Great Dane, also known as Grand Danois or German Mastiff, was once kept by European royalty and nobility and is a symbol of high social status.
Among large working dogs, it is the only one with a well-proportioned body that can easily travel long distances. People call it the dog of the sun.
The Great Dane also demonstrates outstanding skills in hunting wild boars and wolves. The breed has had many names in France over the centuries, and this is just one of them.
This dog is intelligent, brave, loyal to its owner, aggressive, quick-tempered, vengeful, easily trainable, and can become a strong and obedient guard dog capable of attacking and posing a certain threat.
The Great Dane is a breed developed in Germany, with ancestors such as the English Shar Pei, the Tibetan Mastiff in China, and the Tosa in Japan. Its ancestors lived in tribes in Western Asia, now the region of Russia, and were brought to Europe by the Alar people.
As an independent breed, the Great Dane has been bred for about 400 years. Like other ancient breeds, the initial breeding of the Great Dane was to assist people in their work, such as the Germans using Great Danes to hunt wild boars. Among all the pigs on the European continent, the wild boar is the most fierce, fastest, and strongest. In order to capture the wild boars, they needed a very large dog, so the Germans bred the Great Dane, which the Germans called the "Emperor of Dogs".
The Great Dane is large in size, like a lion dog. Originally growing in the South Anatolian region of the Mediterranean, it later arrived in Germany with early Persian merchants and Roman armies. The English name for the Great Dane is translated from its French name, "Giant Danish Dog". These combative dogs may have also been crossed with greyhounds, giving them an elegant temperament.
The images of dogs on ancient Egyptian monuments dating back to around 3000 BC are very similar to those of Great Danes.
The earliest description of a dog similar to the Great Dane can be found in Chinese literature dating back to 1121 BC. Dr. G. Ciaburri, from the Italian Great Dane Club, wrote in an article published in 1929 that famous zoologists believe the Mastiff originated in China. However, later breeding may have taken place in Germany.
In 1891, the German Great Dane Club adopted a precise standard, or more appropriately called an official standard, to measure Great Danes. In 1885, there was a Great Dane Club in England. In 1889, the German Mastiff or Great Dane Club of America was established in Chicago, with G. Muss-Amoldt as its first representative. Two years later, the club was reorganized as the Great Dane Club of America, with the majority of its members at that time being from the eastern United States.
The Great Dane, although not often barking in daily life, still has the potential to develop into a guard dog due to its large and powerful physique.
Because they need ample living space, they are not suitable for keeping in urban apartments. Also, office workers and the elderly are not suitable for keeping this dog.
Toes inflammation
Symptoms: The dog frequently licks its toes, the spaces between the toes become red and moist, and in severe cases, limping may occur.
Preparation: Iodine, erythromycin ointment, Elizabethan collar
Usage: Wear an Elizabethan collar, shave the hair on the feet, wash with soapy water or wipe with iodine, then apply erythromycin ointment between the toes once a day. Repeat for one week.
Ear mites
Symptoms: The dog scratches its ears, shakes its head and ears, the ears emit a strong sour odor, accompanied by increased tear stains, loss of hair in the ears, and dark brown secretions and earwax.
Preparation: Ear cleaner, ear wash solution
Usage: Clean the hair inside the dog's ears, pour ear wash solution or Vich Ear Perfusion into the ear canal, gently massage the base of the ear for 30 seconds, wait for the dog to shake out the wash solution, use cotton balls to wipe away the secretions, and gently clean the auricle and ear canal.
Skin disease
Symptoms: The dog experiences itching, redness, and itching of the skin, the dog scratches uncontrollably, the fur becomes dull and rough, there is more dandruff, and even large patches of hair loss.
Preparation: Saline solution, topical ointment or skin spray, vitamin B.
Usage: Put an Elizabethan collar on the dog to prevent scratching and licking, trim the problematic skin and surrounding hair, then rinse with saline solution for sterilization, then apply ointment or use spray, and accompany with antibiotics and vitamin B.
The Great Danes' thin body may cause some diseases, such as bloating, bone cancer, abnormal hip development, and heart disease. Owners should pay special attention to their care in daily life.
This dog is friendly to familiar people and small animals, and can even tolerate humbleness. But it is better not to provoke animals of similar size, after all, it is one of the largest breeds of dogs, so be careful when going out for a walk.
1. Do not bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be done too frequently. Bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather in summer, you can bathe the dog a couple of times, while in winter, you can reduce it by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brush regularly
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn when seasonal shedding is more severe. To promote healthy coat growth, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use a pet-specific brush to help the dog clear naturally shedding fur and prevent matting. Brushing once in the morning and evening for about five minutes each time is enough.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the dog's coat growth. Besides making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit to improve its physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving them of the necessary nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming. Deworming medicines can cause significant harm to the dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for the dog to have a beautiful coat, it must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutritious dog food that meets the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can also feed the dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.
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