Origins

In the middle of the 16th century, the nobility in many countries of Europe imported strong, long-legged dogs from England, which were descended from crossbreeds between English Mastiffs and Irish Wolfhounds. They were dog hybrids in different sizes and phenotypes with no formal breed.^[4] These dogs were called Englische Docke or Englische Tocke – later written and spelled: Dogge – or Englischer Hund in Germany. The name simply meant "English dog". Since then, the English word "dog" has come to be associated with a molossoid dog in Germany^[5] and France.^[6] These dogs were bred in the courts of German nobility, independent of the English methods, since the start of the 17th century.^[7][8]

The dogs were used for hunting bear, boar, and deer at princely courts, with the favorites staying in the bedchambers of their lords at night . These Kammerhunde (chamber dogs) were outfitted with ornate collars, and helped to protect the sleeping princes from assassins.^[9][10]

While hunting boar or bears, the Englische Dogge was a catch dog used after the other hunting dogs to seize the bear or boar and hold it in place until the huntsman was able to kill it. When the hunting customs changed, particularly because of the use of firearms, many of the involved dog types disappeared. The Englische Dogge became rare, and was kept only as a dog of hobby or luxury.

In Austria and Germany the Molossian hound, the Suliot dog and other imports from Greece were used in the 18th century to increase the stature of the boarhounds.^{[11][12][13][14][15][16]}

Name change

In 1878, a committee was formed in Berlin which changed the name of the "Englische Dogge" (English mastiff derivatives) to "Deutsche Dogge" (German mastiff), this being the Great Dane. This laid the foundations from which the breed was developed.^[17] During the 19th century, the dog was known as a "German boarhound" in English-speaking countries.^[18] Some German breeders tried to introduce the names "German Dogge" and "German Mastiff" on the English market, because they believed the breed should be marketed as a dog of luxury and not as a working dog.^[7] However, due to the increasing Geopolitical tensions between Germany and France and Britain, the dog later became referred to as a "Great Dane", a literal translation from the new name given to it by the French, Grand Danois,^[19] even though the breed has no known connection to Denmark. In Germany, it remains known as "Deutsche Dogge."^[20] In the Scandinavian languages, the French name and pronunciation are used.

• 
  A "chamber dog" with a gilded collar, Brandenburg (Germany), 1705
• 
  Great Dane from 1879
• 
  "Boar hounds" imported into Great Britain from the German Electorate of Hesse, 1807

Coat

Blue Great Dane

Black Great Dane puppy with cropped ears

Harlequin Great Dane with cropped ears

Grey merle Great Dane

According to the breed standard, Great Danes have six to seven (depending on the standard) show-acceptable coat colours:^[21][29]

• Fawn and brindle
  • Fawn: The colour is yellow-gold with a black mask. Black should appear on the eye rims and eyebrows and may appear on the ears.
  • Brindle: The colour is fawn and black in a chevron striped pattern. Often, they are also referred to as having a striped pattern.
• Black, harlequin and mantle
  • Black: The colour is a glossy black. White markings on the chest and toes are not desirable and considered faults.
  • Harlequin: The base colour is pure white with torn black patches irregularly distributed over the entire body; a pure white neck is preferred. The black patches should never be large enough to give the appearance of a blanket, nor so small as to give a stippled or dappled effect. Eligible, but less desirable, are a few small patches of grey that is consistent with a merle marking, or a white base with single black hairs showing through, which tend to give a salt and pepper or dirty effect. Merlequin (see below), a white coat with grey patches instead of black, is a disqualification.^[30]
    • Grey merle (Grautiger) Great Danes are acceptable in conformation shows under the FCI. This color was previously a disqualifying fault, but the fault was deleted in a new breed standard in 2012 to provide a wider gene pool and because the grey merle gene can produce a correct harlequin coat.^[31] Their status is that they are "neither desirable nor to be disqualified".^[32] Consequently, this colour must never obtain the highest grading at dog shows.^[31]
  • Mantle (in some countries referred to as Boston due to the similar colouration and pattern as a Boston Terrier): The colour is black and white with a solid black blanket extending over the body; black skull with white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole white collar preferred; a white chest; white on part or whole of forelegs and hind legs; white tipped black tail. A small white marking in the black blanket is acceptable, as is a break in the white collar.
• Blue: The colour is a pure steel blue. White markings at the chest and feet are permitted - never with a fawn nuance or blackish-blue colour.^[33]
• Blue brindle: This is a brindle coat with a blue-gray background and darker brindle striping.^[34]

Other colours occur occasionally, but are not acceptable for conformation showing and they are not pursued by breeders who intend to breed show dogs. These colours include white, piebald, chocolate, smoky fawn or buckskin, reverse brindle or onyx, blue fawn, blue harlequin or porcelain, mantled fawn, mantled brindle, mantled blue, various merles other than grey merle (fawn merle, brindle merle, blue merle, mantled merle, chocolate merle, silver merle or platinum merle and tri-coloured merle), fawnequin, brindlequin and merlequin. The white Great Dane colour is typically associated with vision and hearing impairment, as well as skin cancers.^[35]

Temperament

The Great Dane's large and imposing appearance belies its outgoing and friendly nature that can make it a loving, devoted addition to any home. With proper supervision,^[36][37] they are known for seeking physical affection from their owners or non-owners that they know well. The breed is often referred to as a "gentle giant".^[21][38]

Great Danes are generally well disposed toward other dogs, other non-canine pets, and familiar humans. They generally do not exhibit extreme aggressiveness or a high prey drive.^[39] With proper care and training, they are great around children, especially when raised with them. However, if not properly socialized, a Great Dane may become fearful or aggressive towards new stimuli (such as strangers and new environments).^[40]