One thing to get straight first is that virtually any dog will ruin your yard, it doesn’t matter if it is a pip-squeak poodle. You can guarantee that with pets your grass will not be pristine. Little dogs make trails and their poop is harder to find when it hides in the grass. At least with great dane dog bombs you don’t have any trouble locating the danger.

If you are unfamiliar with animal patterns they are much like people in that they develop habits. Dogs habits are readily visible by the paths that they leave in your yard. They often run the same laps when they get excited, jump on the fence in the same place, or pace in the same area when they are nervous. One particularly bothersome habit that I have recently noticed as the weather warms up is that of my female great dane seeking out the longest healthiest grass on which to sprawl out. I am guessing that this has something to do with the coolness of the grass or the ergonomic benefits of laying in long grass as opposed to short. Whatever the case, it serves to destroy my best looking grass, but at least she tends to rotate her favorite area. This at least means that my yard looks uniformly crappy.

You have a couple of choices about how to approach this particular situation. You could get rid of your beast of burden, but who wants to do that? We love our beasts even if they are a burden. So, you are left with accepting the fact that you will have a less than perfect yard.

I suggest that you make a claim on at least a small portion of your yard. Section of a small area or a patio, at least for a zen meditation garden, you may need this to relax your nerves after dealing with your great dane. Your space requirements will vary depending on your love for your animal, the size of your yard, and the love for your kids. Build fences, buy prefab metal fence pieces, get creative. But stake your claim and stick to it. You do after all need your space.

This strategy allows you to love your beasts despite the fact that they are destructive little devils. Setting up your living environment so that everyone is primed for success is one of the best ways of making sure that your pets and the rest of your family have happy healthy lives and it will lower your stress level.

Let me repeat. Yards are not great dane approved but they are pretty much essential so you better figure out to make them work if you expect to have a happy and well adjusted great dane.

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.

Removing a reason to get mad at your dog can go a along way in improving your relationship with your pet and removing the need for discipline. As much as I love my pets they have done some things that have been pretty infuriating over the years but in the end I have to realize that these things are usually my fault. Or at least they could have been prevented by me.

One of the biggest breakthroughs came when I started using a dog room for isolation. I already hear the scorn… Isolation!!!!??? Not like that, just for times when the great danes are left alone, at night or any other time when I need to put them away for awhile. At first I saw this as a bit cruel myself but in the long run it has eliminated a lot of heart ache and allows me to not worry about my house when I am gone and get a full nights rest when I am home.

I have found that a couple of things are essential for a dog room. And a king sized dog bed is not one of them. They may be spoiled but they are still dogs. Any area of the house that is easily isolated and not to big will work fine. If a dog knows that they may have to stay in an area for awhile they are less likely to make a mess, if you know what I mean.

A hard floor that is easily cleaned is another requirement for a dog room, not only because my dogs have accidents on occasion but also because they shed, droll, and may scratch carpet. Lets be honest, carpet is not exactly pet approved.

I have also learned my lesson about having anything that even remotely resembles a chew toy within any type of reach. I have had great danes chew up furniture, wall, cameras, shoes, toys, etc. The list could go on forever. I should have learned my lesson a long time ago, but I didn’t. Now If I leave everything that can be chewed is out of the area. I am not only talking about pups, but older mature great danes as well. They are mischievous when left alone, wether it comes to getting into the kitchen or getting chewing up anything that smells like mom or dad. DOn’t give them the chance.

If you do not have a good room in the house for a dog room, consider getting a large crate or even a toddler play pen. This can work very well for a great dane. I choose to not shut the door on the danes but to close a baby gat in the door way. This lets them still be part of the family and see what is going on without being a nuisance.

Great danes make a fabulous addition to any family and get along wonderfully with children but they must have boundaries and they must be properly trained. They demand enormous amounts of attention and can be quite annoying if you let them, so my word of wisdom is to put systems in place that manage that annoyance and destruction and allow you to have an enjoyable relationship with your great dane instead of a stressful one.

My conclusions are simple. Great danes love to have a comfortable place to lay down. At times they will even act as if they are too good for the floor, once the spoiling begins there is really no way to stop it. I have also concluded that most dog beds on the market are not adequate for great danes. They are just too big, size wise and they weight too much.

Most dog beds after a few uses by a great dane resemble a pancake. I know from experience that great danes are not the longest lived beast and because of that I would like to attempt to get the most out of my friends. Part of this means giving them a good nights sleep and giving them a comfortable place to lay down.

Think about what an important roll your bed plays in your life. Sleep can literally make you or break you, why would your dog be any different? Also think about this, in the wild dogs can usually find a pretty comfortable padded sheltered place to lay down. Shut inside with nothing more than a hard floor to sleep on dogs can not even find as good a place to sleep as they could in the wild.

Here is what I have found works well for my great danes:

• My first choice when it comes to a bed is a toddler mattress. Not a baby bed, but the size in between a twin and a baby bed. It is a great size and it fits very well into an XL sized dog crate. Find a mattress that has a plastic cover and you will be in business. One accident on a regular mattress and it is time for the land fill. With a plastic covering there is nothing a hose can’t fix. Put a blanket or a sheet on top to reduce the chances of your dane ripping the plastic with their claws. I have even found that a nice looking toddler day bed can make a great looking dane dog bed instead of just throwing a mattress on the ground.
• Used furniture is always a winner. After recliners or couches have passed their wear beyond return point they make great dog beds. I like to put them out of the way but still within reach of the family. Great danes like to be around their people so if yo stick a couch in the basement and expect your dane to use it think again. This works well because once your dane is trained to understand that this is their furniture but other furniture is off limits it keeps them off of the other furniture. I usually put a cover on the couch or chair to keep the hair off and keep it smelling as fresh as possible.
• This is a little bit of a stretch for some but I have found that putting my great dane dog bed in a K-9 room is a great way to keep them out of the way and help yourself get a good nights rest. If you have a great dane you know, they are noisy when they sleep if you want a good nights sleep put your dane dog in their own room and you will be waking more refreshed. Don’t sacrifice a kids room for your dog but if you have the space it is a good idea.
• Nice thick rugs are also a good compromise for your great dane. I have hardwood an tile in all of my rooms and I find that putting a dog bed in more than a few rooms tends to clutter the house but the great danes really appreciate the added comfort of a thick rug. I like the kind that you can wash in a big front load washer.

A little bit of thought and planning can go a long way when it comes to making your great danes comfortable and it doesn’t have to cost a lot or clutter your house needlessly. Owning a great dane dog is kind of like keeping a zoo animal in your house so it requires a little bit more planning but it is well worth it.

But despite the great expense and commitment many people still get great danes, they are too lovable, their personalities too great, and they are just too good looking to say no. So, if you find yourself searching for a breeder because you can’t find a sign in the paper saying great dane puppies for sale here are some tips.

I would first talk to people that you know. If you are considering getting a great dane, you probably know someone that has one or has had on in the past. Start by asking these people who they have delt with to get their great danes. Word of mouth is the best advertising and this is also the best way to ensure that you are dealing with a reputable breeder.

Online searches are always a great place to start if you don’t have any other options but not always the best place to actually find what you are looking for. However they can give you some contacts to start with. A simple great dane puppies for sale search will return you many options.

Once you find a couple of breeders I would suggest going to visit. You want to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable dealer and not just a puppy mill. Breeders should keep a clean area for the dogs and have the ability to keep dogs separated if need be. A special consideration with great danes is to find out what their policy is for ear clipping. It is up to you, but be aware that some breeders clip them all when they are born.

You should be willing to travel. Great dane breeders are not usually in the residential areas and there are not many of them around, so if you want a puppy you may need to be willing to drive a couple hundred miles to see what you are getting.

Most great dane breeders take great pride in their animals. Many will specialize in a specific coat or color. Most breeders will be active in the show circuit and many breeders will also want to have the option to breed your pet in the future. Make sure that you know what is expected of the you if you make a purchase.

It is also important to get the proper health test done, or have documentation from the breeder. Danes are prone to certain health problems so it is a good idea to check with the breeder to see about family history and any other issues that you may need to be aware of.

So, keep your eyes open for the great dane puppies for sale and get one before they get too big.

We actually argued for quite some time about what kind of dog to get. I wanted something ferocious and dangerous, she being the wiser one wanted something that would not kill our children and scare the crap out of the neighbors.

My first recollection of a great dane is not good. As a small child I remember being barked at by one of these giant beast, not a good experience. And, little to my knowledge this jaded me into adulthood. I had for the last 25 years believed great danes to be ferocious killers and I was still scared of them. The realization that they are gentle giants came as a welcome shock, once I realized that they are scary looking but not scary I was easy to convince.

Surprisingly enough shortly after our agreement an old friend called out of the blue and offered us a great dane puppy, free of charge. Wow, these dogs are expensive and we were offered one for free. Talk about meant to be or a match made in heaven. We agreed to pick him up right away.

We named him Klaus and he was a fine little blue merle dane. He had funny markings and his feet were so big he could hardly walk. He was a darling and we fell for him. Having just lost two dogs tragically we greatly appreciated this new great dane puppy and went to work spoiling him with enough love to make our children jealous. We bought him toys, we taught him tricks, we walked him and let him sleep in our bed (not suggested for a great dane).

And for financial reasons we put his vaccinations off for a couple weeks. Not thinking this was a big deal we didn’t give it a second thought. I took him to the grocery store and we took him walking at a local, very busy park.

First, he threw up and we didn’t think much of it, it was after a long hike and it wasn’t all that unusual, but then he started spiraling downhill. He couldn’t control, his bowls, he threw up more, and he looked miserable. I took poor Klaus to the vet and they told me he had Parvo. This is basically a death sentence and the worst part is that it is totally preventable. All you need is to get regular shots. If you can’t afford them from a vet you can get them from a feed store and do it yourself for less than $10.

A couple thousand dollars later, yes we tried to keep him alive, our great dane puppy died 6 weeks after we got him. This lead to a long dark period for my wife but taught us some very valuable lessons. If you get a pet make sure you have the means and the knowledge to take care of them, they are a responsibility and a privilege. We have since had another great dane puppy, but we have never forgotten this painful lesson.

People are often attracted to great danes because they are such fabulous beasts, but a large animal that is really only happy living amongst its owners can become a nuisance if the family is a bad match.

I will be the first to tell you that if you have carpet get rid of it. Expect lunch to disappear if you turn your back for a second, and oh god the poop. God forbid you actually having to clean up an accident inside. They are hard to take care of and they are expensive. Danes are more than many families can handle and for this reason many of them end up abandon and in great dane rescue shelters.

Here are a couple of excellent reasons to get a great dane from a rescue shelter:

Getting a puppy is fun but the joy quickly wears off especially if you have done it before. Getting a house trained dog that is not in puppy phase can ensure that you new pet helps relieve your stress, not add to it.

Getting a rescue dog means that you are helping out. You are making a difference in the dogs life and ensuring that dane will come to a good loving home.

It is cheaper. Great danes can cost $1500 or more, getting one from a great dane rescue shelter will usually cost you nothing more than the adoption fee.

Great danes are very adaptable animals, they usually mesh well with a new family. They are very people oriented and eager to please. They love to play and they love attention. Danes from shelters will usually adapt to a new family very quickly.

Rescue organizations offer a great service for animals, they are a great alternative to kill shelters and pounds, but to keep them open we have to use them. Getting a dog from a rescue shelter is goes a long way to ensure that they will stay open and be able to continue offering their humane animal adoptions. Great dane rescue shelters are a great way to find your next pet.

They are not cheap, if you are looking for a puppy from the Walmart parking lot, you will not find a great dane here. These are pure breed pups and because if this will command a much higher price than more common brands. That said they are also much more rare than many other breeds. Expect to spend in the neighborhood of $600 – $1500 for a pup.

They will eat a ton and they will still look like concentration camp survivors. Big dogs like this will not eat as much as expected when they get older but in the growing phase you can expect to feed a great dane puppy 6 – 10 cups of food per day. I would feed at least 2 times per day and then let them out. It does not take long for the food to digest and cleaning up after a 50 lbs puppy is one of the less desirable aspects of owning a giant dog. Despite the amount they eat, they will still look crazy skinny. All of the nutrients are going into the making of a huge dog, don’t expect them to fill out until they get to around 2 years old.

They chew, and they chew, and then they chew some more. They will chew furniture, they will chew toys, they will chew you. Get used to it. Anything that gets chewed is your fault not theirs, engineer their environment so they don’t chew things that they are not suppost to chew.

They are smart but they are stubborn. Despite what many people say Great danes are some of the most intelligent beast I have ever worked with, but they are stubborn. They will do what they want when they want, but they also love to please their masters. Training is important because they are so dang big. Start training when they are puppies so you avoid problems when they are full grown.

Get great dane puppies their shots. Because of their low body fat they are more susceptible to wasting diseases like Parvo than other breeds, it only takes a one animal in the area or even in the area in the last couple of years and your puppy could catch a vaccine preventable illness.

Great danes are truly fine animals, I will never personally own a different type of dog after having the opportunity to own a great dane. Considering that danes are relatively short lived animals getting a great dane puppy is a great way to prolong the enjoyment and the bonding time you have with these fine beasts.

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