Great Dane History

It is not officially known exactly when the Great Dane first graced the earth, however, coins dated back to BC have the image of a dog with great likeness to the Great Dane. It is commonly believed that the Great Dane originated in Germany, originally bred for hunting purposes.

The "Boar Hound" was one of the names used in the past before the breed was commonly referred to as what we know it to be today - The Great Dane.

Average life span

8 - 10 Years

Average size and weight

Bitch: 71cm, 50kg
Dog: 76cm, 60kg

Temperament

Affectionate, loyal, gentle, compatible with other pets

Exercise requirements

It is commonly believed the Great Dane requires a lot of exercise, however this is not the case. The Great Dane requires a moderate level of exercise when fully grown, and very little whilst still a puppy due to their exceptional quick growth rate.

Colouring

The Great Dane comes in many colours, however some are not acceptable for showing in Australia. Many Great Dane owners believe certain behavioural traits are more common in certain colours.

Black

Glossy black. White markings are not desirable for showing. Blacks are a very popular colour of the Great Dane, however it should be noted they feel the heat more than other coloured Danes.

Blue

Colour varies from light grey to deep slate

Boston/Mantle

Black & white with a solid black blanket extending over the body, black skull with white muzzle. Currently, this colour is not accepted for showing in Australia.

Brindle

Base colour of yellow gold with strong black cross stripes.

Fawn

Yellow gold with a black mask. The fawn is one of the most popular colours. They are known to 'slam' each other when playing.

Harlequin

Base colour of pure white with black or blue torn patches distributed over the body. For showing, the patches should not be to large. It is believed the Harlequin is the most 'head strung' of the Dane colours.

Merle

Blue grey or red grey colouring with flecks of black. This colour is also not accepted for showing in Australia.

For Breed Standards for Great Danes, see here.