The Great Dane towers at an amazing 30-34 inches and weighs in at about 120-200 pounds. On its hind legs it can reach 6 feet tall. An amazing fact, the world’s tallest dog is a Great Dane. His name is Giant George, with a weight of 245 pounds and a height of about 7 feet 3 inches on its hind legs.  Don’t let the massive look discourage you from these beautiful animals, as they can be very playful with children and show their owners a lot of love. This breed is called “the Gentle Giant” due to their charming nature.

      This dog may be taller than your average pet, but they are very calm and affectionate. Also known as the “Apollo of all dogs” according to the AKC, this is one of the oldest breeds to date. Egyptian buildings from around 3000 B.C. have drawings of the Great Dane on them. Even Chinese literature in 1121 B.C. signified the breed in their writing. Originating from Germany they were used to hunt wild boar and bears in ancient years.

      Currently, these dogs love to be around people and need the attention of people around them. They hardly bark and tend to be mild mannered. Great Danes are great pets as they are reliable, trustworthy, loyal and courageous. However, they do require lots of exercise. Apartment life is okay as long as daily walks are established. Aside from long occurring walks, regular grooming should occur. Because the breed is very large regular grooming needs to be maintained.

      Some other precautions that need to be taken into consideration because of the Great Dane’s size would be training. Lines need to be drawn out at an early age so that the dog will be obedient around other people as well as dogs. Some health issues to be aware of are hip dysphasia, heart disease, tumors and digestive problems. Bloating can cause the breed to have unusual digestive problems. Take care in the diet and what you feed your dog. Overall, Great Danes are great pets to have. They can live to be 12 years old but have a life expectancy of 10 years. There are six show-acceptable colors: fawn, brindle, black, blue and harlequin and mantle.Famous dog owners include pop songstress Lady Gaga, Jim Carrey, and former professional baseball player Mark McGwire.

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written by RJ, August 17, 2010

scooby was a great dane

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