by Valerie Johnson

Created on: September 18, 2008

When my daughter called and asked if she could bring home a rescue dog from the veterinarian's office where she worked I never thought to ask her what kind of dog it was. I stared in amazement at the dog in the back of her truck when she pulled up to the house. Towering over me and looking down at me was a black dog much larger than a miniature horse. I would quickly learn why these dogs, Great Dane's, were called "gentle giants".

There are many words that describe a Great Dane's temperament well. Gentle, friendly, loyal, intelligent and playful to name a few. As with any dog breed, there are exceptions but overall these words adequately describe a Great Dane.

The term "gentle giant" is the most accurate description for these dogs. They are massive in size ranging from 30 to 34 inches in height and 120 to 200 pounds. Their size alone is very intimidating to visitors making them excellent guard dogs without even trying to be. They are usually very friendly and affectionate toward people. However, Great Dane's are very loyal to their owners and won't hesitate to step in to protect them if needed.

Despite their size, they are extremely gentle, seemingly recognizing their strength. When indoors they defy the "bull in the china shop" theory as their gentle nature actually makes them quite docile indoors. They thrive well as an indoor dog but do need some daily exercise.

The intelligence of the Great Dane makes them easy to train. They do not generally require a heavy hand when training as they quickly learn appropriate behavior. Training is a must however due to their size. They can easily overpower a smaller dog or a child or snatch food effortlessly from a table. With proper training these will not be issues a Great Dane owner will have to deal with.

Great Dane's make wonderful companion dogs as they love to be around people and want nothing more than to please their owner. They have even been known to literally sit in your lap. I always referred to our Great Dane as the largest lap dog anyone had ever seen.

The dog my daughter brought home, Dude, weighed 175 pounds and was 38 inches tall. He and I quickly bonded and became constant companions. He got along well with the other dogs and all the kids loved him. His playfulness was demonstrated with a stuffed Ernie doll. He would pick up that doll and throw it, prancing around as he picked it up. The contrast in the size of Dude and the size of the doll was amusing and yet was a tremendous example of his gentleness.

The overall temperament of the Great Dane makes them a perfect dog for any dog lover. Despite their size, they are a perfect indoor dog. Your attention to them will be rewarded with tremendous loyalty and companionship. They truly become a member of your family and any family is blessed who chooses a Great Dane.

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