Great Dane Dogs and Puppies Canada

Photo of an attractive Great Dane

Your Canadian Online Guide to
Great Dane Dog Breed Information Facts and Pictures

Alternate Names: Deutsche Dogges
Common Misspellings: Grate Danes, Greatdanes, Great Daines

Introducing the Great Dane Dog Breed

The Great Dane Dog Breed in Brief:

Great Dane Breed History:

The foundation sires of the Great Dane breed remain a mystery, though it is suspected that he may have originated from a cross between the great Irish Wolfhounds and the noble English Mastiff. Another story hints at the possible infusion of Greyhound blood, though this is far less likely; the Great Dane is neither a sight hound, nor is he overly athletic. Also interesting to note is that, while his name would suggest otherwise, the Great Dane is not a Danish-bred variety. Instead, it was the Germans who created the breed and cultivated it, more than 400 years ago, refining the bloodlines in order to create a superior dog for hunting wild boar. The end result would be the beautiful Great Dane that we know and love in these modern days.

Great Dane Appearance:

The Great Dane is a regal animal with a powerful, yet graceful body. Males are very strong and masculine in appearance, the breed standard demanding that they have a more massive build and blockier head. Females, on the other hand, are distinctively dainty in comparison and often possess a longer body type than the males. Great Danes can be bred or shown with either cropped and upright-pointing ears, or with uncropped ears, though they are faulted if the cropped ears make the dog appear hound-like in appearance.

Great Danes come in a wide variety of colors, including black, blue, brindle, fawn, and the patterned colors, which are the harlequin and the mantle Great Dane. While the solid-colored varieties occasionally will have white markings at the chest or toes, this is undesirable according to the breed standard, and one should not use such a dog for breeding purposes. Mismarked Great Danes still make excellent pets, however, and that puppy with the big white patch might be just the dog that you’re looking for.

Great Dane Temperament:

There's good reason that the Great Dane is known as a "gentle giant." Very loving and affectionate animals, they enjoy human contact much more than many other breeds of dog. In fact, the Great Dane enjoys his "people time," so much, that he will often do very poorly if kept outdoors or kenneled. If you want to own a Great Dane, you had best be prepared to spend lots of time with your big baby.

The Great Dane is a very friendly dog that gets along well with children, as well as other animals. While they seem to possess a great deal of patience, towards smaller members of the family, small children should always be supervised with Great Danes - while they don’t mean to cause harm, those large bodies take space to maneuver in and it's very easy to knock a small body down by accident. Also, while they may appear to be saints with hearts of gold, any dog can have a tendency to snap if he gets hurt. Keeping an eye on small children is essential when dealing with any dog, including your Great Dane.

Great Dane Exercise Information:

People often believe that the bigger the dog, the more exercise he requires. This is not always true and the Great Dane is an excellent example of that - while he isn't a total couch potato, the Great Dane will do well in an apartment, provided he gets a chance to go out on a couple of daily walks a day, just to stretch his legs. Dog parks are also excellent surroundings for your Great Dane to get exercise, but be sure that he knows some basic manners and commands, prior to taking him there.

Great Dane Grooming Needs:

The Great Dane is a very easy pet to keep groomed - a simple brushing, a couple times a week, will help to remove dander, dead hair, and to keep his coat nice and glossy. Additionally, you will want to keep your Great Dane's nails trimmed to a comfortable length and, particularly if your dog has uncropped ears, ensure that his ears stay clean and dry, checking them periodically for problems such as ear mites or signs of infection.

Great Dane Training

Great Danes grow very quickly and, for many, it can come as quite a shock to realize that they have a puppy that weighs 100 pounds bounding about the living room. Due to the fact that Great Danes grow so quickly and because of their sheer size and mass, it's important to get them started in obedience training as young as possible. While he may not mean to cause mischief, puppies can't help being clumsy and playful, and Great Dane pups are especially affectionate. Teaching them control and moderation, while they are still young, is very important.

Great Dane Health Information:

Like any breed of dog, the Great Dane is subject to a variety of health concerns. Your best bet is, when deciding to choose a new Great Dane puppy, check around with several breeders and ask about the various health issues that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A reputable breeder should be well-versed in the health concerns and should be able to give you more details, as well as showing you the sire and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the health problems that can affect Great Danes include:

Bloat
Cardiomyopathy
Epilepsy
Hip dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Osteosarcoma
Von Willebrand's Disease

Is the Great Dane The Right Breed For You:

The Great Dane is a loving and affectionate dog but he is also a very large dog and, with large dogs come big commitments. One of the major concerns and reasons that Great Danes are abandoned or turned over to shelters is simply because of cost. These are dogs that, in order to maintain a good body weight, require roughly 8-10 cups of food per day, and have to be fed twice a day in order to run the high risk of bloat. This amasses to anywhere from 1-2 large bags of dog food, per month, not to mention "raw" foods that are commonly fed to Great Danes, in order to help balance out their diet. Quite often, Great Dane owners will joke about how they need a separate job, just to keep their beloved pet in kibble.

Also, due to the fact that these dogs are so large, they often have shortened life spans, when compared to other breeds. While true Great Dane lovers are grateful for whatever opportunity they have with these gentle giants, losing a dear family pet after a mere 7 or 8 years may be too much for some to bear. These things should be taken into consideration, prior to making the decision to buy any dog, but especially a loving Great Dane puppy. These are giant dogs, with giant hearts, and owning one is a long-term commitment.

Great Dane Puppies

Additional Great Dane Information Resources

Great Dane Dogs Puppies Canada