Peruvian Hairless vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison

Known as the Deutsche Dogge or Apollo of dogs, the giant-breed Great Dane hails from Germany and not Denmark as many people believe.

The large Great Dane has been around for about 400 years already. They descend from mastiff-like dogs, being needed to protect country estates.

In the 18th century, apart from watching over estates, they were also popular with the upper class for sport.

This is an ancient breed, and he even looks like he comes from ancient times. This particular dog, the Peruvian Hairless, was part of the Inca Empire and it is amazing that depictions of Peruvian hairless dogs have been seen around around 750 A.D.

It is believed the dogs were a meal for many in those ancient times, and that together with the Spanish conquest of Peru resulted in the dog almost being wiped out.

Today the dog is held in esteem in Peru and it is looked upon as the national dog of Peru – an accolade this dog received in 2001. The Federation Cynologique Internationale has accepted this breed and also adopted an official breed standard.

The Great Dame is a tall, lean, athletic, muscular, elegant looking dog. He can stand anything between 76–86cm in height and weigh around 54–90kg. The large head is long and narrow, and the medium sized floppy ears can be left or they can be cropped.

The tail is long and held low. The coat is short and smooth and can be in several colors such as fawn, black or brindle.

Temperament:

Any kind of aggressiveness was bred out of the Great Dane and today he is a gentle giant of a dog, getting on well with other dogs, children and everyone in his human family.

Even though he is a gentle giant, he will still require training and socialization just because of his size. Then they become the devoted pet that they are so well known to be. You'll want to know that when he comes indoors, he will obey you when you tell him to lie-down, sit or come, otherwise his sheer size will see him knocking things accidentally off table-tops.

He is an intelligent dog and is eager to please so he'll learn easily. He craves human companionship, so make sure that your social Dane has plenty of interaction with you.

There is no doubt that the most important feature of this dog is its hairlessness, but there is nearly always a little bit of hair on top of its head and on the tip of the tail.

The color of the dog’s skin can be dark brown, mottled or a grey shade. They can be a solid color or grey or brown but with pink spots. The eyes of the dog are brown and the ears can be floppy or erect and the tail is long.

He stands at anything between 25 to 50cm, depending on whether he is a small or medium sized Peruvian. Weights can vary too but can be 4kg for the smaller type, going up to 25 kg for the larger dogs. The dogs are always slim.

Temperament:

Peruvian Hairless dogs love their human families, being somewhat wary around strangers. They are lively, intelligent, alert and protective.

Lean and agile, they can be quick too. Just like with any other dogs, he will require training and socialization if you want him to be obedient and well behaved. He gets on well with other pets in the house and will get on well with disciplined children. This is a quiet dog but even so, he makes a good guard dog.

The Great Dane is a large breed, bred to hunt wild boar. The intelligence, bravery and fearless nature of the dog meant that he was sought after for this task.

Known as the Apollo of Dogs, you won’t find the Great Dane being used for hunting purposes anymore, being more suited as a companion dog.

While developed as a working breed, today he is a well balanced, intelligent, calm, loving, social, dependable dog that just wants to be loved by his human family and to provide love, loyalty and companionship back in return.

From ancient times, the Peruvian Hairless has been man’s best friend, and June 12th is the official day of the Peruvian Hairless Dog. These dogs love being surrounded by their human family. They are cheerful, playful, social dogs and they make great playmates for children when the children don’t rough play too much so as to injure him.

He is also a good watchdog and when he isn’t protecting you or playing he can be calm and quiet, and slot easily into life in the countryside or the city. Treat him well and you'll enjoy excellent friendship from this hairless canine friend.

Typically of giant dogs, the Great Dane doesn't have a particularly long life-span and will live to be about 8 to 10 years of age. Also, giant-breed dogs like this are susceptible to what is known as bloat.

You'll notice it because there is swelling of the stomach with gas buildup and also twisting of the stomach. It's a life-threatening condition and you'll need to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. You can combat it by feeding him smaller, more frequent meals and perhaps buying a slow-feeder dish, forcing your hungry pet to eat slower and not gulp his food down.

Also, large dogs like this can develop hip dysplasia and with a dog like the Great Dane, it takes a while for the bones and joints to grow and then become stable. That is why it is important not to make him do any vigorous exercise till he is at least 18 months of age, as these exercises can put a lot of stress on the joints and bones which can lead to hip dysplasia later on.

Like all breeds there will be some health problems with your Peruvian Hairless, although with good care care this dog can live to be 12 years of age or maybe even a little older. Some things to look out for include -

Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

You may notice your dog not eating his food, having an upset stomach and vomiting. Irritable bowel syndrome in a dog is a persistent upset stomach, resulting in diarrhea and bloating. IBS isn’t reserved for older dogs, and it can affect any breed or sex. You’ll notice your pet being listless and without energy. In severe cases of IBS, you may notice blood in your pet’s feces. Don’t allow your canine friend to suffer – get him to the vet.

Seizures:

Also known as epilepsy, it can be disturbing for you to see your canine friend having a seizure. Uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your dog’s brain cause these seizures which are a mix of twitching and shaking. The seizure can last for less than a minute or for several minutes. A number of things can cause these seizures in dogs – head injuries, anemia, kidney disease, liver disease, electrolyte problems, brain cancer among others.

Skin Problems:

Many dogs suffer with one or other skin problems and these can be painful and frustrating. Hairless breeds are more likely to suffer with skin issues and they require special grooming and skin care to prevent dryness, insect bites, sunburn etc.

Diet:

This is a large dog so you’ll notice that with commercially manufactured dog foods, there are those made specially for large- or giant breeds. It is important to choose the right dog food for his large size so that you can be sure he gets the right amount of nutrients in for him to grow strong and healthy.

If you aren't sure about what food would most benefit your Great Dane, ask your vet. While it is important to also feed him quality home-made food and raw meat, when buying kibble for him,check the label of the food you buy him and make sure that the concentration of protein isn’t more than 23 to 25%.

Remember to provide him with a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

Brush your Great Dane’s coat at least twice a week. He has a short, smooth coat so it will be easy, and the brushing will keep his coat soft and shiny. Use this time to also check for fleas and ticks or lumps. You will also need to check his nails and trim them if they don’t trim down on their own.

Exercise:

Your Great Dane will need to be exercised every day if you want him to maintain his lean, muscular shape. It keeps him happy too. He isn’t the kind of dog though that you want to turn into your running partner when you go jogging or cycling. He can go on a walk and play in the garden, but the exercising shouldn’t be for long periods of time.

His first checkup:

Every puppy needs to get to the vet for his first check-up when he is 6 weeks of age, and your Dane will also have to. As a puppy he will need to be de-wormed which will happen with this 6 week check up. He will also be vaccinated for distemper.

For some, the lack of hair is appealing to some people who battle with allergies. The skin of the dog will need to be washed to remove dirt. You’ve got to be careful however, what you wash your dog with because these dogs are known to get blackheads and acne because of blocked pores.

Then again, the skin can become quite dry, so you need to strike a balance. Talk to a dog expert or your vet on how to care for such a dog’s skin.

You’ll also need to consider your dog when he goes outside into the sun. Protection against sunlight is recommended and once again you might want to find out about sun blocks. Because of the lack of hair, he may also be sensitive to the cold.

Make sure this unusual pet gets the right diet. You want to be sure that whether you feed him commercially manufactured foods or he gets some home-made food it is full of vitamins and minerals. Steer away from spicy, unusual foods as dogs love simplicity and consistency.