History of the Great Dane
The Great Dane has been a part of history for many years, with many different names. It originates from two other large dog breeds, the Irish Wolfhound and the old English Mastiff. There are drawings of Great Dane-like canines in Egyptian monuments as far back as 3000BC, although the Great Dane that we associate with today originated in Germany in the 14th century, and came to North America towards the end of the 19th century.
In Germany, the Great Dane is referred to as the Deutsche dogge . Its main purpose was for the hunting of the wild boar, which was quite vicious. Due to its excellent hunting ability and its beautiful appearance it quickly rose in popularity. The British began to refer to the canine as the German Boarhound due to its ability and reputation, however it is unclear as to how this breed was referred to as the Great Dane, since it does not have a Danish background.
Today the Great Dane is not known for its hunting ability, but rather its gentle disposition and as an excellent addition to the family!
Today the Great Dane is not known for its hunting ability, but rather its gentle disposition and as an excellent addition to the family!