Even though there is evidence that the Great Dane may have been around since 3000BC , and there is some aurgument as to the breed oringinating from the cross of the Irishwolf Hound or the Irish Greyhound to the English or the Tibitan Mastiff, we must give credit to the Germans for the breed as we know it today. It was German fanciers who led the world in breeding most of the finest specimens.

 

Even people with little dog knowledge know the Deutsche Dogee, or the German dog, standing an average of 30-34 inches at the shoulder, Danes tower over other dogs. The Great Dane is one of the most elegant and distinquished of the giant breeds. Originally bred to hunt European boar they are swift, agile and powerful. Over time, through selective breeding Great Danes have been transformed from the fierce hunting dogs, into the regal, chiseled, well mannered Giants we know and love today.

 

In adition to the comanion dog, the Great Dane is also often used for therapy and service work. The gentle confidence the breed exhibts helps itremain calm and easy even in a group of people. A Dane's well-mannered personality, along with its tall, sturdy foundation, make it a wonderful candidate to asist people with mobility problems.