There are many different dog breeds that are mixed with the Great Dane. This list includes the German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Labrador, Chihuahua, and Poodle. But one of the oldest mixes is the Great Dane Mastiff Mix, also known as the Daniff, which is a large, powerful, and very athletic dog with great stamina.
This article will provide information on Daniff history, appearance, personality, and many more. Keep reading to find everything about this gentle giant.
Great Dane Mastiff Mix History
There isn’t an exact date as to when the breeding of the Great Dane Mastiff mix started. The breed is, however, registered in the International Designer Canine Registry since 2009, therefore it is safe to say that the Daniff has been around for more than a decade now.
Despite the Daniff’s unclear history and origin, we do know a lot about their parent breeds. The Great Dane has been was created more than 4 centuries ago while the Mastiff was developed during the 15th century.
What does a Daniff look like?
A Great Dane Mastiff mix dog has the elegance and beauty of the Great Dane mixed with the massive size and power of the mastiff. They are big dogs with well-balanced builds, strong bones, muscles, and powerful body structures. They have a distinctive head with a broad forehead, short muzzle, and strong jaws. Their eyes are medium-sized and dark brown in color. The ears are set high on the head, which makes them look majestic and powerful. The tail is long and bushy but not curled over their back as some other breeds do. The coat can be either short or long with colors ranging from fawn, brindle, black and white, and even merle and harlequin color patterns.
They have an average height of between 27 to 33 inches and an average weight of between 115 to 190 pounds.
Daniff Temperament
Great Dane Mastiff mixes are affectionate, intelligent, and easy to train. They are good with children, other animals, and strangers. They have a lot of stamina and can be used for hunting and guarding purposes. Given their size, many people may find the Daniff offputting, but the breed is one of the gentlest designer dogs that will want to cuddle with you almost all the time. Daniffs tend to bond strongly with their favorite humans who will equally give love and support to their dog.
Daniffs might act a bit aloof around strangers, but this is only because they are so protective of their families. They will bark and jump around (though not aggressive) when they see new faces in the house. Daniffs will only want to befriend those who think they are trustworthy.
8 Great Dane Mastiff Mix Grooming Tips
- Brush your Daniff regularly with a brush or comb to remove loose hair and prevent mats from forming.
- Bathe your dog using a shampoo designed for dogs, twice a year at most.
- Cut your dog’s nails every month or so to avoid them getting too long and causing pain or injury.
- Trim your dog’s hair around their ears every few months so it doesn’t get matted up in this area.
- Brush your dog’s teeth regularly with toothpaste made for dogs.
- Check ears for signs of infection, redness, or irritation daily and clean them at least once a week with a cotton ball dampened with ear cleaner or a veterinarian-recommended solution.
- Trim excess hair between pads of feet with nail clippers or scissors if needed to prevent matting and infection from bacteria buildup in between toes or pads of feet.
- Check for fleas and ticks by looking in the fur for insects and checking for bites on the skin at least once per month.
6 Daniff Training Tips
Given their high-level intelligence, Daniffs are relatively easy to train. They tend to pick up commands and instructions quickly. However, their smartness can, sometimes, pave a way for being stubborn so they’re more likely to do what they think is the right thing. The most important thing to keep in mind when training your Daniff is to only use positive reinforcement techniques. Since Daniffs are smart enough to know what they get for job done well, they are always eager to please their owners.
Here are 6 Daniff Training Tips:
- Have patience with your dog and be consistent in your commands and discipline.
- Know what your dog is capable of doing before you try to train it.
- Keep training sessions short but frequent for best results.
- Train with other people if possible – it will be easier on both of you if there’s someone else there to offer encouragement and motivation.
- Train your Great Dane Mastiff mix how to teach it how to sit on command. This will allow you to get acquainted with your pup and make sure that they listen when you ask for something from them.
- Teach your dog how to walk on a leash without pulling or running away from you. Once this has been mastered, then you can start teaching your Daniff tricks and commands like “stay” or “come.”
Exercise And Diet Requirements of The Daniff
Daniffs need to be stimulated mentally and physically with plenty of playtime and walks. The exercise needs are different for each individual dog, so it is important for owners to take their time when choosing what activities are best for them. If you are an active person who enjoys life outdoors, Daniffs make excellent partners for hiking, jogging, biking, exploring, and even walking in the dog parks.
Daniffs are big dogs that need an adequate amount of food to remain fit and healthy. Make sure that you provide enough nutrition that your dog’s body requires. You can start with high-quality dry food consisting of whole food ingredients without any artificial ingredients. The exact amount of food intake that your dog needs depend upon their age and size. If you are concerned about the quantity of food to give to your dog, you can always consult with the vet, who will give you useful feeding guidelines.
4 Common Daniff Health Issues
Although Daniffs can live up to 8 to 12 years, they have a lot of health problems because they are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, osteochondrosis dissecans, epilepsy, and hypothyroidism. These health issues and their treatments are further discussed below:
1. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia is a common congenital disease found in the Great Dane Mastiff mix. Hip Dysplasia is when the thigh bone, or femur, does not fit snugly into the hip socket. The dog will often walk with a limp or may even be unable to walk at all. Elbow Dysplasia occurs when the elbow joint does not fit snugly into the shoulder joint, resulting in pain when lifting your arm and limping on one side of the body.
The best way to prevent these two conditions from occurring in your dog is through exercise and weight control.
2. Osteochondrosis dissecans
Osteochondrosis dissecans is a condition in which the bone and cartilage are broken down and worn away from the ends of a bone. It is often characterized by pain, swelling, and deformity.
The disease can be treated with surgery, physical therapy, and pain management. It is important to know that this disease can cause long-term complications such as arthritis, joint stiffness, pain, muscle weakness, and swelling.
3. Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain and can cause seizures. Daniffs may experience seizures because of their genetic makeup and the way in which they grow up, but there are also many other factors that contribute to this condition. The most common causes of epilepsy in dogs are brain trauma, infection with rabies or distemper virus, and head injuries leading to brain damage.
The most common treatment for epilepsy in dogs is medication but it has its own limitations.
4. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition that affects the thyroid gland and can be caused by a number of factors. The most common factors are age, genetic predisposition, and dietary deficiencies. This condition can cause lethargy, hair loss, weight gain, and skin dryness.
The treatment for hypothyroidism in dogs varies based on the severity of the condition. The most common treatment is to inject a synthetic hormone called thyroxine into the animal’s body every day for 3-6 months.
Conclusion
The Great Dane Mastiff Mix is one of the most loving and affectionate dogs. They make perfect family pets who are willing to give enough love and attention to their owners. These intelligent dogs are easy to train and they require adequate food and exercise to keep them happy and healthy.
Thank you for reading the article.
To explore more about the two parent breeds, here are some articles on the Great Dane and the Mastiff that you might be interested in.
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