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 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 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 March 29th, 2006 — Posted in Great Dane Breeding Information
Have you ever wondered why over 30% of dogs in shelters are purebreds? Most animal behavior specialists and animal advocates blame puppy bills and commercialized breeders for this negligence. In order to become a responsible Great Dane breeder, there are certain responsibilities that you must accept. These responsibilities will protect your Great Danes and his/her puppies, as well as identify you as a reputable breeder.
Excellent Great Dane Dog Breeders DO :
Carefully screen each person and their household who wish to purchase a puppy.
Advise and suggest different methods of caring for the Great Dane puppy in every aspect, including: diet, exercise, documentation of lineage, health, knowledge of genetics, any history of illness (genetic or non-genetic).
Not sell their Great Dane puppies in a pet shop or pet-auction
Do not sell multiple breeds of dogs. If you are a Great Dane breeder, stick to Great Danes.
Involve themselves in the showing of purebred Great Danes and are very knowledgeable about the breed.
Keep the puppies as house pets until they are ready for their homes. This ensures that your Great Dane’s offspring will make wonderful pets too.
Test dogs for all diseases and proper examination prior to breeding, such as: Brucellosis, CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation), OFA (Hip X-Ray Certification), PENN-HIP (hip-joint laxity).
Provide full, lifetime guarantees covering genetic disease and temperament problems. This should be a written contract.
Agree to take the Great Dane back at any point of his life for whatever reason, should the new owner not wish to keep it.
Place the Great Dane with the new family ONLY if the new owners agree to spay/neuter.
Only breed Great Danes over the age of two years old.
Hold the value of your dog’s (and its puppies) health to highest esteem.
De-worm and vaccinate your Great Dane puppies prior to placing them.
Excellent Great Dane Dog Breeders NEVER:
Take a great Dane pup from it’s mother prior to eight weeks of age.
Breed puppies in a puppy-mill atmosphere.
Sell their Great Dane puppies to the local pet shop.
Hide or withdraw information on genetic diseases or the Great Dane’s lineage.
Keep their puppies in inhumane conditions, such as an outdoor shed or a room covered in feces.
Put unnecessary stress on their puppies, such as transporting them to different locations outside of their home.
Pick a Great Dane at random to breed their bitch with
Allow their bitches to breed every year
Decline on accepting their puppies back, should the new owner not be able to care for them
Breed their Great Dane prior to two years of age
Let their Great Dane run the neighborhood
Sell faux purebred Great Danes (which are crossed with God knows what)
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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