Don t be intimidated by the huge size of the Great Dane as it is known as a gentle giant The first German breed of dogs Great Danes are regal displaying strength & dignity with elegance in their stature & formation Generally thirty inches at the shoulder both genders should have well-proportioned bodies & can be found in various fur colours -- blue black brindle fawn harlequin mantle & more Many of the colour categories are colour combinations of patches or stripes used to classify purebreds Although Great Danes may appear intimidating they are friendly yet protective In need of daily exercise these canines have lots of energy & were bred to hunt boars Fun Facts A Great Dane named Gibson was recognized as the world s tallest dog & reached over 7 feet when standing