CHAPTER V 

 THE GREAT DANE 



RIGHT at the head of the list of giants among Domestic dogs 

 stands the Great Dane, Boarhound, Tiger Mastiff, or German 

 Mastiff a dog that is unsurpassed for immense strength combined 

 with activity and elegance of outline. Though at no period of its 

 existence a popular variety in the ordinary sense of that term, yet 

 it has a very decided following. In the past probably the fact that 

 it was necessary to crop the dog acted more or less prejudicially 

 against the breed ; but this ear-cutting is now abolished, and as 

 the variety becomes better known, and the erroneous impressions 

 formed about it are dissipated, we may confidently look forward 

 to an increase in its number of admirers. Unlike many breeds, 

 the Great Dane has not been taken in hand by royalty, but it has 

 always had a number of exalted personages amongst its followers. 

 If we mistake not, Lord Salisbury favours the hound as a com- 

 panion ; while the Iron Chancellor had a Great Dane one Tyras 

 as his most devoted companion. 



When the First Edition of this work appeared, the variety was 

 comparatively little known in England ; but it was therein suggested 

 that the Great Dane was a breed that was well worthy of recogni- 

 tion. By such eminent naturalists as Linnaeus and BufTon it was 

 classed as a distinct variety, though none of the earlier naturalists 

 described the breed with the detailed accuracy that leaves no 

 doubt as to the actual conformation of the dog at the time. Buffon 

 classed the Great Dane among those varieties that had been 

 modified and formed by climatic influence, and asserted that it 

 originated from the sheepdog. He also held that the small Danish 

 dog was a modified Bulldog. 



Sydenham Edwards, writing in the early part of the last century, 

 said that the Harlequin Dane was occasionally used in England as 

 an ornamental appendage to run with the coaches of the wealthy, 

 instead of the smaller Dalmatian. 



Richardson was evidently well acquainted with the dog, which 

 he describes as rarely standing " less than 3oin. at the shoulder, 



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