Appearance

The Great Dane is a large-sized dog that is very muscular and strong. They have a rectangular-shaped head and long in appearance. They have a short dense coat. They give the appearance of being very noble and dignified.

History

There are Egyptian hieroglyphics in tombs dating back 2200 BC depicting dogs that closely resemble Great Danes. These short-legged, mastiff-type dogs made their way to Europe via traders. It was in Germany that the breed was further developed into the modern day Great Danes. According to some historians, the original mastiff-type dogs were crossed with a greyhound to give it more agile and more slender body type. They were used as bull baiters, and in 1952 they were being used by the nobility for hunting wild boar. The Great Dane’s popularity soared during the 1880s and was used by estate owners for large game hunting. In 1891, the Great Dane Club of Germany adopted a standard. In 1889 in Chicago, the German Mastiff or the Great Dane Club of America was founded.