Lexy's Danes - Philadelphia, New York
"Once You Go Dane, Your Life Is Never The Same"
 About
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PLEASE DO RESEARCH, RESEARCH AND MORE RESEARCH!!!!! 
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. For Further information please visit the GreatDaneLady website. The information below is to assist, not to replace Veterinarian care.  The Great Dane was first known as the Danish Dog in the 1600s and eventually the Germans adopted the Great Dane as their national dog in the 19th century. Developed primarily in Germany and England out of mastiff-type and Greyhound stock. The principal purpose of the breed in early years was to hunt wild boar. At that time, ears were cropped to prevent the boar's long, sharp tusks from shredding the Dane's ear during the hunt. As a boar hound, the Dane of yesterday was very different both in structure and temperament from the Dane of today. When no longer used for hunting, the breed changed to one of a companion and estate dog. The Great Dane body should be as long as it is tall, with substantial bone, a long tail, a relatively long neck, a rectangular head, and a definite stop. Adult male Great Danes generally measure about 33 to 36 inches at the shoulder and weigh about 140 to 175 pounds but they can be taller and weigh more. Females are smaller, about 31 to 33 inches and about 110 to 140 pounds and again like the males can be taller and weigh more. Full height is usually reached around 24 months of age, but a Great Dane is not fully mature until about three years old. Ears can be cropped or un-cropped. If un-cropped, the ears should lie against the sides of the head and have a slight rise at the ear where it meets the base of the skull. Cropped ears should be carried erect and should complement the rectangular appearance of the head. Danes come in six recognized colors for showing in conformation: Color Description and Temperament Info (not definite for the temperaments, but can happen) Some of this information is from my experience and some is from Dr. Ackerman's Great Dane Book. All colors can be registered with the American Kennel Club. 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. BRINDLE: Tan with black stripes - Much like the Fawn but a little bouncier than the Fawn with slightly higher levels of energy and aggression. BLUE: Steel Blue - Can be lighter boned, a little shy, homebodies, happiest with their own families and their own yard but that is not always the case. 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. BLACK: Of course is all black with no white markings. Much like the Blue but not as clingy. Laid back and friendly. 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. MANTLE: Black head and body, with white on the muzzle, collar, chest, feet/legs, and a white-tipped tail. Danes with colors or markings besides these six may be registered with the AKC, but they cannot be shown in conformation but can be shown in obedience, utility, sporty, rally etc. Regardless of color, all can make fine family pets. 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. Their average life span is between 7-10 years of age. Keep in mind that they can live longer or a shorter lives. No matter how long/short a time they are in our lives, it is well worth having the love of a Dane. Great Danes make wonderful family pets for a household which wants an extra-large, affectionate short-haired breed who will offer a measure of protection. They are a very people-oriented breed and need to be a part of the family. Great Danes do not do well in kennel situations or where they are exclusively outdoor dogs. They need and crave human companionship. Their coat is not sufficient to keep them warm in the winter, so they must be kept indoors in colder climates. Great Danes are loving, easy to housebreak, simple to groom, and of average intelligence. Proper early training and socialization are very important. Puppy kindergarten classes are recommended, beginning at about three to six months of age. These classes should be followed with a basic obedience class. I have been asked this question often enough to make me post a little note on this page. I have not come across any scientific views on this subject. I can only tell what I know from my experiences. One does not seem to live longer than the other. And one does not seem to be healthier than the other. The differences I have noted through my experience is that the European lines are heavier boned with larger square heads. The temperaments from European lines seem to socialize a little quicker than the American lines. Please don't think that there is anything wrong with American lines. Like I said, this is just from my experience through the years and there is no written proof of this. Maybe I was just extremely lucky. Please use your own judgment on this subject. Although Great Danes who have been raised with children are usually very gentle, they are much larger than a small child. Because accidental injuries can occur, even with very well mannered Great Danes; small children should never be left unattended with your puppy or dog. If there are children in the household, they must be taught the correct way to interact with a puppy and parents need to monitor correct behavior on the part of the child and the puppy. If a Dane has not been raised with a small child you should be careful. You will have to train the Dane as well as the children in the household how to act around each other. Small children are sometimes out of control and might make the Dane uneasy and a little scared. So accidents may happen. With any animal both animal and human need training. Great Danes that are raised with other dogs and/or cats do get along with each other. 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, 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"! The household considering a Dane should have a secure enclosure and preferably a large, fenced yard. Chaining, staking out, tying or allowing your Dane to roam free is dangerous and unacceptable practices. Most Danes are not jumpers, so a six-foot fence is sufficient. Inside the house, a crate, properly used, will help assist in housebreaking a young puppy and prevent major destruction from a chewing adolescent. To prevent problems, young Danes should not be allowed free run of the house until they have proven themselves to be trustworthy. A Dane on a chewing spree can easily ruin beds, carpeting and furniture. On the other hand you don't want to leave your Dane puppy in the crate for long periods of time. To develop properly pups need time to naturally play, jump, run around and have fun for more than just a couple of hours a day and just going for a couple of walks. If they spend entirely to much time in the crate they may end up having a week back end which doesn't have anything to do with having hip dysplasia but can also be a contributing factor to developing hip dysplasia. Select this link to view the picture of what happens to a young baby when they spend to much time locked up in their crate. Notice how close the lower thigh and hocks are to each together. A pup just like an Adult Dane should have a square back end. Another contributing factor for this condition can be improper nutrition. This pup had x-rays taken and the hips are just fine but the cartilage is weak because she was not able to run and play to build up her strength. Many growing puppies are highly destructive to landscaping, so if a beautifully landscaped yard is a priority for you, perhaps you should reconsider getting a Great Dane! To prevent problems, young Danes should not be allowed free run of the house until they have proven themselves to be trustworthy. A Dane on a chewing spree can easily ruin beds, carpeting and furniture. Therefore crate training is best. It is very important that they are on a food that will allow them to grow slowly and evenly to avoid growth problems such as HOD (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy), OCD (Osteochondritis Dissecans), and/or PANO (Panosteitis). They should be fed a moderate diet (see below). Select this link to read the document that explains all in further detail HOD - Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy, OCD - Osteochrondritis Dissecans, PANO - Panosteitis Diet - Most Importantly: NEVER FEED YOUR GREAT DANE, PUPPY DOG FOOD, EVEN IF YOUR VET RECOMMENDS IT AND/OR TABLE SCRAPS. 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. Ask yourself, "Is the food you are feeding a moderate diet" You should look the following: Protein = 21% minimum - 26% maximum Fat = 12% minimum - 16% maximum Calories = 320 kCal minimum - 350 kCal maximum per cup (If your dog is more active than normal, then give a food with a calorie content of no more than 475 kCal per cup.) Calcium = 1.5% maximum Chicken, Venison, Lamb, Fish, Beef or Pork is the FIRST Ingredient in the food. If it is a MEAL that is fine as well but NOT YELLOW CORN. Select this link to read our feeding guidelines for further information. Check the food. If it has wheat, corn, lamb, any type of food dyes, or even peanuts, 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. Your vet can recommend the proper treatment. If you have checked with your veterinarian and ruled out any type of parasite then it could possibly be one of the following: * You might be feeding your Dane more than they need. * The food you are feeding may not agree with their bellies so try a different type. * They might have sneaked some people food or snuck something out of the garbage. * 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. Adding uncooked oatmeal with some luke warm water into the dry food sometimes helps. Danes should never be encouraged to be overly protective or aggressive. Their large size is sufficient to scare off most intruders. Their natural tendency is to protect if needed. It is the responsibility of the Dane owner to socialize his Dane properly so the dog can learn good judgment. Owners of Great Danes should recognize that some people are very frightened of large dogs. Therefore, Dane owners need to always act in a responsible manner, keeping their Danes leashed and under control when in public places and confined within fenced yards when at home. 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 un-cropped. 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. 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. There is no medical reason why a dog should be intact if they are not going to be shown in the Conformation ring or used for breeding (that is of course if all the testing comes back normal etc.). Spay/Neuter procedure should be done no earlier than 6 months of age and no later than 12 months of age. You want the pup to grow up a bit before the procedure is performed since there might be a chance of the pup not growing to their full potential if it is done at a very young age. It is not a proven fact but it can happen. If you get an older Great Dane and they are not altered, it is a very good idea to get the procedure done immediately. Older adult males can be prone to prostate infections and marking their territory in the house, and adult bitches to false pregnancies and uterine infections. Spaying or neutering pets is a good idea for the health of the dog and is required by most ethical breeders. If you have a female Great Dane and she is in her cycle, you must wait at least 2 months after the end of her cycle before you can get her spayed. This way you make sure her hormones are back to normal levels and there is no chance of her bleeding out after the procedure. Spaying or neutering your dog or cat is beneficial to both you and your pet. Some of the advantages are: * Your pet’s life expectancy is generally increased and their disposition becomes more gentle * Pets are less likely to stray from home, or attract unwanted visitors * Spaying a female helps prevent uterine infections, such as pyometra, and breast cancer * Neutering a male helps reduce the risk of testicular cancer, prostate disease and hernias * 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. 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. Select this link to read the info from Greatdanelady.com Hiccups are very normal and they happen frequently from 6 weeks - 20 months of age, sometimes later. This happens because your giant breed puppy is growing very fast and he is having a muscle spasm, that's all. Relax; they will outgrow it in time. 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. Tell him “NO” or “LEAVE IT” and put him in his crate or room for a few minutes as a time out. Use a fly swatter and smack it on the table or shake a can full of coins to get their attention. Tell them “NO” or “LEAVE IT”. Use a spray bottle with water in it to squirt them anytime they do the bad behavior. If all else fails, enroll him/her in an obedience class. Normally Danes do not drool alot. In my experience the times I have see a Dane drool has been one of the following: * Just drank water * Just finished eating * Smell something they really like. (bacon, steak etc.) If a Dane is constantly drooling then most of the time it is due to an upset tummy. Normally if the food does not agree with them, they will constantly drool. Changing the food will help as well as giving him some Pepto to assist until his tummy gets back to normal. If it continues after a few weeks of the food change, then please consult your veterinarian. From my experience I have noticed that a Staph infection (Acne) can come from a few things such as the food/water bowls aren't clean on a daily basis, the dog food isn't agreeing with their system, they like to play in the dirt alot and arent wiped down immediately, or they like to eat poop and their chin gets messy. I am sure there are other things that may cause this, but like I said this is from my experience and talking with my vet. The way I got rid of the problem was first getting antibiotics from my vet and then trying to keep the bowls and their faces as clean as humanly possible, feed a very good food (that has less fatty meat content), and try to keep their faces as clean as possible. Giving cheap dog treats will also contribute to this problem. So in the long run spending a little more money on good food and treats will benefit both you and your Dane. DO NOT GIVE TYLENOL TO YOUR PUPPY-DOG. It is poison for dogs. Please consult your Veterinarian if you suspect your puppy-dog has any medical problems. Do not try to diagnose it yourself. 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.
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.
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