Deutsche Dogge ou

Great Dane

Brief historical summary

General appearance

Temperament

Size and proportions

  The ancestors of the current Great Dane should be considered the old “Bullenbeißer” (ancient German bulldog) and the “Hatz and Saurüden” (general hunting dogs and boar hunting dogs), which were intermediate between a robust English Mastiff and a fast and agile greyhound. In the beginning, “Dogge” was understood as a large and strong dog, not necessarily belonging to a specific breed. Later, names such as “Ulmer Dogue” (Dogue of Ulm), “English Dane”, “Danish Dane”, “Hatzrüde” (Hunting Dog), “Saupacker” (Boar Hunting Dog) and “Great Dane” came to designate the various types of these dogs according to their color and size.

   In 1878 in Berlin, a seven-member committee of dedicated breeders and judges, coordinated by Dr. Bodinus, decided to register all the above-mentioned varieties under the name “Deutsche Doggen” (Great Dane in Portuguese). This laid the foundation stone for the creation of an independent German dog breed. In 1880, at a dog show held in Berlin, a standard for the Great Dane was drawn up for the first time, which has since been under the care of the “Deutsche Doggen Club 1888 e. V.” (Great Dane Club 1888), and has been modified several times over the years. Its current configuration corresponds to the requirements of the F.C.I..

The Great Dane combines its nobility, consisting of a strong, vigorous and well-proportioned constitution, with pride, strength and elegance. Due to its substance, combined with its nobility, harmonious appearance, as well as its well-proportioned silhouette and particularly expressive head, anyone who sees it has the impression of being in front of a statue full of nobility. Its physical conformation is neither coarse nor too elegant; its sexual dimorphism is clearly defined. It is the Apollo among canine breeds.

 It has an almost square structure, this is especially noticeable in males, while females can be a little longer and more rectangular.

Height at the withers: Males: at least 80 cm, should not exceed 90 cm. Females: at least 72 cm, should not exceed 84 cm. The adult female varies from 45 to 59 kg, while the adult male varies from 54 to 90 kg.

   Friendly, affectionate and affectionate towards its owners; it can be reserved with strangers. When required, it is self-confident, courageous, easy to deal with and a docile companion and family dog, with a high threshold of excitement and without aggressive behavior.

Colors

The Great Dane is bred in three independent color varieties: Golden and Brindle; Harlequin and Black; Blue.

• Golden: From light golden to dark golden; a black mask is desirable. The golden must not be grayish, bluish or blackish (sooty). No white markings.

• Brindle: The basic color is from light golden to dark golden, with black stripes as uniform and clearly defined as possible, positioned in the direction of the ribs and not faded. A black mask is desirable; No white markings.

• Harlequin (with black and white spots, the so-called “Tigerdoggen” or “Tiger Danes”): The basic color is pure white preferably without any speckling, with shiny black spots on the body, well distributed, irregular and “torn”. Spotted gray, blue or brownish parts, as well as blue-gray speckling, are not desirable. Merles (“Grautiger” or “Gray Tigers” - these have black pigmentation on a predominantly gray base color) are common in breeding, but are not desirable, although they should not be disqualified.

• Black: Deep black color, with white markings on the chest and feet permitted; also included here are “Mantled” (“Manteltiger” or “Mantled Tigers”), in which the black covers the entire body like a cloak, while the muzzle, neck, chest, belly, legs and tip of the tail may be white; as well as Dogos with a white base color and large black patches (“Plattenhunde” or “Plaqueados”).

• Blue: Pure steel blue, with white markings on the chest and feet permitted. Blue-gold or blackish-blue is a fault.

Care

Owners should provide enough space for the dog to run freely according to its instinctive needs. Sunbathing at will is also essential to improve the quality of life of this faithful friend. As an adult, its weight reaches that of a person and the variables for its healthy growth are not very different from ours. As for feeding, the breed has specific management needs due to the fearsome gastric torsion. Splitting the daily portions, whether natural food or specific food for the size and caloric expenditure of each individual, is the rule! This way the dog can properly digest the food offered. Resting after meals is a suggestion that gives us peace of mind that they will not be affected by gastric torsion. During the growth phase, which lasts on average until two years of age, a balanced diet, moderate physical exercise and veterinary guidance for supplementation are essential for them to have healthy bone health in adulthood. The myth that having chubby Great Dane puppies is good is debunked... The weight of these dogs should always be monitored, as any excess weight can put a strain on their joints.

The breed's hygiene requires weekly brushing and monthly baths, or when they are dirty. Oral health is also very important, as a simple excess of tartar can cause serious diseases in the body in general. The Great Dane's intact ears require special care, as this anatomy favors the proliferation of bacteria and chronic otitis can set in. Any sign of poor health or physical and psychological discomfort in a Great Dane has consequences proportional to its size.

Our GGG dogs are raised with plenty of freedom and interaction with their family, handler and friends. We value their quality of life above all else, as they are the realization of a dream. We do not do this alone, we have loyal and committed partners. Each one with their own specialty, helps us to develop our breeding stock better every day.