It has been said that Great Danes are descendants of Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound and Bullenbeisser. Years of careful breeding resulted to this tall, chiseled dog, so robust yet so gentle, so regal and elegant. Great Danes possess remarkable characteristics that capture attention and admiration wherever it goes. Probably some people think that this breed won't make good household pets (especially those who are living in apartments) because of their giant size. Their height ranges from 30 to 40 inches and the typical weight for males ranges from 54 to 90 kg. and 45 to 68 kg. for females. In fact, a Great Dane named Gibson holds the title as the world's tallest dog in the Guinness World Records in 2004. But despite their giant size, a Great Dane can manage life in an apartment quite well. Their energy is not as high as other breeds and only need half an hour walk and some run few times a week. Being a creature with fairly slow metabolism, they really don't eat that much. Two cups of dry dog food a day is enough to keep them fueled. Too much protein should be avoided to prevent damaging the bones and joints. Bloat, formally known as Gastric Volvulus is their enemy. It is a serious problem that may kill this breed, or other large breeds in minutes. Gastropexy (tacking of the stomach to the right abdominal wall) is usually done to Great Danes especially those who have relatives with history of bloat. Using elevated food dishes and avoiding strenuous exercise and other activities right after meals are other ways to prevent the occurrence of bloat. Would you believe that these remarkably large dogs are also remarkably gentle? They are sweet and kind large creatures, good with children, other dog, other animals and even strangers. They do not cope well without close contact with their human family and may cause them to become mentally unstable and depressed if left alone for too long. They don't respond well to training based on hard corrections given that they are emotionally sensitive dogs. Aggression may occur at times due to their nature as wild boar hunter and their drive to protect their family members from what they perceive as threat or danger. People should understand that this breed grows rapidly. They should think thoroughly and discover more about this breed before taking them home. Remember that ignorance, often if not all the time, leads to wrong decision. You may not want to abandon your gentle giant in a shelter or rescue organization, don't you?
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