Great Dane
Great Danes combine pride, power and poise in one package.
About the Great Dane
With their harmonious build and expressive face, Great Danes are gentle giants. Great Danes are happy, loving and fond of their human companions, particularly children, although they are wary of strangers.
A self-assured, calm and receptive Great Dane is a highly tolerant family dog with little in the way of aggression.
Source: key facts and characteristics sourced from Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
Breed specifics
- Country
- Germany
- Group
- FCI Group 2, AKC Working Group
- Size category
- Very large
- Avg life expectancy
- 8–10 years
Friendly / Loving / Loyal / Reserved / Confident / Resilient / Calm / Even-tempered
Key facts
Origins of the breed
The first Great Dane standard was published in 1880, on the occasion of a show in Berlin. A breed club was established in 1888, which has tweaked the standard a number of times.
By the mid 18th century there was a profusion of different varieties with names including Ulmer Dogge, English Dogge, German Dogge, Hatzrüde, Saupacker and Grosse Dogge, which were very similar dogs of different coat colours and sizes. In 1878, a committee of seven judges and breeders, under the presidency of Dr Bodinus, met in Berlin to classify all of these varieties under the name Deutsche Dogge in their own language, which rather confusingly becomes Great Dane in English.
