Greets from Germany. In Germany this breed is called "Deutsche Dogge" which is "German dog" translated back literally. The word 'dogge' means nothing in German but over the centuries the word dog developed into dogge. I read in anglo-saxon countries the first name was "German Boarhound" but was later changed into Great Dane because then they would sell better. Anyway, wonderful example ! As a child there were 2 of them on the other side of the road and I was always scared of them cos they were so tall and big, way bigger than I was back then :) and one was called Igor , a black-white chequered one, and the other was Fafnir, the name of the dragon of the oldest, most important German legend or saga :-D