The easygoing Great Dane, the mighty “Apollo of Dogs,” is a total joy to live with—but owning a dog of such imposing size, weight, and strength is a commitment not to be entered into lightly. This breed is indeed great, but not a Dane.

They’re certainly great, but did you know they’re not Danish? Dogs resembling Great Danes appear as far back as ancient Egyptian carvings, but the modern Great Dane was actually bred in Germany in the 1800s.

Big, brave, and beautiful, Great Danes hold a special place in our hearts. But despite their larger-than-life persona, this giant breed has a relatively short life span. Why Are Great Dane Life Spans So Short? For such big dogs, Great Danes sure get the short end of the stick when it comes to longevity. Great [...]

Diving Dog Millie is a 4-year-old brindle Great Dane who has jumped 24.5 feet in Diving Dogs, and is competing at the Diving Dogs Challenge airing on April 9, 2023, on ESPN2.

The Great Dane's history is rich in defining a breed that is both regal and gentle in temperament for a sunshine-like dog fit for a god.

Training a new puppy does not come with a one-size-fits-all approach — especially when dealing with a very large breed like the Great Dane. “Great Danes are considered working dogs and are intelligent dogs," says Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified trainer and Founder of Fun Paw Cares. “Still, all [dogs] are individuals." Hartstein points out [...]

Seven-year-old Tobi is more than a diving dog; he has nine lives! Surviving bloat and three colonic torsions, he's competing at the AKC Diving Premier Cup.

Great Danes are easy to spot—thanks to their physical magnitude—and quite easy to live with too, despite their large stature. The breed is known to be friendly, patient, and dependable. They are gentle giants who get along well with kids and are loyal and lovable pets all around. However, their large size and [...]

These Great Danes, Calla and Wrigley, waited six months for their owner to return from military service in Afghanistan. Spending many days at a dog daycare, they were used to people coming and going. But one day, someone walked through the door that had them bounding with joy— literally.  The feels are so [...]

Bev Klingensmith could've never dreamed her champion Great Dane, "Bing," would be asked to be the star of a movie. Now, Bing is on billboards across the country.

Tuxedos are usually reserved for formal affairs, but Brittany Cipriotti of Warrenton, Virginia, lives with that striking black-and-white pattern day in and day out. Under her Ellenni banner, she breeds mantle Great Danes with her mentor and co-breeder Kristi Allison of Blackstone Great Danes, as well as similarly patterned but more vertically understated Boston Terriers [...]

A Great Dane named George who is a service dog for 11-year-old Bella Burton is one of five recipients for this year's AKC Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence, which honors dogs that have had a significant impact on their owners and communities. Bella, who suffers from the genetic disorder Morquio syndrome, received George [...]

“Times Past,” AKC Gazette: Lina Basquette (1907–1994) did enough living for 10 lifetimes: Ziegfeld Follies dancer, movie star, widow of Sam Warner (of Warner Brothers fame), and fabulously successful breeder-handler-judge of Great Danes. Basquette handled her Honey Hollow Danes to 125 BIS, 500 group wins, and more than 1,000 BOB. Along the way, she was married nine [...]

On the day we celebrate all things American, let’s remember that dogs have played a vital role in the formation of our national character. They occupy such a special place in our hearts that some states have designated particular breeds as local treasures. Here are five AKC breeds that are official state dogs [...]

No velvet pillows, hair ribbons, or French pedicures for these big bruisers. These are the no-nonsense, punch-the-clock-and-get-it-done dogs of the AKC Working Group, the Ford pickups of the canine kingdom. Many factors go into breeding dogs that work hard for their feed. Let’s consider a few, and then watch some well-bred workers in [...]

If you are a judge, do you find it harder to go from judging Great Danes to judging Yorkshire Terriers, or to go from judging English Cocker Spaniels to judging American Cocker Spaniels? In other words, is it harder to turn the page in your mind and adjust for the vast differences between two breeds [...]

Giant dogs are some of the hardest-working and most recognizable breeds. But because many of them maintain the strong working instincts and drive they were bred for, they can be a lot to handle. Here are some things to keep in mind if you're considering adding one to your family. Maturation Giant dogs are giant [...]

Accepted into AKC in 1885, the Saint Bernard swiftly rose to the position of the most popular dog of the 1890s. To this day, it is the only giant breed to secure the country’s top position as well as the only number-one breed to never appear in the top ten again. In later decades, two [...]

Looking for the perfect name for your new puppy? Consider some of the most famous dog names from movies, TV shows, and history.

Though she's barely taller than the tips of her Great Dane's ears, Junior Handler Olivia Betancourt shines in the conformation ring.

  The American Kennel Club® announced recently that the Illini Great Dane Club (IGDC) of Wesmont, Illinois has been named a recipient of the AKC® Community Achievement Award for expanding its yearly match show into an extensive AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day (RDO Day) event. The IGDC received one of three awards for [...]

  With Great Danes set to take center stage in the release of "Marmaduke," the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and the Great Dane Club of America would like to remind moviegoers about the importance of making wise, educated decisions when it comes to adding a dog to the home. "The Great Dane Club [...]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to recognize breeding programs from the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups as 2020 AKC Breeder of the Year group honorees. “We are proud to honor these esteemed breeders,” said Dennis Sprung, AKC President and CEO. “Each of them has made important contributions to the sport [...]

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2021 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19, 2021. The 2021 event will showcase the top canine athletes and will also include popular attractions such as [...]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) is pleased to announce that Jill Bell has been hired as an Executive Field Representative in Conformation covering the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. She joined the staff on June 7th. “Jill brings a high level of expertise to this position, having bred and handled dogs for many years,” said Patricia [...]

“Lean on Me” by Mara Bovsun, AKC Family Dog Jan/Feb 2019 digital version Lean-on-Me-printable-article Directions:  Read and Annotate. Then answer the questions below.  Next to your answer, provide the paragraph number that supports each answer. 1. Define osteogenesis imperfecta. a) Imperfect bones b) Brittle bone disease c) Disease of older dogs d) Bone cancer 2. Why was [...]

German Pinscher Learn about German Pinschers [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Rescue Organizations"] German Pinscher Club of America [/accordion_panel] [/accordion] German Shepherd Dog Learn about German Shepherd Dogs [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Rescue Organizations"] German Shepherd Dog Club of America German Shepherd Resource and Rescue Center P.O. Box 57 Hathorne, MA 01937 Contact: Stephanie, Info@germanshepherdcenter [...]

The following breeders have met the requirements for the Breed and Levels recorded at the time of the application. The American Kennel Club is pleased to recognize these breeders for their contribution to the sport and maintaining the tenets of the Breeder of Merit program. (current as of  3/12/26, last updated 3/13/26) [accordion] [accordion_panel title="Platinum [...]

This lesson is intended to be used as a review of word order for sentences and questions, not as an introductory lesson. Skills practiced Use of “do” Word order in statements vs. questions Word order of adjectives and nouns Using question marks and periods ELL Level Advanced/Bridging Materials Needed Sample sentences printed and cut [...]

3rd AKC International Sweepstakes Championship In The Net, Palmyra PA October 10 & 11, 2026   News and Updates:     [caption id="attachment_208748" align="aligncenter" width="636"] ISC Champions 2025Photo Credit: Great Dane Photos[/caption]