Due to their great demeanour and loud bark, Great Danes are often thought to be fierce. In reality, they are kind-hearted dogs who would curl up with you all day long. They are also known for their immense love towards kids.
Fast Facts On Great Dane
Origin: Germany 
Weight: 50 – 82 Kg (Both Male and Female)
Height: Male: 76 – 79 cm
Female: 71- 76 cm
Coat: Short and Sleek
Skin Colour: Fawn, Brindle, Black, Harlequin, Mantle, Blue
Life Span: 8 – 10 Years
Great Dane Characteristics
Energy Level – Low
Exercise Needs – Low
Playfulness – Not Very Playful
Affection Level – Very Affectionate
Friendliness With Other Dogs – Shy
Friendliness Toward Strangers – Very Friendly
Tendency to Bark – Low
Tendency to Drool – High
Watchdog Ability – High
Guarding Potential – Moderately Protective
Grooming Needs – Low Maintenance
Cold Tolerance – Low
Heat Tolerance – Low
Veterinarian Visit – Frequent
What Are The Best Foods For Great Danes?
Food For Newborn Great Danes (0 to 2 months)
Newborn Great Danes need their mother’s milk for excellent nourishment. If not available, you can also bottle feed them with a good quality canine milk replacer. Some of the other best foods for Newborn Great Danes are:
Food For Puppy Great Danes (2 to 24 months)
Puppy Great Danes during their first two years need a calorie-dense food to support their faster growth rate. They need a good amount of protein in their diet for building a robust skeletal system. Below are some of the best foods for Great Dane puppies:
Food for Adult Great Danes (Above 24 months)
Adult Great Danes are quite exposed to the problem of Bloating, on account of their broad and deep chest. Hence, they need to be fed smaller meals throughout the day. Some of the best foods for fully grown Great Danes are:
Food For Senior Great Danes (Above 7 Years)
The diet of a Senior Great Dane should consist of nutrients that will help the dogs to stay active for a long time. Minerals like Glucosamine and Chondroitin are also recommended in their foods so that they maintain healthy bones and joints. Below are some of the best foods for senior Great Danes:
Are Great Danes Hard To Raise?
Even though Great Danes are lovely dogs, they can be challenging to raise. Their huge physical size is one of the reasons that makes them tough to control. For making a Great Dane well-behaved, their training should start early during their puppyhood.
Do Great Danes Need A Lot of Exercise?
Great Danes need a long walk at least once a day, or a large area to play. While puppies require 90 minutes of daily exercise, adult Great Danes only need 30-60 minutes of it. Puppies should not be stressed too much while playing as their bones and joints are too delicate for that.
Do Great Danes Make Good Watch Dogs?
Thanks to their enormous size, Great Danes are capable of scaring off most intruders. If you socialise them from early puppyhood, they will easily be able to differentiate between a stranger and an attacker. So yes, they do make excellent watchdogs.
Are Great Danes Good Around Children?
Even though Great Danes are giant dogs, they are incredibly gentle and caring with babies. Their strength combined with their affection makes them great family dogs. That being said, Great Danes have this habit of jumping when they are over-excited. This can be risky for children who are below six years old, as these dogs can easily knock them off. So it would help if you were a little careful while the dog is running with the kids.
What are the Pros and Cons of a Great Dane?
Pros
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Great Danes are easy-to-maintain dogs with minimal grooming requirements.
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Despite their vast size, Great Danes are easy-going and soft-mannered dog breeds.
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Great Danes need only a moderate amount of exercise, which will save you a lot of legwork.
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Even though they are non-aggressive, Great Danes are an excellent deterrent against intruders, owing to their massive build.
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Due to their soft and calm nature, Great Danes are a relatively easy-to-train dog breed.
Cons
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Great Danes will take huge space in your house.
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Great Danes cannot be left alone for a long time, as they can develop separation anxiety. They also exhibit destructive behaviour when they are isolated.
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This breed has a mind of its own and needs an assertive person as the owner. If not trained properly, Great Danes can dominate you.
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Due to their large and deep chest, Great Danes are exposed to the health problem of Bloating. It can become fatal if not treated in time.
Some Interesting Facts About Great Danes
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Scooby-Doo, one of the most famous dogs of all time, is a Great Dane.
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In ancient times, Great Danes were utilised to hunt wild boars.
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Giant George was a blue Great Dane who held the record for being the tallest dog. He measured around 42 inches.
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Great Danes are a breed that grows exceedingly fast. Within 1 year, they go from being a fluffy puppy to a tall dog who looks like six feet, when standing on hind legs.
History of Great Danes
Great Danes have their origin in Germany, where they were used for hunting wild boars and bears. Their ferocity, exhibited by their ancestors, was slowly bred out of them as modern Great Danes are now more mellow and soft. It is a fact that in the early 1800s, Germans banned the name ‘Great Dane’ and called the breed “Deutsche Dogge”, which means German Mastiff. Still, the breed continues to be called the Great Dane in English-speaking countries.
