All About Danes

Our guy Griffin

Great Danes are extremely social and not a breed that does well living outside in a dog house, isolated from human contact and affection. And no dog does well being tied to a tree or dog house to live out his life. Danes are FAMILY pets and deserve to be treated as part of your family. Here are some things you’ll want to know before buying your forever friend.

Activity Levels and Exercise

Although the Great Dane may prefer to lounge inside on a comfy bed, your Dane still requires regular exercise to stay fit. It should also be kept in mind that Great Danes were bred as sporting dogs and will go where their noses lead them. A Great Dane should be allowed to run free only in an enclosed, fenced area. While Danes may enjoy and benefit from swimming, families with swimming pools need to “Dane proof” this area by fencing it in to prevent a dog from falling in and possibly drowning when no family member is present.

Although the Great Dane will eventually make a good companion for the avid jogger or cyclist, it is important to wait until he is over two years old to make sure the growth plates have closed and no damage is being done to growing joints. Walks are okay at any stage in life, just be mindful not to overexert a young puppy.

A Companion To Children

The calm, even disposition of the Great Dane makes him a loving companion for children but always under adult supervision. A baby or young child should not be left alone with a dog. Children should never lift a Great Dane puppy. Adults should do this by providing support for both front and rear end. Children should never be allowed to tease, pull a Great Dane’s ears, or ride him like a pony.

Because of their giant size, it's easy for a Dane to bump into or "lean" on small children and knock them over. It's important to teach your Dane not to "lean" if this is a concern. Children need to understand that dogs will follow their noses and will roam away from

home if allowed. They should be reminded to close gates and doors which, if left open, may allow their pets to escape into a neighborhood of heavy traffic and possibly be hit and killed by an automobile. Even in rural areas, care must be taken that a Great Dane does not become lost. In more than one instance, the regal look of a Dane has made him an appealing kidnap victim! Tattooing and/or microchipping for identification purposes is the best way to make sure your canine friend can “phone home” if he gets loose by accident and to make him undesirable to people who might steal him.

Other Pets and the Great Dane

While the original purpose of the breed was to hunt in packs, over the years, the Great Dane has been bred to do other jobs, including as a watch dog for large estates and other “working functions.” In general, the Great Dane gets along well with other dogs, but he is no longer considered a “pack” dog. Intact (un-neutered) Great Dane males should not be kept together. Females usually do better in a group than males, but remember that sometimes personalities do not “mesh.” Great Danes who fight are dangerous to all around them. A Great Dane is a playful dog, but his style of playing, using the body and

paws, can be dangerous to dogs and humans. It is essential to establish patterns of acceptable behavior when the dog is small so that no one gets hurt when he is full grown.

As A Guard Dog

Great Dane breeders prefer that our breed be considered as watch dogs and not guard dogs. Watch dogs sound an alarm and will defend their home and their people but are not trained as guards. The Great Dane is a giant breed, far too large to be trained to bite. Leave any guard dog training to other breeds and law enforcement professionals.

Note: Can Great Danes be aggressive?

The Great Dane should not be an aggressive dog. The Standard calls for a dog that is “spirited and courageous, always friendly and dependable, and never timid or aggressive.” However, a variety of factors, including poor breeding by backyard breeders or puppy mills, seems to be contributing to poor temperaments. Across breed lines, fearful or aggressive dogs are becoming more common. We must guard against this, both by breeding correct temperament and though proper management. An intact (un-spayed) female may be more aggressive toward other female dogs when she's in heat.

With regard to barking, the Great Dane is neither excessively noisy nor quiet. He will alarm bark, but most Danes don’t bark just for the fun of hearing themselves talk. Those that display this tendency should be trained not to do so. A Dane's bark is loud enough to rattle the windows :)

A Dog and His Food

Great Danes are large-boned dogs that grow extremely quickly. In addition to inappropriate exercise, inappropriate or excessive amounts of food can pack on the pounds and lead to skeletal deformities. Puppy food specific to LARGE BREED dogs is a must until age one. Another option is an adult food that covers all life stages. This food will carry your Dane from puppyhood to adulthood.

Great Danes should never be allowed to get fat. If you can easily feel their ribs, they are in good weight. Exercise is critical for health, and pups should be allowed to run all they want in a fenced environment. They can play with other dogs their own size, but should never be forced to jog or run next to a bicycle until they are two years old or more.

SOME QUESTIONS BREEDERS MAY ASK BUYERS

1. Have you ever owned dogs before and, specifically, a Great Dane?

Familiarity with dogs insures a higher success rate in placing a puppy in a new home. It is a particular “plus” if a perspective buyer has had the experience of owning a unique breed like the Great Dane.

2.Why do you want a Great Dane?

It is important to determine if a giant dog like the Great Dane will be the right choice for a new buyer. This is a breed which matures slowly, but will be very large at maturity. It’s important for the buyer to be fully aware of this, since “he got too big” is one of the “reasons” Great Danes end up in Rescue.

3. Do you have an enclosed or fenced in backyard?

The dominant sense of all dogs is his nose, which gives him the tendency to roam. He may become injured or lost. The large size of the breed makes some people over-react to a dog this size. Chaining a Dane (or any breed) to an outdoor doghouse or tree is inhumane.

4. Where will your new puppy live?

The friendly, affectionate nature of the Dane and the fact that this breed craves the companionship of other animals and people, means that he will be happiest in the house where he can be cared for by a loving family.

5. How long will the puppy be alone during the day? Breeders are reluctant to place a Great Dane puppy in a home where it will be alone for excessively long periods. Even the companionship of another dog or cat will go a long way in providing companionship for a new dog. The affectionate Great Dane does not do well by itself for extended periods.

6. Are you willing to spay or neuter a pet Great Dane?

Spaying or neutering is usually required by responsible breeders who do not want irresponsible breeding.

7. Can you afford not only the purchase price of this pet but also the maintenance? 

New owners need to be aware of how much it costs to keep their pet health and well-taken care of. More dog means more everything.

8. Is the decision to purchase a Great Dane a unanimous one in your family?

Danes who go into a family situation where not everyone wants this unique breed start out with a couple of strikes against them.