86 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



that, he has the instincts and qualifications 

 of a sporting dog, and he has proved him- 

 self particularly valuable for hunting big 

 game in hot climates, which he stands very 

 well. 



Respecting the temperament of the Great 

 Dane and his suitability as a companion 



MRS. HORSFALUS VANDAL OF REDGRAVE 



BY ORUS OF LOCHERBIE VROLA OF REDGRAVE. 



Photograph by Judge, Hastings. 



writers have gone to extremes in praise 

 and condemnation. In his favour it must 

 be said that in natural intelligence he is 

 surpassed by very few other dogs. He has 

 a most imposing figure, and does not, like 

 some other big breeds, slobber from his 

 mouth, which is a particularly unpleasant 

 peculiarity when a dog is kept in the house. 

 On the other hand, it must be admitted that 

 with almost the strength of a tiger he com- 

 bines the excitability of a terrier, and no 

 doubt a badly trained Great Dane is a very 

 dangerous animal. It is not sufficient to 

 teach him in the haphazard way which 

 might be successful in getting a small dog 

 under control, but even as a companion 

 he ought to be trained systematically, 

 and, considering his marked intelligence, 

 this is not difficult of accomplishment. 



In Germany the Great Dane is some- 

 times specially trained to " go for a man " 



at command, and to pull him down and 

 stand over him without biting him unless 

 he shows fight. 



The Great Dane attains his full develop- 

 ment in about a year and a half to two years, 

 and, considering that puppies have to build 

 up in that time a very big skeleton and 

 straight limbs, special 

 attention must be given 

 to the rearing of them. 

 The dam whelps fre- 

 quently eight puppies, 

 and sometimes even a 

 few more, but that is 

 too great a number for 

 a bitch to suckle in a 

 breed where great size 

 is a desideratum. Not 

 more than four, or at 

 the outside five, should 

 be left with the bitch, 

 and the others put to 

 a foster mother, or if 

 they are weaklings or 

 foul-marked puppies it 

 is best to destroy them. 

 After the puppies are 

 weaned, their food 

 should be of bone- 

 making quality, and 

 they require ample space for exercise and 

 play at their own sweet will. Nothing is 

 worse than to take the youngsters for forced 

 marches before their bones have become 

 firm. 



Before giving the description and stan- 

 dard which have been adopted by the Great 

 Dane Clubs, a few remarks on some of the 

 leading points will be useful. The general 

 characteristic of the Great Dane is a com- 

 bination of grace and power, and therefore 

 the lightness of the Greyhound, as well as 

 the heaviness of the Mastiff, must be avoided. 

 The head should be powerful, but at 

 the same time show quality by its nice 

 modelling. 



The eyes should be intelligent and viva- 

 cious, but not have the hard expression of 

 the terrier. The distance between the eyes 

 is of great importance ; if too wide apart 

 they give the dog a stupid appearance, 



