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Great Dane Information

Great Dane

Great Dane information hosted by dog vitamin supplement provider Buff K-9 Supplements.

>“The Great Dane (18th Cent. French: Grand Danois), also known as German Mastiff (German: Deutsche Dogge) or Danish Hound (German: Dänischer Hund), is a breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) known for its giant size” (“Great Dane”).

> “From year to year, the tallest living dog is typically a Great Dane” (“Great Dane”).

> “Great Danes have naturally floppy, triangular ears. In the past, when Great Danes were commonly used to hunt boars, cropping of the ears was performed to make injuries to the dogs’ ears less likely during hunts. Now that Danes are primarily companion animals, cropping is sometimes still done for traditional and cosmetic reasons” (“Great Dane”).

> “The Great Dane’s large and imposing appearance belies its friendly nature; the breed is often referred to as a gentle giant” (“Great Dane”).

> “Great Danes, like most giant dogs, have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in small breeds. Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds, including gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) (a painful distending and twisting of the stomach). This is a critical condition that can affect Great Danes and other deep-chested breeds, and which may cause death if not quickly addressed. Drinking large amounts of fluid in a short period of time can provoke GDV in Great Danes, as well as other larger breeds of dogs” (“Great Dane”).

>”Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and many congenital heart diseases are also commonly found in the Great Dane, leading to its nickname: the Heartbreak breed, in conjunction with its shorter lifespan” (“Great Dane”).

Resources

“Great Dane.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wiimedia Foundation, Inc.. 21 May 2012. Web. 23 May 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Dane#cite_note-AKC-3 >.

Becker, The Great Dane – Embodying a Full Exposition of the History, Breeding Principles, Education, and Present State of the Breed (a Vintage Dog Books Breed Classic): Embodying a Full Exposition the History, Breeding Principles, Education, and Present State of the Breed, Published by READ BOOKS, 2005, ISBN 1-905124-43-0.

“Great Dane Breed Standard”. American Kennel Club. 1999.