I remember walking through Greenwich park years ago and seeing some ponies running around in the distance. I hadn't seen them there before and wondered what ponies were doing in a relatively urban London park. As the distance between us decreased, I realised it wasn't horses at all but four Great Danes causing havoc off leash. Statuesque and grandiose, these humongous dogs were truly a site to behold.

Elegant and sleek with a huge head and muscular body, they may look imposing but in reality they are gentle souls. Definitely one of the most sweet natured dogs you'll ever meet and are loving and affectionate, especially with children.

Commonly known as the "Apollo of Dogs" referencing the Greek God of the Sun, these dogs are big and bold. They weigh around 100kgs and combine that with a height of 80cm from shoulder to paw, you have one unforgettable dog.

Depictions of these beauties can be found in Babylonian and Egyptian temples dating as far back as 2000BC. Chinese literature also mentions dogs very similar to the Great Dane living in Tibet. Many believe they came from Syria originally and were traded with Romans and Greeks who in turn bred them with other breeds but most people claim their lineage is attributed to cross breeding of English Mastiffs with Irish Wolfhounds and Greyhounds. 

By the 1600's, they were infamous for being expert boar hunters. German nobility even kept them as chamber dogs and were greatly pampered, even known to wear gilded collars lined in velvet.

As for the name, that came about a century so later when a French naturalist came across a similar looking Boar Hound in Denmark. It was slimmer and more refined and he named it the "Grand Danois", the name stuck despite Denmark having absolutely nothing to do with developing the breed. In fact German breeders are rightly credited with defining the Great Dane we know and love today. Come the 1800's, they had refined the breed to such an extent that these once ferocious animals were gentle and affectionate.

 

 

• Along with the Irish Wolfhound, the Great Dane is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. A GD holds the record for the world's tallest dog. "Zeus" came in at a whopping 112 cm and still holds this accolade despite his death in 2014. 
• Due to their loyalty and bravery Great Danes became Pennsylvania's official state dog. One was even enlisted in the US Navy and another received two Blue Cross medals. One for peeing on a bomb that fell onto the house it lived in thus defusing it, this was followed by another medal for alerting the authorities to a fire at her owner's shop.
• Courageous and strong, these dogs were even known to bring down a grizzly bear.
• They make great guard dogs due to their imposing size and loud bark, they can easily intimidate an intruder.
• These once aggressive hunters have now evolved into docile companion pets and are great with children and other dogs. Friendly and loving, they make an ideal family dog if you don't mind being knocked over from time to time.
• This is not a high energy breed but they do need at least one 30 to 60 minute walk a day. They need space and the more the better, they especially love a garden or yard to play around in. 
• They need big everything from beds to crates to transportation, everything costs more so take that into consideration before homing one. That said, Great Danes don't actually need as much food as you think, just follow their breeds dietary requirements.
• This big boy is eager to please and loves being around people. They have to be the centre of attention, not that you can miss them. They love affection and think nothing of trying to sit or drape themselves over you on the sofa. 
• If you do get a puppy, it's a good idea for them to attend obedience training as when they reach their full size they can be a handful due to their size. That said, they are super easy to house train and respond well to positive reinforcement.
• It can take a long time for the bones/joints of such a large animal to stop growing and stabilise so you shouldn't allow a puppy to jump much and you should definitely not take them out jogging until they are at least a year and a half old. This just puts too much stress on their joints.
• Sadly this breed only lives between 8 and 10 years and many suffer from hip dysplasia, heart disease and bone cancer. That said, those years will be filled with love and fun.

I loved this cartoon when I was a little girl. What kid wouldn't want to travel around in a funky van solving mysteries with friends and a goofy Great Dane with a speech impediment? Tempting even now.......

This Hanna-Barbara classic first aired in 1969 and was set in a fictional world called "Coolsville". Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy and their loyal hound, Scooby-Doo would solve 'supernatural' mysteries, mostly by fluke I recall but all ending with the culprit stating that they would have "gotten away with it if it wasn't for those pesky kids". Scooby was initially called "Too Much" but his name was changed to "Scooby-Doo", inspired by the "doo-be-doo-be-doo" from Sinatra's mega-hit,"Strangers in the Night". His friendship with Shaggy was a main-stay, they were inseparable and very alike - cowardly and forever hungry, always on the look-out for a Scooby snack but super loyal to their friends and courageous when they had to be. 

So if you room for a Scooby of your own, why not adopt one from one of the amazing charities out there.... Click here for more info.