Great Dane
Other names: Danish, Deutsche Dogge, German Mastiff

The Great Dane is the biggest dog in the world. It is difficult to go unnoticed by his side. His appearance is noble and his body is powerful. He is considered to be the Apollo of his species, as his presence and stature are remarkable. What’s more, his dedication to his family is proportional to his immense size. Very friendly among familiar faces, and especially with children, he remains suspicious of strangers. A very good watchdog, he is courageous and naturally dissuades with his mere presence.
Key facts about the Great Dane
Origins and history
The Great Dane is of German origin. Its ancestors were the ancient "Bullenbeisser" (Bull catchers), who came from the Saupacker (sow-catcher) breed in the middle-ages. They were all big game dogs hunting for deer, wild boar and bear. Their build was midway between the powerful English-type Great Dane and the Greyhound. However, until the First World War, this breed was called "Great Dane" because it was widespread in Denmark. In 1920, the name "German Mastiff" was adopted to remind that among the Great Dane’s ancestors were the massive fighting dogs of the Alains, an ancient nomadic people of Iranian descent, who came to Germany.
Physical characteristics of the Great Dane
Adult size
Female : Between 28 and 33 in
Male : Between 31 and 35 in
Weight
Female : Between 99 and 154 lb
Male : Between 110 and 154 lb
Coat colour
There are five coat colours:
- Fawn: Light yellow gold to intense yellow gold. A black ‘mask’ is common.
- Brindle: yellow or bright gold fur covered with slight black stripes. The Black Mask is, again, to be regarded as standard.
- Harlequin: pure white with all black or blue patches spread all over the body. Grey mastiffs with black spots are not excluded from the ‘standard’ but not specifically desirable, either.
- Black: Black coat with the possible white marks on the chest and feet.
- Blue: pure steel blue coat with possible white marks on the chest and feet.
- Mantle (Black & White)
Type of coat
The hair is short.
The coat is dense, smooth and shiny; it should not be dull. This big dog has no undercoat.
Eye colour
The eyes must be as dark as possible. Clear, haggard or amber eyes are undesirable and not recognized by the standard of the breed.
However, clearer eyes are allowed in blue Mastiffs as well as in Harlequin mastiffs.
Description
The Great Dane is a proud dog with a powerful and elegant look. Since it is the world's biggest dog, it has a sturdy and well-built body. His appearance is noble and his proportions are balanced. There is strong sexual dimorphism between males and females.
Good to know
The biggest dog in the world was a Great Dane called Zeus. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 5 in 2014. He measured nearly 44 inches, which is more than 110 cm at the tourniquet. When he stood on his hind legs, Zeus could reach the height of 7 feet and 4 inches, which is to say, more than 2,10m.