Great Danes were developed in Germany to hunt boar. It is believed that the breed resulted from crosses between Mastiffs and Irish Wolfhounds. Female Great Danes should stand no less than 28 inches high at the shoulder, and males should stand no less than 30 inches at the shoulder. Danes have short, shiny coats which come in a variety of colors: brindle (yellow with black), fawn (yellow with a black face mask), black, blue steel, harlequin (white with black patches), or mantle (black body and skull with white muzzle, white chest, white collar, white on tail tip, and white on legs). Danes are regal yet sweet dogs. They have protective instincts that, with a dog this large, need to be kept firmly in check.

To learn how to rescue a Great Dane in need of a home or for breeder referrals from the Great Dane Club of America click here.

Potential Health Problems*

• Acral Lick Dermatitis
• Addison’s Disease
• Alopecia (color-dilution)
• Aortic Stenosis
• Callus Dermatitis
• Cataracts
• Congenital Deafness
• Diamond Eye (combined Entropion and Ectropion)
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Ectropion
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Entropion
• Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (Bloat)
• Glaucoma
• Hip Dysplasia
• Histiocytoma
• Hypothyroidism
• Luxating Patella
• Medial Canthal Pocket Syndrome
• Megaesophagus
• Muzzle Folliculitis and Furunculosis
• Myopathy (neuromuscular disorder)
• Polyneuropathy
• Osteochondrosis
• Osteosarcoma
• Panosteitis
• Pododermatitis
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Von Willebrand Disease
• Wobbler Syndrome
• Zinc-Responsive Dermatosis