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Great Dane Characteristics – The Gentle Giant

There is no denying that Great Danes are beautiful dogs. Everything from their size and stature, to their sleek and shiny coats, makes these dogs highly desired. But much like any other breed of dog out there, they come with their own list of pros and cons.

So, if you’ve been wondering whether or not a Great Danes could be the dog for you, then you’ve come to the right article. So, let’s get right into it!

The Gentle Giant

This is a breed of dogs that can act quite aggressively and malignantly because of its size, but in fact, they are very gentle dogs whose main trait is sociability and a very calm nature. They are attached to the owner and family and are a true proof that a dog can be man’s best friend.

They are calm, bold, and always obedient. They love children and will get along perfectly with people of all ages.

Great Danes are best for an owner who already has experience with dogs because they are known be stubborn, and when they are young, they are destructive and energetic. A recipe for disaster! In order to develop a stable and reliable character, the dog needs early and intensive socialization. In general, Great Danes requires a lot of attention and dedication from its owner.

Great Dane Characteristics

Vigilance, patience, attachment, and loyalty are the main characteristics of this breed. They are very sensitive and look for tenderness, attention, and love and they love to sleep next to their owner. Living outside in a doghouse can destroy a Great Dane, make him mentally unstable, depressed, and even aggressive.

At an early age, the Great Dane is extremely temperamental and stands out for his stubbornness, but with persistent upbringing and proper socialization they grow into a wonderful, attentive, loyal, and stable dog.

Great Danes are a perfect family friend but also a great keeper, partly because of his character and partly because of his fascinating height. They have a fairly high need to hunt and will happily chase smaller animals if given the opportunity.

Owners should always be cautious about where and when to release the dog, and where is needed to keep it under control. This is a process that needs to be strengthened throughout the life of the dog.

black and white dane

Great Danes are a big dog that requires a lot of attention, food, and above all, care and love. These dogs are not suitable for beginners, they do not tolerate the solitude, and the weather conditions (warm, cold).

Due to natural selection and crossbreeding, this breed has evolved into many different colors. For black and white Dane, the base color is white with no red tones, and black appears within the black spots distributed throughout the body.

Black dogs have a distinctly black hair. Yellow dogs have a hair color that ranges from golden yellow to ocher yellow. Tiger Dane has a light yellow base color with black evenly and clearly bounded stripes. Blue Dane has a steel blue color with the possibility of white markings on the chest and paws.

great-dane-stance

Features Of The Great Dane:

Weight – Females 45 to 59 kg and males 54 to 90 kg.
Height – Females 71 to 81 cm and males 76 to 86 cm.
Lifespan – 8 to 10 years.
Character – Loyal, careful, confident, friendly, gentle, elegant, and alert.
Dog Disease – This breed is extremely prone to bloating (GDV – gastric dilation-volvulus) that can endanger a dog’s life. Other characteristic diseases include hip dysplasia, heart disease, eye disease, hypothyroidism, and autoimmune thyroiditis (disorders of thyroid function).

Great Danes also suffer from a high incidence of cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle resulting in an enlarged heart. This is very common in many giant dogs, and when it occurs late in life, it can often treat with medication.

Care

The Great Dane is a very demanding and expensive dog to maintain, mainly because of its size. It takes a large daily amount of food. In addition, they need daily physical activity that they can satisfy with either running or walking. These dogs require two or three walks a day.

It is recommended to avoid walking or strenuous physical activity after a meal to reduce the risk of flatulence. Also, avoid running exercises right until 2 years of age to avoid joint damage. They are extremely powerful, which is why their owners often keep them out, which is wrong.

Great Danes are a gentle and fragile dog that is recommended to be kept in an apartment or house. All you have to do is make sure there is enough space to sleep and make the place very comfortable.

They can salivate and drool, which may require extra care in the form of wiping saliva. Hair brushing is sufficient once a week while in shedding periods three to four times a week will be enough.

Diet

Since Great Danes are a dog prone to flatulence, more small meals throughout the day are recommended.

For puppies, it is very important that you feed it with foods that contain all the vitamins, minerals, and proteins in order for the dog to progress quickly and grow into a healthy dog. Great Dane puppy owners can choose between dry kibbles, canned food, raw feeding protocols and home-cooked diets.

Of course, each dog has a different metabolism, each is a story for itself, so you should change and try different varieties of nutrition yourself until you find the one that works best for him.

However, breeders recommend using granules containing a protein content of 24% and a fat content of 12%. After two years, you can start feeding your dog once a day. Again, the amount of food depends on the dog itself, its daily activities, but also its innate lifestyle.

His meal should then contain 80% meat and bone, while the other 20% should be evenly distributed on vegetables and cereals. Feed your dog at the same time with similar amounts of food, and avoid giving human food.

According to some vets, the average adult Great Danes requires approximately 2,500 calories daily. Older Great Danes may require somewhat fewer calories, while a younger adult with an active lifestyle may need roughly 3,000 calories per day.

Training

Great Danes should be well trained from an early age. Great Danes have an innate need to please, so your puppy will be relatively easy to train and learn the basic tricks. If they misbehave at an older age, you will likely not be able to physically move or restrain your Great Dane.

When you start training, make sure to only train about 5 to 10 minutes a day. Always end the training session on a good note, such as when they make progress or do the trick successfully. Give him lots of praise and love. This will make training a happy and more fun experience for you and the dog, and make it more effective.

This dog breed is very attached, loves to spend time with the owner and most of all wants to please the owner. Punishment should be avoided as Great Danes are very sensitive, and gentle training and patience are required.

If you know these facts your training will be successful.

Training Requirements:

Knowledge of dog training techniques, treats and compliments, and consistency. Remember, once a stubborn Great Dane is always a stubborn Great Dane. Also, punishing can make Great Dane dogs pertinacious.

Dog Behavior

Great Danes are proud and magnificent dogs. They are fun and energetic so they love to participate in activities. This gentle giant gets along well with other dogs, animals, and humans. Great Danes can also be a guard dog because his proud standing, powerful barking, and strong appearance will scare anyone.

It is recommended that you keep your dog on a leash when you are outside and only release it from a leash in a safe area.

side profile great dane

Related Questions

Does A Great Dane Bark Often?

Usually Great Danes are not incessant barkers. The dogs bark seldom. But when Great Danes bark, it is quite loud. Keep this fact in mind if barking bothers your neighbors.

How Are They With Strangers?

Early socialization is necessary in order for these dogs to be well behaved to strangers. Great Danes can be very protective in situations where loved ones are in danger. If you treat them well and if you have introduced them to different people in the process of early socialization, you won’t have a problem with aggressiveness.

Are Great Danes Good With Children?

Great Danes are certainly a good kid-friendly dog. Although they are a big dog, they will be a gentle, kind, and calm friend who loves to play. They are very relaxed in the presence of children.

However, it is a good idea to get this dog when the baby is a little bigger because the Great Dane has no perception of how big and strong they are, and may accidentally knock the baby over.

You should always monitor the behavior of the child and the dog. Although this puppy will be very patient, teach your child not to push their fingers into the dog’s ears and teeth, or play rough.

Are Great Danes Good With Other Dogs?

The behavior of other dogs varies individually from dog to dog. Some Great Danes will be extremely friendly while others will not tolerate other dogs and will behave restrained.

Do They Do Damage Around The House?

Great Danes love being in the house with the owners and not responding well to solitude. They are very quiet dogs, however, they need a large space to move around the house due to their size. Great Danes can reach the dining table, kitchen sink, etc. Your big dog can accidentally ruin things he encounters.

It’s necessary to train your Great Dane not to do any damage to the house. As long as they have lots of toys and affection, they will be quite content.

Are Great Danes Vulnerable To Separation Anxiety?

Many dogs grow anxious or become upset when their owners are away from home, especially when they’re puppies. Because Great Danes are so social, they can even experience separation anxiety in adulthood.

Great Danes really aren’t suitable outside dogs because they have been bred to be very people orientated which makes them perfect house dogs and that’s why they don’t like isolation. If you insist on keeping your Great Dane outside, then you’ll need to be prepared for separation anxiety and behavioral problems from the get-go.

Are Great Danes A Dangerous Dog?

Great Danes are not an aggressive dog, and with proper training, your Dane will grow into an excellent pet that will adore everyone.

By nature, Great Danes are patient and tenderness, but in situations where loved ones are in danger, they are able to express sharpness and aggression. Also, if they are not trained and socialized from an early age, they can become quite dangerous and aggressive!

Great Dane – Good Choice Or Not?

This breed is a gentle, loyal, and friendly home pet that gets along with everyone due to their chilled-out nature. Its characteristics and proud appearance make it a very popular choice for a pet worldwide, and is in the top 20 most popular dog breeds in the world.

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