Wild boars used to roam in the wilds of Europe many centuries ago. In those days the titled land-owners cherished the large dog known as the "Boar Hound" which had the courage, the agility, the speed and the strength to hunt these beasts and bring them down. It is believed that the magnificent dog that we know of today as the Great Dane is descended from the original "Boar Hound". One can readily see that the Great Dane would have the ability to perform this task admirably. They have the length of leg for the speed, the chest and lungs for the endurance and great strength of jaw.

It is a mystery why this dog is called the Great Dane since there is no actual tie in history that relegates this dog to the country of Denmark as its origin. It was known early as the "Deutchse Dogge" in Germany and is believed to have been developed in that country. They were prized by the land-owners not only for their abilities as a dog for the hunt, but their beauty and passive tranquility as dogs which could reside in the manor and be a part of the household. They are indeed quite nicely attuned to being a dog that lies quietly in front of the fireplace, while at the same time being a fearless and active hunting dog of great stamina and power. They also do well at the job of guard dog while at the same time being a gentle family pet, allowing children to climb on them and tug on them without a hint of aggression. For the most part, the Great Dane is quite happy to just lie around the household and sleep. Owners need to be aware that to keep this giant dog in good health, they should give it plenty of exercise, it will not choose to do so on its own!

Great Danes, like most of the giant breeds, take a long time to mature, and the puppy years last at least until the dog is a two year old. Puppies of course can be more rambunctious than adults so there is a period of time when the youngster can do good deal of damage to the household in the absence of supervision. Early training is a must since by the time they are six months old they could weigh nearly 60 pounds and be quite a handful if not taught basic manners in the house. Their excessive height allows them to check out counter tops nicely by the age of six months.

Danes come in nearly every color, even Harlequin (white with black spots). The most beautiful of the Danes are perhaps the Blues, which can range from a light gray to a steel-blue coloring. However, Dane lovers will profess that they all are a delight to own, regardless of color. The head of the Great Dane appears quite regal in nature, the jowls should not be loose and there should be no hint of drooling. The jaw is rather square in appearance and the muzzle should be as long as the backskull. The look of the dog should be clean and when moving he should balance well and be "light on the feet". A good Dane will move with such grace that one could not imagine that in reality he weighs more than 140 pounds! A male Dane should be 32 inches at the shoulder and a female 30 inches. Less than 28 inches is a disqualification in the A.K.C. show ring.

Probably the most important aspect of the Great Dane should be the temperament, which must be one of dependability and never aggressive. Aggression in such a large breed could have disastrous consequences and breeders of today should be commended that they have made a great effort to maintain the gentle nature of this dog.