Great Dane

Dignified, gentle, patient, kind and playful, the Great Dane needs to be around people. They are often referred to as a “gentle giant”.

Originally bred to hunt wild boars, Great Danes wouldn’t be a great one today as that instinct has been bred out of them. Today’s Great Danes are truly gentle giants. They have a sweet soul and get along with other dogs, animals, and humans.

Though large in size, the Great Dane has a very peaceful disposition. They are gentle with children and love to play. They are not particularly vocal, but they would not hesitate to protect their family with their power bark. Their size alone would scare off a would-be burglar!

The Great Dane is people-oriented and loves attention. They are known to nudge with their massive head when they wanted to be petted. Some even think they are lap dogs. They also tend to lean against people and need to be trained not to do this.

Though not particularly high-energy, Great Danes do require a lot of space because of their size. Since they do grow to be so large, they need to be properly trained at a young age so they are manageable when fully grown. Also, they are known to be “counter surfers”, so keeping food or other non-dog-approved items up high is advised.

Major Health Concerns: As with other “Giant” breeds, the Great Dane tends to have a relatively short life span compared to some other breeds. They are prone to hip dysplasia, heart disease and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) (a painful distending and twisting of the stomach). Great Danes, like most giant dogs, have a fairly slow metabolism.

Interesting Fact: In a recent study funded by investment billionaire Warren Buffet and conducted by ASPCA the most popular name for female Great Danes is Adele.

They were also once thought to ward off evil entities from behind the human realm, which is why the beloved Scooby was the perfect choice for the mystery gang!

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The West Highland Terrier, or Westie, is self-reliant with huge amounts of self-esteem. They are alert and courageous and love companionship.

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