Posted by Administrator on April 6th, 2006 — Posted in Great Dane Breeding Information
Great Dane Puppies need plenty of exercise
In order to remain healthy, your Great Dane puppy will need a lot of time to run and play. You need to provide this “play time,” as it will promote strength and physique. Nevertheless, it’s one thing to tire your puppy out — but you should never over-work your Great Dane. Without exercise, your Great Dane (like any other dog breed) can become bored and destructive.
Just like people, Great Danes need socialization too!
You should introduce your Great Danes to people, so they do not become hostile to strangers when they are adults. By introducing them to friends and family, you’re inadvertently teaching them to look for “strange people.” Great Danes are very perceptive, they can recognize the difference between a family friend and someone looking to do harm. Should you choose not to introduce your Great Dane to people, he may become fearful and angry and start biting in defense.
Small Children and the Elderly
Sometimes these gentle giants do not realize their own size! When Great Danes are puppies, they may bop up and down all over the place — knocking things over here and there. They don’t mean it! They’re just really excited to see you. But if you have a toddler or elderly person living with you, this may not be the ideal breed for you at this time. Your gentle giant may knock someone over, then cover them with kisses.
Aggression
Although Great Danes have wonderful temperaments, they may exhibit jealousy if another animal is brought into your home. It’s always a wonderful idea to have your Great Dane as the newest member of the household. It’s important to note, that like all dogs, your Great Dane may not like dogs of the same sex
Shedding
Although Great Danes are short haired dogs, you must accept the fact that your Great Dane will shed. Most shedding occurs right before Fall and Spring when they shed and grow their coats.
Slobber
For most Great Dane owners, this is not a real concern. Nevertheless, a prospective Great Dane owner should be aware that these dogs do indeed slobber. Most slobbering occurs after your Great Dane drinks water and shakes his head. Some dogs of this breed have looser jowls than others, causing more or less drool.
Liabilities
If you live in an area that requires you to have a dog license, make sure you can actually have a Great Dane. Unfortunately, many areas ban residents from having large dogs. In several communities, Great Danes have made that list of ‘menacing dogs‘. Regardless of how friendly your Great Dane is, rules are rules.
Article by Gale Renz.
Gale Renz is a great dane lover and professional qualified Great Dane Breeder and owner / founder of Dynamite Great Danes. You may publish this article only if you do not modify it in any way.
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Posted by Administrator on April 12th, 2006 — Posted in Health Topics
Routine dog grooming is just as important for your Great Dane as it is for you. Cleansing of your Great Dane will improve their overall appearance, prevent disease and infection, and contribute to their overall mental and physical well-being. Our Great Danes become members of our family, and like any member of our family - we must love them and care for them. The following tips are to be used as a guideline to ensure proper health of your Great Dane:
Bathing
Unlike humans, who shower on a daily basis, your Great Dane should be bathed on a “as needed” basis. The frequency of bathing varies depending on the individual pet. Naturally, you’ll want to wash your Great Dane when his appearance is unkempt or when he starts to give off an odor. In the colder months, never wash your Great Dane and let him go outside afterwards. Make sure that he is completely dry first, as this will prevent him from getting sick. NEVER use shampoo intended for human use. Dog shampoos are specially formulated for your Great Dane’s skin, which is very sensitive. Human shampoos can cause excessive drying and skin irritations. Take precautions when washing your Great Dane to make sure shampoo doesn’t get in their eyes.
Brushing
You should introduce a dog brush to your Great Dane when he is a puppy. Let him get comfortable with brushing early and he’ll look forward to it as he matures. Brushing your Great Dane will prevent matted hair and remove excess fur. It will also remove pet dander, preventing build-up on your Great Dane’s skin and coat.
Ears
Examine your pets ears regularly for dirt and wax. Use a soft cotton ball on the ear. Never lodge the cotton ball into the ear. NEVER stick a Q-tip in your Great Danes ear. The cotton applicator can damage his ear drum to an irreparable state. If you’re unsure how to clean your pet’s ears, ask your veterinarian to demonstrate for you.
Nails
It’s very important to keep your Great Dane’s nails trimmed. Remember, there are veins in your Great Dane’s nails. If you’ve never clipped a dog’s nails before, take him to a groomer. When you feel more comfortable you can purchase clippers and do it from the comfort of your own home. Failure to keep your Great Dane’s nails clipped can result in painful in-grown nails. Prevent your Great Dane from experiencing such pain and/or infection by keeping up with their nails.
Article by Gale Renz.
Gale Renz is a great dane lover and professional qualified Great Dane Breeder and owner / founder of Dynamite Great Danes. You may publish this article only if you do not modify it in any way.
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Posted by Administrator on April 12th, 2006 — Posted in Health Topics
Here you have this Great Dane puppy, that will turn into a very large dog. If you plan on crate-training your Great Dane, puppy-hood is the time to do it. If you coddle him now and encourage him to sleep in your Queen-size bed, he’ll do it forever. Right between you and your spouse!
One of the most important things to emphasize about crate training your Great Dane:
* The crate is an instrument for training, not for punishment. Otherwise, your Great Dane will fear the crate.
While some Great Dane owners may find crate training unsuitable in their home, others find the crate to be a God-send. Whatever your feelings on crating may be, crate training is not inhumane. It’s intended to protect your pet from harm while you’re away. Great Dane puppies are very curious, they may get into things when you’re not around, such as: chewing wires, walls, furniture, carpet, glass, etc. BY crating your Great Dane, you are protecting them and protecting your property. Even a mature Great Dane (who you think it completely trained) may have feelings of anger or loneliness — and will then take them out on your home furnishing. Crating is a responsible decision on an owner’s part.
As time progresses, you will learn a lot about your pet. You may feel that you do not need to employ the crate on a daily basis. Nevertheless, there may be some occasions when crating is a necessity. Here’s such an example:
A couple finds that their Great Dane becomes very destructive each Wednesday. Every other day of the week the dog is fine, but he goes bonkers on Wednesday! “What’s wrong with this dog?” After being off from work on a Wednesday, the husband starts noticing irritability and excitement from the dog without explanation. By 9:10 AM, the Great Dane (who is usually docile) leaps up onto their couch barking! Moments later, the garbage man arrives to take their garbage. The dog sensed this. There was nothing the couple could do to alleviate the Great Dane’s anxiety, instead they crated him each Wednesday.
A crate is also a very reliable tool for napping. After a while, (with the right training) your Great Dane can and will associate the word “bed” with his crate. The command “it’s time for bed” will let your Great Dane know that you’re going to sleep and he should too. Uncrate your dog in the morning to relieve himself outside. Let him play with your children and ‘hang out’ with you before you go to work. NEVER leave your Great Dane crated all hours. He will become depressed, angry, and lack out on crucial social skills. The crate is NOT meant to be lived in.
Article by Gale Renz.
Gale Renz is a great dane lover and professional qualified Great Dane Breeder and owner / founder of Dynamite Great Danes. You may publish this article only if you do not modify it in any way.
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Posted by Administrator on April 12th, 2006 — Posted in Great Dane Breeding Information
When a great dane owner purchases their dog from a source other than a professional breeder, they have to consider whether or not to crop the ears of their great dane. Of course, this is because the breeder did not take the liability to do it before the great dane was sold.
While some certified breeders allow their Great Danes ears’ go uncropped, they educate the owners about suitable care of a natural ear. They may sell a great dane puppy with a natural-eared appearance for ethical reasons.
Will cropping hurt your great dane? There’s no reason to glamorize this procedure. Yes, cropping is painful. There are no true benefits other than the “look” of cropped ears. Remember, cropped ears DO NOT make a great dane. A great dane is a ’gentle giant’ with a stunning personality. It’s the temperament of the great dane that makes it such a spectacular breed.
If you’re a new dog owner and you’re not sure that you have a reliable veterinarian available to crop ears — don’t do it. Never make a decision based on the cost of cropping alone. Ask your vet to see actual photographs of cropping they have done in the past. Also ask them to describe the cropping and taping process to you before you make a definite decision. Natural dog ears are just that, natural! That’s the way your Great Dane was intended to look.
Should you decide to crop, aftercare is a very important aspect to your dogs comfort and overall dog health. It’s important to keep bandages clean and dry in order to prevent infection. Should your dog show any signs of excessive itching or infection, call the veterinarian immediately and describe your Great Dane’s symptoms.
Article by Gale Renz.
Gale Renz is a great dane lover and professional qualified Great Dane Breeder and owner / founder of Dynamite Great Danes. You may publish this article only if you do not modify it in any way.
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Posted by Administrator on April 30th, 2006 — Posted in Dane Training / Behaviour
Having a Great Dane as a member of your family can be one of the most rewarding experiences. If you’re fortunate enough to have children, a Great Dane can make an excellent addition to your family. A Great Dane would make the best companion to children above the age of five years old. Although Great Danes are commonly referred to as “Gentle Giants,” they’re easily excitable in their early years. This excitement can easily lead to accidents, as the Great Dane doesn’t realize his own size! He may very well knock a small child down while “playing.” Perhaps this is why we stress the Great Dane as a companion for children who are no longer in the toddler stages.
Introducing a new baby to your Great Dane is not as difficult as it may seem. Before your baby comes home from the hospital, bring a blanket home with the baby’s scent on it. This way, your Great Dane can become familiar with the baby’s scent. If your Great Dane has always been “your baby,” it’s important to shower him with affection so he is not jealous of the new baby. Once a dog feels jealous, he may be provoked to nip or act unlike himself. Like all dog breed, the Great Dane can act out in anger or fear.
Older children, such as young teens, make the best companions for Great Danes. Like the Great Dane, young teens are very active. The bond that your Great Dane can share with your young teen is phenomenal. Both child and dog can run freely in the yard, take long walks, play fetch, and give and receive affection after a long day. Once your dog develops a bond of trust with your child, the Great Dane will also provide great protection. These dogs are very loyal and protective of their owners. This too makes them very favorable in large families and single-parent homes.
Perhaps children adore the Great Dane because of it’s excellent temperament. This is a dog that can withstand a lot of aggravation before it’s provoked to snap at someone. Typically, the Great Dane will withdraw and/or growl to warn that he has ‘had enough.’ Despite this, most Great Danes are very rational and will not bite their owners or their children. You should always use caution when leaving any large dog and a small child unattended. The child may unintentionally hurt the dog, causing the dog to react in defense.
Article by Gale Renz.
Gale Renz is a great dane lover and professional qualified Great Dane Breeder and owner / founder of Dynamite Great Danes. You may publish this article only if you do not modify it in any way.
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