Great Dane
Group: Working
Size: Large
Coat length: Short
Grooming required: Once a week
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Large House
Garden size: Large
Lifespan: Under 10 Years
Exercise: More than an hour per day
They are huge and powerful with a squarish body and a large, rectangular head. Their stance is tall and straight and their coat is short and thick and comes in a variety of colours, including Fawn, Brindle, Blue (greyish), Black, Harlequin (white with irregular black patches) and Mantle (black with white muzzle, neck, chest and parts of legs).
They are the national dog of Germany but dogs like this have been seen in pictures since before Christ. They were used for tracking, as guard dogs and for pulling carts.
Despite their size, they make a surprisingly good house dog. They are brave, loyal and affectionate, they bark little but are a good watchdog. They are tolerant of other animals, fond of people and affectionate to children. Great Danes need plenty of exercise but jogging is not recommended until they are one year old because of the strain it puts on their joints.
The short coat is easy to maintain with regular grooming. They are not a long-living breed and are prone to hip dysplasia, bloat, heart disease and tail injuries.