The Great Dane, is a molosser breed belonging to the working group. He is one the most popular breeds primarily due to his regal looks. The Dane was first known as "The Deutsche Dogge"!

A breed developed in Germany, not Denmark, the Great Dane or Deutsche Dogge (German Mastiff) is a very powerful dog. It is a very old breed which has been a distinct type for probably more than 400 years. The earliest written description of a dog resembling the breed may be found in Chinese literature of 1121 BC. The German nobility wanted a super dog to protect their country estates and hunt the very dangerous, savage, and swift wild boar. The name of the breed (in the English language) is a translation of an old French designation, grand Danois, meaning "Big Danish". This was only one of half a dozen names which had been used for centuries in France. Why the English adopted the name "Great Dane" from the French is a mystery. In 1880 the Germans banned the name "Great Dane" in favor of "Deutsche Dogge" but English speaking people have always ignored this name. Early Great Danes were a bad tempered lot. It was the Americans who have been credited with changing the Great Dane into the dependable, even tempered breed it is today. They are very popular family pets and watchdogs, intelligent, spirited, courageous, always friendly, never timid or agressive. They bond to the entire family, and are rated excellent with children. In 1891 the Great Dane Club of Germany adopted a precise standard, or official description of the ideal specimen.