Why were Great Danes commonly used to hunt boars?

Well, their size certainly helped. A Chihuahua could hardly tackle a boar. In spite of the name, the Great Dane breed originated not in Denmark but in Germany, where wild boars were plentiful. read more

Great Danes and Boar Hunting I was posted in Hanau from 1996-1999 in an MP Battalion and had to visit troops in Darmstadt, Bohmholder, Weisbaden, Wurtzburg, Friedberg, Geissen, Bosnia Herzegovia, Sarajevo, Camp McGovern, Camp Colt, Brycko, Sava River, North East Sector of Bosnia during the Bosnian Deployment. read more

~1) They are fast. Capable of running for long periods of time. Great Danes are used to TRACK wild boar. They are silent & are able to invade heavy underbrush because of their height and substantial strength. ~2) When a Dane is let loose to find the boar and it does, THAT dog then alerts the hunter. They *bay*. read more

Great Danes have naturally floppy, triangular ears. In the past, when Great Danes were commonly used to hunt boars, cropping of the ears was performed to make injuries to the dogs' ears less likely during hunts. read more