Great Dasenji

Dog Breed Profile

Great Dasenji History

The Great Dasanshi was a dog who first appears in the record in 1516, when King James IV of Scotland presented them to his court. Another record of this dog appears in 1528, when another king, James V, received ten great danes as wedding presents. It is from this point on that the records of the Great Danse begin to get clearer. When the English invaded Scotland in 1603, the records show that John Erskine of Dun, who was one of the Scottish nobles, had over 60 Danes. The Danes were regarded as war dogs and used to keep deer at bay. They were also used in bear baiting, where they would fight bears. They would hold the bear by the tail and bite it till it died. The Dane had fierce loyalty, and fought to the death for the owner.

Time of Origin

1900s

Country of Origin

United States Of America

Ancestry

Basenji, Great Dane

Great Dasenji Physical Characteristics

The Great Dasenji is a small, compact, muscular, and athletic toy breed that generally grows to be between 8 and 10 inches high at the withers and between 8 and 12 lbs. They are a hardy and alert breed that has a long and sleek coat of white or cream that is either straight, wavy, or curly. They have wide and large, almond-shaped eyes that are dark in color. They have a flat nose and large, erect ears that are covered with long hair.

Eye Colors

Brown

Nose Colors

Black

Coat Colors

Brindle, Red, White, Black, Fawn, Blue

Height Range

Male Height Range: 23 – 24 inches

Female Height Range: 24 – 25 inches

Weight Range

Male Weight Range: 65 – 85 lbs

Female Weight Range: 60 – 85 lbs

Great Dasenji Health

Description of breed health.

Lifespan

6-14 yrs

Great Dasenji Health Concerns

Entropion, Gastric Torsion, Cardiomyopathy, Fanconi Syndrome, Hip Dysplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Immunoproliferative Enteropathy, Myotonia, Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM), Pyruvate Kinase (PK) Deficiency

Great Dasenji Temperament and Behaviour

The Great Dasenji is a playful and adventurous breed of dog. They are extremely curious and intelligent, and can often be found getting into mischief around the house. They are devoted to their families and can quickly become very attached to their owners. Great Dasenjis are highly trainable and excel at competitive obedience.

Great Dasenji Activity Requirements

The Great Dasenji is a sweet-tempered Japanese dog that was developed to be a companion. They are highly adaptable and can make great companions for a wide range of people. While they are not especially high energy, they still need a daily walk and some play time. They are best suited to a home with a fenced yard where they can do a bit of running. If you live in an apartment or don’t have a fenced yard, a leashed walk around the neighborhood is still a good way to get your Dasenji’s energy out.