Why Great Danes?
The Great Dane is the "Apollo" of the dog world. As a breed, the Great Dane originated in Germany several hundred years ago. They were bred to be guard dogs and are massive in size. But many other words should come to mind when you see an alert Great Dane such as grand, elegant, formidable, substantial, and stately (description borrowed from Dana Cline). As a guard dog, they aren't noisy, but when a Great Dane does make noise, you know that they want you to pay attention. But, size is not all of the Great Dane story; loving, affectionate, loyal, playful, and even pretty entertaining. Every Dane owner has a special love for and appreciation of both Scooby Doo and Marmaduke. Its a very special breed suitable for the right kind of owner.
Danes really are "Gentle Giants"
A Great Dane is, well, a big dog. The GDCA Standard says "The male shall not be less than 30 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that he be 32 inches or more, providing he is well proportioned to his height. The female shall not be less than 28 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that she be 30 inches or more, providing she is well proportioned to her height." Males average between 140 and 170 lbs and females average between 110 and 140 lbs. They certainly enjoy a comfy couch or chair, but you may find that they take up much of your sitting space. But while they may be "Giants", they are also "Gentle". The temperament of the Great Dane can be described as goofy, gentle, "people dogs", graceful, and clumsy. And, yes, they can be both graceful and clumsy in exactly the same moment. They really are their people's dogs, loyal and dedicated to their owners.
Danes don't appreciate how big they are.
Danes are really just big lap dogs and love to be on your lap. Yes, all 150 pounds of them. They think they're much smaller than they really are. It is not uncommon for them to forget about all of the rest of them and seem surprised when they occupy so much space on the couch.
Danes are easy to groom.
As compared to other breeds, Danes have short-haired easy to maintain coats. An occasional brush and bath, a toe trim, and you're mostly all set.
Danes can be messy.
Big paws mean big tracks. Dane owners also find drool in odd places, like on the ceiling of their house. They definitely enjoy taking a big drink of water and then coming over to you and dripping. All of these are lovable traits of a great dog.
Danes really need to be trained.
A Great Dane is not a small dog. When you're walking your Dane, you really don't want to be "that" owner whose 150 pound dog takes the owner for a walk. A well-trained Dane is an amazing dog -- putting those little barky dogs who don't behave to shame. Training also helps you and the dog communicate better. Training allows you to safely control the dog when its needed -- imagine a time when you need the dog to stop and down rather than run out in the middle of the road. There are a number of good dog training facilities which offer basic and advanced obedience classes for you and your dog. You should plan to enter your dog in those classes for the benefit of both you and your dog.
The tail.
Dane owners know all about the tail, particularly men. You know, the tail that can clear a table. The tail that wags when you walk in the door, too.
Danes have shorter lives than other breeds.
This is something to think about. Danes put a lot of life and love into their short times with you. You will love them a lot and miss them when they are gone. A dane that lives to 10 years old has had a long life.
Big Dog has Big Cost.
You may have talked to your friends and they said that they only pay $10 for a medicine from your vet. Medicines are dispensed by weight, so you will need much more of that medicine than your friend with the small dog. In fact, Dane owners commonly get pet insurance just for that reason (the increased medical costs for Danes). That same owner may have also said they buy a small bag of food which lasts a whole month. Danes eat cups of food per day, and that bag of food which lasts a whole month for your friend may only last a week for you. The point is really that bigger dogs (and this is just as true for an Irish Wolfhound or Newfoundland as it is for a Great Dane) have larger on-going costs than a smaller dog, so you need to plan for those.