Great Dane: Breed and Dog Care Features

The noble giant of the canine world, which is often called the largest domestic dog in the world. Dogs got such a "home" nickname for their friendly character, responsiveness, and sincere affection for their owners and members of their families. In any situation, this dog is invariably restrained, majestic and looks like an elegant statue. Even when excited and excited, the animal never shows its concern.

The roots of rock formation go back to ancient times. Scientists have identified several fairly large dogs, which are combined under the term "dogoobraznye". In addition to the German Great Dane, it included Dalmatians, St. Bernards, Rottweilers, Bulldogs, as well as Newfoundlands, mastiffs and Leonberger. It is believed that they all come from a single ancestor - the giant Tibetan mastiff.

Huge, hardy and physically strong dogs have been used for centuries to guard remote monasteries, as well as to protect nomadic tribes and while hunting large mammals. Gradually, the Tibetan dogs spread to the rest of Asia, appeared in Persia and India. It was there that they first began to be used as a real “military weapon” during military battles with the enemy, which significantly increased the value of the breed.

Excavation data indicate that dogs of this breed took an active part in the numerous military-invasive campaigns of Tsar Xerxes, were used to suppress riots in Egypt and Babylon. Dogs also participated in a protracted Greek campaign - just like that, as trophies, dogs came to the Greeks, where their qualities were very highly appreciated.

Images of dogs can be seen on ancient Greek coins, and in the city of Corinth, a monument to these animals was even erected for exceptional services in battles with the Peloponnese. Tibetan dogs are also mentioned in the writings of Aristotle, who paid tribute to the incredible physical strength and endurance of these beautiful and noble dogs.

The fame of dogs has come to one of the greatest military leaders in the world - Alexander the Great, who became their ardent admirer. A little later, the Molossians (the so-called huge immigrants from Tibet in the countries of Europe) attracted the ancient Romans. In peacetime, so that the animals did not lose their shape, they were forced to fight with wild animals in the rings, and during military campaigns, they necessarily accompanied troops.

Images of these large dogs can be found on the runestones that have survived to our times. Dogs are mentioned in the ancient Icelandic epos, and the skeletons of the family of giant dogs are even represented in the Museum of the History of Denmark, their remains belong to the X-V century. in. BC e.

Thus, for several centuries a great relocation of the Great Danes took place, and by the 19th century they found themselves in the most different countries of the Old World, where several populations that differ in color and physique were bred. But a constant characteristic of all dogs of this type remained strength and impressive size.

Years passed, the era of antique military campaigns remained in the past, weapons were improved, and completely different tactics gained popularity in combat battles. As a result, the need to use dogs in battle gradually came to naught, so completely different qualities of dogs came to the fore. In those days, dogs began to be used when hunting large animals - qualities such as endurance and exceptional running ability made dogs very popular among hunters of noble birth.

The greatest success in this field was achieved by breeders from England, who crossed Tibetan Great Danes with the "boar dogs" common in England at that time. Thus, due to the addition of the Wolfhound and Mastiff genes, the representatives of the new breed received rather long legs and a very elegant physique. Wild boars and hoofed animals simply did not have a single chance to withstand the attack of such athletes.

For a long time there was a real mess in the name of the breed. In France, dogs were called Dogue Allemand, in Germany - Englische Docke, on the lands of the British Isles - German boarhound. There were other variants of names, which in essence meant a similar type of dog, however, it is impossible to talk about one breed. For the first time, the Danes made the decision to monitor the purity of the breed in 1866 - it was then that the Danish standard was first drawn up.

Only at the very end of the 19th century did dog breeders combine their efforts in order to create a single look on the basis of different-sized dog-shaped dogs that would embody the best features and performance of dogs from different regions and countries.The initiative group began its work in Germany in 1878, and a couple of years later a new standard was adopted. In 1888, the dog club in Berlin began its activities.

In order to keep the breed clean, it was allowed to obtain offspring in strictly defined combinations; otherwise, recessive genes could cause a dog's hue to lighten or the appearance of spots of unnecessary color. Until the start of World War II, active work was being done to maintain the breed, but during the years of the battle most of the kennels were destroyed, and the population of dogs itself declined sharply. After the establishment of peace, the genotype of these animals had to be restored again.

Dogs first entered the territory of Russia even before the October Revolution - Emperor Alexander II brought two puppies from an exhibition in Hamburg, but in our country the breed did not win much popularity. Only at the end of the 70s of the last century in the Soviet Union did the breeds seriously engage in development, and before that, the Great Dane were mainly acquired in the countries of the former socialist camps - Poland, East Germany and Czechoslovakia.

The largest dog in history is considered to be a dog named Zeus - its height at the withers is 111.8 cm. Another dog named George from the USA is also no less famous, which at a height of 109.2 cm had a body weight of about 111 kg.

Great Dane is one of the highest breeds in the world. This is a very impressive-looking dog, which alone scares away everyone who wants to come closer - people are simply afraid for their health. By the way, in vain - few people know that a truly "golden soul" is hiding behind a formidable view.

The following exterior features correspond to this noble and good-natured giant.

• The average height of females is 75 cm, males - 85-90 cm.
• Body weight reaches 90-95 kg.
• The body of the female is slightly elongated; in the male, it has more square shapes.
• The head is quite large, on the sides as if slightly cut. The line of transition from the forehead to the nose is well defined.
• The dog has 42 teeth. Like many other dogs, scissors bite.
• The nose is usually black in color, the only exception is the marble dogs.
• The eyes are quite smart, lively, the iris is dark in color. In blue varieties, discord is allowed, and in marble dogs - slight lightening.
• The ears are large, hanging type, landing high.
• The neck is usually vertical, at the withers slightly inclined forward at the time of rapid movement. The neck muscles are pronounced, which gives it a very powerful look.
• In accordance with the breed standard, the back is flat, straight, but slightly bent near the tail.
• The tail length is medium. During running, the tail is slightly raised, twisting the donut is allowed.
• Paws, both front and rear, flat, parallel, very powerful.
• The coat is short, quite tightly attached to the skin, moult moderate.

Dogs look great in any color, but the following colors are allowed in accordance with the standard.

• Great Dane - it is often called "harlequin." The coat of these dogs is painted white, dark spots with torn edges are scattered across the surface - they can be of various sizes.
• Tiger dogs look very impressive. These are red dogs; dark gray and black stripes are randomly arranged on their hair.
• It really looks spectacular Great Dane. On the part of it, the fur is more like grayish, but with certain lighting it acquires a pronounced bluish tint.
• Fawn dogs - These are brown dogs, similar to tiger, but already without stripes.
• Great Dane black color make an indelible impression - they are usually painted completely in one color, rarely have small whitish spots on the fingers or in the sternum.

Dogs became widely known after the release of the animated film about Scooby-Doo and the advent of Marmadyuk's comics. But in fact, these dogs are not at all like those cowardly foolish animals that become a source of eternal trouble for their breeders. In fact, these are intelligent dogs that, despite their impressive size, remain restrained and reasonable.

Any German dog breeder will probably say a lot of flattering words about his pet. These giants are extremely intelligent by nature and extremely friendly. Of course, young puppies of this breed, like all other babies, love to play, are prone to mischief, which with their size can be truly destructive.

However, such a dog will never cause harm or do nasty things intentionally, for the sake of its own pleasure.. Therefore, if in the heat of the game you find yourself defeated on the floor - you do not need to take this for a manifestation of aggression. The kid in the process of growing up still does not know how to realize his own dimensions and simply does not measure the force that he exerts in order to emerge victorious in a comic battle for a toy or stick.

As the mischief grows, the dog becomes more sedate and restrained, but remains well-mannered and faithful. The instincts of a defender and a guard are very pronounced in the dogs, he will become an excellent guardian for the weak "members of the pack." You can safely leave your kids with this dog - it will be an excellent nanny for children, which will not allow anyone to offend children.

However, this does not mean that the dog cannot show character. The calm appearance of the animal in no case should mislead others - with the look that this dog casts around what is happening around, it simply monitors the environment.

Moreover, they never show unmotivated hostility towards ordinary passers-by. The only exceptions are psychologically unhealthy animals that in the past became victims of illiterate education or even ill-treatment by humans.

These are domestic dogs who enjoy spending time with their family. The animal is psychologically difficult to tolerate separation from the owner, therefore, if the professional activity of the breeder is associated with long absences, then it is worth giving preference to dogs of other breeds.

Unfortunately, these giants cannot boast of strong immunity and long life expectancy. By the age of 8-9, the dogs are already considered decrepit old people, because there are very few dogs older than this age.

The main cause of death of German Great Dane, according to statistics, is an inversion of the intestines, which often happens even in young and strong dogs. If such a problem arose, as soon as possible surgical intervention is required, any delay is fraught with the death of the pet.

Dogs belong to late maturing breeds, therefore their musculoskeletal system takes a very long time to form. In these animals, congenital dysplasia, frequent problems with the spine are not uncommon, pathologies of the lumbar and cervical regions in age dogs are especially common. Before the dog reaches one and a half years try to avoid excessive physical exertion - exhausting runs and tiresome walking up the stairs, especially down.

Young dogs are advised to bandage their paws before going outside.Also, in some cases, the veterinarian may advise breeders to use special foods with chondroprotectors - substances that contribute to the proper formation of joints.

The following ailments are also related to diseases common to dogs.

• Flatulence. The abnormal structure of the stomach often leads to flatulence and heaviness in the stomach - this happens if the dog remains active after feeding. That is why it is necessary to teach the animal to rest after eating for at least half an hour.
• Helminths. Helminthic infestations are very dangerous for dogs, especially in puppy dogs. To eliminate the occurrence of such problems, already at the age of 3 weeks they begin antiparasitic treatment, and once a quarter they pass feces for analysis.
• Entropion - Represents mechanical damage to the eyes by the extended edge of the eyelid. This happens with the "raw" structure of the skull and often causes the dog to lose vision.

In order to reduce the risk of developing serious diseases, it should be vaccination of animals. Thanks to vaccinations, the immune system is stimulated, which can significantly reduce the risk of damage to many diseases that are dangerous for a pet. If you have a German Great Dane, make a vaccination calendar with your doctor and strictly adhere to it. The first vaccination is given to the dog at 2 months.

The huge growth of the animal often leads to pathologies of the cardiovascular system; for doggies, cardiomyopathy and aortic stenosis are not uncommon. Also, animals suffer from kidney diseases (Addison's disease), thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Skin diseases occur: interdigital dermatitis, demodicosis, histiocytoma. Often there are pathologies of the organs of vision - cataract and entropy of the eyelids.

The best place to keep the Great Dane is a spacious private house, preferably with a large garden near the reservoir. However, in a city apartment, a pet can be quite comfortable if it is given the opportunity to splash out all the accumulated energy during long daily walks.

Many do not dare to start a dog in the apartment because of their size, suggesting that such a dog will take up too much space. However, as evidenced by the reviews of experienced owners, dogs manage to be subtle and compact, behave quietly and show great respect for the personal space of all family members.

For the animal should be equipped with a separate place - it should be located in a separate corner, where the dog will not be hurt feet kicking from room to room household. Do not place the stove bench near heating appliances, as well as in places where drafts often occur - the wind, like excessive air dryness, has the most adverse effect on the dogs and leads to the development of serious diseases.

In order for the pet to be convenient and comfortable, it is necessary to buy a high mattress that will match the size of the dog. If possible, try to purchase a special sofa for dogs, as animals often have problems with the spine with age, and a thin mattress will not be enough for them.

It is strictly not allowed to keep the animal in a booth or aviary, especially in the cold season. The only exceptions are cases when you built a heated house for your pet, but then the booth should be very spacious and voluminous.

If the dogs live in a private house with the possibility of round-the-clock self-walking, then this very well affects the health status of the pet. But if the animal is kept in the apartment, then the need for physical exertion should be satisfied on walks - the dog should be walked twice a day, at least 1.5-2 hours.

To maintain the perfect appearance of the pet, it is necessary to comb his hair once a week with a special stiff brush. Dogs bathe infrequently - 3-4 times a year, and in case of severe pollution.

Keep in mind that the procedure is not at all simple - a dog of similar dimensions will not fit in a basin, so washing procedures will have to be carried out in the bathroom. Many breeders use the services of groomers. If you intend to bathe your dog on your own in your own bathroom, then try to teach your pet these procedures from early childhood.

Once every 5-7 days, the ears of the animal should be examined for inflammation, ear wax and injury. During the inspection, it is necessary to treat the inner surface with a special veterinary lotion or a weak solution of boric acid.

At least once a week, you need to brush your dog’s teeth. This can be done with a special paste and brush, or you can give preference to special "long-playing" bones that help remove tartar in dogs.

Usually, the claws of dogs grind themselves, but if the animal walks mainly in a forest belt or on a site with soft soil, then cut them with special nippers from time to time, as they will not grind on the road surface.

You need to wipe your eyes a couple of times a week with infusion of chamomile or a weak solution of furacilin. Preventive instillation of anti-inflammatory drops every 10-14 days does not hurt.

Special attention should be paid to the question of stopping the ears. In accordance with the standard adopted in Germany, for a long time the ears of the dogs were subjected to mandatory stopping in order to reduce the risk of injury to the animal during hunting.

However, over time, the purpose of the dog changed, and today the dogs are more like guards and companion dogs, so the need for cosmetic trimming has disappeared. Moreover, since 1993, a new standard has been issued in the EU countries, which established prohibition of stopping ears - for violation of this requirement shall be fined or other types of liability.

In Russia, this issue is left to the discretion of the breeders, stopping continues to be appreciated, but at the same time, both groups of participants compete on equal terms at exhibitions and competitions. In any case, the final decision on ear correction is made by the breeder after consultation with the veterinarian.

Eating dogs can be natural or using ready-made feeds - each method has its own pros and cons. In the first case, you can always control the quality of the products offered to the dog, but this method takes time to find the ingredients for dog porridges and their preparation. Dry feeds significantly save owners time, but often their composition leaves much to be desired.

When choosing packaged feeds, it is necessary to give preference only to products of super-premium class or holistic from reliable manufacturers - they use only high-quality products in production, do not contain any preservatives, flavorings and flavor enhancers.

The grown mastiff is usually fed 2 times a day so that the morning portion is 10-15% less than the evening portion. For 1 kg of dog weight, 50 kcal. The following feeding regimen is optimal:

• in 1.5-2 months - 6-8 times a day;
• from 3 months - 5 times a day with a parallel increase in servings;
• at 4-5 months - the animal is transferred to a 4-time feeding;
• at 6 months - the dogs switch to a 3-time diet;
• from 1 year old dogs are fed twice a day.

The diet of young dogs must be supplemented calcium preparations, since a deficiency of this element entails an increased risk of impaired growth and development of the musculoskeletal system.

If you feed the dog straight, it is best to cook special mixers for your pet. 70% of the diet should be lean meat (veal, beef, chicken and turkey), part of the meat can be replaced with high-quality offal, rich protein or cartilage collagen (heart, liver, chicken necks and heads). Also, cereals (preferably rice or buckwheat) and vegetables should be included in the mixers - they are crushed raw or steamed.

Best of all, the dog's body responds to carrots, pumpkins, zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower. It will be useful to season the mash with chopped succulent greens, and in winter add sprouted grains of cereals, rich in all the vitamins necessary for the dog.

An adult dog consumes 700-800 grams of food per day. Dogs of this breed are strictly contraindicated:

• fatty meat (pork);
• soybeans, corn, and legumes;
• sweets of all kinds - pastries, sweets, cakes, chocolate;
• smoked meats;
• pickles and pickles;
• spicy and fried foods.

Do not feed the dog from your table. Keep in mind that the dog has a very sensitive digestive system and any violation of the recommended dietary standards can have the most detrimental effect on the pet’s health status, up to and including intestinal upset.

German Great Dane are very rarely trained to protect their master - in this peace-loving dog it is very difficult to raise aggression, and it is not necessary - for this there are a large number of other dog breeds. Dogs usually require only the most general training course, which includes several blocks of animal training:

• in place;
• to a leash, collar and muzzle;
• to a veterinary examination;
• to hygiene procedures;
• to calm reaction to loud sounds.

In dog training, it is necessary to demonstrate goodwill and patience, do not forget about the genetic characteristics of your pet - this animal always does everything “with feeling, with good sense, with arrangement”. Do not forget to encourage the dog with a treat and meritorious intonations.

In conclusion, we note that Great Dane is a beautiful, strong and friendly animal. Nevertheless, it is not suitable for every person. For example, it will be difficult for weak or elderly people to take care of such a big dog - a dog requires increased attention, you need to walk with it often for a long time, and such a dog needs a lot of food.

Before deciding to buy a Great Dane puppy, be sure to weigh the pros and cons, evaluate your physical and material capabilities.

The following properties characteristic of these animals can be attributed to the number of pluses:

• great companion;
• demonstrates a friendly attitude towards children;
• easy to train;
• possesses security and guard characteristics;
• does not show unmotivated aggression;
• gets along with other pets;
• completely devoted to his master.

Of the minuses of the dogs distinguish:

• exactingness to walks and physical activities;
• expensive maintenance;
• very stubborn disposition;
• predisposition to obesity and hereditary diseases;
• short life span;
• without proper education is prone to destruction.

If you are determined to become the owner of a German Great Dane, then keep in mind that a pet class puppy (with a breeding marriage) can be bought for 300-400 dollars. Such animals will not be able to become a source of genetic material, and indeed they are not allowed to participate in exhibitions, but this does not make them less friendly, loyal and hardy. Well, if you need puppies of a show class, then be prepared to part with an amount of $ 1,000 or more.

About the features of the dog breed, Great Dane, see below.