UPDATED! Great Dane: Breed of the Week
Are Great Danes Good City Dogs?
One recent summer Sean, Bodhi, and I visited Fire Island. While waiting for the ferry, a gentleman walked up with what resembled a small horse that weighed — according to the owner — a whopping 200+ pounds! This was the largest Great Dane I had ever seen.
People were in awe of a dog of this size. We watched as person after person approached the owner and dog to ask: “What does she eat?” … “How much does she weigh?” … “Do you have special poop bags?” … “Where does she sleep?”
The Great Dane can only be described as magnificent. One of their nicknames is the “Apollo” of dogs, for the ancient Greek Sun God. They’re an extra large breed dog, with a regal head and stance, and an impressive bark. The Great Dane is a very old breed. There are depictions of dogs resembling Great Danes on Egyptian artifacts. The modern Great Dane is actually a German dog. It was called the German Mastiff, German Boarhound, or German Dogge. The name eventually changed because of bad international relations between Germany and other European countries.
According to the Dog Breed Info website, The Great Dane’s temperament has earned it the nickname “The Gentle Giant.” Weighing anywhere from 125 to 200 pounds, they stand 34 inches at the shoulder. That’s almost 3 feet! They are great with children and other pets; they love to spend time with their owners.
These dogs come in a variety of colors: black, white, fawn, brindle, and harlequin. They can have brown or blue eyes. They are shorted coated dogs. That doesn’t mean they don’t shed, they just shed shorter hair.
Do Great Danes Bark?
If you are considering a Great Dane as your Urban Dog they can make great apartment dogs as long as they get plenty of exercise outside of the apartment. Once inside the apartment they tend to be fairly low-key.
Also, keep in mind that many apartment buildings in New York City have weight restrictions, so while the Great Dane is gentle dog, you may face obstacles with your building’s board because of the unfair prejudice against large breed dogs.
Training is a must! If you don’t train your Great Dane, your Great Dane will train you!
A part of that is establishing yourself as the leader. Doing so will result in a more secure dog who will be less likely to show any signs of aggression or bad behavior. It’s very important your Great Dane behaves well in your building’s common areas. You don’t want them knocking granny over in your lobby! They score “Average” when it comes to understanding new commands. They obey first commands about 30% of the time according to Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia who studies dog behavior. That means it takes about 40-to-80 repetitions for them to learn new commands.
Great Danes are not considered excessive barkers. UC Davis researchers Benjamin and Lynette Hart devised a chart ranking dogs by the likelihood of barking at inappropriate times. On a scale of one to ten — with one being the least offensive barkers and ten the most excessive barkers — Great Danes get a two rating. Click here for more on Urban Dog’s take on barking.
Great Danes are prone to hip dysplasia, bloat, and mast cell tumors. These are common ailments of large breed dogs. They are also susceptible to hypertrophic osteodystrophy or HOD. (To read more about HOD, click here.) That’s a debilitating illness that can be deadly for large dogs.
Possibly the biggest downside to being a Great Dane owner is they tend not to live long. Ten years is the expected lifespan. A shorter lifespan is more common among large breed dogs versus smaller breeds. Chihuahuas can live up to 17 years.
For tips on how to find a pet-friendly apartment in New York and other cities read Urban Dog’s guide. Big dogs pose a particular challenge, but don’t worry, you can find places that accept large breed dogs.
Click here for the American Kennel Club’s profile of the Gentle Giant.
