Posted by Administrator on March 21st, 2006 — Posted in Health Topics
Spring is here, which means the warm weather months will be upon us. For most Great Dane owners, we’re relieved. Our Great Danes can run loose in the yard while we air-out our homes from the long winter months. Hibernation is over and we can take our furry friends to the park, the beach, and on trips. But we want to have a safe summer! In order to do that, we should glance over a few tips and rules for the safety of our Great Danes. For most of you, these are just reminders. For new pet owners, these should be used as a guideline:
Traveling by Car
On very hot days in particular, try not to take long car rides with your Great Dane. While you’re behind the wheel, consider your Great Dane’s feelings. YOU may not be warm enough to have the air conditioning on. What if you were wearing a down jacket? Your Great Dane’s coat is just like a down jacket. Consider his comfort. Always provide plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Stopping at the Store ‘real quick’
Forget it. It doesn’t matter how quick it is. Do not leave your dog in the car while you’re shopping in the summer. It’s cruel. It’s inhumane. If someone wants to report you–they can, they will, and they should. You decided to take your Great Dane with you. If you plan to go shopping or window-browsing, leave your dog at home. While this may sound harsh, we’re very aware of the repercussions of leaving your dog in a locked car: death. On a hot summer day–your dog can succumb to fatality in less than five minutes in a hot car. Pease be responsible.
Poisonous Foliage
If you see mushrooms growing in your yard, remove them immediately. Your Great Dane can become seriously ill from eating them. Some plants and berries are hazardous to your Great Dane’s health as well. If you’re not sure which plants pose a threat, research the shrubs and plant-life in your yard to see if they’re pet-friendly.
Mowing Your Lawn
Some Great Danes may be petrified of your lawn mower, others may think of it as a game or a noisy thing they wish to attack. Regardless of how ‘funny‘ it is, accidents easily happen this way each summer. Your Great Dane should not be in the vicinity when you’re cutting grass. Most vital veins are located in your pet’s limbs. Should they get cut by your mower, they may die from their injury.
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 19th, 2006 — Posted in Health Topics
As new dog owners, we all have a million questions. After all, we want what is best for our Great Danes. From feeding to bathing, and sleeping arrangements: we need to find a healthy living pattern for our Great Dane puppies. The following Q&A is intended to provide you with some peace of mind:
Q: What kind of personality does the Great Dane have?
A: The Great Dane‘s personality is one of the main attributes that make this dog so appealing. Known as the “friendly giant“ amongst breeders and owners, this is a real “people-friendly” animal. They have an excellent temperament and love to cuddle and play. Of course their size may be intimidating to children and strangers. This is why it’s so important to scold your dog for jumping up on people. Never allow him, even in play, to jump up to get a treat from your hand, etc.
Q: Is a Great Dane too large for my home?
A: Prospective owners: this is a large dog! Sometimes these dogs are very unaware of their own size. If you want to keep your Great Dane off of your chairs and couches, you must train them this way from the very beginning. While it might seem cute to put a little puppy on your furniture, you’re developing a pattern. This dog will grow! Think about that while picturing your Great Dane taking up your entire loveseat for a snooze in six months. It’s also important to provide a yard, as this dog loves the outdoors. If you live in a tiny apartment without a yard, you may want to re-think your breed choice. Unless of course, you’re a high energy person that takes several long walks a day. In a tiny apartment, a Great Dane can be like a bull in a china shop. These dogs need room to play and frolic.
Q: Are Great Danes difficult to train?
A: Great Danes, like most dog breeds, need constant love, praise, and discipline. During the first year of your Great Dane’s life, he should receive discipline and boundary lessons. If you’re having trouble with discipline, enroll him in obedience classes. This usually works wonders for the dog who is very stubborn and pushy. Overall, your Great Dane should not be very difficult to train. Nevertheless, you should be prepared for the puppy stages which includes accidents and teething. What will you do to make your home puppy-friendly?
Q: Will my dog require massive grooming?
A: Fortunately, Great Danes require very minimal grooming, as they are short haired. Nevertheless, you should brush your dog regularly to remove dead hair from its coat. This will prevent your furniture from being covered in hair. Yes, the Great Dane sheds, like most dog breeds. At times it may seem like your dog is shedding heavier than usual. This is normal. Your dog will shed and grow its coat according to the season. Heavier coat for the winter weather and a lighter coat for the hot summer. If your dog is afraid of a brush, introduce it to a rubber grooming tool that looks like a glove. He’ll be happy to get petted. If the weather permits, do this outside! You’d be surprised by the amount of hair that will come off of your Great Dane.
Bathing: This isn’t a little dog that you can wash in a wash-basin. Hence, you can getaway with washing your dog approximately once per month. Or more often, depending on the circumstances. Want a pleasant smelling dog without dandruff? Try washing your Great Dane with ½ Murphy’s Oil Soap ½ water. It contains the correct ph for your pet too. If your dog’s coat is looking a little dull, add a few drops of coconut oil to add some shine.
Teeth: Introduce your Great Dane to a rubber brush from an early age. Otherwise, he will show fear and run. Brushing your Great Dane puppy’s teeth can be a dreadful task without the right tools. Nowadays they sell doggie toothpaste that comes in all sorts of appetizing flavors (beef, cheese, etc). This makes your task a little easier. NEVER use human toothpaste to brush your dog’s teeth. It can seriously injure their stomach lining. This is why they make DOG toothpaste, which your pet can swallow without being harmed.
Nails: It’s very important to keep your dog’s nails trimmed. In fact, it’s a necessity. Without proper clipping, your Great Dane’s nails can become infected and give him trouble walking. Yes, there are veins in your pet’s nails. If you’re worried about clipping nails too short–take him to the veterinarian or local dog-groomer. It will only cost a few bucks and your pet will be much happier.
Ears: Just like us, your Great Dane will get wax in his ears. Never use a Q-tip in a dog’s ear. Objects should never be stuck directly into the ear, as you can easily injure the ear drum. Instead, use a cotton ball to remove dirt and wax build-up. Do not get inventive and use other tools, most damage to the ear is irreparable.
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 9th, 2006 — Posted in Health Topics
Routine 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 care of your 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 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 will prevent matted hair and remove excess fur. It will also remove pet dander, preventing build-up on your dog’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 the 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 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 March 7th, 2006 — Posted in Dane Training / Behaviour
When you bring your great dane puppy home for the first time, a new section of both of your lives begin. Here are some tips to help you facilitate your work:
Try to be enthusiastic. Training puppies can be exhausting, but motivate yourself to be patient with your great dane puppy. Puppies are just like human babies! They’re very curious and they require a lot of attention. For the first few months your puppy will cry when it’s hungry, scared, cold, bored, or when it has to go to the bathroom. Never yell at your great dane puppy for crying, this will only frighten him/her and make him/her cry more.
Your Great Dane puppy has emotions just like you! When your great dane does something good (like urinate or make a bowel movement outside) praise him/her.
Giving your great dane puppy a treat is always nice. Nevertheless, a treat is a treat. It should be given as a reward when your puppy does something very special.
Be prepared for mischief! Just like the ‘pokey little puppy,’ your great dane puppy is interested in everything in your home. He/she may poke into things that are not to be touched. Don’t scream at your puppy. A simple, stern “no” will suffice. Don’t expect your puppy to know what the word “no” means within the first week. These things take time.
Your puppy will look to urinate after napping, playing, drinking, and getting excited. Take your great dane outdoors to do his/her ‘business’ as often as possible. This will prevent accidents from occurring in your household. It will also teach puppy to ‘go’ outside.
Designate eating and sleeping areas for your great dane. Do not switch these areas around, as it will only confuse the puppy. If you decide to crate train the puppy, never use the crate for punishment. This will only make your great dane fearful of the crate. If the crate is the puppy’s ‘bed,’ refer to it as his/her ‘bed.’ As the puppy gets older, phrases like “it’s time for bed,” will inform your great dane that he/she should go to their crate.
Try to set a schedule for feeding. If you feed your puppy at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 5PM on Monday, make sure you follow through with the routine schedule.
All work and no play makes for a sad great dane. While it is important to teach your great dane puppy to be obedient, you still need to provide lots of love and attention. Shower your great dane puppy with affection and he/she will never leave your side.
Article by Gale Renz.
Gale Renz is a great dane lover and professional qualified Great Dane Breeder and owner / founder of Dynamite Danes. You may publish this article only if you do not modify it in any way.
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