Great Dane - Breed Information

 

Breed Information:The largest of the dog breeds, the Great Dane has a long, slim head atop a long, muscular neck. The front legs of the Great Dane are straight, and he has round, compact feet for the size of his body. This breed has a short, close-fitting coat that comes in a variety of colors. These colors include brindle, fawn, blue, black, harlequin, and mantle and the nose of these dogs should be black, except in blue Danes where the nose can be dark blue-black, and in the harlequin where a black-spotted nose is acceptable.Although ears are often cropped in the

USA, care should be taken if showing dogs internationally as cropped ears are an automatic disqualification under some circumstances in some countries.Size:Dogs – Height: 32-34 inches/Weight: 130-200 poundsBitches – Height: 30-32 inches/Weight 110-150 poundsThese are average weights for this breed as it can vary a lot between individual dogs.Breed Specific Health Issues:Hip Dysplasia is the most common health problem with this breed, so be sure to purchase your puppy from a breeder whose stock have good test scores. Other problems that occur are heart disease, and Great Danes are prone to bloat. As this breed takes a long time to mature, avoid any serious exercise until over one year old.Life Expectancy:The Great Dane is not a long-lived breed, averaging around 10 years, though some do live longer.Grooming Requirements:Because of their short coat, little grooming is required. Weekly grooming with a stiff brush is recommended. Some Danes love the water so baths can be fun, but many do not which makes it very difficult – weekly brushing helps eliminate the need for bathing.