Great Dane History

The Great Danes history may surprise you. The mighty and powerful Great Dane was not always the gentle giant that is portrayed today. In fact, the Great Dane was once a very aggressive fighter and hunter that was terrible feared because of its harsh temperament and combative nature. Great Dane history says the Dane had excellent hunting skills that allowed them to capture and kill wild animals (wild boar).

These boars had little resemblance to what we could call an original boar nowadays. These wild animals were fearsome, dangerous, tough and potentially deadly. Hunting these boars required a dog that had courage, speed, and exceptional power.

The early Danes fit this model and succeeded admirably at the task. Even though the Great Dane was originally breed for hunting and fighting, other tasks included carting, tracking, and watchdog duties. The breed was also kept as a showpiece for Europes ruling class. The breed was valued for its tremendous build, power, boldness and endurance. It still possesses many of these same qualities today.

The ancestors of the Great Dane were most likely of hunting stock. Since the Dane is a taller, trimmer counterpart to the English mastiff, it is probably related to the mastiff in some way. The Dane has even been called the German Mastiff in several countries. There is some controversy over where the Dane originally came from. The Great Dane appears to be largely a German creation, in which Germany takes considerable pride, but some British breed authorities do not agree.

It is also true that a very similar dog to the Great Dane was evolving in England and that modern Danes probably do owe some credit to these early British dogs in addition to the German contributions to the Breed. The Great Dane was known as the Boar Hound when it appeared in America late in the 19th century.

How did a dog once very aggressive and terribly feared, come to be our, now, sweet, gentle, and caring large dogs? Through excellent breeding programs and dedicated fanciers, the breed was transformed over the years into a friendly and loving working dog that is suitable for all families.

The various names used to identify the hound; Great Dane (English speaking world), Gran Danés (Spanish and Portuguese speaking world including South America), Grand Danois (French speaking world, Scandinavia in the 20th Century), Tanskandoggi (Finland), Danubius Dog (Hungary), Danua cinsi kopek or Grand Danua (Tyrkey) and Danische Dogge or Grosse Danische Yagd Hund (German speaking world up until 1888-9) simply reflects the tribal origin of the hounds (see for instance Dr. Leop Jeps Fitzinger: Der Hund und seine Rassen (1876) and Meyers Konversationslexikon

Reference for last paragraph: Encyclopedia State University

Table of Contents