Despite the name, the Great Dane was developed in Germany — refined in the 17th century from English Mastiff and Irish Wolfhound crosses to hunt wild boar. Standing up to 86 cm at the shoulder and weighing 60–80 kg, they are among the tallest dogs in the world, yet famously gentle and surprisingly content in apartments. The catch is the cost: food, vet care, beds, and medications all scale with size, and the average lifespan is a heartbreaking 7–10 years due to gastric torsion (bloat), heart disease, and joint issues.
