Strays Anatomy

Other Names: German Mastiff

Appearance
The Great Dane is a large sized dog that is very muscular and strong. They give the appearance of being very noble and dignified.

Coat
They have a short, smooth coat which come in colors including:brindle, fawn, blue, black or patches of black with white (Harlequin).

Weight: 100 - 120 lbs

Average Life Span: 8 - 10 yrs

Temperament
The Great Dane is a loyal, friendly, intelligent and trustworthy companion with a big heart to match it’s size. They are excellent with children and other pets which make them an exceptional family dog. Supervision, is however, required around small children as they may accidentally step on them or knock them over. Great Danes are gentle giants who love human attention and being involved with family life. They are not suited as an outside dog. They make good watch and guard dogs with their size alone is enough to scare off intruders. Although great Danes make wonderful companions, owners must be prepared for their sheer size.

Important
With their large size Great Danes need to be fed large amounts of food. Owners must understand that this will be costly. It is important to get the correct balance and type of food, as too much or too little of the wrong types of food, can result in growth problems which may not be noticed until the dog is older. It is always best to ask your vet for advice. Due to their height Great Danes need to feed and drink from raised bowls.

Training
Great Danes are intelligent make them fairly easy to train. They do grow very quickly into a very large dog so training must start when they are puppies otherwise they will be more than a handle full. All training must be consistent and due to their sensitive natures it must be gentle and positive. As puppies they do require lots of socialization with animals and people.

Grooming
The coat of the Great Dane is easily cared for with a good weekly brushing that is enough to keep it healthy and shiny.

Exercise
Great Danes need daily long walks. Care needs to be taken during puppy hood not to over exercise them as this can lead to bone and joint problems when older.