A elegant breed in spite of size
and strength. Affectionate towards its family especially children to
which it shows great tolerance. Although they appear aggressive guard
dogs, this is seldom so as most dogs through training are obedient and
well balanced. Description & History The Great Dane is German in origin
(not Danish) and is known in its home country as "Deutsche Dogge" (German
Hound) or German Mastiff. It is thought by experts that the precursors
of the present day dogs were brought to Germany by the Roman legions.
During the Middle Ages, royalty and aristocracy from Germany and other
European countries used these fine muscular and athletic animals for
hunting stag and wild boar. Consequently the breed was also called the
German Boarhound. Today's Great Danes are more refined and graceful
than their ancestors. This is due to German breeders having developed
the breed in the latter part of the nineteenth century. A number of
people of note have owned this intelligent breed. The German Chancellor
Prince Bismarck owned a Great Dane called Tyras, which is said to have
been his constant companion. In the 193O's the late Duke of Kent was
the owner of a dog named Midas, which won the appropriate number of
Challenge Certificates under Kennel Club rules to make him a champion.
Midas was the first dog belonging to a member of the British royal family
to reach championship status since the time Queen Alexandra successfully
showed a number of her dogs. In 1883 the Great Dane Club was founded
in England and a year later the breed was recognised by the British
Kennel Club.