| The Great Dane or German Mastiff is the
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| | and wolves. It is thought that the
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| gentle giant of dog breeds. This giant
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| | British Mastiff, the Irish Wolfhound and
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| dog needs an experienced owner who can
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| | possibly the Greyhound all were involved
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| cope with a large dog and large demands
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| | in developing the German Mastiff. The
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| on the family budget.
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| | original German Mastiffs were very
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| The Dane is gentle, quiet, dignified,
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| | aggressive hunting and guard dogs but
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| well-mannered, loyal and affectionate.
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| | many subsequent generations of selective
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| The breed is wonderfully devoted to its
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| | breeding has resulted in a gentle and
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| family and it would rather lean against
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| | affectionate giant dog breed. This German
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| you for a pat, than behave aggressively
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| | giant came to America in the late 19th
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| towards anyone. The Great Dane is very
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| | century and became very popular, ranking
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| good with family children, but toddlers
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| | 27th out of 154 dog breeds in 2004 AKC
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| and small children are subject to
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| | registrations.
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| accidental knock down or being whacked
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| | Danes are very adaptable and despite
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| with a wagging tail and must be
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| | their large size, they are nimble footed
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| supervised very carefully. Because the
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| | and can easily navigate around a large
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| Dane is so large, it requires extensive
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| | apartment. Danes can adapt to apartment
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| socialization to learn how to behave
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| | living and even being left alone during
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| cautiously around children and pets. Some
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| | the day as long as they get regular
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| male Danes can be dominant, so obedience
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| | exercise and lots of companionship in the
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| training and socialization must be
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| | morning and evening. Despite being very
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| started with puppy school and continued
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| | large dogs, they don't need a lot of
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| until at least two years of age. Danes
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| | exercise every day. Two good walks will
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| are intelligent and eager to please, so
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| | suffice. Do not over exercise Great Danes
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| they can be trained for higher levels of
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| | when they are young because their fast
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| activities and competitions. Additional
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| | growth makes them prone to injuries. The
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| information on obedience competitions and
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| | Dane loves to be warm and comfortable and
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| other activities for dogs can be found in
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| | this heavy dog needs a very soft bed or
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| my article on Fun Dog Activities.
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| | you may find him sleeping on yours.
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| The Great Dane is probably the tallest of
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| | Giant breeds, like the Great Dane, have a
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| all dog breeds. Male Danes stand at least
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| | life expectancy of no longer than 10
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| 32 inches and females at least 30 inches
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| | years and large male Danes may only live
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| tall at shoulder height. Depending on
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| | for 7 or 8 years. Danes have many serious
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| their height male Danes can weigh from
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| | inherited health problems including:
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| 140 to 190 pounds with females weighing
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| | musculoskeletal disorders such as hip
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| from 100 to 160 pounds. This tall regal
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| | dysplasia, Wobblers syndrome (cervical
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| dog has a rectangular head set on an
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| | vertebral instability), and panosteitis;
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| elegant neck and the dog moves with grace
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| | heart diseases such as cardiomyopathy and
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| and dignity. The Dane's ears can be
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| | aortic stenosis; eye disorders such as
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| natural or cropped and the tail is
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| | cataracts, ectropion, entropion, glaucoma
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| natural. The Dane's coat is short, smooth
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| | and progressive retinal atrophy;
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| and glossy and only requires occasional
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| | hypothyroidism, cancer and bloat.
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| brushing except when shedding. Colors can
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| | Information on these inherited diseases
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| be: brindle (golden yellow with black
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| | and ways to help control bloat can be
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| striping); fawn (with black mask); black;
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| | found in my article on Hereditary
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| black mantled (black body with white
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| | Diseases in Dogs. Before you buy a Great
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| collar and trim); blue; and harlequin
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| | Dane puppy make sure you ask the breeder
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| (white with ragged black patches).
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| | for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
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| The early ancestors of the Dane are
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| | (OFA) results for hip dysplasia,
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| thought to be the large and courageous
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| | congenital heart disease and thyroid
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| war dogs, called Molossians, which were
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| | disease and the Canine Eye Registry
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| used in ancient Greek and Roman times.
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| | (CERF) recent ophthalmologists report for
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| When these Molossians spread across
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| | both sire and dam. These results also may
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| Europe, they became the founding stock
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| | be available through the Canine Health
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| for many modern dog breeds including the
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| | Information Center (CHIC) program which
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| British Mastiff. The Germans saw the need
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| | stores results from both OFA and CERF for
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| to develop a big and courageous dog to
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| | a growing number of breeding Great Danes.
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| hunt the dangerous European wild boars
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