Great Dane Info
19 Aug 2008
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Great Dane Info Q&A
Before we get a Great Dane...?
I have some questions for Great Dane owners and people who know some things about the breed.
I ALWAYS loved them and wanted one. My boyfriend and I have a 1 year old brittany/border collie mix currently, and we're thinking about getting another dog. After much convincing, and seeing the dog we have now interact with one of the great Danes at the park we take him to (they love eachother) he agreed that he also would like a Great Dane.
What Im wondering is if anyone has any information I should know before getting one. I dont want to buy one and have surprises about behaviour and health. Things like if theyre prone to hip problems, chewing, things like that.
Yes, I know they're huge, but we own a house with a lot of room and a big yard, and I hear the need elevated dishes, is that true?
Any info would be great! I want to make sure I know everything about them before I make a decision.
Thanks!
Good for you for doing your research prior to getting a Dane. Many people do not, and quickly find a Dane does not fit their life style--and pocketbook. As pointed out, go to the Great Dane Club of America site at www.gdca.org and you can find out about health problems and such. Actually, while hip dysplasia is a concern, it's not as much as a problem in Danes as some other breeds. Common health problems are heart, wobblers, cancer and bloat.
To become acquainted with Danes, you should try to spend time with both reputable breeders and rescue folks alike. In fact, volunteering to foster for a established rescue will let you geet "up close and personal" before taking the leap and getting a Dane.
If you choose to purchase, I cannot stress enough sticking only to reputable breeders. While the cost of a puppy may be more, you will save in the long run. Don't "price shop" unless you know what you are doing: Many people simply ask the price and don't find out what is--or isn't--included. As an analogy, you can get a blouse at K Mart or Nordstroms. Both are blouses, but there is a big difference in quality, workmanship and what happens after the sale if there is a problem. Purchasing from an experienced breeder will give you the support and help you need as a first-time Dane owner.
Below are suggested guidelines from Dane Outreach on what a reputable breeder is.
DANE OUTREACH’S MINIMUM RECOMMENDATIONS ON BEING A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER
Dane Outreach believes that wonderful pets can be found by adopting one of its rescued Great Danes. However, if a younger Dane (or a “show dog”) is desired, and a purchase from a breeder is considered, Dane Outreach offers the following considerations when deciding where to purchase:
The Parents Should Be:
· On full (not “limited”) registration with the American Kennel Club. It is only through AKC registration that detailed parentage can be traced for many generations. Pedigree information includes color (http://www.gdca.org/colorcode.htm), health certifications and titles of ancestors. Pedigree information becomes a valuable working tool in a responsible breeding program. Information on the AKC (a nonprofit organization) can be found at www.akc.org. The “Canadian Kennel Club” (CKC) is the AKC equivalent in Canada. [NOTE: The CKC should not be confused with a new, for-profit registry business headquartered in Louisiana called the “Continental Kennel Club” which uses the same “CKC” initials. Continental is a commercial registry which does not offer conformation shows, health certification tracking, or other similar breeding benefits that the AKC offers.]
·Health testing as recommended by the Great Dane Club of America. Health testing both potential parents is a very important step in helping to produce healthy, disease-free puppies. Health testing includes OFA hips, OFA cardiac, OFA thyroid (see www.offa.org) and eye CERF (see http://www.vmdb.org/cerf.html). See additional information on Great Dane health at http://www.gdca.org/healthandwelfare.htm.
·Sound of body and mind. It is important that parents have an outstanding Dane temperament. Shy or aggressive dogs should never be bred, as temperament is hereditary. Nor should parents possess undesirable physical traits, as those could also be passed on to the detriment of the puppies. Doubling up on unsound traits can produce puppies with severe physical defects. See the Great Dane standard at: http://www.gdca.org/standard.htm
·Of proper age and condition. The minimum proper age for breeding is to be two years of age, when the dog is physically mature and also is old enough to receive the appropriate health certifications.
The Puppies Should Be:
·Raised in the house in clean, warm surroundings. Puppies raised in clean surroundings are healthier and easier to housebreak.
·Handled and socialized correctly from time of birth. Proper socialization is critical to the mental well-being of the puppies. For more information, read “How To Raise A Puppy You Can Live With” by Rutherford and Neil, Alpine Publishing. For further information on social development, see
http://www.nwk9.com/dehasse_pupdev.htm.
·Remain with their litter until at least seven weeks of age. This is very important for learning proper canine interaction.
·Be vaccinated, wormed, and veterinarian health-checked prior to sale.
·If sold as “pets” placed only into loving, responsible homes on non-breeding (spay and neuter) contracts.
·If sold as “show quality”: Be from AKC or Canadian Champion parents. Puppies advertised as “from Champion lines” usually means puppies with one or two Champions somewhere back in the pedigree and are very rarely show quality themselves. “Show” puppies should also be: From a breeder who has actively exhibited successfully at AKC shows; produced several Danes who have completed the requirements for their AKC Championship; evaluated for show potential by a recognized show breeder, handler or long-time exhibitor prior to sale; and placed in a loving, responsible home on a contract requiring either limited, responsible breeding, or no breeding, as appropriate.
The Breeder Should:
·Be prepared to be responsible in all aspect of the breeding and rearing of puppies. See http://www.akc.org/breeders/resp_breeding/index.cfm.
·Screen prospective owners, (ideally through a written application, reference/vet check, and a visit to the home), to be sure they are an appropriate home for a Great Dane, and that they are fully aware of what Great Dane ownership entails.
·Be able to accurately tell the new owner how to care for their puppy.
·Require the owner to attend a puppy kindergarten class. See information on puppy classes at: http://www.clickertraining.com/training/dogs/index.htm?loaditem=0607_school_for_puppies and
http://www.raisingspot.com/training/why_dog_obedience_training.php
·Provide a written sales contract/bill of sale.
·Provide documentation of AKC registration, four-generation pedigree, and health certifications (which should include numbers which can be verified through www.offa.org.)
·Be willing and able to answer questions at the time of sale and throughout the lifetime of the dog, including mentoring owners through showing and breeding if a show puppy becomes appropriate for breeding.
·Be willing to take any dog of their breeding back, during the lifetime of that dog, if the purchaser cannot keep it.
The Purchaser Should:
·Exhibit accurate understanding, knowledge, and expectations of the breed, whether through experience or research.
·Be provided with written feeding instructions appropriate for a Great Dane puppy.
·Be provided with housebreaking and crate training information. See http://www.raisingspot.com/intro_crate_training.php for information on crate training.
·Be provided with written vet records and care information.
·Agree, through signing the contract, to spay/neuter non-show puppies (and show dogs if the health, conformation and show career does not support breeding or, if breeding is appropriate, agree to breed show dogs responsibly), and to provide appropriate care and training for the dog through its lifetime.
Great Dane Info Videos
Great Dane babysits abused Chihuahua Puppy
Great Dane Info Q&A
Great Dane facts and information ....?
I was wondering if anyone here has a male Great Dane, if so can you tell me about the existence of the personality, the height they are and how heavy they are? Also, if not out of the belt run or often wander away? Are they good with children? How often should I give them exercise and for how long? Also how often should I give them food and water and what to feed them, do not know Dog Chow. There is also a size difference between the colors, as I have heard that the Harlequins are higher than I've heard, the only difference is the color that still come about the same size. I was looking for a black man color Dane (Breeders say that is Coloring Boston) I was wondering if there is the same size as the average Dane would or larger or smaller, they also have the same features. Also any More information about this beautiful breed of giants would be nice .... Thanks in advance ....
You really have a lot of questions. The best advice I can give you is to search for the "Great Dane Club of America," assuming they are in the U.S.. Find a breeder near you. Most breeders will be more than happy to discuss all of this information with you. It may be better than just getting a bunch of random tips in a forum. well-meaning may have had success with certain practices, but that can not be better for your dog. I can not stress enough the importance of going to a very reputable breeder! Great Danish suffer from many health problems. Reputable breeders do all sorts of tests for their livestock before producing puppies. My aunt has had five Danish all rescued, and the oldest lived to be 5. That does not mean that a rescue dog is bad, just shows how careless breeders are producing healthy dogs. Good luck!
Great Dane Info Q&A
Great Dane facts and information ....?
I was wondering if anyone here has a male Great Dane, if so can you tell me about the existence of the personality, the height they are and how heavy they are? Also, if not out of the belt run or often wander away? Are they good with children? How often should I give them exercise and for how long? Also how often should I give them food and water and what to feed them, do not know Dog Chow. There is also a size difference between the colors, as I have heard that the Harlequins are higher than I've heard, the only difference is the color that still come about the same size. I was looking for a black man color Dane (Breeders say that is Coloring Boston) I was wondering if there is the same size as the average Dane would or larger or smaller, they also have the same features. Also any More information about this beautiful breed of giants would be nice .... Thanks in advance ....
You really have a lot of questions. The best advice I can give you is to search for the "Great Dane Club of America," assuming they are in the U.S.. Find a breeder near you. Most breeders will be more than happy to discuss all of this information with you. It may be better than just getting a bunch of random tips in a forum. well-meaning may have had success with certain practices, but that can not be better for your dog. I can not stress enough the importance of going to a very reputable breeder! Great Danish suffer from many health problems. Reputable breeders do all sorts of tests for their livestock before producing puppies. My aunt has had five Danish all rescued, and the oldest lived to be 5. That does not mean that a rescue dog is bad, just shows how careless breeders are producing healthy dogs. Good luck!
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