The Great Dane breed may be one of the biggest, but they are also one of the best! Here are some facts about Great Danes everyone should know: If you aren’t completely fascinated with the beauty and style of a Great Dane, you might not know as much about them as you should. These gentle giants are fantastic and we want you to know more about this charming breed. So here are some facts you never knew about them, just to help you see why we think Great Danes are totally awesome.
The Great Dane Is The 15th Most Popular Dog Breed: 15th most popular breed according To The American Kennel Club Registration list. They were officially recognized by the AKC in 1887 and have 9 approved colors and 3 approved markings.
Great Danes can thrive anywhere: Despite what most people think, Great Danes do not need much exercise, which makes them a good pet anywhere you decide to live. They also don’t bark much.
Originally Bred to Hunt Boar: In Germany, where they were originally bred, Great Danes were called Englische Docke or Englische Tocke, and eventually German Boarhound. They were used to hunt Boar, Bear and Deer at the royal courts, and protect the sleeping Princes from assassins. In the 19th Century, some German breeders tried to change the name to German Mastiff to take away the notion that it was a working dog, and that it was a dog of luxury instead. However, due to many tensions with Germany and other countries at the time, it eventually became the Great Dane, even though it has no Danish ancestry.
Great Danes hold World Records: A Great Dane named Zeus held the Guinness World Record for being the world’s tallest dog. Sadly, he died in 2014, at the age of 5. This mammoth dog was described as a “gentle giant,” and stood 44 inches tall and was 7-foot-4 when he stood on his hind legs.
They Have A Super Cool Geneology: Since Great Danes were designed with boar hunting in mind, a unique mix of dogs were chosen for the job. To achieve the desired result, three breeds were used in the creation of Great Danes: Irish Wolfhounds for height, Mastiffs for muscle mass and Greyhounds for speed.
Great Danes are Iconic dogs: The founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn, absolutely loved Great Danes. Even now, hanging in the Governer’s office is a portrait of Penn and his Great Dane. In 1967, Pennsylvania named the Great Dane it’s official state dog. Penn stated: “The physical and other attributes of the Great Dane, to wit: size, strength, beauty, intelligence, tolerance, courage, faithfulness, trustworthiness, and stability exemplify those of Pennsylvania.” The country of Germany also loves Great Danes. In fact, they are so Iconic that in 1876 Germany declared the Great Dane its national dog. However, it is known as Deutsche Dogge there.
Great Danes have an Ancient History: There are actually drawings of dogs resembling Great Danes on Egyptian monuments dating to 3000 B.C. And early written descriptions of similar dogs were found in Chinese literature from 1121 B.C. These two works from Ancient Egypt date back to 3500 BC and 5000 BC.
Great Danes Have One Of The Shortest Lifespans: As a general rule, smaller dogs tend to live much longer than large breeds. Chihuahuas can live up to 20 years while most Great Danes don’t live to 10. The average lifespan of a Great Dane is 6 to 8 years.
Great Danes Make Great Cartoon Dogs: 3 famous cartoon dogs were all Great Danes: Scooby Doo, Marmaduke, the Great Dane detective, and the Jetson’s dog Astro.
Great Dane’s Looks Can Be Deceiving: Many people freeze up around Great Danes because of their gigantic size. They are afraid of this massive dog standing before them. There is no need for this because Great Danes are loving, loyal, and affectionate. In essence, they are just giant goofy teddy bears. Don’t let the size of these great dogs deter you from getting one, they are great with children, although because of their size they can be really good at knocking them over. Always supervise small children.