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Lexy's
Danes |
Please Remember: A Dane
or any other animal is for life through thick or thin. If you are not ready to be OWNED by a
Dane, then please look into another breed or animal.
This information is to help educate a new family that has never been owned by a Dane before to see if this is the right breed for them and to go over the responsibility involved in owning a Great Dane and the many issues the new family should consider before purchasing a Dane puppy or adult. I urge you to take time to learn about the Great Dane through books, magazines, other breeders, clubs etc. that are very familiar with the breed, because these are excellent sources of information. I would like to know that when someone decides to be owned by one of my Danes, that the dog, whether a puppy or an older dog, will have a permanent, loving home. I want to make absolutely sure that I do all I can to make sure that the new family, understands the characteristics of the breed and are willing to make a commitment to provide a suitable environment and proper training which will make the Great Dane a healthy and well-behaved member of the family. All too often people make hasty decisions and are ill-prepared to deal with the size and sometimes rambunctious and destructive behavior of an adolescent Great Dane. You have to remember that a 6 month old Dane is approximately the same size as a full grown large breed such as a German Shepherd etc. Unwanted Great Danes are then turned over to rescue organizations or animal shelters, or worse yet, are abandoned to wander the streets. The fate of most of the animals, through no fault of their own, is death. That is why I have a clause in my contract that if for any reason the family can no longer keep the Dane, they will return the Dane back to me and the Dane will not be placed in a shelter, rescue, etc. I take the responsibility to educate new owners so that when they get their new puppy home, the experience will be good for both the puppy and the new family. However, the new family must share in this responsibility.
The information below is to assist you. Please consult your veterinarian if you are not sure of something.
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Does it take more money to raise a Great Dane compared to other breeds?
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My Great Dane Puppy likes to snap or bite to get attention? What should I do?
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What human meds/drugs are O.K. to use/give to my Great Dane?
1. History about the Great Dane.
2. Great Dane Standard. (Brief Description).
FAWN: Tan with black mask - Mellowest temperament. Maturing most like the gentle giant often pictured when one speaks of Danes. Fits the stereotype of a big, clumsy, lovable goof as depicted by fiction and cartoons.
BLUE:
Steel Blue - Can be
lighter boned (not always), a little shy, homebodies, happiest with
their own families their own yard.
Most clingy to their favorite family member. They have the
strongest likelihood of becoming fear biters if improperly socialized
when they are young. They benefit from early socialization gentle
training methods as befits their more sensitive nature. They make
excellent companions for those not leading an extensively busy social
life, or those who do not expect their dogs to handle constant changes
or excessive abuse from small children.
BLACK: Of course is all black with no white markings. Much like the Blue but not as clingy.
HARLEQUIN: White base coat with evenly distributed torn black patches - Busier, noisier and may be more aggressive. May be stubborn about obedience training more protective of their territory and rights as the biggest dog on the block. They make excellent companion dogs for those ready to follow through with training and exercise and should be considered a dog for the more experienced dog owner. They may easily grow to be too much of a handful for the unprepared novice.
Merle: Steel Blue or Mousy Grey base coat with black patches - Are something like the Harlequins but a little less aggressive.
Fawnequin or White with Fawn Markings:
White base
coat with fawn patches:
is
like the Fawn.
Brindlequin
or White with Brindle Markings:
White base coat with fawn patches is
like the Brindle.
Porcelain or White with Blue Markings:
White base coat with blue patches: in between the Blue and Harlequin.
There are other colors that can be produced as well, such as Merle Mantle (instead of black and white they are merle and white), Merlequin (instead of black patches they have merle patches), Blue Mantle (instead of black and white they are blue and white unlike the Porcelain that has blue patches), Fawn Mantle (instead of black and white they are fawn and white), Brindle Mantle (instead of black and white they are brindle and white) etc. These colors along with the other colors above except for the Merle can not be a definite result in any breeding. It all depends on the ancestry of the parents whether or not these other colors will show up. There is nothing wrong with the other colors, they are just not recognized in the Conformation Show Ring but still make wonderful and loving parts of the family and can be registered with AKC.
4.
Is the Great Dane breed for you?
5.
Are Great Danes good with children?
6. Do Great Danes get along with other dogs and cats?
Great Danes that are raised with other dogs and/or cats do get along with eachother. Great Danes are not aggressive towards other animals unless they are raised that way. Socialization is key for this breed since they will be so large once they are full grown.If the Dane has not been raised around other animals or children, they you must be careful when you introduce the two. Patience and love is key with any type of training. Don't give up on your Dane to soon. You will be amazed with the results. Remember "There isn't a bad dog, it's a bad owner"!
8.
Does a
Great Dane require a fenced yard?
9. Should I
crate train my new puppy?
10.
Are Great Danes destructive?
11.
How and
what to feed a Great Dane?
The only puppy food formulated for the Giant Breed is Eagle Pack Holistic Select Large Giant Breed Puppy Formula which can be fed up to the age of 18 months if so desired. Regular Puppy food is NOT a moderate diet. It has too much Protein, Fat, Calcium and Calories for a Dane. It will make them grow too fast and possibly give them health problems later on and could shorten their life span. If you get a pup/dog from Lexy's Danes you will be required to follow our feeding guidelines. Your puppy will grow slowly and evenly as he/she should.
Fat = 12%
minimum - 15% maximum
Calories = 320 kCal minimum - 350 kCal maximum per cup
Calcium =
1.2% maximum
Chicken, Venison, Lamb, or Fish is the FIRST Ingredient in the food. If it is a MEAL that is fine as well but NOT YELLOW CORN.
12. My Great Dane has skin allergies. What could cause it? Check the food. If it has wheat, corn, lamb or any type of food dyes, that could be the cause of skin rashes, missing patches of hair or itchiness. If you have changed the food and after 1 weeks time the Dane is still having skin problems then take him to your vet to get an allergy blood test done.
13. My Great Dane has loose stool or diarrhea. What can I do?
If you have checked with your veterinarian and ruled out any type of parasite then it could possibly be one of the following:
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You might be feeding your Dane more than they need.
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The food you are feeding may not agree with their bellies so try a different type.
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They might have sneaked some people food or snuck something out of the garbage.
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Maybe too many treats
If after a couple of weeks of making changes your Dane still has loose stool etc check with your vet about Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
14.
Should Great Danes be trained for protection?
15. Should I crop my puppy's ears?
This is about the ear cropping procedure and my feelings about it, but it's all up to you:Puppies are put under general anesthesia between the tender ages of 7-12 weeks old. Any general anesthesia always poses a risk, something could go wrong. Puppies can and have died under anesthesia or just after coming out of anesthesia.
2/3 of the earflap, including many nerve endings and acupuncture zones, are removed during cropping. The raw, bloody edges are then closed with stitches from the bottom to the tip of the ear. Many breeders will say that it doesn’t hurt the puppy, but when the puppy cries out in pain when it bumps or scratches the ear, is a sign of pain. Regardless of how long the pain lasts or how intense it may be, the puppy shouldn’t even have to go through this at such an impressionable age. Now that you have raw and exposed edges that are waiting to heal, you are also running a high rise of infection at the incision areas.
Ears are now cropped and stitches have been removed; now the puppy has to go through months of mandatory ear taping. The tape has to be changed at least once a week. This is very time consuming and expensive. There is no set time limit to taping the ears; it can take 4 weeks to 12 months or longer. In some cases, the ears may never stand and the dog could be subjected to a second crop, at a much older age, to create scar tissue to help strengthen the ear leather or to take more of the ear flap off to reduce the lengthy/weight of the ear. For those that choose not to re-crop a failed ear crop, the dog is stuck with an ugly, cropped ear that flops either over the head or down the cheek.
There is NO proven medical benefit to cropping; it has never been scientifically proven that it will cut down on the amount of ear infections by increasing ventilation of the ear canal. Keeping the ears clean from dirt and debris is the job of every dog owner, it’s basic maintenance, regardless if the dog is cropped or uncropped.
One of the reason most breeders crop their Danes ears is to successfully compete in the show ring. AKC accepts them either way. However, the ears do not determine the quality of a dog. If the dog is good enough and is presented well, he/she will have the same chance any other dog has. Natural eared dogs can – and – do win and finish their championships. More and more judges are opening their minds to natural eared Dogs in the ring.
Many pet owners see show pictures of Danes and like the “Look” of the cropped ears and so the cycle continues. For some people the “Look” is worth all the time’ effort, money and discomfort to the animal, to those I say “Do as you must”. For those of you who are undecided, educate yourself prior to making this life altering decision for you puppy.
16. Does it take more money to raise a Great Dane compared to other breeds?
Compared to other breeds, Great Danes can be expensive to maintain. Providing proper food, veterinary care, supplies, training classes, and a fenced yard can quickly add up. Everything is MORE with a Dane because of its size but very well worth it.
17. Should I spay and/or neuter my Great Dane and at what age?
Spaying or neutering your dog or cat is beneficial to both you and your pet.
Some of the advantages are:
1) Your pet’s life expectancy is generally increased and their disposition becomes more gentle and affectionate;
2) Pets are less likely to stray from home, or attract unwanted visitors; plus
3) Spaying a female helps prevent uterine infections, such as pyometra, and breast cancer;
4) Neutering a male helps reduce the risk of testicular cancer, prostate disease and hernias; and
5) The dog license fee is lower
Reducing pet overpopulation is beneficial for every community as millions of cats and dogs are euthanized or suffer as strays every year. Further, each time a municipality seizes a stray animal; the municipality is responsible for sheltering, feeding and possibly euthanizing the animal. This results in added expenses to the municipality.
18.
What
diseases can a Great Dane be prone to?
Elbow Dysplasia:
Problems usually start between 4 to 7 months of age. Signs are sudden onset of lameness. Continued inflammation results in Arthritis in affected joints.Hip Dysplasia:
Changes begin within the first 24 months of age, although they are usually evident long before then. Signs are problems while getting up and possible lameness.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.
Hypothyroidism -
in dogs is generally
the result of a heritable disorder of the immune system. This condition
results when the thyroid gland is not producing enough hormones to
adequately maintain the dog's metabolism. Happily, it is easily treated
with thyroid replacement pills.
Cataracts - although not common, cataracts have been described in the Great Dane and can be blinding. Eyelid abnormalities (e.g. entropion) are also not unheard of in the breed.
BLOAT -
is the number one killer 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, and 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 GVD are currently not understood, however most would agree that multiple small meals per day and preventing vigorous exercise around mealtimes could 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 GVD but not guaranteed. Discuss this with your veterinarian and your Dane's breeder.Wobblers’ - is a result of pressure on the spinal cord in the neck region and results in a drunken gait increasing instability. It's thought to result from a combination of nutritional effects, injury and/or inherited traits and is considered a form of DOD (Developmental Osteodystrophy).
HOD and Pano - these are painful conditions of the bones that occur during the rapid growth phase of puppy hood causing lameness and general malaise. By far HOD is the more serious one and can be deadly. Pano is usually self-limiting and may not need treatment. HOD stands for Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy. Pano is short for Panosteitis.
19. My Great Dane puppy has hiccups a lot, is something wrong?
20. My Great Dane Puppy likes to snap or bite to get attention? What should I do?
This behavior is NOT acceptable from any breed, especially one that will be so large once they mature to their full size. Most of the time this behavior is meant to show dominance and to get their way no matter what. You have to nip it in the bud immediately. If what I suggest does not work, then obedience training is the alternative.What I suggest is not meant to be cruel in any way so please do not think that. This is what has worked for me:
When the puppy starts to growl, snap or bite to get attention, grab the pup by the nose firmly but not to hurt him. Then put your face right in his and tell him “NO” or “LEAVE IT” in a low but firm, grumbly voice. Let him know you disapprove of his bad behavior.
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Tell him “NO” or “LEAVE IT” and put him in his crate or room for a few minutes as a time out.
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Use a fly swatter and smack the table or shake a can full of coins to get their attention. Tell them “NO” or “LEAVE IT”.
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Use a spray bottle with water in it to squirt them anytime they do the bad behavior.
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If all else fails, enroll him/her in an obedience class.
21. Should
I give my Great Dane Tylenol?
22. What human meds/drugs are O.K. to use/give to my Great Dane?
On the items below you can most of the time follow the directions on the box or bottle since Danes weigh almost if not more than people do.
1 teaspoon is 5 mL and 1 tablespoon is 15 mL
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Aspirin (St. Joseph's Baby is best) Do NOT use anything with Acetaminophen |
Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory |
5 mg per pound orally every 12 hours |
|
Benadryl |
Antihistamine |
2 mg per pound orally every 8 hours |
|
Betadine-solution |
Topical Antiseptic |
Dilute to 0.2% (2 mL to 2 quarts tap water) |
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Charcoal |
Binds Stomach poisons |
1 5gm tablet per 10lbs.; keep at least 30 tablets available |
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Chlorhexidine solution |
Topical antiseptic |
Dilute to 0.05% (25mL to 2 quarts tap water) |
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Dramamine |
Motion sickness |
2 to 4 mg per pound orally ever 8 hours |
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Gasex |
Gas problem and assistance with first signs of Bloat |
Follow directions on box and call your vet immediately in case it is Bloat |
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Hydrogen peroxide |
Induce vomiting |
1 teaspoon per 10lbs. orally; may repeat every 15 to 30 minutes (3 times only) |
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Kaopectate |
For persistent diarrhea |
1/2 to 1 mL per pound (or 1 to 2 teaspoons per 10lbs) orally every 4 hours |
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Milk of Magnesia |
Antacid, laxative |
2 to 5 mL per pound orally every 4 to 6 hours (antacid); or 7 to 25 mL per pound orally once only (laxative) |
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Mineral oil |
Lubricant, laxative |
10 to 50 mL per dog; add to food |
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Pepto-Bismol |
For diarrhea or upset tummy |
0.5 to 1.5 mL per pound orally every 12 hours |
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Robitussin |
Expectorant |
1 teaspoon per 20lbs orally every 4 hours, as needed |
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Robitussin DM or Benylin Expectorant |
Cough suppressant |
0.5 to 1 mg per pound (or 1 teaspoon per 20lbs) orally every 6 hours |
23. What does Hereditary and Congenital mean?
Hereditary:
Transmitted genetically: passed genetically, or capable of being passed genetically, from one generation to the next
Congenital:
Existing at birth:
describes an unusual condition present at birth.
|
Name of Book |
Author |
Year |
|
Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook |
James M. Giffin MD & Liisa D. Carlson DVM |
2000 |
|
Great Danes |
Diane McCarty |
1990 |
|
Great Danes |
Diane McCarty |
1997 |
|
Great Danes |
Joe Stahlkuppe |
2002 |
|
Great Danes |
DR. Ackerman |
1996 |
|
The Complete Book Of Dog Breeding |
DR. Dan Rice |
1996 |
|
The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat |
Kate A.W. Roby, V.M.D. & Lenny Southam, D.V.M. |
1998 |
|
Your Great Dane |
Lina Basquette |
1972 |
Last Updated: Friday, May 02, 2008 07:01:07 PM