Over the past 18 months, many of us have welcomed a new four-legged friend into our homes, as the Kennel Club saw the number of dog owners increase by almost eight percent from 2020.
But with 221 different purebred dog breeds to choose from, there is a lot of thought to be done before selecting your perfect puppy.
People with an active lifestyle might consider a larger dog, while people with allergies will look for a hypoallergenic dog.
There’s even academic advice to seek out, with psychologist Stanley Coren’s book “The Intelligence of Dogs” categorizing breeds by instinct, obedience, and adaptability.
One dog that often appears on people’s canine wish lists is the Great Dane – they are one of the UK’s most popular large dog breeds and have a range of positive attributes that make them excellent pets. company.
Here are 10 fun and interesting facts about the breed.
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The Great Dane is the largest dog breed on the planet. The tallest dog world record holder was a Great Dane called Zeus who measured an incredible 112cm from paw to shoulder.
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Dogs resembling Danes have been around for thousands of years – appearing on Egyptian monuments dating back to 3000 BC. Large greyhounds resembling the Great Dane also appear in ancient Greek art from the 14th century BC.
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Small dogs tend to live longer than large dogs and this is certainly the case with the Great Dane. Unfortunately, they have one of the shortest average lifespans of any dog breed – just 7-10 years old.
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A Great Dane called Just Nuisance remains the only dog to have been drafted into the Royal Navy. He served in South Africa from 1939 to 1944, helping to enlist troops for World War II and was buried with full military honors.
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