Great Dane

Appearance

The Great Dane is a short haired breed with a strong galloping figure. In the ratio between length and height, the Great Dane should be square. The male dog should not be less than 30 inches (76 cm) at the shoulders, a female 28 inches (71 cm). Danes under minimum height are disqualified.

From year to year, the tallest living dog is typically a Great Dane. Currently, the tallest living dog (2009) is a harlequin Great Dane named Titan, standing 42.25 inches at the shoulder. The tallest dog on record (according Guinness World Records) was a brindle Great Dane named Shamgret Danzas, who stood 42.5″ at the shoulder. The minimum weight for a Great Dane over eighteen months is 120 pounds (54 kg) for males, 100 pounds (45 kg) for females.

Great Danes have naturally floppy, triangular ears. In the past, when Great Danes were commonly used to hunt boars, cropping of the ears was performed to make injuries to the dogs’ ears less likely during hunts. Now that Danes are primarily companion animals, cropping is sometimes still done for traditional and cosmetic reasons. Today, the practice is somewhat common in the United States and much less common in Europe. In some European countries such as the UK, Denmark, Germany, parts of Australia, and in New Zealand, the practice is banned, or controlled to only be performed by veterinary surgeons.

Temperament

The Great Dane’s large and imposing appearance belies its friendly nature; the breed is often referred to as a gentle giant. Great Danes are generally well-disposed toward other dogs, other non-canine pets and humans. Some individuals may chase or attack small animals, but this is not typical of the breed.

For more information please click on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Dane

Other interesting sites include: http://www.danes.org.uk/