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Great Dane History
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Perhaps the most famous misnomer in dogdom, the Great Dane is not Danish at all, but German. The Great Dane’s oldest relative is probably the Molossus dog, which was used in warfare in ancient times, but the dog we know today has almost certainly been influenced by several other breeds. Beginning as long as one thousand years ago, the crossing of various breeds including the Greyhound, Irish Wolfhound and English Mastiff began the breed that would one day be called the Great Dane. Taking its size from its wolfhound and mastiff forebears and its sleek appearance from the Greyhound, the Great Dane had established itself as a competent hunter and guard dog by 1300, and was particularly popular as a boar hunter.
When and for what reason the breed was given the name Great Dane is something of a mystery, but in 1880 the Germans attempted to staunch the inaccuracy by insisting that the dog be called the Deutsche Dogge. English speakers were unmoved, however, and the name Great Dane stuck outside of Germany. The dog was brought to the United States in the late 19th century, and the Great Dane was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887. Today, the Great Dane is among the most popular of breeds in the US, and is the largest dog that consistently ranks in the top 25 in AKC registrations. The Great Dane’s imposing height and elegant appearance have led fanciers to give it the nickname Apollo of Dogs.
