Great Dane: Dog food and breed portrait
The Great Dane is a large German dog breed which is managed by the FCI in Group 2, Section 2.1 (Standard 235). Strictly speaking, it is one of the largest dog breeds of all and is also regarded as Germany's oldest modern breeding dog.
Despite its imposing appearance, the Great Dane is an extremely affectionate and affectionate companion, which is excellently suited as a family dog and therefore enjoys great popularity in many countries.
Origin of the Great Dane
The Great Dane is a dog with a long tradition. Its origins go back to crosses between hunting dogs, bull biters and greyhounds, which were used by gentry in the past for hunting.
The first official breed standard of the Great Dane was established as early as 1880. Eight years later the Great Dane Club 1888 e.V. was founded in Berlin, which still exists today.
The aim of breeding at that time was to obtain an elegant and representative companion and protector. In the meantime, the Great Dane has become one of the most famous pedigree dogs worldwide, not least due to its enormous size.
Characteristics of the Great Dane
The Great Dane is a true giant among the domestic dogs. Its well-proportioned physique is characterised by good muscling, a broad chest and long muscular runs.
According to the breed standard, male Great Danes reach a minimum height of 80 centimetres and bitches at least 72 centimetres. In addition, adult animals can weigh around 90 kilograms.
The striking head of the Great Dane is comparatively narrow. It is equipped with a broad nose and a clearly pronounced stop. The Great Dane has a strong, rectangular muzzle and a broad jaw with a scissor bite.
The high set ears of the Great Dane are medium in size and hang down at the sides. Its almond shaped eyes are also medium sized and dark coloured.
According to the breed standard, the Great Dane's gait should appear slightly springy, harmonious and smooth, thus further emphasising the elegant appearance of the large four-legged friend.
The short-haired Great Dane has a dense, shiny and smooth coat, which according to the breed standard may have five different colours.
The following coat colours are permitted in the Great Dane:
- Brindle (golden yellow ground colour, black stripes and black mask)
- Blue (steel blue, white markings on chest and paws)
- Yellow (golden yellow, black mask)
- Spotted (white base colour, black lacquer stains all over the body)
- Black (patent black and white markings or white and black plates)
Great Dane Character and temperament
The imposing size of the Great Dane can easily be intimidating. But if you take a closer look at this dog breed, you will soon realise that these huge four-legged creatures are extremely sensitive and good-natured animals.
The Great Dane is considered intelligent and highly capable of learning. However, it is also sometimes a little stubborn and obstinate. This, coupled with its strength and size, therefore makes it very important to train the Great Dane well and to guide its behaviour in the right direction from an early age.
If this is successful and the owner pays enough attention to the Great Dane, he will be a loyal companion who always wants to please his favourite person.
Dealing with children living in the household is unproblematic thanks to the high stimulus threshold of the breed. When meeting strangers, however, the Great Dane shows its reserved side and usually behaves reservedly towards them.
Activities with the Great Dane
The Great Dane is a very large dog with a fearless character, which can also be used as a guard dog. First and foremost, however, it is a sensitive companion dog that builds up a very close relationship with its owner. Keeping it in a kennel is therefore not recommended.
Apart from that, prospective owners of a Great Dane should consider that these impressive four-legged friends not only need enough attention, but also a lot of space and movement.
However, the Great Dane is not made for top performances in dog sports because of its size and weight. Therefore, the main employment opportunities are joint-gentle activities such as clicker training and obedience.
Great Dane Diseases
The enormous size of the Great Dane makes itself felt not least in the form of various health problems. Joint diseases such as hip dysplasia are generally not uncommon in large dogs and are therefore also widespread in Great Danes.
Another health problem that can occur more frequently in Great Danes is the development of calluses typical of large and heavy dogs.
In addition, Great Danes are at quite a high risk of suffering from a life-threatening gastric torsion, which must be treated immediately by surgery. In addition, the large dog breed has an increased tendency towards Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and suffers from bone cancer with above-average frequency.
Life expectancy of the Great Dane
The average life expectancy of the Great Dane is 8 to 10 years. However, particularly large specimens often die much earlier.
The correct diet for Great Danes
The Great Dane has a very high energy requirement, which must be covered by a sufficient amount of feed. As well as this, it is very important for its health to ensure that the feed is of good quality.
We recommend our cold pressed dry food as dog food for the Great Dane. The cold pressing process ensures that the croquettes in the stomach do not swell up as much, thus reducing the likelihood of the dog's stomach turning.
Apart from this, the following Bellfor products may be useful for the Great Dane:
- Bellfor Joints & Bones with Ovopet for optimal nutrition of the joints
- Bellfor Lying callus ointment to counteract lying calluses in the Great Dane
With Bellfor's special nutritional concept, you are in exactly the right place to provide your Great Dane with the nutrition it needs from an early age and support the healthy development of your four-legged friend.
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