When someone talks about a huge creature that can easily weigh 200 pounds, grows to around 32 inches tall while standing on all fours, and has been bred explicitly for hunting, it’s easy to imagine a terrifying beast that they’d rather never encounter face to face. Fortunately, in this case, such an assumption couldn’t be more wrong.
Dubbed the “Gentle Giant,” the animal described above is the wonderfully adorable Great Dane, who, despite its intimidating appearance, is one of the goofiest fur balls you’ll ever meet. These days, instead of hunting, this dog can more often be found lazing on a couch with humans, which often results in a ton of hilarious pics that we then bring to you. Scroll down to see them!
#1 Getting Comfortable
Image credits: reddit.com
#2 This Great Dane
Image credits: fannypaquin
#3 Thought I’d Share Our Great Dane
Name: Sorbonne Age: 5yrs old. Weight: 66kg. Identifies as: Small lap dog Favourite Activity: Walks or pulling on her ragger Favourite Snack: Ham Naughtiest move: Jumping on the kitchen counter and taking a chunk out of the Christmas turkey Biggest Fear: Bicycles
Image credits: Mental_Experience_92
Being one of the world’s biggest dog breeds, Great Danes are truly mesmerizing and quite unique animals. One of the biggest factors that makes them stand out so much is their elegant appearance, as there are 10 officially recognized coat hues and/or patterns: black, black and white, blue, brindle, fawn, harlequin, mantle, merle, white, and silver.
And yet, despite their humongous size, these Gentle Giants are exactly as their nickname suggests—gentle. One of their best-known traits is their ignorance of their size; they almost always neglect the fact that they’re too big to be lap dogs.
#4 Feeling That Friday Energy ?
Image credits: thegreatbluedane
#5 Happy Friday! ?
Image credits: thegreatbluedane
#6 The Hardest Life
Image credits: Maisy1305
There are plenty of other ways in which these adorable dogs seem to reject the idea that they’re supposed to be elegant and intimidating. For example, Zeus who, back in 2022, received the Guinness World Record for being the world’s tallest living dog at just over 41 inches, was afraid of rain, which says a lot about his character.
Incidentally, the tallest dog ever recorded in human history is another Great Dane with the same name. Receiving his record way back in 2008, 155-pound Zeus measured 44 inches, reaching a whopping 7 feet 4 inches when standing on his hind legs. For reference, this would’ve made him as tall as Serbian basketball player Boban Marjanović, who can almost dunk without jumping.
#7 Does Anyone Else’s Dane Always Rest Their Head On Something As If It’s Too Heavy ?
Image credits: 0lly91
#8 Little Too Big For The Chair
Image credits: ckregness
#9 My Lips And I Are A Package Deal – Cute And Loveable ?
Image credits: charge_chase_bolt_bld
However, aside from their impressive size, Great Danes have plenty of other interesting facts. Descending from the Molossian dogs of Ancient Greece, they’re actually neither Greek nor Danish, despite what their name or origins might suggest. Instead, they come from Germany, and are even its national dog breed.
Or perhaps you’d like to know that Chinese writings dating as far back as 1121 B.C., as well as ancient Egyptian drawings, depicted dogs exactly like the Gentle Giants? And if you found that interesting, you might also like to know that in the Middle Ages, these mesmerizing dogs were thought to protect people from nightmares and ward off ghosts and evil spirits.
This last bit is actually part of the reason why Scooby-Doo himself is a Great Dane. Of course, arguably the more important part of the character’s creation was the fact that his creator, Iwao Takamoto, was inspired by a dog of the same breed and name—minus the ‘Doo’—that he owned at the time.
#10 I Just Want To Be In The Front Seat With Mom?
Image credits: nashthegreatt
#11 I Think I Have A “Petite” Girl. How Big Are Your Danes?
Hey guys! I would love to know how big (or small) your pups are! This is my goofy girl, Ivy?. She is 16 months old. At her last vet visit she only weighed 104lb, but her weight is perfect for her frame currently. I’m thinking she just might be on the “tiny” side. What do you guys think?
Image credits: usernameiswhocares
#12 The Only One In Our Family Still Enjoying The Stay At Home Order
Image credits: steinthallodge
Ultimately, if there ever were dogs that you could call the embodiment of the saying “Don’t judge the book by its cover,” it’s Great Danes. And that’s exactly what’s so great about them because it shows us that no detail beyond our control can ever define who we truly are. In the end, it’s all in our hands, and everything is up to us.
But hey, who knows? No one can say for sure that there aren’t any super serious and fearless Not-So-Gentle Giants out there, fighting nightmares and ghosts, protecting the world from evil spirits. After all, most myths and legends carry at least a grain of truth.
What did you think about these pictures? Have you had your fill or do you hunger for more? Share it all in the comments below!
#13 Topher’s 1st Birthday Is This Friday! Ten Weeks, Six Months, And Yesterday
Image credits: VoltronIsMyMaster
#14 After A Long Weekend Of Hiking And Rollerblading
Image credits: aspalmer87
#15 Great Dane Doing What Great Danes Do Best
Image credits: Discojeep
#16 The Reaction I Get When I Tell Him To Get Off The Chair
Image credits: MattBaster
#17 My Parents Great Dane Enjoys Sitting On The Island Chairs Like This
Image credits: Ivy_Maex
#18 Great Dane vs. Puppy
Image credits: Leanador
#19 My Great Dane, Jumping For A Tennis Ball
Image credits: albinobluesheep
#20 Hello! I’m Brewski And These Are My Cushions
Image credits: bigboy_brewski
#21 Our 9 1/2 Year Old Great Dane Pearl By The Fire Last Night…she Was Shivering So She Got A Blanket!
Image credits: SMcST1-jahbh
#22 My Friend Looked Out Her Window This Morning And Saw Her Great Dane In Great Thought Sitting At The Table!
Image credits: SayMyName2121
#23 Great Dane Puppy Sitting On Labrador’s Head
Image credits: K1ng_Leo
#24 Otis, My 8 Week Old Great Dane
Image credits: Diggy_and_Otis
#25 Oh Hey…. Didn’t See You There
Image credits: jamesonthedane
#26 Hiding After Being Fussed At
Image credits: wattzilla
#27 The World’s Gentlest Giant On Foster Duty
Image credits: corbin_fosters
#28 Ollivander Identifies As A Lap Dog. Side Note. He’s 6 Months Old ?
Image credits: itsmejwayne21
#29 Our Handsome 10 Year Old Great Dane
Image credits: Affectionate-Box-446
#30 He Won’t Stop Growing – Send Help
Image credits: cozyfuton
#31 It’s A Big Ass Great Dane In My Building .. And Every Morning Trinidad Give Him A Hug Like They Grew Up Together ?
Image credits: vettepassby35
#32 My Boy Sleeps In The Goofiest Positions
Image credits: nagarad
#33 Brother’s Great Dane Had My Dad’s Lil Man Straight Shook By His Mere Existence
Image credits: toadsintime
#34 Happy To Say I Got My New Quarantine Buddy Loki!
Image credits: Stroudamus
#35 He’s Big, But He Doesn’t Realize It. Every Morning At 5:30 He Runs Up From His Crate To Get A Few Snuggle Minutes In Before We Leave For Work
Image credits: hairgingernotplantginger
#36 Big Dog Meets Little Cat
Image credits: rowlandwiththehomies
#37 Little Pumpkin ? ?
Image credits: Ellathedoofydane
#38 A Lovely Pic Of Mine With My Mummy And My Sister Fleur. Hello To All My New Followers ???
Image credits: freddygreatdane
#39 “Draw Me Like One Of Your Great Danes”
Image credits: TwinkleSkeleton
#40 My Puppy, Hodor (Great Dane/Irish Wolfhound) And His New Friend Dewey At Puppy Preschool. Hodor Is 10 Weeks And Dewey Is 11 Weeks
Image credits: MrStealthMaestro
#41 I Seriously Cannot Even! Todays Daycare Photo Of My Girl Who Is Absolutely Smitten With George, The Great Dane! The Face Says It All
Image credits: pupsaurus
#42 I Photographed True Love Today ❤️
A 135lbs Great Dane and a 10lbs ginger kitty = true love!
Wish I was the proud owner of these two bffs, but these cuties belong to my older sister. I just get the honor of witnessing their heart melting cuddle sessions for the next few days. I hope they bring some smiles to you all, especially if you are finding yourself in need of some warmth.
Image credits: Freudian_Slip22
#43 Darla Ate My Daughter’s Two Slices Of Pizza While She Was In The Restroom ?
No regrets on Darla’s end lol. She’s a Pit Bull/Great Dane mix with some lab in there, confirmed by DNA. 1 year old ?
Image credits: ChallengeOk2114
#44 Happy Mother’s Day To All The Moms, Dog Moms And Moms At Heart. ?
Image credits: its.me.odin
#45 Meet Tucker???
Image credits: duke_thedane_
#46 Pop The Bottles Girls ? Weekend Is Coming! ?
Image credits: greatdane_ernesto
#47 Some Days Are All About Chasing Sticks In The Water ?
Image credits: greatdaneboomer
#48 “Tom. Get Off My Sofa!”
Image credits: i.am.a.scaredy.dog
#49 Life Is Not Easy, You Know ?
Image credits: YuhooNash
#50 A Happy High Four & Toothy Grin From Ellie To Start The Day
Image credits: maxandkatiethegreatdanes
#51 Dane Waiting For Food
Image credits: goddamnimtrash
#52 Taz
Image credits: Greg4260
#53 Happy Holi-Danes!
Image credits: Shredding_Airguitar
#54 My Great Dane Thinks He’s Small
Image credits: reddit.com
#55 Duke And Me Looking For People We Could Randomly Bark At
Image credits: koda_kilo
#56 Big Dogs Can Be Scared At The Vet Too!
Image credits: reddit.com
#57 Grandma And Great Grandson
Image credits: kpes
#58 Carl Is A 4 Month Old Great Dane And He Is Available For A Nose Boop If Your Friday Isn’t Going Great
Image credits: reddit.com
#59 Napping With A Great Dane
Image credits: fjbruzr
#60 Found Our Great Dane Sleeping Like This
Image credits: reddit.com
#61 Our Kitten Sitting Between Our Great Danes Paws
Image credits: ThePizzaManKnows
#62 First Time Our 3 Year Old Great Dane Met Our 2 Month Old Great Dane
Image credits: grifdog4
#63 My Blue Eyed Blue Great Dane Juno
Image credits: Stormin-Ex-Mormon
#64 Friday Boop ??
Image credits: hans_leo_thedanes
#65 Is The Dog Behind That Beautiful Horse?
Image credits: PuppiesIover
#66 What A Handsome Young Man! Happy Birthday Nash! ??❤️
Image credits: YuhooNash
#67 But Why????…
Image credits: 305danes
#68 That One Friend When You’re Trying To Take A Photo Together
Image credits: scooby_themastador
#69 Our Great Dane Puppy Has Tripled In Size (20 To 61 Lbs) In The 8 Weeks Since We Got Her, Making Her Baby Teeth Look Super Tiny And Far Apart
Image credits: StepfordMisfit
#70 Small Car Big Dog
Image credits: mnb1114
#71 Introducting The Great Dane To The Kitties
Image credits: rubix1138
#72 My Great Dane Watches Movies Like A Human And Thinks I’m The Weird One
Image credits: dogwoodblack
#73 Great Dane In A Small Bed. Her Great Dane Sized Bed Is Right There For Her. But No
Image credits: Rachie_Bean
#74 Babushka Dog Says Come Sit By Our Fire And Warm Your Bones
Had to run outside in a hurry because SOMEONE decided to wait until it was pouring to have to pee. She takes forever to dry off if she gets wet, but I couldn’t find her rain jacket in a hurry. I used a Velcro-fastening bath towel and her dearly departed (and much smaller) lab sister’s raincoat to protect her from the downpour.
Image credits: Sad-Cat8694
#75 Some Mornings, The Stairs Are Just Too Much Effort
Image credits: floydandhisblankie
#76 Not My Best Angle ?
Image credits: grea.tzeus.danes
