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15 Great Dane Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

Published: by Kristin · This post may contain affiliate links

The Great Dane has been called the "Apollo of Dogs." With his muscular body, regal bearing, and big size, it's impossible not to stop and stare. Now that you're hooked on these extraordinary dogs, you might want to know more about them. So, here are 15 interesting facts about them.

#1 The Great Dane is actually not a Dane.

A Great Dane in the garden standing sideways
Homeland of modern Great Dane - Germany.

#2 Great Dane comes in six colors and patterns.

A Great Dane puppy sitting on the ground while its ears are held up by a person
The breed standard recognizes six colors and patterns: golden fawn with a black mask, brindle (black chevron stripes on a gold background); glossy black; pure steel blue-gray; harlequin (a white base color with black torn patches distributed over the entire dog); and mantle (a solid black blanket extending over the body and a black head, with a white face blaze, neck collar, chest and white on the forelegs).

#3 Size.

A black standing in the street with a woman behind him holding his leash
The breed standard prefers adult males to be a minimum of 32 inches tall at the shoulder and adult females a minimum of 30 inches at the shoulder, provided they are well proportioned to their height.

#4 Natural or cropped ears?

A black Great Dane in the yard on a winter while looking sideways
Although most Great Danes especially in the U.S. have their ears cropped for the show ring to stand erect, many pet owners prefer a natural, dropped ear.

#5 Good apartment dogs.

A Great Dane lying on the couch with a baby lying on its body
The Dane can be very content in the city, and many even feel fine in apartments.

#6 The Great Dane doesn’t have the longest life expectancy.

A Great Dane sitting in the balcony
As a giant breed, Danes have shorter lives than other breeds. Their life span of 7 or 8 years is common.

#7 Euro Dane.

A Great Dane standing in snow while a man is beside him
We can often hear the phrase “Euro Dane”. It suggests a Great Dane imported from overseas, but the moniker is being used to refer to homegrown dogs with a bulkier, more substantial appearance.

#8 Great Danes for the rich and famous.

A woman in a gown sitting on the floor in between two Great Dane
Celebrities, politicians and athletes have appreciated the strength, power, and loyalty of the Dane. Famous past and present owners have included Jon Bon Jovi, Amy Winehouse, Fabio, Jim Carrey, Greg Louganis, Mario Andretti, Otto von Bismarck, James Brolin, Wilt Chamberlain, Chubby Checker, Kelsey Grammer, Olivia Newton-John.

#9 Temperament.

A Great Dane walking in the forest next to black chihuahua
Great Danes are generally well disposed toward other dogs, other noncanine pets, and familiar humans. They generally do not exhibit extreme aggressiveness or a high prey drive. The Great Dane is a very gentle and loving animal.

#10 Exercise.

A Great Dane running by the seashore
Great Danes require daily walks to maintain their health. But it is important not to over-exercise this breed, particularly when young. An adult Great Dane needs 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise.

#11 Sensual and loving.

A woman outdoors in snow while kissing the mouth of a great dane standing beside her
In addition to these essential basic needs, Great Dane care involves other intangibles. Unique and different than most breeds, these giants require a special need for human interaction, their sensitive character and demeanor is often overlooked due to their large imposing appearance.

#12 The Great Dane is the 15th most popular dog breed.
A Great Dane sitting in the grass
#13 They make great cartoon doggies.

a portrait of a Great Dane sitting in snow next to a snowman
3 famous Great Danes cartoons: Scooby Doo, Marmaduke, the Great Dane detective, and the Jetsons dog Astro.

#14 Their looks can be deceiving.

A Great Dane standing on the floor next to the window and with a cat eating from its bowl in front of him
Many people freeze up around Great Danes because of their gigantic size. They are afraid of this massive dog standing before them. There is no need for this because Great Danes are loyal, very loving, and affectionate!

#15 Great Danes are iconic dogs.

a woman embracing a Great Dane wearing a jacket while outdoors during winter
They will give you a lot of funny and bright moments.
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