Averaging up to 2 feet, 8 inches high, Great Danes are instantly recognizable as the world’s tallest dog breed. And while it often shares that title with Irish Wolfhounds, it was a Great Dane named Zeus who, at 3 feet, was deemed the world’s tallest dog.

The interesting fact about Great Deans is that millions grew up with them without knowing it. Remember “Scooby-Doo”? Devin Harris of Joplin, MO is the owner and operator of Great Danes of the Ozarks, argues that “‘Scooby-Doo’ creator Iwao Takamoto consulted a Great Dane breeder before designing the character but styled him with characteristics never seen in the breed, including a humpback, and bowed legs.”

In our previous interview with Bill Lambert, the Head of Health and Welfare at The Kennel Club, we found out that Great Danes need more than 2 hours of exercise a day. Moreover, puppies and senior canines will require a lot less movement to avoid over-exercising. 

Lambert explained that the Great Danes have a friendly and outgoing temperament and are sometimes referred to as gentle giants. “With that in mind, they are best suited to owners who have a larger house and garden in order to provide them with enough space for both exercise, mental stimulation and to express themselves," he said.

The owners of these gentle giants also have to be prepared for bigger financial investments. "They need more food and more space, and you may need to adapt your home, ensuring your dog can’t reach things which a smaller dog wouldn’t be able to," Lambert said.

 "Training is essential with any dog, but especially with such a large breed it’s crucial that owners are able to exert control so that they can handle their dog more easily and understand their dog’s behavior."