - you never know when he might see something he just has to
chase
He's eager to please and highly people-oriented, demanding a
great deal of attention from those around him. He tends to nudge people with
that big old head of his when he wants to be petted. Sometimes you'll meet one
with lapdog tendencies who see no reason not to hop onto the sofa and drape
themselves on you.
Surprisingly, the Great Dane typically doesn't eat as much
food as you'd think. And while he needs daily exercise, he doesn't need a huge
yard to play in (although he certainly would enjoy one).
Because of his beauty and gentle nature, more and more
people are discovering the Great Dane. He currently ranks as the 24th most popular
dog breed, according to registrations with the American Kennel Club.
Just be aware that because of his size, he's got a
relatively short life span of around eight years old. That means he takes up a
huge space in your heart for a short amount of time.
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