BBGDR's Great Danes Require:
Soft beds that support the fragile structures of their large bodies. We recommend one for each area of the home you spend large amounts of time in, if you don't mind moving it from room to room you can provide one for each floor of the home. Another great bedding option is a crib matress with a plush dog bed on top or a toddler bed. Cushion is very important. They also make dane size cots which are a great way to keep the danes bones from making contact with the floor.
BBGDR adopts to Indoor Homes only. The coat on the Great Dane is not substantial enough to protect them from exposure to the elements.
We require elevated feeders. On an adult dane measure the height of the shoulders and the feeder should be around that level. You can custom make them or order them. We find the easiest and most cost effective way is to measure a large rubbermaid storage container and place the bowls on top while storing your high quality dog food inside. Five gallon buckets turned upside down work as well.
Your dane must stay on high quality dog food that is good for danes. We do not go for the name of the dog food but rather the ingredients in it. Use the Dog Food Test to decide if your food is good enough, we only allow A's and higher. For Feeding Schedules info please see below.
You must have a vet that is comfortable with giant breed dogs and is Great Dane savvy. If you have questions we will do our best to network with other dane owners and find the best in your area.
Network with a Great Dane friendly trainer and inform them that you have just brought home a new rescued Great Dane so that they can be there to support you and your new family member along the way.
When you first have your new dog at home give them some time to settle and adjust to what is now going to be their forever home. Do not take them to all of your friends homes or have a bunch of people that do not reside in your household come over. Allow them time to adjust and know that they are loved by their new family and who their new family is.
In the extreme heat or cold your dane should not be out longer than 15 minutes without you by his/her side playing or exercising.
Your Great Dane should not be allowed off leash unless in a secure fenced in enviroment such as a dog park or a completely fenced in yard.
Human and animal contact is an excellent idea to keep your dog socialized. Please do so as often as possible unless your BBGDR representative has advised you against it. If a problem arises feel free to contact BBGDR, and your Great Dane friendly trainer. Small problems can turn into Dane sized problems so please address it ASAP. There is no such thing as a stupid question and we will always be here for you.
YOUR NEW DANE MUST WEAR ID at all times!
We do not allow underground fence.
We do not allow our dogs to be chained for any reason.
Some items you may want to consider for your dane:
Dishes: When purchasing dishes remember that you want a bowl that is either going to fit in your elevated feeder or not be easy to slide off the top of the rubbermaid storage container. They should be large enough to hold enough food and water. A dog should consume 3 ounces of water for every five pounds of body weight under average conditions. Exercise and warm temperatures will require more water. Dogs drink a lot of water not only because they need it for normal body functioning, but also to create moist nasal mucous to help them with their keen sense of smell.
A rubber brush for brushing and bathing. A smooth coat like the Great Dane's is the easiest to care for. Use a rubber brush twice a week, stroking against the lie of the fur, to remove debris, dirt, and any loose hair. Afterwards, use a chamois cloth, stroking with the lie of the coat, to bring out the natural shine.
Grooming your dog is important, not just to keep him/her clean, but also as a natural way for you to reinforce your leadership. Picking up your dog, holding him/her still, gently brushing- all of these are dominance gestures. You do not want this to be a tramatic experience or your dog will put up a battle the next time you attempt to bath them.
Where you are going to do the bathing? Do you want to do so in your home or take your dog to a bathing facility. High Quality Shampoo and Conditioner should be used at least 6 weeks apart. Keep in mind when choosing a groomer, go to one that is kind and gentle and does not mind you sitting in to watch what is going on.
Nail Trimmer: Nails should be trimmed regularly to avoid problems. If not kept up the nails grown long and painfully break or worse cause the animal to walk on the back of his/her foot causing walking and bone/joint problems. If you doo not feel comfortable trimming your dogs nails DON'T until you are properly instructed and feel comfortable with it. If you miss and clip the quick your dog will not forget and nail trimming will become more difficult. We reccommend a nail trimmer that looks like a scissors with two blades so the nail does not break and tear but is cut clean or a dremmel tool used to rapidly file down the nail. However staying in one place too long with the dremmel can cause high painful heat. If you have questions feel free to ask a BBGDR representative and we will direct you to the best place.
If the Great Dane you are considering is not the best on leash a head halter/gentle leader is a good option. We do not allow choke collars or pinch collars without written intent from your trainer and written permission from BBGDR. The head halter is based on an equine head harness. A horse is too large and strong to be controlled by a collar, horse-handlers figured out long ago that if you can control the head the body will follow. The haed halter follows those same principals. The head halter also applies similar pressure as a mother dog does when she wants a pup's attention. Head halters should not be used on a growing dane and should never be used to apply harsh correction. Doing so could possibly damage key elements in the spine and neck causing wobblers syndrome. A head halter should always be applied properly. I encourage my adopters to purchase one with an included DVD the first time and to watch the entire thing before attempting the use of the head halter. The downfall with a head halter is un-familiar people might confuse them with a muzzle thinking your good natured dog is "mean." The head halter will take some time to get used to but a few mins on each walk and a treat distraction helps the process along. If you have any more questions about your dane (the horse of the dog world) and the use of a head halter please feel free to contact us.
If you plan on boating with your dane make sure you obtain a canine life jacket sized for a dane. Although dogs are good swimmers danes have a harder time and there may be turbulant water and currents that could take your dogs life.
If your Dane has white on his/her face make sure that before exposure to direct sunlight that you apply a good sunblock (waterproof is best near mouths and noses) to any area that will be exposed to the sun. We use waterbabies. Be careful not to get in his/her eyes.
"Before you decide, try considering this. For every puppy that you will find available, there may be 5-10 adult, rejected Great Danes languishing in animal shelters, waiting to be rescued. These giant animals who are nothing but overgrown puppies in their temperament, suffer greatly in the confinement of the animal shelter and pine for people’s companionship. Would it not be better to choose one from these unfortunate Great Danes, instead of buying a puppy? Take into consideration the problems and headaches that come with a growing puppy at home. There are also a number of uncertainties that loom large when you go for this method of acquiring a Great Dane. You will wonder whether the puppy’s temperament will be good when it grows up, whether it will be trained properly, whether all the efforts involved is really worth it, when there is a simple alternative – to get an already grown up Great Dane from a rescue home. A Great Dane rescue/adoption would offer you a readymade alternative – you will get what you see and more often than not, you will enjoy all the happiness and pleasure of having a Great Dane without having to go through the trouble of raising a puppy. This could be an excellent solution for people who have limited time on their hands to spend on such a huge task. - a Great Dane rescue/adoption would make you feel wonderful everytime you look at the giant that curls quietly at your feet; you saved this huge animal’s life and it feels great to know that; - this dog is very sensitive and will know that the second lease of its life is owed to you; as a result of which a special bonding will be created that cannot be expressed in words – it can only be experienced. - the adult dog will almost always be excellently trained and have a very balanced temperament - life can be pretty simple with a Great Dane rescue/adoption - you could often get a purebred adult Great Dane from a Great Dane rescue/adoption center at one fraction of the cost that would be involved in buying and bringing up a purebred puppy as well as the medical and spay/neuter that has already been done for you. These are solid reasons for which you should definitely at least think of considering adopting a Great Dane from the animal shelter."And There Is More –
A little about the Great Dane
Providing Great Dane Care is not too much work; however, it is still a great responsibility that should be considered at length.
The Great Dane is a breed of domestic dog known for its giant size and gentle personality. The breed is commonly referred to as the "Gentle giant" and the "Apollo of all breeds".Great Danes are considered one of the tallest dog breeds along with the Irish Wolfhound. More recently, Great Danes have been in the Guinness World Records for tallest dog. The Great Dane was named the state dog of Pennsylvania in 1965. Great Danes originated in Germany and Denmark. Various sources report that the Great Dane was developed from the boarhound (used for hunting and protection), and of the Mastiff and Irish wolfhound lines. The Germans bred them to keep inside their homes for protection. Only royals and the very wealthy owned the original Danes. They were treated with extreme respect and adoration.
We believe that Danes are most misunderstood because of their size. We know Great Danes to be loving, dignified, kind, sweet, extremely sensative,calm, and affectionate creatures whose hearts are greater than they are big. They love to please and are playful, entertaining, patient, and are very good with children. Great Danes love everyone and NEED to be around people. They are highly devoted to their family and are relatively inactive indoors. The Great Dane does not bark much and only becomes aggressive when the circumstances require it. A steady dog, responsible and dependable. Brave and loyal, it is a good watchdog. Because of his giant size, the Great Dane should be thoroughly obedience trained when young so it will be manageable when fully grown. Some danes are dog-aggressive, especially with same sex dogs (socialization and spaying/neutering from an early age should eliminate this problem). The Dane is good with other dogs if it is raised around them from puppyhood, socialization is extremely important! They are extremely people oriented and should be exposed to as many new people, sights, smells, textures, tastes, and sounds as possible. They are average as far as shedding and are very easy to groom. They do require regular nail trims, as does any other breed. Great Danes DO NOT make a suitable outdoor pet as they do not have the body fat or long thick coat to keep them warm. They also catch cold rather easily in the cold.
The Great Dane needs to be part of the family and get a lot of Attention! The Great Dane needs that you love him/her a great deal and have constant interaction with them. These animals thrive on your love and can become pretty destructive if they are isolated from the people they adore for long.
Exercise - It is an important aspect of owning a Great Dane to have it exercised. It does not need much, but it needs it daily. A fun walk, trip to the dog park, obedience class, doggy daycare... all are great ways to exercise his/her mind and body. Long strenuous walks are discouraged as they can cause serious wear and tear on the Great Dane structure. Early leash and obedience training is important in this breed. Due to it's size, control on and off leash should be established at a young age.
The Great Dane is in the working dog class.
The typical lifespan of a great dane is 8 to 10 years, but some can live much longer. Healthcare, living conditions, and love are major factors to their well being.
According to a survey of a pet insurance company's records published in 1999 the median life expectancy of a Great Dane is 8.4 years. Weight: A Great Dane can range anywhere from 100lbs to 200 lbs. The female usually being smaller in weight and stature.
Color, Markings and Patterns
Brindle--The base color shall be yellow gold and always brindled with strong black cross stripes in a chevron pattern. A black mask is preferred. Black should appear on the eye rims and eyebrows, and may appear on the ears and tail tip. The more intensive the base color and the more distinct and even the brindling, the more preferred will be the color. Too much or too little brindling are equally undesirable. White markings at the chest and toes, black-fronted, dirty colored brindles are not desirable.
Fawn--The color shall be yellow gold with a black mask. Black should appear on the eye rims and eyebrows, and may appear on the ears and tail tip. The deep yellow gold must always be given the preference. White markings at the chest and toes, black-fronted dirty colored fawns are not desirable.
Blue--The color shall be a pure steel blue. White markings at the chest and toes are not desirable.
Black--The color shall be a glossy black. White markings at the chest and toes are not desirable.
Harlequin--Base color shall be pure white with black torn patches irregularly and well distributed over the entire body; a pure white neck is preferred. The black patches should never be large enough to give the appearance of a blanket, nor so small as to give a stippled or dappled effect. Eligible, but less desirable, are a few small gray patches, or a white base with single black hairs showing through, which tend to give a salt and pepper or dirty effect.
Mantle--The color shall be black and white with a solid black blanket extending over the body; black skull with white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole white collar is preferred; a white chest; white on part or whole of forelegs and hind legs; white tipped black tail. A small white marking in the blanket is acceptable, as is a break in the white collar.
Grooming – Grooming a Great Dane requires minimum effort, combing its coat with a rubber brush once every 3-4 days to remove the dead/shed hair and any dust that might be accumulated on this body. It will need regular nail trimming, ear cleaning, and bathing (once every six weeks with a high quality shampoo and conditioner, if it gets dirty in between a plain water bath with a conditioning spray is ideal). Grooming a Great Dane is not a big deal, other than the size of a dane may be hard to manuvere. Make sure bath time is a fun and positive experience with happy talk and treats!
Finding a place to rent that allows dogs can be difficult. Finding a place to rent that allows Great Danes can be completely frusterating. Much of what you experience depends on the community. Some towns are extremely dog friendly while others are NOT. Regardless here are a few suggestions that will help to show that you are going to be a responsible owner.
*Provide a written reference from your previous landlord stating that your dog did not cause any property damage.
*Show proof that your dog is licensed and current on his/her vaccinations.
*Tell potentail landlords about the obedience classes your dog has completed or if he/she's passed the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test. This certification program is one way to show your dog is well behaved. If you have not done so and would like to know more about it, contact your local kennel club and they should be able to refer you to a testing center.
*Teach your dog at a young age not to bark indoors this will prevent upset neighbors in the future.
By showing your landlord that you are a responsible pet owner they will be more willing to take a chance on you and your dog.
As you probably know many danes have their ears partly amputated- "cropped" is the word most people like to use- this is done for no other reason than to make them look fierce and majestic. This is primarily a german tradition, born out of military origins. Cropping is banned in its country of origin, and most other countries. North America remains the only significant region in the world where ear amputations are still routinely performed. There is no medical or work-related justification for these procedures to be performed on pet dogs. Many dedicated, dog loving veterinarians will no longer carry out these alterations.
Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds.There are two major types of health concerns that go into the Great Dane care attributes, (i) health problems that are inherited and (ii) health problems that are caused by lack of proper care, i.e. poor nutrition, poor exercise habits, no grooming, and so on.
Bloat - is the number one killer health problem of Great Danes & Great Danes are the #1 breed at risk for bloat. For reasons not fully understood, in certain deep-chested breeds in particular, the stomach distends, then has a tendency to rotate, which cuts off the blood supply to various parts of the body, as well as effectively shutting down digestion. This condition is extremely painful as well as a true emergency that is rapidly life threatening. A dog with a bloated, twisted stomach (technically called "Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus") will die in great pain in a matter of hours unless drastic steps are taken: surgery is normally necessary. The reasons for GDV are currently not understood, however most would agree that multiple small meals per day and preventing vigorous exercise around mealtimes can help reduce the chances of bloat. Many breeders and owners of Great Danes consider a surgery called a prophylactic gastropexy ("preventative tack") which can help prevent some of the more serious aspects of GDV. Discuss this with your veterinarian.
The warning signs are excess salivation, inflation of the stomach, rapid breathing, restlessness, etc. Rush your dog to an animal hospital if you suspect bloat, since in most cases it will require surgical intervention to correct the problem. You can prevent this from happening by proving free feeding (have a full bowl of food throughout the day so the dog can east whenever it pleases) and plenty of water available. Use an elevated dog feeder, which will reduce the air intake while eating.
HOD and Pano - these are painful conditions of the bones that occur during the rapid growth phase of puppyhood causing lameness and general malaise.
HOD is the more serious one and can be deadly. HOD stands for Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy.
Panostetis or pano – this is a condition which happens because of the rapid growth of the Great Dane. Proper Great Dane care in terms of providing adequate health supplements, especially Vitamin C would help in this ailment. The early signs are limping and movements that indicate pain and discomfort. The vet will know how to alleviate this problems, if it becomes too much.
CVI: Wobblers - is a result of pressure on the spinal cord in the neck region and results in a "drunken" gait & increasing instability. The congenital form of CVI in Danes usually presents in the first year and is a malformation of the cervical vertebrae thought to result from a combination of nutritional effects and inherited traits; it is considered a form of DOD (Developmental Osteodystrophy). A whiplash sort of traumatic injury to such long-necked dogs as Danes can and does occur in adult dogs and can also be referred to as "Wobblers" or CVI. Great Danes are considered at risk for both congenital & trauma induced "Wobblers." CVI stands for Cervical Vertebral Instability.
CANCER: Danes can suffer from a variety of cancers as do many other breeds of dogs as well as many mixed breed dogs. Bone cancer (osteosarcoma) and lymphoma appear to be the two forms of cancer most commonly seen in the Great Dane, and along with heart disease and bloat (GDV), cancer is a leading cause of death in Great Danes. Research into both types of cancer is ongoing and treatment options are improving every day.
Inherited Great Dane Health Problems - genetic/ inherited health problems such as, his dysplasia (affects the bone), cardiomyopathy (affects the heart) and hypothyroidism (affects immune system) are amongst the most common.
HIP DYSPLASIA - is an inherited disease with multi-factorial expression. Clinically the disease may be seen as simply poor rear end conformation or lessened athleticism to such malformation of the hip joint that the dog becomes crippled.
CARDIOMYOPATHY - is suspected to be an inherited disease in the Great Dane and current (preliminary) research indicates that this disease may be sex-linked in our breed. Research is ongoing. An echocardiogram of the heart will confirm the disease but will not guarantee that the disease will not develop in the future. There are some congenital heart defects also occasionally found in the breed.
The Great Dane care will very much depend upon the advice you get from your vet. Knowing how to choose a vet for your Great Dane's health problems is an important factor in maintaining its health and its well-being.
Great Danes, like most giant dogs, have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in small breeds.
FEEDING AND BLOAT: Elevated food dishes are often believed to help prevent bloat by regulating the amount of air that is inhaled while eating. Refraining from exercise or activity immediately before and after meals may also reduce the risk.
We also reccommend free feeding, a dog that knows there is always food available will eat only when he/she is hungry and will be less likely to become food agressive. As far as aggressive dogs go, the possession of food loses its momentous place in the dog's life when the food is available all the time. The dogs will gradually figure out that no dog is ever going to be without food. There is always plenty to go around.
Dogs who are prone to bloat (such as the Great Dane) will be safer with the free feeding method. The free feeding method will help rid a dog of their gluttonous urges, thus making bloat less of a possibility. Dogs who are always thinking of food have a tendency to eat very fast, thus making the danger of bloat more probable.
A dog owner should always watch their dogs closely and individually. If this is done you will know if a dog is not feeling well and not eating. Also because a dog eats all day off and on does not mean it will need bathroom breaks more often. A dog is trained to your schedule of taking them out. Consistency in terms of when you take the dog out is all that is required and attention to their behavior. The dog's feeding habits tend to follow that schedule as well. The dog that is taken out twice a day, poops twice a day. Freefeeding dogs do not poop all day long.
Our rescue dogs when they come in, tend to act like they just hit the lottery, scarfing everything in sight. When they realize it isn't going anywhere, they generally calm down. It was their former lifestyle that trained them to wolf down their food. The same can be said for most other dogs. In multiple dog households you can train each dog to eat only out of their bowl if you desire to feed seperate types of feed. The same goes for small children. It is far more dangerous to reach in to take away a food bowl when a dog is eating if it is only fed at specific times. The dog fears losing the food and gulps it down or snaps to protect it. A freefed dog knows the food will be right back or at least there is another bowl of food just in the next room.
Do you think that people would fight over gold or money if it was just lying around all over the place, free for the taking? Dogs are the same way. Freefeeding is the *solution* to food possessiveness.
We do the same with bones. We DO NOT tolerate aggression in any form. A growl is corrected as is dominant posture, and anything beyond that is never allowed to occur. Due to these tips we do not have agression problems in our rescue. We have been using these methods for over 13 years without problem.
However in a multiple dog household, a dog that is already food agressive should not be free fed with others without training and supervision. If you have any questions please feel free to send us an e-mail.
Choosing a vet for your Great Dane is one of the most important aspects of the Great Dane care. The basics that would help you choose the right vet, is the same that you would apply in choosing your family doctor.
The veterinary doctor you choose would have to possess certain qualities and skills to be favored over other veterinary doctors.
Breed specific knowledge – while a general veterinary doctor would be fine in circumstances where nothing better is available, the best choice for the best Great Dane care would be a Great Dane veterinary doctor. There are many diseases specific to this breed, which might not be very easy to distinguish if the doctor is not overly familiar with each and every aspect of the Great Dane health care.
Easy going – this might not look like a qualifying factor, but let me tell you – this is one of the most important qualifying factors of a good Great Dane veterinary doctor. Why? Because unless you can communicate freely with your doctor, ask questions, seek explanations, advice - the doctor is of no use to you or to your dog. You should be able to speak your mind with the doctor, not worry what will he/she say and whether they will accept your comments or not.
Availability – if you want to provide excellent Great Dane care to you dog, you will need to have access to your doctor round-the-clock. Unfortunately, most of the problems happen during time that is not suitable to call a doctor on general terms. However, your doctor should be there at 3 am and he/she should be there at 3 pm.
Respect your judgment – the best Great Dane help might not always come from your veterinary doctor – it might come from you, from your experience and love for this animal. Your doctor should be able to respect your observations and opinion about the problem. A doctor who ignores you and your comments is not the right veterinary doctor for you.
Your's Vet's office should be clean with all the necessisary equipment.
Highly qualified and experienced – this is of course a very important aspect in the success of your dog's health care. The veterinary doctor should be adequately qualified and have a lot of experience with the Great Dane health concerns.
1. Incontinence – there are many reports on Great Dane care that indicate that around 7-8 years of age this dogs loose partial control of its bladder. In this case, your vet may advice you to put it on a course of hormone replacement therapy – this would help get things back to normal within a week or two. This could happen with the bowels as well and it is found that it is usually happening with the females than males.
2. Arthritis – it is often that the Great Dane spine grows spurs, which will then fuse with the vertebra. Once it is fused the pain will go, but until then the pain would be almost unbearable. Often the whole spine of the Great Dane will be thus fused making it turn around literally like a battle ship! The vet will be able to advice you on the right Great Dane care and medication for this problem. This would specifically take care of the pain.
3. Cancer - the Great Danes are prone to bone cancer in their old age and it is terrible to see them suffer. A good tip in Great Dane care says that you should have your dog checked every six months for maladies such as cancer, hip dysplasia and few others that plague these giants in their old age.
4. Teeth problems – as the Great Dane ages, the teeth will build tartar and this will result in many problems. Try to have the tartar removed professionally or with the help of the devices/ toys that are specifically made for this purpose.
5. Nails – as per the general Great Dane care principles grooming includes clipping of the nails. This task would be far and in between when the Great Dane is active since it loves to run and play and the nails get worn out by themselves. However, as they grow old and they slow down the nail may grow and make their walking painful. Ensure that the nails are cut in time and kept at a comfortable level.
6. The general Great Dane care depends a lot on the diet and nutrition it has. In fact, good deals of problems are cause by improper diet. Pay attention to this aspect and ensure that your Great Dane gets all the nutrients and health supplements it requires to make its old age comfortable.
