Where do great Danes come from? Breed origin explained
See the real story – guest starring your dog.
You may be surprised to learn that your great Dane's roots have nothing to do with Denmark. The Great Dane is a German breed that descends from mastiff-sighthound type hunting dogs used to hunt bears, wild boar, and deer. German breeders standardized the modern dog in the late 1800s, and it was around that same period that English speakers picked up the misleading name it still carries today. Here is how your dog's ancestors went from the hunting field to the family home.
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The story in 6 parts
A short version first. The full story, with every detail, is further down.
Part 1
The short answer
The Great Dane is a German breed, and Germany is where the modern version of the dog was developed.
Part 2
The boar hound ancestors
In the sixteenth century, nobility across Europe imported strong, long-legged dogs of mastiff or greyhound type from England and Ireland, and in Germany these dogs became known as the Englische Dogge, meaning simply English dog.
Part 3
How the breed got standardized in Germany
As firearms changed hunting customs across Europe in the 19th century, the dogs' original working role began to disappear, and many boarhound types became rare, kept mostly as a luxury rather than a working dog.
Part 4
Why it's called 'great Dane' in English
The English name has puzzled owners for a long time, and your dog is a good example of why.
Part 5
From hunting estates to family homes
As wild boar hunting declined in popularity, your dog's ancestors lost their original working purpose.
Part 6
What the history explains about the dog you have today
The Great Dane is a mastiff-sighthound type, combining traits of both kinds of dog.
Read the full story
Part 1
The short answer
The Great Dane is a German breed, and Germany is where the modern version of the dog was developed. Its roots trace back to large, long-legged dogs that European nobility imported and bred for hunting large game, including boar hounds used specifically to hunt boar, bears, and deer. Despite the English name, the breed has no known connection to Denmark, and in Germany it is still called the Deutsche Dogge, meaning German Mastiff. If your dog is a great Dane, you are living with a working German hunting dog turned family companion.
Part 2
The boar hound ancestors
In the sixteenth century, nobility across Europe imported strong, long-legged dogs of mastiff or greyhound type from England and Ireland, and in Germany these dogs became known as the Englische Dogge, meaning simply English dog. German nobles bred these dogs in their own courts from the start of the seventeenth century, using them to hunt bear, boar, and deer. During a hunt, the dog worked as a catch dog, seizing and holding a boar or bear in place after other hunting dogs had found it, until a huntsman could move in and kill the animal. The favored dogs did not just work outdoors, either; some slept in their lord's bedchamber at night as Kammerhunde, or chamber dogs, wearing ornate collars and helping to guard against assassins. If your dog naturally positions himself near you at night, that instinct has old roots.
Part 3
How the breed got standardized in Germany
As firearms changed hunting customs across Europe in the 19th century, the dogs' original working role began to disappear, and many boarhound types became rare, kept mostly as a luxury rather than a working dog. In 1876 the breed was declared the national breed of Germany, still known there as the Deutsche Dogge. A Berlin committee changed the dog's name from Englische Dogge to Deutsche Dogge in 1878, and the German breed club then developed a formal standard in 1881. A separate account places the founding meeting for a single standard in Berlin in 1880. English breeders later crossed some of these dogs with greyhounds, leading to a more refined Great Dane.
Part 4
Why it's called 'great Dane' in English
The English name has puzzled owners for a long time, and your dog is a good example of why. The French called the breed Grand Danois, and it is widely reported that the French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, applied this name after encountering the dogs while traveling in Denmark. English speakers adopted a version of that French name, Great Dane, even though the breed has no known connection to Denmark. Some German breeders in the 19th century tried to push the names German Dogge or German Mastiff onto the English market instead, believing it would market the breed as a luxury dog rather than a working one, but the name did not take hold in English. In Germany today the breed is still called Deutsche Dogge, not any word related to Denmark.
Part 5
From hunting estates to family homes
As wild boar hunting declined in popularity, your dog's ancestors lost their original working purpose. German breeders responded by continuing to refine the dog toward being a house companion, sometimes called a chamber dog, and toward guarding rather than hunting. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1889, and the Great Dane Club of America formed around the same period, one of the older parent clubs in the United States. Breeders on both sides of the Atlantic then worked to soften the dog's temperament, since the aggression once needed for boar hunting was no longer wanted or acceptable in a family dog.
Part 6
What the history explains about the dog you have today
The Great Dane is a mastiff-sighthound type, combining traits of both kinds of dog. Your dog's short coat traces back to the same breed described in its standard as short-haired. Temperament changed too: breeders deliberately moved away from an unreliable, savage nature and toward a dog that is gentle with its family and reserved rather than hostile toward strangers. That size brings real care needs of its own, including a shorter lifespan than smaller breeds and a higher risk of conditions such as bloat.
Things you might not know
- English speakers adopted a version of that French name, Great Dane, even though the breed has no known connection to Denmark.
- In Germany today the breed is still called Deutsche Dogge, not any word related to Denmark.
- The Great Dane is a mastiff-sighthound type, combining traits of both kinds of dog.
Year by year
- 1876In 1876 the breed was declared the national breed of Germany, still known there as the Deutsche Dogge.
- 1878A Berlin committee changed the dog's name from Englische Dogge to Deutsche Dogge in 1878, and the German breed club then developed a formal standard in 1881.
- 1880A separate account places the founding meeting for a single standard in Berlin in 1880.
- 1889The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1889, and the Great Dane Club of America formed around the same period, one of the older parent clubs in the United States.
Questions people ask
Where do great Danes originally come from?
The Great Dane is a German breed, developed from large mastiff and sighthound type dogs used to hunt bears, wild boar, and deer at German courts. The breed has no known connection to Denmark, despite its English name.
Why are they called great Danes if they're German?
The name likely comes from the French term Grand Danois, reportedly applied by the French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, after he saw the dogs while traveling in Denmark. English speakers adopted this French name even though the breed was developed in Germany, where it is still called Deutsche Dogge.
Are great Danes related to mastiffs?
Yes, the Great Dane is described as a mastiff-sighthound type breed. English breeders also crossed some of these dogs with greyhounds later on to refine the look of the breed.
When did the great Dane become an official breed?
In 1876 the dog was declared the national breed of Germany, and a Berlin committee formally renamed it Deutsche Dogge in 1878. A German breed club then set a formal standard around 1880 or 1881, depending on the source, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1889.
Did great Danes really hunt wild boar?
Yes, the breed's ancestors were used as boar hounds at German courts, working as catch dogs that seized and held boar or bear until a huntsman could kill the animal. As hunting customs changed, this working role faded and the breed shifted toward being a companion.
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Sources
- Great Dane History: From the Apollo of Dogs to Family Companion. American Kennel Club.
- Great Dane - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
- History of Great Danes. www.betterpet.com.
- Great Dane. 1800PetSupplies.com.
- The First American Breed Standard (1892). Great Dane Gnosis, Feb 28, 2016.
- Great Dane Guide - Breed Temperament & Health | Canna-Pet. Canna-Pet®.
- Great Dane. American Kennel Club.
- Great Dane Dogs - Great Danes Breeders and Information. Great Danes Breeders and Information.
- adoptgreatdane.com. adoptgreatdane.com.
- The History and Origin of the Great Dane: A Comprehensive Look. iHeartDogs.com, Feb 28, 2024.
Written by TimeWalkies EditorialLast updated How we research