Daniff

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115-125 lbs
23-28"
United States
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Great Dane
Mastiff
Mastidane, Great Daniff, English Daniff

The Daniff is a mixture of the Great Dane and Mastiff parent breeds. He is a giant-sized dog; however, he is a very gentle giant. He is generally a low maintenance dog who sheds very little. His coat will be soft and shiny. He may be slow to train, but he is intelligent and learns well. Persistence pays off with the Daniff! Although he is very large, he is not sedentary and requires a good bit of exercise to stay in good shape. He is wonderful with children and highly affectionate with his family.  Often, his size is enough to intimidate would-be burglars.
Purpose
Companion, watchdog
Date of Origin
Unknown
Ancestry
Great Dane and Mastiff

Daniff Health

Average Size
Male Daniff size stats
Height: 30-35 inches Weight: 115-150 lbs
Female Daniff size stats
Height: 23-28 inches Weight: 115-125 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Bloat
  • Cancer
Minor Concerns
  • None
Occasional Diagnoses
  • None
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • CT Scan
  • Physical Examination
  • Blood Work
  • Lab Tests

Daniff Breed History

The Great Dane was originally known as the Boar Hound. A fearsome hunter, he can trace his origins back to a large dog found in Tibet. History says the Assyrians traded the giant canines to Greeks and Romans, who then bred them with other dogs. Some believe that Mastiffs or Irish Wolfhounds are related. Once their hunting days were over, they were then kept as companions. Further name changes were to English Dogge and then Kammerhunde (German for chamber hound), and as well, the Grand Danois, the final name to be used. The Great Dane was once more of an aggressive type dog but once he became a companion as opposed to a hunter, breeders developed a calmer personality. He was registered in the American Kennel Club in the Working Group in 1887. The Mastiff is a descendent of the molosser which is believed to originate in the mountains of Asia. Mastiffs are depicted in ancient Greek and Egyptian artwork. The Mastiff has been a herding dog and was also used during warfare by Kubla Khan. Unfortunately, the Mastiff has also been used as a fighting dog against foe such as the lion and gladiators. However, the Mastiff  of today is quite gentle and still has his protective nature. He is a member of the American Kennel Club, also in the Working Group, and was registered in 1885. This makes the Daniff a great companion, watchdog, and all-around family dog.

Daniff Breed Appearance

The Great Dane has a smooth, short coat. He may come in a variety of six colors: fawn with a black mask, brindle, blue, black, harlequin (white with irregular patches all over the body), and mantle (black and white with a solid black blanket over the body). The Mastiff on the other hand, has a short, straight fawn or apricot outer coat, often with black markings. The Mastiff has an undercoat that is short and dense. While the Daniff resembles a Great Dane very much, he is rounder and thicker due to the Mastiff parent breed. He will be muscular, with a large head and floppy ears. He will likely have the characteristic folds of the Mastiff face and maybe even the jowls, but not so deep. His gait will be agile, though not quite as elegant as the Great Dane's.
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Daniff eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Daniff nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
fawn Daniff coat
Fawn
black Daniff coat
Black
brindle Daniff coat
Brindle
blue Daniff coat
Blue
white Daniff coat
White
Coat Length
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
Daniff straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Daniff Breed Maintenance

The smooth coat of your Daniff can be managed easily with a weekly brushing using a pin brush. When shedding season arrives, more than weekly will be the rule. If your Daniff puppy inherits the Mastiff wrinkles, you will need to clean the wrinkles daily to prevent bacterial infections. To clean, use a damp washcloth to wipe between the wrinkles. Be sure not to leave the area moist as this could promote bacterial growth. The teeth of this massive dog are big but need to be cleaned just as carefully as the tiny, crowded teeth of a small breed. Tartar accumulation occurs with any breed of dog so brush at least two or three times a week. Get your Daniff used to all of the grooming expectations when he is a puppy; this will make it easier for when he is big and heavy.   
Brushes for Daniff
Slicker Brush
Comb
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
Daniff requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Daniff Temperament

It might be a good idea to enroll your Daniff in obedience classes or a puppy kindergarten class. Working with a Daniff will require patience, firmness, consistency, and loving correction. Your Daniff will benefit from obedience classes from day one so that he can learn to grow with confidence and to trust those around him. Remember, the Mastiff has guardian genes and the Great Dane has inherited the traits of a hunter, so having a large breed that listens well is important. Your Daniff will get along with other animals but socialization when he is young in the form of puppy classes and trips to the park will be best. Consistency is key. Allow your Daniff the chance to learn how to interact at every opportunity, he will thank you for it as a well behaved, all around happy dog.

Daniff Activity Requirements

The Daniff is a fairly active dog. It is recommended that he gets ample exercise to ensure that he maintains a healthy weight. He may have a tendency to gain weight if he is not exposed to regular activity. He will do better in a home with a large yard that he can be allowed to run and play in. He may also enjoy joining you for a leisurely walk of one or two miles. The dog park is a great place for the Daniff; he will enjoy the ability to get out and run and play with other dogs. He needs regular exercise so that he does not chew or bark excessively. However, remember that your Daniff will want to be inside with you at night. Never leave him outdoors all the time.
Activity Level
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Daniff

Similarly Sized Breeds to Daniff

Daniff Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $1.90
Monthly Cost
$39.00 - $52.00

Daniff Owner Experiences

Lola
3 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Going for long walks
She's a great dog! Very intelligent and loves people!
14 minutes ago
Mack
11 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Was a very big baby. He would grab people by the arm gentle with his head to make you pet him and say hello. Loved to lay on laps. Would give a small bark when it was time for bed. Loved his toys and never ripped them up. Trained very easy and fast. B est dog ever.
2 weeks, 5 days ago
Doze
3 Years
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is an extremely loveable and cuddly dog who tends to forget that he is a giant but is also very gentle and calm. He can read the atmosphere very well in any situation and is a natural diffuser to anyone even complete strangers! He's always been easy to train and is constantly learning new tricks and cues. His emotions and attitude are very easy to read as he wears his heart on his sleeve. He understands commands in two languages so far and tries to talk to you, but I haven't learned dog ramble yet. On long work days he can be left at home, indoors, alone for up to 8 hours and still be perfectly content and the house be intact. Patience, lots of training and teaching communication as well as inclusion in the family really pay off in having a very sweet, smart, and loyal furry family member and protector.
2 weeks, 5 days ago
Diesel
5 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Diesel, aka Big D, has spurts of energy but then becomes a spri g couch potato. He love to be touching you and he thinks he is a lap dog. He barks at strangers then runs and hides behind us. He especially loves his 9 year old human girl. He gets nervous if she gets out of his site. We love him to pieces.
3 months ago
Mouse
1 Year
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She’s protective and loyal. Loves a peanut butter treats
5 months, 3 weeks ago
Clyde
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Is by far the smartest and the most loveable dog ever
6 months, 2 weeks ago
Crow
3 Years
6 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug
Walk
Fetch
Crow has been an excellent family dog from the very beginning! He is very well mannered, very well trained, wonderful with our four children and guests in our home! Everyone loves him! He is especially a big couch potato but loves being involved in all family activities and knowing where our children are at all times. He can be protective but has never been aggressive and is wonderful with all types of animals! We lived on a farm previously where he co existed with, goats, chickens, cows, cats, rabbits, and other dogs with no problems! My family highly recommends this breed! We love him very much!
9 months, 4 weeks ago
Nigel
9 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Dog Parks
Nigel is a whimsical little boy at times. At times he becomes stubborn as he feels he should be able to ignore my call as of late. Prior to this adolescence stage he was very clingy and literally never left my side. I live on 3 acres and I seldom use a leash with him. He is becoming protective, barking when the doorbell rings, staring down any stranger he meets on our walks. He is fully house trained, I bell-trained him to ring an attached set of jingle bells when he needs to potty. He is bright, funny, smart and a great friend and family member.
10 months ago
Miss Crown Victoria (Tori)
7 Weeks
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Running
Tug-of-war
Fetch
Road trip
This is our 1st Daniff
10 months, 2 weeks ago
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