THE GREAT DANE 49 



stand 33in. at the shoulder. The dog has cropped ears, a short 

 coat, and all the points of a Great Dane, but is called at the back 

 of the picture " an Irish Wolfe Dog." 



Unfortunately, some of the first Great Danes that were exhibited 

 were very bad-tempered, and this helped to give the breed a bad 

 name. Many people fancied them savage and uncontrollable, and 

 quite unsuitable as companions. As a matter of fact, of all the 

 larger breeds the Great Dane is the most suitable as a house dog, 

 especially if he always lives indoors and has to act as guard and 

 companion as well as pet. His smooth, sleek, short coat is so easy 

 to keep clean and free from " doggy " smells. He is, as a rule (if 

 properly trained and not treated as a savage brute), most docile 

 and good-tempered, and easily taught anything; while his courage 

 and determination as a guard are unequalled. From his earliest 

 puppyhood his devotion to his master or his mistress is remark- 

 able, and he will not go trotting off after strangers, as so many 

 puppies of other breeds have the annoying habit of doing at an 

 early age. 



Great Danes are fairly hardy, but cannot stand damp or draughty 

 kennels. Most of them have good constitutions, and they do not 

 suffer from being in-bred. If kept in the house all day and turned 

 out at night, this breed of dog should have a rug on and plenty of 

 straw during the cold weather, when he will take no harm. Great 

 Danes are often good water dogs, and may be taught to retrieve 

 from the water and even to dive after objects ; while as companions 

 for a country walk they are unequalled : even if absolutely harmless 

 and timid, their great size is a terror to tramps and beggars. 



It is extraordinary how such a huge animal may be kept in 

 quite a small house, curling himself up, as he does, in a corner, 

 and not always being on the fidget like a smaller animal. One often 

 hears remarks from people that they have no room for a Great 

 Dane ; but those who have tried know well how little room they 

 really take up. When always kept indoors they become wonderfully 

 gentle, and learn to move about without doing any damage. One 

 that is kept outside and brought in now and then as a treat is 

 generally the cause of disaster. His joy and romps soon bring 

 destruction, in the way of china and ornaments smashed by each 

 wag of his extremely long and powerful tail. 



Great Danes have very strong sporting instincts, and they 

 may be easily taught to retrieve. Curiously enough, the writer 

 has known them have tender mouths, and many times her dogs 

 have brought rabbits they have caught, quite unhurt ; while the 

 same dogs would kill a strange cat with one bite of their strong 

 jaws. She has also noticed that some of them, whilst walking up- 

 wind and getting the scent of birds or rabbits in front, will draw 

 on them very like a Pointer. The Great Dane hunts mostly by 



