Ancient Great Dane History

A general consensus among canine Historians is that in some way or another, the Great Dane breed was spawned by some type of Mastiff.

Certain zoologists believe all Mastiffs originated in Asia and the Tibetan Mastiff is the closest descendant. Further, that Great Danes share a common origin with the ancestor to the Mastiff, the Molossian Dog.

Could this be why the earliest written description of a Dane like dog is found in Chinese literature dated 1121 BC?

Interestingly, ancient Great Dane history describes images of large Mastiff type dogs appearing on Egyptian monuments, dated as early as 3000BC.

Carvings of large Dane type dogs, similar in appearance to the Tibetan Mastiff, have been found on artifacts as old as 2000 BC. These carvings depict ancient Assyrian hunters walking with the large dogs at their side.

It is believed that these dogs were probably traded for goods by the Assyrians to the ancient Romans and Greeks. The dogs were then cross bred to other lines in the Romans and Greeks possession, including dogs received in trade from other ancient nations such as England and Britain.

This supports the theory that our breed is descendant of both Tibetan & English type Mastiff Dogs. The Romans often used the dogs in their arenas for battle games and blood sport.

There is further evidence of early Dane like dogs in ancient Russia, and many European countries.

The Irish Wolfhound Connection

The idea that Irish Wolfhound, or Irish Greyhound played a part in the breeds development is primarily due to the fact that some of these giant dogs were taken from the English and Romans by the Celts.

Back in Ireland, these early Mastiff dogs were bred to Irish Wolfhounds. However, it is commonly agreed that both English and Irish lines have been bred for over a thousand years and both are ancestors to the Great Dane as we now know it today.

On to Europe

Around the 5th century, these Mastiff type dogs of both of English and Irish heritage, began to appear in England and Germany. The dogs were brought over during invasions by the Alanis and Asiatic people and also the Romans.

For hundreds of years the dogs were cross bred possibly with Irish Wolfhounds and Greyhounds with the end result a taller, leaner, faster, more chiseled German Mastiff or Great Dane.

From this point in ancient Great Dane history, we pick up in Germany, where the true characteristics of the breed were improved upon.

To the top of ancient Great Dane history.