Today we are going to take a closer look at the Great Dane Breed and how this noble breed came to be. There are several competing factions who lay claim for the origins of this breed, and they go back to the time of the Pharaohs of Egypt and the pyramids. A very ancient breed indeed, with the first recorded examples of the Great Dane’s ancestors being found with recovered mummified remains of Egyptian royalty.
Here is where the story of the Great Dane breed becomes very interesting due to the controversy surrounding the origins of the breed. Not that many years ago dog aficionados in Germany decided the breed should be the “National” breed for the German nation. They coined the phrase the Deutsche Dogge.
The German nation already could lay claim to several fine large breeds such as the Ulmer Dogge, Saufanger, Rottweiler Metzgerhund, and Hatzrude. However, the Germans felt these breeds could not be considered as noble as the Great Dane due to the breed’s proven ancient linage.
With the conclusion of the War of 1870 German nationalism was strongly felt throughout the nation, and this is when they coined the phrase Deutsche Dogge and adopted the breed as their national breed. What they overlooked was the Great Dane breed was also included in the ancestry of the other large German breeds. The Great Dane was already common to many other European nations but this appeared not to matter.
Eventually the breed made its appearance in America during the 1870’s, and was originally referred to as a German Mastiff or Boarhound. As the breed became more prolific in America the American Kennel Club eventually recognized the breed, and classed the Great Dane in the Working category of dog breeds. By the 1880’s a national club was formed to promote the breed as the Great Dane dog.
The good qualities of this dog are his ability to thrive in many climates, has a very high level of intelligence, and makes a wonderful companion to humans. And, it has an admirable trait that draws the attention of those seeking a very large dog to own—this is the lack of constant slobbering common in all other large dog breeds.
On the negative side is obviously the huge size of these dogs. If not socialized and well trained the breed can be a loaded gun due their tremendous size, strength, and excitable nature.
The Great Dane breed will be a wonderful dog for those who have the room and skill to train the breed.
Do you own a Great Dane? Please leave your thoughts below.