Characteristics from Mastiff, Irish Wolfhounds and Greyhounds were combined to create the Great Dane breed. The Mastiff has passed along its bravery as well as its large stature. The Irish Wolfhound added tenacity to the list of traits. As for the Greyhound, they added the genetics that create a dog with traits favorable for good hunting abilities
Great Danes played an important role in hunting wild boar. This was instrumental in decreasing the population of wild boar in order to mitigate the detrimental effects boars had on agricultural crops.
Later in Germany, Great Danes were known for their guarding abilities.
Today the Great Dane has grown in people’s hearts as a great companion animal. This dog with a large stature is classified in the working group.