Danes are known as the gentle giant, very loyal, a family companion, loves children & adults but,

Is a Great Dane the right pet for you & your family??

 

Please consider the following…..

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What type of lifestyle do you have; are you always on the go? If so will your new puppy be going along or staying home alone?

 

The larger the dog the larger the responsibility….are you prepared??

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     1. Danes have a tendency to knock things over…especially those things that are at the same height as their tail, which by the way can be considered a weapon, feels like a whip…Do you have enough living space for a Great Dane?

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2. Danes are a people dog, they love human attention & affection......without it, they can get separation anxiety and become very destructive, very quickly or they may howl, whine, potty in the house, anything in their own way to show you their unhappy with the situation - the bigger the dog, usually the bigger the mess...do you have the time to care, love & train a Great Dane?

** A Dog Sitter or a large enough crate can help with the possible destructive problems (our crates cost $150 plus tax for each & an extra 100-250 for the bedding - Danes are known for having hip problems when they get older, so they need extra, thick bedding, not the type that the floor /crate can still be felt through it....& for the first few times that they are left alone, they might decide to destroy the wonderful new bedding that you bought them - Are you prepared for that, just in case??

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3. The larger the dog, usually the larger the bill for food, chew toys & vet bills……

Danes require dog food specially formulated for fast growing, large breeds, so that bones grow properly….Because of their large mouths & teeth, they need more durable toys, which cost way more than those for smaller dogs…..Because of their size the cost for flea & tick as well as any other medication usually costs more, so that the medication is affective for their size..…Do you have the financial resources for their food, toys (cause you don’t want it to be your furniture) & any medications that they might need?

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4. Almost every time a Dane takes a growth spurt….he/she just has to try to see if he/she is more dominant than you…Danes want to dominate those under him/her & please those above him/her……Are you prepared to be a gentle yet firm leader for a Dane???? Do you know the difference between being firm, but not overly aggressive, because it is very important with any large dog! Danes do not like to displease their leader, so it will not take much discipline to get the job done.

 

5. Danes need to be feed 2-3 times a day (smaller portions, rather than 1 large feeding) so that they do not develop bloat, Which Can Kill Them!!!

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6. Also depending on your research you can find information saying that a raised feeder helps prevents bloat & research that says it doesn't help prevent bloat - it just makes it easier on them - is it a chance you are willing to take??

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7. Another important thing to consider is the environment your Dane will be in. One way that Danes Can develop hip dysplasia is thru Traumatic articular fracture – which means that the cartilage is damaged thru the joint surface – so anything that causes too much stress to the joints could potentially cause cartilage damage - this can be a combination of the food they are eating mixed with their activity level - it could just be how much activity that have - there is no clear cause as to what can cause the Traumatic Articular Fracture - its just known that it happens & these are some of the possible things that can cause it. We have heard that going up & down lots of stairs – while they are growing could cause damage to the cartilage from all the stress on their joints – if its in excess -

~ So a good rule of thumb would be - if it looks like it might cause too much stress on their joints - Avoid it - especially during their growing years.

 

If you feel that a Great Dane is still the right pet for you & your family, please contact us!!