The Ancient Origins of the Great Dane
The origins of the Great Dane can be traced back as far as the time of the Egyptians. Egyptian monuments dating from 3000 B.C. contained drawings of dogs resembling Great Danes, and artifacts found in Babylonian temples built about 2000 B.C. included representations of men walking huge Dane-like dogs. The Great Dane's oldest relatives are probably the Molossus dog and the Tibetan Mastiffs.The Assyrians traded their dogs to the Greeks and Romans, and the Romans then bred the Assyrian dogs to British dogs they acquired. It seems that both the Tibetan Mastiff and the English Mastiff are progenitors of the Great Dane.However, the Great Dane we know today has almost certainly been influenced by many other breeds of dog. It is thought that centuries later, in Germany, the 'old' Great Dane was crossed with various breeds, including the Greyhound and the Irish Wolfhound. The Great Dane established itself in Germany as a competent hunter and guard dog by the 1300s.
The Ancient Boar Hounds
The Great Danes became popular as boar hunters and were known as 'Boar Hounds', and by the 16th century were being referred to as 'English Dogges'. Around 1680, the biggest and most handsome dogs bred by German noblemen were kept inside the home and named 'Kammerhunde', meaning 'Chamber dog'. It is believed that the French naturalist Comte de Buffon gave the breed its current name. When travelling in Denmark he came across a slimmer variety of Boar Hound, similar to the Greyhound, and remarked that the Danish climate had caused the Greyhound to become a 'Grand Danois'. The dog then became known as the Great Dane, and this name has remained, despite being unrelated to the history of the breed.The Germans are often credited with the well-balanced Great Dane as we know it today. The German nobility had been importing the English Boar Hounds until the 18th century when they had fully developed their own breeding stock and no longer required imports. In 1880, following a meeting of breeders, the Germans decided that their breed of Great Dane was sufficiently distinct from the English type, and that their breed be named the 'Deutsche Dogge'. However, English-speaking countries were unmoved by this notion, and the name 'Great Dane' was kept for the breed, outside of Germany.The Great Dane was brought to the United States in the late 19th century, and was recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1887.
Popular for All the Right Reasons
The Dane has historically had the image of being the dog of the sofisticated, educated or cultured arostcrat, the dog of the elite gentleman.
Today, the Great Dane is popular as a family dog.
The Dane is still primarily used as a watchdog and companion and has become one of the most popular breeds in North America, not just Europe. The Great Dane is the largest breed of dog that consistently ranks in the top 25 in American Kennel Club registrations. This loyal, afectionate and dependable breed is a trustworthy companion and a particular favourite of the children – the perfect family pet.
