Author: Great Danes

Great Danes are gentle giants, and one of the ways they communicate with their owners is through their body language. Below are discussed some of the ways a Great Dane communicates.

Great Danes can show their love and affection through eye contact, and physical contact such as leaning into someone and wagging their tails. They might also communicate to their owners when they are stressed by yawning or panting and show off their gentle side by rolling over and revealing their bellies during play, according to Devin Harris of Joplin MO.

The Long Stare

If a Great Dane stares at its owner, it usually wants something. It could be a tasty treat or perhaps they just want attention.

Feel free to stare back into those loving puppy-dog eyes, but remember not to stare for too long, or else it might come across as a little threatening.

Squinting and Blinking

Narrowed eyes and rapid blinks can often mean that a Great Dane is having a good time, especially if they are enjoying a good head scratch. However, if this happens often without positive stimuli, then it’s worth taking a visit to the vet in case there are any underlying issues.

Leaning on Someone

For the biggest dog breed out there, Great Danes are notorious leaners! They enjoy resting their weight against people that they love and trust, almost as if they are unknowing of their size.

For owners that can bear the weight, giving them some gentle love and assurance can be all they need at that moment.

Tail Wagging

Most people know that the sign of a happy dog is usually a waggy tail. But there are different ways that a Great Dane can wag to communicate different feelings to its owner.

For example, a slow, lowered wag can indicate playful anticipation, and a tail that is going crazy like a helicopter signifies they are probably having a whale of a time!

Showing their Belly

A dog showing its belly is a submissive behavior, as it is exposing one of the most vulnerable parts of its body.

A Great Dane might do this if they feel threatened, but it is more likely something it will do during play. This can be particularly humorous when they submit to a smaller dog.

Yawning

Yawning can mean the obvious, but it is also something that they and other dogs will do when they are stressed, especially if this is accompanied by a lot of panting.

If an owner notices this behavior, it is worth reviewing the surroundings to see if there is anything that might be distressing their pooch, such as a busy environment, new smells, or sudden changes within the household (a new baby, perhaps?).

Shaking it Out

One way to tell whether a Great Dane is starting to feel relaxed is if they shake themselves out much in the way that they might do after a bath.

This is almost like their way of resetting themselves ready for the next activity and can occur to get rid of strong emotions such as pent-up excitement from play, or nerves from a stressful situation. If a Great Dane does this it means they are chilled out, and ready for whatever its owner throws at them next (hopefully the ball!).

Blessed with a huge personality (and a body to match) Great Danes offer affectionate, patient companionship — especially for families.

And while they are known for their playfulness and protective natures, it usually takes a bit of effort to train and socialize them since their energy level and mental stimulation needs are higher than average.

Great Danes of the Ozarks explains more below on what it takes to get these large dogs to play nice.

The Value of Proper Training

It’s not that being affectionate is a bad thing, but Great Danes are known for their clinginess. How can pet owners be sure their 150-pound companion isn’t attached at the hip 24-7?

This is where training comes in, especially when boundaries need to be established early on, whether the pet is a watchdog or a simple couch potato. Great Danes are powerful dogs and highly active. Creating some ground rules for behavior will help with everything from overexertion to the risk of inadvertent damage to homes and unforeseen human injuries.

The good news is that these large dogs are also known for their adaptability. Instilling mental stimulation and physical exercise early and often as part of their routine will go a long way in setting an expected tone.

Methods to Training

Great Danes have oversized statures and personalities to match, but they are highly trainable and adaptable to commands. It just takes a strong commitment.

Owners and professional trainers say that these dogs require a good bit of repetition during the training process. They seem to not react immediately, but after they consider the command, they learn to follow it most of the time.

Puppies in particular will ignore commands one day and then obey them quickly the next. Training will help these mild-mannered dogs overcome common behavioral issues such as excessive chewing and digging, climbing on furniture, and other destructive behavior inside and outside the home. Books focused on specific training techniques are especially effective.

One key to a breakthrough in behavioral training is introducing a pet early to a range of different animals and people. This includes children and adults, women and men, and strangers hanging out at the park or in a city environment.

Getting Social

It may seem counterintuitive but proper canine socialization for begins in the home.

And another person or another dog does not need to be there.

Instead, owners should make their pets are comfortable by touching their paws, faces, and ears, walking them regularly, and starting bathing routines early on. Then it’s time to venture further out. Try some car rides and have them meet different animals.

Make sure they are introduced to a variety of loud noises (parties, ambulance sirens, fireworks) and bring them along to different types of community outings, such as concerts or festivals.

This exposure to as many different types of environments will set a dog up for comfortable interactions later in life and make them feel instantly OK with playing around safely with other dogs of all different sizes.

Show Some Love

Training and socialization are a lot of work, so ensure your dog knows how much he or she is appreciated. When proper behavior is displayed, don’t hesitate to reward it.

That way, their good behavior will be connected with a pleasant treat and a great Dane will soon be a happy, healthy, and social member of the family.

Colossal in both size and heart, Great Danes on both sides of the Atlantic are huge dogs that are the same breed, but in some areas have been bred to look differently over time. According to the GDCA there is one Great Dane structural standard to which all Danes are and should be judged, but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t differences noted in every European country that breeds the Great Dane. Great Danes of the Ozarks explains some differences in the following…

A Noticeable Size Difference

Despite their name, Great Danes were first bred in Europe, Germany to be precise. They were desired as powerful hunting dogs from as long ago as the Middle Ages, and were originally derived from greyhounds, mastiffs, and Irish wolfhounds.

Many European Great Dane breeders have retained and focused on large size in their bloodlines, especially their large heads while many American breeders have slowly bred out the large skulls, leaving many US Great Danes with longer, sleeker heads and shorter statures.

This doesn’t mean American Great Danes are small – far from it! A well bred Great Dane from any country will be large, some American bloodlines don’t reach size and weight like that of some of their European cousins, nor are they generally as large boned. Aside from its head, an American Great Dane’s body is very much like that of its greyhound ancestor.

To Drool… or not to Drool

European Great Danes in some lines can have more saggy, wrinkly skin about the face, including a larger lower lip. American Great Danes generally have tighter skin and fewer wrinkles, with a less pronounced lower lip. This can possibly make the American Great Dane less of a drooler… but not by much.

Life Expectancy

All Great Dane are at risk of shorter lives bs other smaller breeds. This is because of their huge size, and their organs having to work so much harder as a result.

Perhaps because it’s that bit smaller, an American Great Dane is expected to live to around 10 to 12 years of age, whereas a very large overdone European Great Dane can be expected to live only to the age of around 8 or 9.

It’s always a good idea to check the dog’s heritage and genetics before purchase, to see if the puppy will be at risk of developing some of the more common diseases or ailments seen in the breed.

Temperament

There always has to be a disclaimer that a dog’s temperament depends a lot on its socialization, but there are some proposed differences in the character between the two types.

Because European Great Danes tend to be larger, they are often clumsier and generally more laid back, whereas a smaller, quicker American Great Dane has more energy, likes to play more, and enjoys a little extra physical exercise.

These are tiny differences that differ as often from dog to dog as they do breed to breed. Some owners will argue that European Great Danes are just as energetic as their American counterpart, so much depends on the stimulation of the environment, the regularity of exercise, and the dog’s own temperament.

Do These Differences Matter

When it comes to standardizing the breed, the criteria as mentioned above for the American and the European Great Dane is identical. Ultimately, these dogs are the same breed, and they come with the expected size and appearance. Differentiating the two should be made by scrutinizing the lineage/pedigree, not just by looking at the size/structure. Many breeders like to use the term Euro as a marketing ploy. Choose a breeder that focuses on protecting the integrity of the breed respecting the structural standard, avoid breeders who want to produce either a hyper-type euro mastiff looking dog or an over snipey greyhound looking dog.

For those looking to compete in shows, the difference between the two extremes above may be crucial, but for those looking to simply have a large, lolloping, goofy family dog that’s loyal to its owner, there’s nothing separating the two types.