Triple B Danes

Because a 25 pound eight-week-old male puppy will generally grow to about six times that weight, special consideration needs to be given before acquiring a puppy. Dogs are abandoned every day because their owners didn't realize that their cute little puppy would grow up to be a very large dog with real needs. Therefore, anyone considering a Dane as a pet (puppy or adult), should first spend time with adults of the breed, and then ask themselves the following questions: * Will I be able to provide enough food for a giant breed dog? They eat about three to six cups of high quality dog food twice each day. * Can I afford the other expenses involved with owning a dog of this size? Medication, crates, bedding, equipment, supplies, toys, etc., all cost more for a giant breed dog. * Am I prepared to provide a Dane with the companionship and exercise he requires? * Am I able, and willing, to provide positive and consistent training, beginning as soon as my Dane enters my home? If after considering all of these questions, you are still determined to add a Great Dane to your family, then do consider adopting a homeless dog from a rescue organization. Danes of both sexes, and all colors and ages, are often available for adoption. If you must have a puppy, then screen breeders very carefully before buying. Make sure that any puppy that you consider, has been bred and reared to have a correct temperament, and that the parents have been screened for genetic defects. An aggressive Great Dane can be a very dangerous dog, and a crippled or chronically sick Dane can be more of a burden than a pleasure. Remember that your decision to acquire a Dane, is a decision that will affect you (and your Dane) for a lifetime.

A: History of the Great Dane (copied from the Great Dane Home Page FAQs)

The Great Dane was developed to hunt the wild boar of Europe (and hence the cropped ears typically seen on Danes in the US). The Germans are generally credited with developing the Dane as it exists today. It is generally accepted that the Great Dane is descended from some type of mastiff and wolfhound. The Great Dane breed is at least 400 years old but there are drawings of a dog which resemble the Great Dane on Egyptian monuments of 3000 B.C. and the earliest written description of a dog resembling a Great Dane is found in Chinese Literature of 1121 B.C. There is no reason anyone has been able to determine for connecting Denmark (Dane) with this dog. It was "made in Germany" and the breed standard of all countries is based on the german Deutsche Doggen Club standard.

A: "The Great Dane's personality is the quality that most find so appealing. The Dane is a "people dog" - a sensitive and affectionate companion. They can be elegant and dignified one moment, and then playful and silly the next. They want to be cuddled, loved and above all the center of attention. If there are chairs and couches in the house you don't want a Dane to lie upon, be ready to do some serious training to prevent full time Dane occupancy. They are good guard dogs, in that their mere size and bark are a deterrent, but generally speaking, they are sweet and loving, without a mean or aggressive bone in their big bodies.

A: The AKC Standard for Danes states: "The male shall not be less than 30 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that he be 32 inches or more, providing he is well proportioned to his height. The female shall not be less than 28 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that she be 30 inches or more, providing she is well proportioned to her height."

Many males CAN grow to as tall as 38 inches and weigh up to 160 pounds, females can grow as tall as 34 inches and weigh about 135 pounds.

The tallest Dane in the world is a harlequin named "Gibson". He is 42.6 inches @ his shoulders! 

A: The APPROVED colors by the Great Dane Club of America (GDCA) are: black, blue, fawn, harlequin, brindle, and mantle.

Q: How much room does a Dane need?

A: They need very little room surprisingly. Danes primarily sleep the day away, but when they do want to play, take them out for a romp.

Q: How much exercise do Danes need?

A: They DO require a place to "let loose" and run a couple times a day, and should be hand walked at least 4 times a day. PLEASE be a responsible dog owner and bring plastic bags for poop clean-up!

A: ALL DOGS should be crated when left alone. It is frankly irresponsible to leave a Dane or any dog unattended, loose in a house for any length of time. Any number of things can happen, even to a trustworthy and well trained dog. The best crate size for a male Dane is 28 inches wide by 36 inches tall by 48 inches long.

A: Very minimal grooming is needed. Danes are short haired dogs so there is no required daily brushing, trimming, stripping, etc. A bath about once monthly, nail trim, and teeth cleaning (if you feed raw beef leg bones the teeth rarely need cleaning) are all that are needed, although a currying or brush with a short hair glove or rubber curry brush will be appreciated.

Shedding happens in the spring and fall and though not heavy, can be a bit messy.

Handy tip on ear cleaning, especially important for Natural Eared Danes, make a 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. Dampen a cotton ball with the mixture and squeeze it into the ear canal. Rub the base of the ear for a few seconds then let the Dane shake his head. Swab out the remainder of the wax and yuckies with a dry cotton ball or two.

A: There are a few health problems which afflict the Great Dane breed: growth problems, hip dysplasia, and bloat/GDV/torsion are primary concerns. Wobblers, thyroid problems, and problems with the eyes also appear in the breed.

A: Spaying a female (removing the ovaries and uterus) or neutering a male (removing the testicles) are veterinary procedures performed with the same general anesthesia used in human medicine. Both surgeries usually require minimal hospitalization.

Neutering a male dog by 6 months of age prevents testicular cancer, prostate disease and hernias. Spaying a female dog helps prevent pyometra (a uterine infection) and breast cancer; having this done before the first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Treatment of pyometra requires hospitalization, intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics and spaying. Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50 percent of female dogs. With an older, seriously ill animal, anesthesia and surgery are complicated and costly.

A: The average life span of most giant breeds is about 8-10 years. I know of Danes living to 10-12 years, but right now unfortunately that is the exception rather than the rule.