Breed of the Week: The Great Dane



http://novathedane.blogspot.com/p/great-dane-info.html

    When you hear the name Great Dane I'm guessing that two particular dogs comes to mind, Marmaduke; the big and funny dog in the comic strip drawn by Brad Anderson and Scooby Doo; the Great Dane who loves Scooby snacks from the popular mystery show that was created by the Hanna-Barbara production studios in 1969.  We all love that classic comic and show, so let's take a deeper look at the Great Dane.
    Just like Marmaduke and Scooby Doo, the Great Dane is gigantic. They can be anywhere from 100 to 120 pounds and stand about 28 to 32 inches off of the ground.   The Great Dane has an average life span of about 8 to 10 years.  They have a short, thick, and glossy coat that can come in a wide variety of colors and patterns including black, fawn, blue, brindle, and harlequin, which is white fur with black splotches.  Great Danes have long bodies, and long faces with rectangular muzzles. They also have high set, medium sized ears that hang forward unless cropped.
    Dogs resembling the Great Dane have been thought to date back all the way to B.C. times.  They are a mix of the Bull Mastiff, the Greyhound, and the Wolfhound breeds.  They were known for their strength, as well as for their hunting and guarding abilities. The Great Dane breed was first recognized in 1887.
    Great Danes are giant teddy bears. They are a gentle breed of dog and would make wonderful companions.  Great Danes are very friendly and do very well with children. Although, it is important to watch them around young children, not because of their temperament, but because of the huge size difference between the child and the dog.  Great Danes want to please their owners and love being their friends.  The Great Dane can be playful, but surprisingly will do well in almost any home; including apartments.  The important part is just to make sure to give them their daily exercise like a walk.
Great Danes are not huge barkers and are pretty easy to housetrain.  They are average shedders and a brushing every once in a while may help to take out the loose hair.  The only challenging part of grooming a Great Dane is giving them their baths due to their size.  Overall, the Great Dane is an extremely friendly and gentle dog that would make a great pet and companion.

Info from:
http://www.justdogbreeds.com/great-dane.html
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/greatdane.htm
http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/breeds/1100130/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna-Barbera
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooby-Doo