Plate 039 · Continental Europe
Great Dane
大丹犬
“A boar hunter of German nobility, now known as a gentle giant.”
- Origin
- Germany
- Country of origin
- Despite the English name, the breed is German; the link to Denmark is a historical naming accident.
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- 16th–19th century; standardised in the 1880s
- Today
- Companion · Guardian
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
Then → Now
Then · 1919Great Danes in fawn, brindle and harlequin, from 'The Book of Dogs' (National Geographic, 1919), painted by Louis Agassiz Fuertes.
Louis Agassiz Fuertes, in National Geographic's The Book of Dogs (1919) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
NowChris Phutully · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons
History
01 · Origin
Germany
Developed from large boarhounds kept by German nobility.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hunted wild boar and later served as estate guardians and status symbols.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
In 1878 a committee of German breeders and judges grouped several large hunting and mastiff-type dogs as the 'Deutsche Dogge'; the first standard followed in 1880.
04 · Today
Companion · Guardian
A gentle giant companion.
Personality
- Friendly
- Patient
- Dependable
- Gentle
- Dignified
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: this atlas’s editorial summary on a 1–5 scale, for rough comparison between breeds here — not a measurement or a standardised assessment.
- Size
- Giant
- Lifespan
- 7–10 years
- Coat
- Short, thick, glossy coat
Field note
The Great Dane is German, not Danish: the English name translates the French 'grand Danois' ('big Danish'), while in Germany it is the Deutsche Dogge.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Working Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (as Deutsche Dogge), The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- United States
Among the tallest dog breeds in the world. AKC registrations: ranked 22 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- Great Dane — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/great-dane/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-06 · Used for registry status, AKC group and breed standard reference only.
- Great Dane (encyclopedia overview) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Dane
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-06 · Secondary overview; cross-check claims against primary breed-club sources.
Image credits
Louis Agassiz Fuertes, in National Geographic's The Book of Dogs (1919) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Chris Phutully · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Despite the English name, the breed is German; the link to Denmark is a historical naming accident.
