Great Dane

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History/Origin
Among the breeds written in dog records, the Great Dane has one of the longest histories. Past dog breed lovers wanted to have a more agile dog, which would take over the wild boars, deers, and wolves. Thus, they combined the breed of an Irish wolfhound, a Mastiff, and a medieval boarhound; the combination gave birth to this ancient breed. Since then, the Great Dane has been in existence in human history for almost 400 years.

This dog breed is very well known to the gentry, poets, and literati. As a matter of fact, this dog breed is called "Dene" in "Beowulf," which is a famous poem, This breed has also various names in the saga compilation, "Elder Edda." Aside from its mention in literature, some people also refer to this dog breed as the one and only "Apollo" among all dogs, for royalties from Egypt, Rome, and Greece were fond of this breed. Some types of this breed, such as white large hounds that have black markings, were even revered by the gentry as holy.

Description
Giant, tall, robust, and elegant in appearance, the dog is often seen with nobility and power. Notable distinguished features are its accentuated large nose, residing in its narrow and long head, and its round eyes, which are commonly dark and give an intelligent expression. Around the head's area are long and pointed ears and naturally long and erect neck, which also makes the Great Dane look upright and aristocratic.

The breed appears in short, shiny, and thick hair, and varies in color -- from brindle, blue, black, and fawn to mantle harlequin. Sometimes, the Great Dane breed comes in merle, though merle is not an officially recognized color.

Temperament
Though a giant creature, this dog is commonly known as sweet, gentle, and obedient. The Great Dane rarely barks except for some circumstances, and is also known to be brave as well as loyal. Children are allowed to play with this breed; that is, if the trainer does his job well.
Otherwise, this dog breed is restless and aggressive. It can be a little more aggressive when it sees other dogs. To prevent it from being too energetic, the Great Dane needs daily exercise and a persistent trainer.
Like other breeds, the Great Dane does not do well when isolated for some long hours. Thus, this breed needs company and should be well taken care of.