Training During the Early Years

Training begins when the dane is a still a puppy. Great dane puppies are cute, cuddly and not all that big so it is easy to ignore the fact that the little puppy may soon outweigh you. At all cost do not let the puppy jump on you, dominate you in any way or get away with any behavior that you would not let a bigger dog get away with. What your puppy learns now it will carry with it through out its life. If you don’t want your pet on the furniture now is the time to make that clear.

Some specifics about danes jumping on people is important because they are famous for it and it is also highly dangerous for kids, elderly, or anyone who is not prepared for a loving dane hug. Most danes try to jump on their people at some point, the key is to always discourage this. The best way to do this is to either hold them down if you see them coming up or give them a strong paw squeeze if you are too late to prevent the jump. They do not like the paw squeeze but it does not hurt them. For most danes this is just enough reinforcement that it prevents jumping.

I highly suggest obedience training from a young age as well. When I say this, I mean proper obedience training, at a school, with an instructor, and plenty of positive reinforcement and practice. Your life and your dogs life could depend on being properly trained.

Keeping Your Family Healthy

That is enough about behavior for now, health is equally important. It is important to note that great danes are fairly susceptible to Parvo when they are young. Parvo can live in your yard for years and be carried on your shoes from virtually anywhere. Puppies are susceptible to Parvo when they are being weened from the mother. Parvo has a 90% mortality rate and happens to be preventable by getting your dog it’s scheduled shots. If you don’t want to spend money at the vet many local feed stores will also carry low cost pet shots that you inject yourself. It is your responsibility as a pet owner to do all that you can to keep your pet healthy.

Great dane puppies eat a lot and still look like concentration camp survivors. Your puppy may very well gain 100 pounds during its first year. This means they grow incredibly fast. Make sure that you are feeding your puppy enough and that you are giving it ample opportunity to go outside and do its business. Because your dane is growing so fast and the skeletal structure is not fully developed it is a good idea to limit physical activity to some extent during the first two years. This does not mean don’t let your puppy be a puppy it means don’t take your dog jogging or make it do more than it is willing to do. Regular walks are important just don’t overdo the activity.

Once your great dane gets to be full grown it is probably not quite full grown. Just when you think they are finished growing they will get a little bigger. Danes tend to reach full skeletal size then fill out during their second year. During this time you will have to closely monitor food intake and make sure that your dane does not start to put on excess weight. Overweight great danes are in danger of serious back problems because of the way that they carry their weight. A healthy great dane should have fairly low body fat, meaning that some of the musculature should be visible beneath the skin. If you can grab flab it is time for a diet.

Great danes are fabulous family pets and have more personality than many people I know. But because of their short life span and their genetic predisposition to certain health problems it is highly important that you do all that you can to keep you great dane healthy.

Of the many things you can do to extend the life of a great dane such as proper diet and making sure they get plenty of exercise a dog ramp is also a fabulous option. While children often think that the big beast are perfect for ridding their backs are one of the most vulnerable points on a big dog like this. They have lots of weight pulling down in the middle and a long span to hold up. Because of their large size they commonly step up and down onto pretty large things which adds a high level of stress to the spine.

As big dogs age common things like getting up onto a bed or into a car can begin to be very difficult and painful. Hips and backs suffer the most and to extend life, improve quality of life, and avoid future problems it is imperative to use all of your options.

Aside from the benefits to the dog there are benefits to the owner as well. Lifting a large dog into a care can be a challenge and cause you to have back problems of your own. Possible injuries to your large pet are costly and traumatic, not to mention time consuming. Avoid these issues with dog ramp and see your pet into old age

                The most common of the allergies which I appropriately call bald butt, not sure about the scientific name, seems to appear during hotter weather or when a Great Dane is stressed.  I have seen it happen with both of our adopted Danes the first year we had them and return only mildly in following years.  The only remedy that I have found to work for any extended period of time is a steroid sot administered by the vet.  This is not the cheapest option and you have to watch out for accidents afterwards but it is effective.  Repeated bathing seems to make the problem worse.

                Another common problem is the muzzle acne, which I have also seen in both Danes in their first years and is aggravated by similar circumstances.  Acne is pretty gross and is characterized by pustules around the mouth and on the chin.  Danes usually seem oblivious to pain but they seem to be bothered by this particular affliction.  The steroid shot is temporarily effective for this outbreak but thankfully it is more easily treatable.  A simple application of vinegar, usually just once or twice should clear this up no problem.  I just wet a paper towel and wipe down the muzzle.  The Great danes don’t appreciate this much but it does work like a charm.

                Ingrown hairs are also fairly common and not easily diagnosed by someone unfamiliar with Danes.  They most commonly occur on the hip (high friction areas) and appear as big growths, almost like a tumor.  The best solution for these suckers is simple.  Put on safety glasses and squeeze.  The dog is usually oblivious and when it pops it is freakishly cool, blood, pus and hair pop out.  Not for the faint of heart but a small price to pay for a Great Dane lover and sickenely addictive.  After the eruption apply some antibacterial ointment and do it again in a few days.  When the growth flattens out and softens to the touch quit with your sick addiction and let the poor beast grow some hair.