History of the Great Dane
 The popularity of the Great Dane was initially slow but changed as the years went by. The Great Dane was not originally the gentle giant that we know and love today. Instead, the breed was feared because of its harsh temperament and combative nature; bred to be hunters, very aggressive fighters and showpieces for the ruling class; the breed was valued for its tremendous build, power, boldness and endurance.In the UK the breed at first was slow. In the late 19th Century a rabies scare swept the county and many dogs were destroyed. Originally the Great Dane was referred to as the German Boarhound and it was considered to be a sporting dog. The first breed classes began in January 1879 at Alexander Palace show. The breed then began to grow in popularity. In 1895 the English Kennel Club banned the practice of ear cropping but this is still in practice in America and other parts of the world. The purpose of ear cropping was originally used for the pursuit of wild boar and other large ferocious animals. Many dogs lost their lives while on these wild hunts, or returned with torn or mangled ears. Because of the frequent ear injuries associated with these hunts, removing earflaps or ear cropping became a common practice Please click here to view the Kennel Club Breed Standard Grooming Bathing |