Great dane

Complete guide to the Great Dane, one of the largest dog breeds that exist today. In this article you will find everything you need to know about the Great Danes. Its characteristics, the history of the breed, its temperament, uses, possible diseases, general care and much more. العب واربح المال الحقيقي

History of the Great Dane

The Great Dane is a breed that emerged in Germany in the year 1880. It is the product of the crossing of the very old Bullenbeisser (now extinct) and the German dogs used to hunt wild boars, we refer to the old Hatz and Saurüden breed dogs. These dogs were the combination of the strength of the English Mastiff and the agility and speed of the sighthounds. Long ago, it was understood with the term dogo, that we referred to a dog of great size and strength but that did not belong to any particular breed. With the passing of time the term began to be used to recognize various groups of canines. Bulldog Ulmer, English Bulldog, Danish bulldog, Hatzrüde, Great Dogo and Saupacker were some types of dogs that were characterized under this terminology according to the color and size that each of them had.

In 1878, in Germany, Berlin, a group consisting of seven people, chaired by Dr. Bodinus, met together and determined to bring together all the groups of dogs mentioned above under a single name, "German Mastiff." This is how the bases for the emergence of a completely independent new canine and German breed are born. It was in 1880, taking advantage of an exhibition that was held in the German capital, when the breed standard was finally determined.

Curiously, its name refers to a Nordic country, Denmark. But the reason why it is called that is unknown. It must be clarified that although its most popular name is Great Dane, it is also known today as German Mastiff, German Mastiff or German Alano. They are recognized around the world for their enormous size and also for the popular animated series “Scooby Doo”.

The FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) describes him as "the Apollo of canine breeds", as his well-proportioned body and bearing are in perfect harmony.

What is the body of the Great Dane like?

The Great Dane is a huge dog that combines nobility with solidity and power with elegance. The length of its body is equal to the measurement of its height, the female may have a somewhat longer body. The cross constitutes the highest part of the back, which is represented short and strong. The loins are powerful and gently arched and the rump slopes slightly towards the base of the tail; it is moderately long, set high and does not reach below the hocks. It is thick at the base and tapers towards the tip. The chest is broad and reaches the elbows; collected belly. Long and descending shoulder blades, elbows close to the body, long, lean and vertical legs. Their feet are rounded with short and very arched and tight toes. The Great Dane's neck is muscular and lean, set high, forming a smooth, harmonious curve at the base of the neck.

What is the head of a Great Dane like?

The head of the Great Dane is long, narrow and striking: It should have an angular appearance. The stop of these dogs is marked and they have well developed eyebrows. The upper part of the skull of all Great Danes is parallel to the nasal bridge; the muzzle and the skull are of the same length. If we look at a Great Dane from the front, its head is narrow, with a wide nasal bridge and underdeveloped muscles in the area of the cheeks. The lips are dropped from the nose in a straight line and filled, allowing a clear angle to form. The ears of these dogs are set high and are hanging and attached to the head. His eyes are rounded of medium size, with a prudent and lively expression. The eyelids are always attached to the eyeball and their teeth are scissor-shaped.

How much does an adult Great Dane weigh?

Como todas las razas de perros, los machos y las hembras presentan determinadas diferencias en cuanto a su físico. En el caso de los gran daneses no estamos frente a una excepción. الرهانات El peso de un Gran danés adulto varía entre los 55 kilogramos y 85 kilogramos en promedio, pudiendo ser incluso más, dependiendo del sexo, el tamaño y la complexión del can. En los machos, el peso promedio oscila entre los 70 kilogramos y los 85 kilogramos. En el caso de las hembras el peso habitual que tienen ronda entre los 55 kilogramos y los 65 kilogramos.

How tall is an adult Great Dane?

The elevations or carvings of the Great Danes are together with that of the Irish Wolfhound the largest of all the races that exist today. Great Danes must reach a minimum of 80 centimeters when they are males. In females, the minimum established is 72 centimeters. In this breed there is no specific maximum, but the minimum measures must be exceeded in terms of skills. If we talk about the usual averages, it is normal for a male Great Dane to be between 75 centimeters and 85 centimeters tall. The females range between 70 centimeters and 78 centimeters.

How tall is a Great Dane on two legs?

We are facing a data that obviously will depend on each specimen, if it is male or female, if it is of the average size or if it is above this, if its physical proportions are in accordance with what is established in general lines, etc. Considering that we are talking about a male of average size, on two legs his height can easily reach 2 meters. On average, the height of an average-sized male Great Dane should be between 2 meters and 2.20 meters.

What is the "Biggest" Great Dane?

In 2013 a dog of this breed named Zeus, obtained the Guinness record as the largest dog in the world. His height is 1.15 meters and his weight is 70 kilos. This Great Dane lived in the United States and both his owner Denisse and his owner Kevin Doorlag, told the media that they had to buy a new truck to be able to transport him along with them. Another curious fact about Zeus is that he eats 14 kilograms of balanced food and meats every 2 weeks! Unfortunately, Zeus died in September 2014 at the age of 5 years and 10 months.

Other curious facts about this huge dog is that it visited hospitals and schools as a therapy dog and was 2.2 meters tall standing on its hind legs.

What is the coat of the Great Dane like and in how many types of colors is it presented?

The coat of the Great Dane is a coat of short, thick and shiny hair that is well attached to the body. If you take care of your coat and brush it frequently, it is something beautiful that adds a lot of elegance to the specimen. As for the colors, different varieties of coat can be presented. We will divide them into three large compound groups. The brindle, the black and spotted and the blue.

The brindle can be both yellow and yellow brindle. Yellow is golden to dark yellow, with dark eyes and a preferably dark mask. The tabby, on the other hand, has the same features, except that it has black stripes on the yellow background. موقع رياضي

In black specimens, the skin color is black with dark eyes. They may have small white spots. The spotted ones, on the other hand, are known as harlequins. They have a completely white background with small black spots well distributed throughout their body. Some black or brown spots are allowed. The Harlequin Great Dane is the only variety where partially blue eyes and flesh-colored muzzle are allowed. The eyes should be preferably brown. The nose, the edges of the eyelids and the lips must be black.

Finally, the blue specimens should preferably be steel blue. No black or yellow markings. Small white spots are allowed as well as light colored eyes.

Within the group of Black Great Danes, there are specimens that are not recognized in countries outside the FCI. The color in this case covers the entire animal like a mantle, with white markings on the chest, neck, muzzle, belly, legs and the tip of the tail. The different colors should not mix.

What is the temperament of the Great Dane breed like?

To describe the general temperament of a breed, as we do in all of our notes, we will divide the temperament into two parts. On the one hand the character of the dog and on the other its daily behavior. This helps us to better determine the points to be covered in each item and will make it easier for you to read and find the information.

What is the character of the Great Dane like?

Great Danes have a character that does not fit very well with their physical appearance. They are affectionate dogs and very loyal to the owner and to the family that lives with him. They are sensitive to extremes, they can be hurt even by a harsh word or yell. He is very intelligent and curious, you will notice if you have one that you do not usually miss anything that happens in the house. It is a prudent and balanced dog, the males generally make excellent watchdogs. It is said that a thief can enter the house but will not come out again if the Great Dane is alert. And if he can get out, I would assure them that he will never try to get in again.

They are not barking dogs and are not very susceptible to pain, like other mastiffs. For this reason, illnesses or injuries can often be overlooked for quite some time. It is a point to take into account, especially when they have a very old specimen. They are not adapted to living in a kennel, also known as kennels, they prefer the warmth and comfort of home.

What is the behavior of a Great Dane like?

Dogs of this breed are very close to their family. With strangers they are generally shy, although if well socialized, this elusiveness will not be very easy to notice. He is enthusiastic about family friends and usually gets along well with small livestock, pets of the same or different species, and especially with children. Likewise, it must be taken into account that it is essential to carry out a correct socialization process.

With other dogs, as we have mentioned, he does not have coexistence problems, but there are cases in which the male enjoys imposing his authority over other dogs of the same sex. Another point to keep in mind is that they are intimidating to other animals because of their size. They are not considered destructive dogs at all, but they do need frequent company because when they are left alone for very long periods or get bored in excess they can destroy some things inside the home.

How to brush and maintain proper hygiene in my Great Dane?

This is a question that those who are thinking of adopting one of these puppies ask themselves very frequently, mainly because of the dimensions when they grow up. In itself, brushing the coat does not require much attention. A weekly brushing will be enough to keep the hair shiny and in perfect condition. When shedding, it is best to remove dead hair with a massage glove. Nails should always be kept short. To sleep, the ideal is to assign a soft place to prevent marks on the skin due to the weight they have. Rapidly growing breeds, such as the Great Dane, require special attention during development: Good nutrition is essential as well as complementing this with balanced exercise.

The bathroom is advisable to avoid and only carry it out when our great dane is really dirty. It is somewhat complex to bathe due to the dimensions of these specimens, which is complicated in cold places or climates that are not favorable. In general, they are usually taken to places specialized in bathing dogs or they usually wait until there is good weather.

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How to feed a Great Dane dog?

Due to its size it must be taken into account that the Great Dane is a dog that eats in large quantities. It is also interesting to note that it is a dog prone to bloating and stomach problems. Due to these frequent problems, it is advisable that their food rations are small but frequent and that they carry out check-ups on an annual basis to be aware of their health status.

Between 2 months and 8 months of life of these puppies, it is necessary to give them enough calcium. If a Great Dane puppy does not have sufficient calcium doses at an early age, he can suffer from bone problems such as fractures or osteoarticular disorders. It is very common in large and giant dog breeds. It is also necessary to control its weight gain with a veterinarian to avoid joint problems and the amount of food eaten per day, since it should not exceed 200 grams per day.

When the Great Dane reaches adulthood, the amount of food is measured based on its weight. The ideal is not to give more than 50 calories per kilogram of the animal's weight per day. Minimize the consumption of fatty foods at all ages.

As puppies, it is best to feed it every 3 hours with small portions. As time goes by, it is ideal to reduce the frequency but increase the amount of each serving. In general terms, the ideal frequency for feeding is six times a day up to 2 months of age, five times a day up to 6 months, and from one or a year and a half to four.

An important fact to consider is that it is recommended that when feeding these dogs both the container that contains the food and the one that contains the water is raised. This will allow the tall animal to eat its food more comfortably and avoid one of its possible complications, gastric torsion.

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What to include in my Great Dane's diet?

High-fat foods should always be avoided as much as possible. Also avoid raw meat, especially when they are puppies, it should always be precooked. Although it is not recommended, an adult dog can be given raw meat up to twice a week.

Milk is not highly recommended for any dog, you have to look for other sources so that they get the necessary calcium. Fish on the other hand, if it is good, since fish has a high level of proteins and vitamins that will do the animal very good. Vegetables, beef, lamb, chicken (watch out for the bones), corn, polenta, wheat, and even some fruits will all be beneficial to our Great Dane's diet.

How to properly train a Great Dane?

This breed grows a lot and too fast, so it is important that we get used to our friend and pet not to pull the leash from puppyhood. Or rather, before it's too late. Train it with firmness, understanding and in a harmonious environment, it is very sensitive to the intonation of the voice and a friendly order is enough to obtain the response we are looking for. He is not well suited to severe training or long monotonous training sessions, as he loses interest easily. The best results are achieved by rewarding their good behavior, but nothing will ever be corrected if we choose punishment as a means.

Give all the attention to socialization, the great German Bulldog can be very shy and will need all the support of his family to carry out this facet. Also, if we want it to live with other animals of the same species or different ones, given its size it will come in handy.

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How to exercise the German Mastiff or Great Dane?

These strong and graceful dogs need a lot of exercise. They like to run freely without a leash through the fields or open spaces. They do not tend to stray far from their masters, but they are somewhat curious, which is necessary that in the first walks this is controlled and marked. The walks in the rain will not be very long since they do not usually like water or bad weather. If you exercise a lot outside it will be quiet inside the house. The Great Dane puppy needs all his strength to develop a strong and healthy body and must be controlled during his physical activity. Although this dog needs a lot of exercise, it should not be overextended, since it can cause physical problems in bones, hips and joints at an early age. It is not recommended that German Bulldogs go up and down stairs a lot.

What uses are considered to be the Great Dane breed?

At present, its main use is that of a family dog. Although some use their pet for advanced obedience tests and have won great prizes. Thanks to its exceptional nose it also stands out as a tracking dog.

How long does a German Bulldog or Great Dane live?

The life expectancy of dogs belonging to this breed is between 7 years and 8 years. It is unfortunately one of the breeds with the lowest average lifespan out there. With the advancement of canine medicine, controls and awareness of the problems that German Mastiffs bring, fortunately every year the number of copies that exceed 8 years of life is greater and there are even many that reach ten.

What diseases are Great Danes prone to?

Unfortunately, these dogs are prone to various diseases. One of its causes is their large size, since they have to carry many consequences when dogs reach adulthood. Below we will explain the most frequent diseases that occur in animals of this breed.

Gastric torsion

When problems of gastric tension or stomach torsion occur, it happens that the dog's stomach dilates excessively and causes this organ to twist on its axis. The consequence of this is that the connections with the esophagus and the intestine are obstructed and the blood stream is affected, making it impossible to properly oxygen some organs and causing damage, sometimes irreversible and even causing the death of the animal if it is not treated. on time.

Hip dysplasia

This disease is hereditary, but it will not manifest itself at birth. It will develop over time as you increase in size and weight. Hip dysplasia can appear after four months of life of the animal. When this problem appears, what happens is a displacement of the hip that tends to cause intense pain and lameness in the animal. Dogs that are affected by this disease tend to have difficulty performing common activities such as walking, running, jumping, climbing a ladder, and even lying down or sitting down. In more advanced cases or those that have not been treated, dysplasia can completely incapacitate the animal.

Elbow dysplasia

It is a joint disease that is caused by the poor development of bone tissue that at the beginning will produce arthritis or inflammation in your joints and over time this will transform into osteoarthritis.

waterfalls

It prevents the reach of light rays on the retina, and likewise the canine's vision decreases.

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a very common disease in large dogs, especially Dobermans, Great Danes and Boxers. In this pathology, the muscular structure of the heart weakens due to constant stretching and this leads to the inability to contract properly. As a final result, the heart cannot pump the amount of blood required to oxygenate the body's tissues accordingly. Poor oxygenation means that many organs cannot function properly and in many cases causes injuries that are irreversible if not treated quickly. It is common, as a result of this disease, to observe that fluid accumulations occur in the abdomen and around the lungs. It should be noted that it is a silent disease that progresses rapidly in dogs of this breed, so it is very important to know the symptoms to be able to diagnose it in time despite its difficulty. Among the main symptoms that we can find we have: shortness of breath, cough, weight loss, weakness, exercise intolerance, fainting, abdominal swelling and episodes of syncope.

Wobbler syndrome

They are malformations of the cervical vertebrae that cause an unsteady gait and weakness in dogs, especially large ones.
It is a cervical vertebral instability that causes chronic and severe degenerative disorders that affect the vertebrae and intervertebral discs of the cervical spine. This causes excessive compression on the spinal cord and various nerves located in the neck. Here again we have a disease that progresses silently and is usually difficult to diagnose due to the symptoms it initially has, such as headaches and a stiff neck. With the progression of the disease, more specific symptoms appear, for example wobbly walking, short steps, loss of balance and difficulty moving.

How long does the heat of a female Great Dane last?

Zeal, understood as the estrous cycle or sexual period of dogs, gives us the indication that our pet is in a period in which it can become a mother if we allow it. In large or giant-sized breeds, such as the Great Dane, this period takes a while longer than in other breeds. It can be said that our pet is physically and physiologically ready to be a mother from approximately 24 months of age.

The process, technicalities aside, lasts between 12 and 25 days and will go through two phases. Proestro in Great Dane females lasts between 7 days and 10 days. In this phase the vulva has an inflammation and we may notice that it has blood loss. Another characteristic of this stage is that the female will attract males, but will reject mating.

Estrus, which is the second stage, lasts between 5 and 15 days. In this phase is when the female accepts the male and ovulation also occurs. In other words, the vulva of our Great Dane is still inflamed but losses decrease.

Therefore, the duration of heat can vary a lot, from 12 days to 25 days. The most normal thing is that it lasts 14 or 17 days on average.

How many puppies can my female Great Dane have?

On average, a litter of Great Dane puppies ranges from 8 puppies to 10 puppies. But keep in mind that the number will vary greatly depending on the age of the female and the fertility of both the female and the male.

There are exceptional cases that have occurred, such as Velma, a 4-year-old female Great Dane who had 19 puppies. These cases are not very frequent but sometimes there are numbers above 10 puppies. Velma's case It occurred in 2015 in the city of Alabama and its only known precedent with another Great Dane who also gave birth to 19 puppies, occurred in Pennsylvania in 2014. Only one year before Velma's case.