Is a Great Dane Right For You?
A Great Dane is a GREAT commitment. Is right for you?
AKC: Great Dane Information
About the Breed
The easygoing Great Dane, the mighty “Apollo of Dogs,” is a total joy to live with, but owning a dog of such imposing size, weight, and strength is a commitment not to be entered into lightly. This breed is indeed great, but not a Dane.
As tall as 32 inches at the shoulder, Danes tower over most other dogs and when standing on their hind legs, they are taller than most people. These powerful giants are the picture of elegance and balance, with the smooth and easy stride of born noblemen. The coat comes in different colors and patterns, perhaps the best-known being the black-and-white patchwork pattern known as “harlequin.” Despite their sweet nature, Danes are alert home guardians. Just the sight of these gentle giants is usually enough to make intruders think twice. But those foolish enough to mistake the breed’s friendliness for softness will meet a powerful foe of true courage and spirit. Patient with kids, Danes are people pleasers who make friends easily. Read More…….
Purchasing a Great Dane
Congratulations on Choosing a Great Dane
CONGRATULATIONS on choosing a Great Dane as a member of your family. The Great Dane Club of America, as the guardian of our breed, would like to offer you some basic information that we believe will help you in the developing relationship with your puppy.
Today, correctly bred Great Danes have a gentle and loving disposition that makes them a wonderful family companion. Although their primary asset in training is their desire to please, it is imperative that your puppy be well socialized from the time you bring it home; kindergarten puppy classes for puppies three to six months old are strongly recommended. These classes should be followed with a basic obedience class.
Your puppy will grow as much his first year as a child grows in fourteen years. It is vital that you provide it with the basic structure and consistent training that every puppy needs to make it a happy and well-adjusted member of your family.
AKC: What to know about Bloat
How Can Bloat Be Prevented?
For years, veterinarians have been looking for ways to prevent bloat. If you search on the Internet, you will find a host of suggestions, but much of it is folklore. We have to look at what is scientifically proven and implement those strategies.
Risk of bloat is correlated to chest conformation. Dogs with a deep, narrow chest — very tall, rather than wide — suffer the most often from bloat. Great Danes, who have a high height-to-width ratio, are five-to-eight times more likely to bloat than dogs with a low height-to-width ratio.