Great Danes: breed features and care for dogs

Noble giant canine world, which is often called the largest indoor dog in the world. Great dogs got such a “home” nickname for their friendly nature, responsiveness and sincere affection for their owners and their families. In any situation, this dog is always restrained, majestic, and looks like a graceful statue. Even being agitated and agitated, the animal never shows its anxiety.

The roots of the formation of the rock go back in time. Scientists have identified several fairly large dogs, which are combined under the term "dogoobraznye". In addition to the German dogs themselves, it includes Dalmatians, St. Bernards, Rottweilers, Bulldogs, as well as Newfoundlands, Mastiffs and Leonbergers. It is believed that they all come from a single ancestor - the giant Tibetan mastiff.

For centuries, huge, resilient and physically strong dogs have been used to protect remote monasteries, as well as to protect nomadic tribes and hunt large mammals. Gradually, the Tibetan dogs spread to the rest of Asia, appeared in Persia and India. It was there that they first began to be used as a real "battle gun" during military battles with the enemy, which significantly increased the value of the breed.

These excavations indicate that Dogs of this breed took an active part in numerous military conquest campaigns of Tsar Xerxes, were used to suppress popular riots in Egypt and Babylon. The dogs also participated in the protracted Greek campaign - this is how, as war trophies, the dogs got to the Greeks, where their qualities were highly appreciated.

Images of dogs can be seen on ancient Greek coins, and in the city of Corinth a monument to these animals was even erected for exceptional services in battles with the Peloponnese. Tibetan dogs are mentioned in the writings of Aristotle, who paid tribute to the incredible physical strength and endurance of these beautiful and noble dogs.

The fame of the dogs has come to one of the greatest commanders in the world, Alexander the Great, who became their ardent admirer. A little later, the Molossians (that was the name of the huge immigrants from Tibet in Europe) were attracted by the ancient Romans. In peacetime, so that the animals did not lose their form, they were forced to fight in the ring with wild animals, and during military campaigns, they must accompany the troops.

Images of these big dogs can be found on the runestones that have survived to our times. Dogs are mentioned in the ancient Icelandic epic, and in the Danish History Museum even the skeletons of the family of giant dogs are represented, their remains date back to the 10th century. at. BC er

Thus, over the course of several centuries there was a great relocation of the dogs, and by the XIX century they found themselves in the most different countries of the Old World, where several populations were derived that differed from each other in color and build. But the constant characteristic of all dogs of this type remained strength and impressive size.

Years passed, the era of ancient military campaigns remained in the past, weapons were improved, and completely different tactics won popularity in combat battles. As a result, the need to use dogs in battle gradually faded away, so completely different qualities of dogs came to the fore. In those days, dogs began to be used during the hunt for large animals — qualities such as endurance and exceptional running ability made dogs very popular among hunters of noble origin.

The greatest success in this field was achieved by breeders from England who crossed Tibetan treaties with the “boar dogs” that were common in England at that time. Thus, due to the addition of the wolfhound genes and the mastiff, the representatives of the new breed got rather long legs and a very elegant physique. In wild boar and hoofed animals simply had no chance to withstand the attack of such athletes.

For a long time there was a real confusion in the name of the breed. In France, dogs were called Dogue Allemand, in Germany - Englische Docke, on the lands of the British Isles - German boarhound. There were other variants of names, which meant in essence a similar type of dogs, however, it is impossible to speak about the same breed. For the first time the decision to monitor the purity of the breed was taken by the Danes in 1866 - it was then that the standard of the Danish Mastiff was first compiled.

Only at the very end of the 19th century, dog breeders united their efforts in order to create on the basis of unsuited dog-shaped dogs a single species that would embody the best features and performance characteristics of dogs from different regions and countries. The initiative group began its work in Germany in 1878, and after a couple of years a new standard was adopted. In 1888, a dog club in Berlin began its activities.

In order to keep the breed clean, it was allowed to produce offspring in strictly defined combinations, otherwise recessive genes could cause the dog's hue to become highlighted or spots of unnecessary color would appear. Right up to the beginning of the Second World War, active work was carried out to maintain the breed, but during the years of the battles most of the kennels were destroyed, and the dog population itself declined sharply. After establishing peace, it was necessary to restore the genotype of these animals again.

Dogs for the first time got to the territory of Russia before the October revolution - Emperor Alexander II brought two puppies from an exhibition in Hamburg, but in our country the breed did not win much popularity. Only in the late 70s of the last century in the Soviet Union did the development of the breed take seriously, and before that the treaties were mainly acquired in the countries of the former socialist camp - Poland, the GDR and Czechoslovakia.

The largest dog in history is considered to be a dog named Zeus - his height at the withers is 111.8 cm. Another dog named George from the USA is no less famous, and with a height of 109.2 cm he had a body weight of about 111 kg.

Great Dane is one of the highest breeds in the world. This is a very impressive-looking dog, which by its very appearance scares everyone who wants to come closer - people simply fear for their health. By the way, it is completely in vain - few people know that a truly "golden soul" is hidden behind a formidable view.

The following features of the exterior correspond to this noble and good-natured giant.

• The average height of females is 75 cm, males - 85-90 cm.
• Body weight reaches 90-95 kg.
• The body of the bitch is slightly elongated; in the dog it has more square shapes.
• The head is quite large, as if slightly cut along the sides. The line of transition from the forehead to the nose is well defined.
• The dog has 42 teeth. Like many other dogs, bite-like scissors.
• The nose is usually black, the only exception is the marble dogi.
• The eyes are quite intelligent, lively, the iris is of a dark color. In the blue varieties, disagreement is allowed, and in the marble dogs - slight clarification.
• The ears are large, hanging type, landing high.
• The neck is usually located vertically, at the withers slightly inclined forward at the time of rapid movement. The musculature of the neck is pronounced, which gives it a very powerful look.
• In accordance with the breed standard, the back is even and straight, but near the tail is slightly bent.
• The length of the tail is average. While running, the tail is slightly raised, a donut twisting is allowed.
• Paws, both front and rear, smooth, parallel, very powerful.
• The fur is short, quite tight to the skin, moderate shedding.

Mastiffs look great in any color, but in accordance with the standard, the following suits are allowed.

• Marble Dog - it is more often called "harlequin". The coat of these dogs is colored white, dark spots with torn edges are scattered all over the surface - they can be of various sizes.
• Tiger Dogi look very impressive. These are red dogs, dark gray and black stripes are arranged in random order on their wool.
• Looks really impressive blue great dane. From the side, its fur resembles grayish rather, but under certain lighting it acquires a pronounced bluish tint.
• Fawn dogs - These are brown dogs, similar to tiger, but already without stripes.
• Great Danes Black makes an indelible impression - they are usually painted completely in one color, rarely have small whitish spots on the fingers or in the region of the sternum.

Great dogs are widely known after the release of the animated film about Scooby-Doo and the emergence of Marmaduke's comics. But in fact, these dogs are not at all like those cowardly narrow-minded animals that become a source of eternal trouble for their breeders. In fact, these are intelligent dogs that, despite their impressive size, remain restrained and reasonable.

Any German dog breeder will most likely say a lot of flattering words about his pet. These giants are extremely intelligent by nature and exceptionally friendly. Of course, young puppies of this breed, like all other kids, love to play, are prone to mischief, which, given their size, can be truly destructive.

However, such a dog will never cause harm and will not do filth intentionally, for its own pleasure.. Therefore, if in the heat of the game you find yourself stranded on the floor - no need to take it for aggression. In the process of growing up, the baby does not know how to be aware of his own dimensions and simply does not measure the force he uses to become a winner in a comic battle for a toy or a stick.

As the mischief grows, the dog becomes more sedate and restrained, but remains educated and true.The dogov has a very strong instinct for the defender and guard, he will be an excellent guardian for the weak "members of the pack." You can safely leave kids with this dog - it will be an excellent nanny for children who will not allow anyone to offend children.

However, this does not mean that the dog can not show character. The calm look of the animal should not in any way be misleading others - by the look with which this dog looks around what is happening around, he simply monitors the environment.

At the same time, they never show unmotivated hostility towards ordinary passersby. The only exceptions are unhealthy mental animals, which in the past have become victims of illiterate education or even cruel treatment by humans.

These are domestic dogs that enjoy spending time with their family. The animal is psychologically difficult to tolerate separation from the ownertherefore, if the professional activity of the breeder is connected with long absence, then it is necessary to give preference to dogs of other breeds.

Unfortunately, these giants cannot boast of strong immunity and long life expectancy. By the age of 8-9, great masses are considered decrepit old men, therefore there are very few dogs older than this age.

According to statistics, the main cause of mortality of the dogoles is inversion of intestines, which often happens even in young and strong dogs. If such a problem arises, surgical intervention is required as quickly as possible; any delay is fraught with the death of the pet.

Great Danes are late maturing breeds, so their musculoskeletal system is formed for a very long time. These animals are not uncommon congenital dysplasia, frequent problems with the spine, especially the common pathology of the lumbar and cervical spine in age-related dogs. Until the dog reaches one and a half years Try to avoid excessive physical exertion - grueling runs and tedious walking on the steps, especially down.

Young dogs are recommended to bandage their metacarpals before going outside. Also, in some cases, the veterinarian may advise breeders to use special feeds with chondroprotectors, substances that promote the proper formation of joints.

The following illnesses are also referred to common diseases in dogs.

• Flatulence. The unusual structure of the stomach often leads to flatulence and heaviness in the stomach - this is the case if after feeding the dog remains active. That is why it is necessary to teach the animal to rest after eating for at least half an hour.
• Helminths. Worm infestations are very dangerous for dogs, especially in puppies dogs. To exclude the occurrence of such problems, at the age of 3 weeks they begin antiparasitic treatment, and once a quarter they pass feces for analyzes.
• Entropion - is a mechanical damage to the eye with an extended edge of the eyelid. This happens with the "raw" structure of the skull and often causes the dog to lose sight.

In order to reduce the risk of developing serious diseases, vaccination of animals. Thanks to vaccinations, the immune system is stimulated, which significantly reduces the risk of being affected by many diseases that are dangerous to a pet.If you have started a Great Dane, set up a vaccination calendar with your doctor and strictly adhere to it. The first vaccination is given to a dog at 2 months.

The huge growth of the animal often leads to pathologies of the cardiovascular system, for dogs it is not uncommon cardiomyopathy and aortic stenosis. Also, animals suffer from kidney disease (Addison's disease), thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Occurs skin diseases: interdigital dermatitis, demodicosis, histiocytoma. Often there are pathologies of the organs of vision - cataract and entropy of the eyelids.

The best place to keep a Great Dane will be a spacious private house, preferably with a large garden near the reservoir. However, in a city apartment a pet can be quite comfortable if he is given the opportunity to throw out all the accumulated energy during long daily walks.

Many do not dare to start a dog in the apartment because of their size, suggesting that such a dog will take up too much space. However, as evidenced by reviews from experienced owners, Dogs manage to be unobtrusive and compact, behave quietly and show great respect for the personal space of all family members.

For the animal should be equipped with a separate place - it should be located in a separate corner, where the dog will not be touched by the family scurrying feet from room to room. It is not necessary to place a bench near the heating devices, as well as in places where a draft often occurs - the wind, like excessive dry air, has the most adverse effect on dogs and leads to the development of serious diseases.

In order for the pet to be comfortable and comfortable, you need to buy a high mattress that will meet the size of the dog. If possible, try to get a special sofa for dogs, because with age, animals often have problems with the spine, and a thin mattress will not be enough for them.

It is strictly not allowed to keep an animal in a booth or aviary, especially during the cold season. The only exceptions are cases where you have built a heated house for your pet, but then the booth should be very spacious and voluminous.

If dogs live in a private house with the possibility of round-the-clock samovygul, then this is very well reflected in the state of health of the pet. But if the animal is kept in an apartment, then the need for physical exertion must be satisfied while walking - The dog should be walked twice a day, for at least 1.5-2 hours.

To maintain the perfect look of your pet, you need to brush its hair once a week with a special stiff brush. Bathe the dogs infrequently - 3-4 times a year and in the case of heavy pollution.

Keep in mind that the procedure is not at all simple - a dog of a similar size will not fit in a basin, therefore washing procedures will have to be carried out in the bathroom. Many breeders use the services of groomers. If you intend to bathe the dog yourself in your own bathroom, then try to teach your pet to these procedures from early childhood.

Every 5-7 days should examine the ears of the animal for the presence of inflammation, ear sulfur and trauma.. During the inspection, it is necessary to treat the inner surface with a special veterinary lotion or a weak solution of boric acid.

At least once a week you need to brush your dog's teeth. This can be done with a special paste and brush, and you can give preference to special "long-playing" bones that contribute to the removal of tartar in dogs.

Usually, dog's claws grind themselves, but if an animal walks mostly in a forest belt or on a plot with soft soil, then from time to time cut them with special clippers, as they will not grind down on the pavement.

Eyes need a couple of times a week to wipe with chamomile extract or a weak solution of furatsilina. Prophylactic instillation of anti-inflammatory drops every 10-14 days does not hurt.

Special attention deserves the issue of cupping ears. In accordance with the standard adopted in Germany, for a long time the ears of dogs were subject to mandatory cupping in order to reduce the risk of injury to an animal while hunting.

However, over time, the purpose of the dog has changed, and today the dogs are rather guards and companion dogs, so the need for cosmetic pruning has disappeared. Moreover, since 1993, a new standard has been released in the EU countries, which set ban on arresting ears - Violation of this requirement is subject to a fine or other liability.

In Russia, this question is left to the discretion of the breeders, cupping continues to be appreciated, but at the same time at exhibitions and competitions both groups of participants compete on equal terms. In any case, the final decision on the correction of the ears is taken by the breeder after consulting the veterinarian.

Nutrition dogs can be natural or with the use of ready-made feeds - each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. In the first case, you can always control the quality of the products offered to the dog, but this method takes time to search for ingredients for dog cereals and their preparation. Dry feed significantly save the time of the owners, but often their composition leaves much to be desired.

When choosing packaged feeds, it is necessary to give preference to only super-premium products or to holistics from reliable manufacturers - they use only high-quality products in production, they do not contain any preservatives, flavors and flavor enhancers.

The grown dog is usually fed 2 times a day so that the morning portion is 10-15% less than the evening one. For 1 kg of dog weight, 50 kcal are needed. The following feeding mode is optimal:

• in 1,5-2 months - 6-8 times a day;
• from 3 months - 5 times a day with a parallel increase in servings;
• in 4-5 months - the animal is transferred to 4-time feeding;
• at 6 months - great dogs are taken on a 3-time diet;
• From 1 year old, the dogs are fed twice a day.

The diet of young dogs must be supplemented calcium supplements, since the deficiency of this element entails an increased risk of impaired growth and development of the musculoskeletal system.

If you feed a dog naturalka, it is best to prepare special mash for your pet. 70% of the diet should be lean meat (veal, beef, chicken and turkey), part of the meat can be replaced with high-quality by-products rich in protein or cartilage collagen (heart, liver, chicken neck and head). Also in the mash must be cereals (preferably rice or buckwheat) and vegetables - they are ground raw or boiled for a couple.

Best of all, the body of the dog responds to carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower. It will not be superfluous to season mash bags with chopped juicy greens, and in winter to add germinated cereals, rich in all the vitamins necessary for the dog.

An adult dog consumes 700-800 grams of food per day. Psam of this breed are strictly contraindicated:

• fatty meat (pork);
• soy, corn, legumes;
• sweets of all kinds - pastries, sweets, cakes, chocolate;
• smoked meat;
• pickles and pickles;
• spicy and fried dishes.

Do not feed the dog from your desk. Keep in mind that the dog has a very sensitive digestive system and any violation of the recommended dietary guidelines can have the most disastrous effect on the health of the pet until it turns the bowels.

German dogs are very rarely trained to protect their owner - in this peace-loving dog it is very difficult to bring up aggression, and it is not necessary - for this there are a large number of other dog breeds. Mastiffs usually require only the most general course of training, which includes several blocks of training an animal:

• in place;
• to the leash, collar and muzzle;
• to veterinary inspection;
• to hygiene procedures;
• to calm reaction to loud sounds.

In training dog it is necessary to demonstrate goodwill and patience, do not forget about the genetic characteristics of your pet - this animal always does everything “with feeling, sensibly, with alignment”. Do not forget to encourage the dog delicacy and meritorious intonation.

In conclusion, we note that Great Dane is a beautiful, strong and friendly animal. Nevertheless, it is suitable not for everyone. For example, it will be difficult for weak or elderly people to care for such a big dog - a dog requires a lot of attention, you need to walk with him often and for a long time, and this dog needs quite a lot of food.

Before you decide to buy a puppy of a Great Dane, be sure to weigh the pros and cons, evaluate your physical and material capabilities.

The advantages include the following properties characteristic of these animals:

• great companion;
• demonstrates a friendly attitude towards children;
• easy to train;
• possesses security and watchdog characteristics;
• does not show unmotivated aggression;
• gets along well with other pets;
• totally devoted to his master.

Of the minuses of the dogs are:

• demands for walks and physical exertion;
• expensive content;
• very stubborn temper;
• predisposition to obesity and hereditary diseases;
• short life expectancy;
• without proper education is prone to destructiveness.

If you are determined to become the master of the Great Dane, then keep in mind that a puppy of a pet class (with a breeding marriage) can be bought for 300-400 dollars. Such animals will not be able to become a source of genetic material, and they are not allowed to participate in exhibitions, but this does not make them less friendly, loyal and hardy. Well, if you need show-class puppies, then be prepared to part with the sum of $ 1,000.

On the features of the dog breed German Dane, see below.