The book is divided into six sections, five of which honor each decade this Great Dane has been around. Brad Anderson, the creator of Marmaduke, is a Great Dane owner and created his loveable comic book character when he was in high school. Anderson is not the only celebrity owner. Mario Andretti who won the Indianapolis 500 owned a Great Dane. Other owners include: James Broline (Westworld actor), Sid Caesar (famous comedian), Wilt chamberlain (basketball star) Chubby Checker, Olivia Newton-John, and Star Trek celebrity William Shatner.

Marmaduke is not the only famous Great Dane. There is also a Great Dane that appears in a Snoopy episode, and then there is Astro, the Great Dane from the Jetsons. Hollywood always represents this loveable animal as a friendly soul who is a loyal family member. Hollywood got it right. Great Danes are truly loyal and sweet. They are good and patient with children and friendly with guests, but if someone or something were to behave aggressively, the Great Dane would move into action and protect. While smaller dogs like a Miniature Schnauzer would never be able to defend themselves or their owners, the size of Great Danes allows them to fend for themselves and their families. They are quiet and will not waste your time barking at the passing car or errant deer in your front lawn, but if an aggressive move is made toward the family, the dog will be ready to protect.

An owner should socialize their new puppy from the start so the pet can grow into an adult comfortable with people. As mentioned, Great Danes are wonderful with children, but this situation should not be taken advantage of. Although the idea of letting your child ride on this giant breed’s back is tempting, kids should never sit on this dog as it can create long term structural defects. Furthermore, a Great Dane should be exercised regularly so their muscles can develop adequately to support their huge frame. A Great Dane puppy should never be jogged until it passes its first birthday; those long limbs need a chance to gain muscle strength and stability.

Great Danes are documented to have been around since around 3000BC. This is represented by drawings created by the ancient Egyptians. Dating to 36BC, their image appears on ancient Greek money. Because of their dignified, noble appearance, they have been linked to royalty since early recorded history. Surely the ancient leaders were attracted to the dog’s proud appearance, affection, and loyalty. There is evidence that by the 1300’s the breed was employed by the Germans as hunting and guard dogs. Germans breed this dog so proficiently that by the 1880s they wanted their stock of Great Danes to have a new name, the Deutche Doggie, but the world did not oblige and we continue to call the dog by one universal name.

If Marmaduke and Astro are not enough of a description to help you recognize a Great Dane, then picture Goliath-big! The colors of this short haired dog vary, but what doesn’t vary is the loveable nature of this animal. The Great Dane is an ideal family pet and is one of the most popular breeds around.