Author: Hello Danes

Ethical Great Dane Breeders are Proud of Their Dogs
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We talk a lot here about Great Dane breeders because we believe it’s important to advocate for this breed.

If you are looking for a Great Dane Puppy, start here! We want to show you how to find and choose an ethical Great Dane breeder.
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Quality Great Dane Breeders are PROUD of their dogs!

They are proud of the dogs that they breed and they are proud of their puppies.
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BREEDER RED FLAGS
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When you are researching breeders, immediately run from any breeder that:
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- Won’t allow you to meet the parents, or at least view them in a live video chat.
- Won’t tell you all about their Great Danes, including honest information about their temperament and health.
- Won’t allow you to view and research the genetic lineage or ask questions about it.
- Won’t be willing to share references or allow you to chat with other puppy owners.
- Doesn’t proudly show off their puppies, the parents, and the puppies they’ve bred that are grown up.
- Breeds unhealthy dogs and/or spot-to-spot (causes double-merle puppies).
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WITHOUT EXCEPTION
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- The parents should be free of aggression, resource guarding, nipping and growling.
- The parents should be free of fearful behavior. Well bred Great Danes are confident, curious, friendly and courageous, not timid or aloof.
- The parents should be well-kept with shiny coats, clean teeth, good muscle development and properly maintained nails.
- The parents should be well trained and have manners that exemplify the ideal gentle friendly giant.
- The parents should be bright and energetic, not slow, painful or sad.
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Only well-bred Great Danes should be used for breeding! Unhealthy, fearful, aggressive dogs with poor structure should never be used in a breeding program. Any breeder that isn’t proud to show off their Dam & Sire to you is a breeder you should be wary of.
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ETHICAL BREEDERS OFTEN TITLE THEIR DOGS

They may show their dogs, take them to training classes so they can get their CGC (Canine Good Citizen), Rally (obedience), Trick, Parkour or other similar titles.

Some breeders do not show or title their dogs at all which may or may not be a red flag.

As a general rule, however, Great Dane Breeders that are active with their dogs tend to be better advocates for health, structure and the breed as a whole.
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BREED STANDARD
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The parents should be excellent examples of the written breed standard.

The dogs they are breeding should not have bad hips, roached backs, extremely droopy eyes or flat feet, however this is extremely common.

They should not be excessively heavy or refined, and they should have a well-balanced structure that is built to support their size.

Be wary of breeders that are focused on buzz words such as ‘designer/rare color’, ‘Euro champion’, and ‘vet checked’. These breeders may not have the best interest of the dogs health in mind.
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A VET CHECK IS NOT HEALTH TESTING

Ethical Great Dane breeders are proud of the health of their dogs and do not hesitate to complete and share the results of FULL OFA health testing on all of their dogs.

Many ‘breeders’ will skip this step because it’s expensive and may produce results that prove they should not breed a dog that they own.

Run from any breeder that does not do full OFA health testing of their dogs. At minimum, you need to see that they have good or excellent results for hips, elbows, heart, eyes and thyroid.
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Outside of the U.S., OFA may not be the registry that is used. This doesn’t negate the requirement that breeders should be completing x-rays, echocardiograms, eye tests and blood work for all of the dogs that they breed.
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Educate, advocate, rescue, foster, adopt.
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Advocacy for Great Danes means supporting rescue efforts, fostering, and only choosing truly ethical breeders.

Anything else is supporting an industry where the health and welfare of the Great Danes we love is not considered.
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January 4, 2021

What is the first thing you should train your puppy? The 5 Fascinating Firsts

Great Dane puppies start off small, sleepy and sweet. It’s only a matter of months before they are larger than most dogs (80-100 lbs by 6 months of age) and able to accidentally hurt somebody.

Because they are so large, they also lose their ‘puppy license’ early.

In public, many people may assume that they are adult dogs and have higher expectations of them in regards to their behavior.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD TRAIN YOUR PUPPY?

A Great Dane puppy that pulls, lunges, runs out of doors and ignores commands is an absolute handful to deal with, and that can all happen before they begin to reach sexual maturity (a whole other ball of wax that includes typical teenage shenanigans, among other things.

Basically put, if you wait until your puppy is 4-5 months old before attending a training class or working on anything other than ‘sit’, you’re in trouble.

THE 5 ESSENTIALS FOR PUPPY TRAINING

Here is our list of 5 Things ALL Great Dane Puppies should know by 6 months of age!

Given that most puppies are already 2 months old when they come home, you have 4 months to install calm, confident behavior. Put that work in now and it will pay off!

POTTY TRAINING
CRATE TRAINING
LEASH TRAINING
BASIC OBEDIENCE COMMANDS
PUPPY SOCIALIZATION

In order to train a puppy, pet parents need to be vigilant with training sessions, create a puppy training schedule, and begin training soon after they bring their new puppy home.

POTTY TRAINING A NEW PUPPY

The first of five things that puppy parents are responsible to help their new puppy learn is potty training.

Potty training requires their puppy to begin learning that they cannot pee and poo inside the house, but rather finding a potty spot outside.

Training your puppy to potty outside is not always as easy as it sounds. Young puppies have natural behaviors and learning impulse control for when and where to potty is something that puppies learn over a few weeks time.

Start training your new pup to go outside to go potty right when you bring them home. House training a new puppy can be difficult, but if you are consistent in your efforts, your puppy will catch on quickly.

Pet parents can potty train a puppy with puppy treats and lots of positive reinforcement. Spend longer periods of time outside with your new pup, if possible. Using food rewards, begin training your puppy where you would like them to potty.

GREAT DANE POTTY TRAINING

HOW TO POTTY TRAIN A PUPPY

POTTY TRAINING IN AN APARTMENT

THE HARDEST PART OF POTTY TRAINING

We do not recommend putting your puppy’s nose in their pee while they are potty training as this could confuse them and teach your new puppy that you are the dominant one and they are powerless.

CRATE TRAINING A NEW PUPPY

The second of the five things that all puppies should learn is crate training. Crate training a new puppy is important for several reasons:

It creates a safe space for your puppy to stay when you are not able to supervise them. Puppies have a natural denning instinct and will often seek out a small, cosy space to rest in.
A crate can provide that for your puppy when they are first learning to stay calm and relaxed in your home.
Crating your new puppy will set the puppy’s life up for success by teaching them that not everything in the world is for them to chew on or play with. Puppies are notorious for chewing and getting into things, so crate training can help to manage that natural puppy behavior.
Crate puppy training can also be used as a management tool when company comes over or if there is something going on in the house that is too stimulating for your new puppy. It allows you to have peace of mind knowing that your new puppy is safe and not getting into anything they shouldn’t be.

How to crate train a Great Dane: click here

HOW TO CRATE TRAIN A PUPPY
THE BEST CRATES

LEASH PUPPY TRAINING TIPS

It is important to start training sessions with your new dog on the leash as soon as possible. Your pup will probably show aversion to the leash at first, but dog’s learn quickly that a leash usually equates to something fun!

Using a food lure, show your dog that you’d like them in a sitting position, then you can put the leash on to your pup.

Show them how to walk politely. If your dog likes to jump ahead, slowly begin training your dog basic manners on the leash.

HOW TO WALK YOUR DOG

5 TIPS FOR LEASH SKILLS

LEASH TRAINING REVIEW

RECALL FOR GREAT DANES

OFF LEASH FAILS

HOW TO TEACH LEASH SKILLS

THE BEST LEASHES FOR BIG DOGS

OUR FAVORITE LEASHES

LEASH TRAINING AND IT’S CHALLENGES

COMMON LEASH TRAINING MISTAKES IN A DOG’S LIFE

Never allow a puppy to pull or learn that pulling ‘works’. This may mean adjusting your expectations: puppies do NOT need long walks, so it’s generally fairly easy to avoid practicing poor leash skills.

Loose leash walking is largely a socialization issue: puppies that are generally understimulated (bored), anxious and fearful or over-excited by the environment tend to pull, whine, lunge, jump and try to run.

PUPPY SOCIALIZATION IS RELATED TO LEASH TRAINING YOUR PUP

Put the time in now to reinforce engagement, calm behavior and staying nearby.

As above, calm leash manners are largely related to proper socialization. Confident puppies that are desensitized to the world are much less likely to be pull like a freight train, a behavior that is often driven by anxiety or excitement.

Check out our blog post on Great Dane puppy socialization for more tips! That said. even well-socialized, calm and confident dogs can quickly learn that pulling gets them where they want to go. You still need to train the correct behavior and reinforce appropriate leash skills EARLY and often.

FUN LEASH GAMES THAT CAN BE PLAYED FOR THE ENTIRE LIFE OF A DOG

Reward your puppy for eye contact several times. When your puppy is engaged and interested, turn your back.

When your puppy comes to the front to find you, say “YES!” and give a treat. Turn your back again and take a step away.

The puppy will come to find the treat, say “YES!” and give a treat. Make this FUN! Work up to turning your back and walking all over the house. A puppy that has been taught this fun game will follow you and stay close.

This is early loose-leash walking with engagement (eye contact)! Practice this game in your living room, in the backyard, and on a long leash (15+ feet) in the front yard.

Make it fun, exciting, and increasingly more difficult for the puppy to ‘keep up’ with you! *If your puppy seems uninterested, try playing this game later in a lower distraction area. A boring bedroom for example, and use HIGHER value treats to start. Make sure your puppy has also had enough play time AND nap time.

THE WITH ME GAME – EARLY FOUNDATION FOR HEEL

Some people call it ‘with me’, others call it ‘heel’.

Position yourself so that the dog is on the side you want to build the behavior on (most people choose the left side for the dog). Keep the leash in the hand OPPOSITE your puppy.

Put a high value treat in your fist and hold it in front of your puppies nose. They will sniff and as you walk forward, they will walk with you.

Practice this many times until you can eliminate the ‘lure’ of your fist, take several steps and then reward your puppy for walking next to you. Remember to use a lot of praise directed to your dog all throughout training!

In a matter of weeks, with consistent practice, you’ll be able to walk with your pup, all over your house and turn left or right and your puppy will stay glued to your left side without frequent treats and without lures. Deliver rewards more and more sporadically as the behavior becomes stronger.

Practice this skill everywhere. Indoors, in your yard, in your front yard, in a training class, in a park where children and other dogs are there to generate distractions, at a pet-friendly store.

Start easy and work your way up!

BASIC OBEDIENCE COMMANDS

From the very day your adorable new puppy comes home, reward eye contact and engagement as often as possible. Basic commands can be taught by doing activities where your pup learns that it is fun to stay engaged with you! You are your dog’s advocate. Dogs learn by having fun. Keep training sessions short and get active with training your dog.

TRAINING YOUR PUPPY TO COME

If your puppy comes to you, PRAISE! YES!

The practice of seeking out your attention and your eye contact is VERY important and one that will pay off if you spend a lot of time rewarding it.

THE LOOK AT ME GAME

Have your puppy or dog sit or engage with you.

Say ‘LOOK!’ and hold a treat by your eye. When your puppy looks at you, say ‘YES!’ and deliver the treat. This activity is training your new pup that eye contact is a positive!

As your puppy understands, fade out the treat lure and just point to your eye, then eventually fade out pointing to your eye and just say “LOOK!”.

You want your puppy to automatically make eye contact with you when you say the word “LOOK” or when you say their name.

This skill is phenomenally important when you want (or need) to redirect your puppy back to you.

ENGAGEMENT GAME TIME

Toss a treat away from you, just a few feet away.

The puppy will run and grab it, let them have it.

Be energetic and say your puppies name. As SOON as your puppy turns their head back to you, say “YES!” and then reward your puppy with a treat.

Play this game several times in different places. Toss the treat farther away, to the side, etc. Make this fun!

TEACH YOUR DOG TO TOUCH YOUR PALM WITH THEIR NOSE

Teach your puppy to boop their nose to your open palm. This is an excellent ‘alternate’ behavior that can be used to redirect your puppy away from other dogs, people and even barking.

To teach ‘touch’, hold your hand open. Your puppy will probably go to sniff or see what you have. Immediately say “YES!” then offer a small treat.

Practice this behavior for no more than a minute, and then use it often at home.

When your puppy clearly understands that touch always means ‘touch the hand’, you can make the game more complicated by moving your hand into different places.

Between your legs, up high, down low, etc.

If you see your puppy start to focus on something, try the TOUCH command. With practice, you’ll find that it’s a really valuable tool for redirecting your dogs attention away from something and back to you.

PUPPY SOCIALIZATION

Basic commands go alongside puppy socialization. You do not need to attend group classes with your dog to have the perfect pup, although you can certainly get your pup with other puppies if you want to.

To keep your puppy engaged, practice some skills that will help them in the real world.

TAKING TRIPS WITH YOUR DOGS

GREAT DANE PUPPIES

GREAT DANE PUPPY SOCIALIZATION

EARLY SOCIALIZATION

GOING FOR WALKS

BORED DOGS

CALM GREETINGS

One of the biggest ‘socialization’ mistakes people make is allowing excited, squealing humans to greet their puppy. This either terrifies the puppy (making them fearful and aloof towards strangers) OR makes them extremely jumpy and wiggly when greeting people because they associate the experience with elevated excitement levels.

Neither version of that is a good look for a 100+ lb adolescent Great Dane!

Practicing calm greetings early are essential for creating dogs that can meet people and go anywhere without fear, nipping, jumping, peeing or other submissive (belly up) & excited behaviors.

CALM GREETINGS GAME TIME

Contrary to popular belief, your puppy does NOT have to meet every person and dog that comes along.

Many people do not like dogs, and some especially do not like large dogs that pull hard to come at them! It’s also true that many dogs do NOT like other dogs, so it’s important to teach your puppy how to ignore dogs instead of pulling to get to them.

One of the most important skills you can teach your puppy is that people and dogs are everywhere, and that’s all there is to it.

BONUS: this is great for socialization!

PEOPLE WATCHING

Sit on your lawn or in a park and just watch people walking by. Watch a variety of people on bikes, carrying children, walking dogs, pushing strollers, etc.

Watch, and use your ‘LOOK’ and ‘TOUCH’ commands to encourage your puppy to focus on you, not on the environment.

Note: If your puppy is fearful OR excited, move farther away from where people and dogs are and keep practicing. You’ll eventually be able to move closer, especially if you are consistently rewarding your puppy for focusing on you.

SAY HELLO TO NEW FRIENDS FROM AFAR

Have a friend stop to greet you from afar. Say hello and have a little chat, but have your friend IGNORE your puppy.

This helps teach the puppy that they will not be greeted by every person or dog who comes along.

Remember to redirect your puppy back to you with LOOK and TOUCH, and back up several feet from your friend if your puppy cannot focus on you.

Over time you’ll not only be able to move closer, but your friend will be able to greet your puppy!

CALM GREETING PRACTICE

It’s much easier to teach calm greetings with dogs that are well socialized (have calmly watched tons of people and dogs walk by) and engaged with you. Keep building that foundation.

To practice calm greetings, keep your puppy on a leash, and have your friend approach.

If your puppy tries to jump and pull, choose one of the following:

Ask for a LOOK or TOUCH, if those behaviors are very strong
Immediately do an about face. You can say ‘uh-oh’ and turn and walk AWAY.

With practice, your puppy will learn that jumping and pulling means they will NOT be allowed to greet people and dogs, and that approaching calmly is the key.

If your puppy has already been allowed to practice jumping and pulling to greet people and dogs, this behavior can be difficult to work with…especially when your puppy is 75lbs and counting!

HIRING A DOG TRAINER

We highly recommend you find a highly qualified trainer to help you if you are struggling!

When meeting strangers, do NOT be afraid to advocate for your dog! Say “I’d love to have you greet my dog, can you please help us?”

You can give them a treat to give your puppy, and tell them that you want your puppy to calmly wait while they approach. They will reward the puppy with a treat and your puppy will learn two things: calm behavior = attention from humans AND food!

Such a great lesson.

GO TO YOUR PLACE

Teaching a puppy to ‘go to a mat’ is easy to do and creates a behavior that can be taken anywhere.

You can use a yoga mat, towel, or elevated surface (KLIMB platform or Kuranda Cot) for this.

If your puppy can calmly lay on a mat and ignore distractions, you can take your puppy anywhere and they will have the mat to keep them calm and contained when needed.

Imagine how valuable this skill could be while having guests over, visiting family, sitting in the vets office or even camping!

This skill is especially helpful for excited dogs that have a hard time settling.

PLACE SKILLS GAME TIME

One of the most simple ways to create early mat skills is to integrate the mat from day one.

Put the mat or elevated surface in the room and randomly leave treats on it for your puppy to find.

This particular version is especially helpful if you want your dog puppy to have a dedicated lounging space in your home.

For creating a more portable mat situation, try this.

Place the towel or cot on the floor. Immediately reward your puppy with a “YES” and treat for investigating.
Then toss a treat AWAY from the mat. Your puppy will chase the treat and then come back. As soon as they come near the mat, sniff it or step on it, say “YES” and offer another treat.
Repeat this game until your puppy learns that coming onto the mat is VERY rewarding.
Add the ‘FREE’ and ‘MAT’ commands.
Say FREE and toss the treat away from the mat. Then when the puppy comes back, say ‘Go to your mat’ and reward the puppy for putting all four paws on the mat.
Work this skill up to the puppy actually laying on the mat. Step away just a bit then reward again.
Gradually you’ll be able to walk away from the mat and have your puppy calmly stay on it until you say FREE.

SOCIALIZATION HOLES AND GAPS

Holes in your socialization and training will become very, very clear when your puppy is around 6-9 months of age. It is around that point where fearful behavior, aggression, barking, pulling, and ignoring recall and other commands can become a real problem.

It’s extremely important to install as many positive, calm skills as possible when your puppy is young!

Even the best training will be challenged by an adolescent puppy; anticipate that at some point, your dog will attempt to defy all of these things that you’ve spent hours teaching.

It is at that point which you need to continue teaching, continue reinforcing, and continue managing behavior so that your puppy has more successes than failures.

VACCINATIONS

We do not recommend waiting until your puppy is fully vaccinated to begin socialization and training!

There are safe, clean puppy pre-school classes that you can take. A lot of socialization can be done safely at home (remember, see our Puppy Socialization for Great Danes post here!).

Training classes should begin as soon as possible. Most trainers will have puppies begin class at 10 – 12 weeks of age; they are well aware of risk and will keep a clean and sanitized facility.

If you are worried about disease, you can hire a trainer to come to your home and teach you and your puppy valuable early skills.

Need ideas for healthy socialization?

SURRENDERED PUPPIES

Puppies are so sleepy at first that many people think they have an ‘easy’ puppy.

The puppy does eventually ‘wake up’ but the bad habits and poor socialization skills have already been installed.

This problem paired with the size and power of Great Danes is a big reason that so many end up surrendered in their adolescent months.

Choose only ethical breeders with a lifetime return guarantee (no dogs in rescue, ever) and make sure that you understand the responsibility that comes with owning, and being loved by a Great Dane.

Puppyhood is a time to set your dog up for success in life, not just the next few months.

BACKYARD BREEDERS

FOSTERING GREAT DANES

RED FLAGS OF BREEDERS

THE BEST DIETS FOR BIG DOGS

LARGEST DOG BREEDS

PUPPIES IN RESCUES

SHOULD YOU BUY OR ADOPT?

GETTING APPROVED TO ADOPT

TEETHING AND CHEWING

Chew toys, chew toys, and more chew toys. Your puppy is going to want to chew on EVERYTHING.

Make sure that you have an adequate supply of safe things that your pup can chew on during training. A chew toy could help your pup learn what is right and wrong in regards to chewing.

TRAINING A PUP TO GROW UP INTO A RESPONSIBLE DOG IS NOT ALWAYS EASY

Puppy training tips are everywhere, but ultimately puppy training comes down to owners being willing to dedicate time, patience, and consistency to the process.

You need to be willing to:

Set limits
Create a schedule
Stick to that schedule
Provide plenty of chew toys
Make sure your puppy has plenty of socialization opportunities
Take your pup to training classes

Remember, your puppy is counting on you to help them grow up into a well-behaved, responsible dog. Don’t let them down!

E COLLAR TRAIN YOUR PUPPY

E COLLAR MYTHS

LEARN THE BASICS OF HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DOG

HOW TO CRATE TRAIN

FIND THE BEST DOG TRAINER

HOW TO POTTY TRAIN

POTTY TRAINING IN AN APARTMENT

REALITY TV DOG TRAINING

Panosteitis in Great Dane Puppies
Panosteitis, commonly referred to as “growing pains” or “pano,” manifests as a painful and distressing condition observed in Great Dane puppies. Large and giant breed dogs grow extremely fast during puppyhood, and fast growth is associated with several disorders. Panosteitis in Great Dane puppies is a condition characterized by inflammation in the long bones of the limbs, causing intermittent lameness and discomfort.

If you have a Great Dane pup that is in pain, they may have panosteitis!

In this post, we will cover:
- Symptoms of growing pains in dogs
- What causes panosteitis
- How to prevent growing pains in puppies
- Treatments and therapies for managing panosteitis
- The role of balanced diet in reducing the risk of growth disorders in large & giant breed puppies
Symptoms of Panosteitis Growing Pains in Puppies

It’s important to note that MANY growth disorders cause similar symptoms. If your puppy is sick, limping, flat-footed or buckling over, lame, lethargic, painful, or has growth plates that are warm to the touch, you must see a veterinarian immediately.

Our blog will provide you with a starting point. The symptoms of panosteitis include:
- Intermittent Lameness: Puppies with panosteitis often experience shifting lameness, moving from one limb to another.
- Reluctance to Bear Weight: Affected pups may show hesitancy or reluctance to put weight on the limb, leading to a noticeable limp.
- Migrating Lameness: The condition may cause lameness to shift between the front and hind legs over time.
- Altered Gait: Panosteitis can result in changes to the puppy’s gait, contributing to an observable limp or awkward movement.
- Lethargy: Puppies with growing pains may exhibit signs of lethargy, displaying reduced energy levels and overall activity.
- Reduced Physical Activity: Due to pain and discomfort, affected puppies might be less inclined to engage in normal physical activities.
- Swelling: Swelling around the affected limb can be present, often accompanied by sensitivity to touch.
- Varied Severity: Symptoms can vary in severity, and the duration of discomfort may differ from one puppy to another.
Veterinary Consultation: Timely consultation with a veterinarian is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of panosteitis in growing puppies.

What Causes Panosteitis in Puppies?

As with many disorders and conditions seen in Great Danes, the exact cause is still unknown. Many theories have floated around, however! It is believed that there are dietary, environmental, and genetic components.

Some puppies will suffer from panosteitis even if you do “everything right”.

If your puppy is from a breeder, they must be aware so that they can address the issue from the ground up. Ideally, they should not be seeing this condition regularly pop up in their litters; if they do, that’s a sign that something is not right.
- Genetic Predisposition: Great Danes, a large and giant breed, may have a genetic predisposition to panosteitis.
- Rapid Growth: The fast growth phase during puppyhood, characteristic of large breeds, is thought to contribute to the development of panosteitis. Never accelerate growth with fatty foods and nutritional supplements!
- Nutritional Factors: Imbalances or inadequacies in diet, especially regarding calcium and phosphorus levels, are believed to play a role in panosteitis.
- Hormonal Influences: Hormonal fluctuations during the growth phase may contribute to the inflammation observed in panosteitis.
- Immune System Response: Some theories suggest that panosteitis may result from an immune system response, although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood.
- Environmental Factors: Certain environmental factors or stressors may exacerbate the development of panosteitis in susceptible Great Dane puppies. Hard, slick floors are an example of an environmental factor.
- Viral or Bacterial Infections: While less common, infections have been considered potential triggers for panosteitis in some cases.
- Exercise Intensity: Excessive or intense exercise, especially in rapidly growing puppies, is believed to be a contributing factor.
- Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in hormonal levels during the growth phase may contribute to the development of panosteitis in Great Dane puppies.
For most dogs, growing pains are likely a complex interaction of multiple factors.

What Age Do Dogs Get Panosteitis?

Growing giant breed dogs are not considered mature until age 2 (or after the growth plates have closed). This means that panosteitis can be diagnosed at nearly any time before that! It is most often seen between 4 and 18 months of age.

Male dogs are affected more often than female dogs, presumably because they tend to be larger.

However, panosteitis can occur in the long bones of a dog of any age.

How is Panosteitis Diagnosed?

A veterinarian may want to do x-rays, in particular, to rule out more serious bone growth disorders that may present in a similar fashion (retained cartilage cores or HOD, for example).

The veterinarian will feel the bones of your puppy and look for a pain response.

A radiograph of the affected bones may then show increased bone density, which can help to verify the diagnosis of Panosteitis.

X-rays may require that your puppy be sedated. Work with a veterinarian that you trust! This necessary step can ensure that your pup can have the radiographs taken without excessive use of handling (which can be painful and stressful to a puppy suffering from growing pains).

The good news is that Pano (Panosteitis) is generally mild and self-limiting. Most dogs outgrow the condition and suffer no long-term effects.

This does NOT mean that you shouldn’t seek diagnosis and treatment!

Panosteitis can be very painful for the puppy. Your veterinarian can prescribe anti-inflammatories and medications to help treat the condition. Changes to your pup’s diet and exercise routine may also be prescribed (more on this below).

How Long Do Puppy Growing Pains Last?

Pano typically impacts the affected leg /affected bone of one or more limbs for a few days to a few weeks. It will often then switch to a different limb.

This can go on for several months, especially if left untreated!

The good news is that panosteitis is not a degenerative condition; unlike other puppy growth disorders, it does not cause long-term damage to the bones.

The Role of Diet in Healthy Large Puppy Growth

Nutrition plays a pivotal role in the development of healthy bones, joints, and overall skeletal structure, particularly in breeds like Great Danes, known for their substantial size and explosive growth.

Feeding a nutrient-dense, calorie-dense food with high calcium levels is devastating to them. This is a common problem seen in boutique food brands designed for regular (not large/giant breed) puppies. Do not fall prey to marketing!

Instead, choose a large or giant breed puppy food that was designed to support slow, even growth.

Large-breed puppy formulas are designed to maintain the delicate equilibrium between essential nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus, ensuring that the skeletal system develops at a controlled rate.

Overnutrition, especially in terms of excessive caloric intake or improper ratios of key nutrients, can lead to a spectrum of issues, including skeletal abnormalities and conditions like panosteitis.

Never, ever feed your Great Dane puppy food with more than 1.2% calcium, or more than 3.5g of calcium per 1000 kCal. If you are unsure of the values of the food you are feeding, use the search tool HERE to find your formula.

The food you choose for your Great Dane puppy is of fundamental importance. The only foods we recommend feeding (especially for puppies suffering from Panosteitis) are listed below:
- Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy – any flavor!
- Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Large Breed puppy – TOP PICK, salmon-based
- Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy (Great for active and sporting dogs)
- Purina One Large Breed Puppy (Excellent budget option)
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed
- Royal Canin Giant Puppy Dry Dog food (to age 12 months) – TOP PICK, PREMIUM OPTION
- Royal Canin Giant Junior Dry Dog food (8-24 months)
- Purina Large Breed Puppy Chow
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

What Dogs Get Panosteitis?

While growing pains can affect all dogs, this particular disorder disproportionally affects large and giant breed puppies.

Big dogs grow incredibly fast and the bones, muscles, and tendons need to be coordinated during this time. The dogs listed below are most susceptible to panosteitis:
1. German Shepherds
2. Labrador Retrievers
3. Basset Hounds
4. Great Danes
5. Doberman Pinschers
How Long Do Panosteitis Episodes Last?

The duration of panosteitis episodes in dogs, including Great Danes, can vary widely and is influenced by several factors.

Generally, each episode may last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

The intermittent nature of panosteitis, characterized by shifting lameness and periods of relative comfort, adds to the variability in episode duration. Some puppies may experience shorter and milder episodes, while others may endure more prolonged and pronounced discomfort.

The age of onset also plays a role, with panosteitis typically affecting puppies between the ages of 5 to 18 months during their rapid growth phase. As the affected dog matures, the frequency and intensity of episodes often diminish.

However, individual responses to treatment, environmental factors, and the overall health of the dog can influence the length and severity of panosteitis episodes. Veterinarians play a crucial role in managing the condition, offering tailored treatment plans and guidance to alleviate symptoms and ensure the well-being of the growing canine companion.

How Can I Treat My Puppy’s Growing Pains?

If you are seeing clinical signs of Pano, a veterinary visit is recommended.

We highly recommend switching to a large or giant breed puppy food that meets WSAVA guidelines and making changes to your routine to eliminate environmental factors such as hard floors.

Do not feed supplements or toppers of any kind to your pano puppy.

Additionally, the following things can help:
1. Pain Medication and Anti-inflammatories as prescribed by your Veterinarian.
2. Use runners, yoga mats, and rugs on your floor as your dog’s activity on slippery surfaces can cause more pain.
3. Keep puppy nails short.
4. Regular short, gentle walks on soft varied terrain such as grass, sand, and gravel will help to keep muscles toned without stressing the bones. Use a long leash and avoid restrictive no-pull harnesses.
5. Apply a warm compress to the affected area, such as this one from Amazon. Follow the directions for safety, please!
6. Feed a balanced, science-based, and tested large or giant breed puppy food (read more HERE)
7. Do not overfeed or encourage your puppy to eat a lot.
8. Acupuncture, laser therapy, and CBD can help with pain relief in long bones and soft tissue lining. Talk to your veterinarian for a referral!
9. Repeat x-rays if necessary to rule out hip dysplasia and other growth disorders.
It may also be helpful to choose a proper orthopedic dog bed. We recommend a Big Barker bed.

How to Slow Growth to Prevent Panosteitis in Puppies

Do not overfeed your puppy and let him/her become heavy and overweight.

Many people are concerned that their puppies are too thin or not eating enough. However, one of the worst things they can do is to start adding tasty treats, toppers, and fatty foods to the bowl!

Great Dane puppies benefit from receiving a well-formulated, simple diet with the correct balance of calcium, phosphorus, and energy. Adding enticements only messes up this balance, leading to growth disorders and more.

It is normal and desirable for Dane puppies to be lean and lanky during their explosive growth stages. Heavy, bulky puppies that are encouraged to grow quickly are more likely to suffer from growth disorders.

Never feed a multivitamin supplement, no matter how much your breeder wants you to believe it’s necessary. Remember, breeders are not nutritionists! Talk to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist if you want a science-backed answer.

Don’t be tempted to choose low-protein adult food as a means to slow growth; this outdated practice is not recommended.

Here is a veterinary article on Panosteitis that may be of interest to you.

I also found this article to be very helpful, as it includes images and a more clinical look at Panosteitis in dogs.
December 27, 2020
Great Dane Puppy Food
Welcome to the world of owning a Great Dane Puppy! Now you have to figure out what to feed it. Choosing the right Great Dane puppy food can be difficult and confusing. There is a lot of conflicting, misleading, and even dangerous information out there. We get it, because we’ve totally been there!

Great Dane puppies grow extremely fast and unfortunately, the wrong dog food can be devastating for their health. Giant breed dogs are susceptible to a number of nutrition-related imbalances and orthopedic growth disorders.

Many of these conditions are preventable with the right diet. Choosing the best puppy food for your Great Dane is key, and the right kibble may not be what you think!

If you have a new Great Dane puppy and are confused about what to feed it, you’ve found the most scientific, up-to-date article! We are driven by current research and science, not outdated advice or clickbait.

In this post you will find:
- A list of the best foods to feed a Great Dane puppy (2023 update!)
- Health problems caused by incorrect nutrition in puppyhood
- How to choose food for a Great Dane puppy
- Best practices for feeding Great Dane puppies
- Supplements and health information
Read on, Great Dane friends!

2023 Best Foods for Great Dane Puppies

Before we dig into the WHY, please check out this list of foods that are the best and most well-researched options. You don’t need to flip endless bags to find the right one; choose from the list below and you WILL be making a solid choice.

We know you are busy chasing that cute puppy around, so if you want the simple, already researched-for-you answer, here it is. Easy-peasy!

The foods on the list below meet the following science-backed recommendations:
- 1.2% or less calcium
- 3.5g or less calcium per 1000kcal
- Formulated by a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist who is on staff for the company (not a consultant)
- Grain-inclusive
- Contains Meat Meal as a top ingredient (reduces bloat risk)
- Has the AAFCO Large Breed Growth Statement
- Formulated correctly for the growth of large AND giant breed puppies (not “adult maintenance” diets)
Click on any link below to view on Chewy.
- Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy – any flavor!
- Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Large Breed puppy – TOP PICK, salmon-based
- Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy (Great for active and sporting dogs)
- Purina One Large Breed Puppy (Excellent budget option)
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed
- Royal Canin Giant Puppy Dry Dog food (to age 12 months) – TOP PICK, PREMIUM OPTION
- Royal Canin Giant Junior Dry Dog food (8-24 months)
- Purina Large Breed Puppy Chow
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

Great Dane Puppy Growth Disorders Caused by Wrong Food

If you are new to Great Danes, you may not be aware of how they are different than other dogs. They experience explosive growth from birth to 8 months of age, and then continue to grow and fill out until they are nearly 3 years old.

Imagine going from 1 pound to 100 pounds in just 8 months!

The wrong kibble formulation and unbalanced, untested foods from boutique companies or home cooking can cause:
- Bone growth disorders
- Knuckling
- Limb Deformities
- Panosteitis (growing pains)
- HOD
- OCD
- Flat feet
- Weak pasterns
- Incorrect bone density and development
- Lack of muscle tone
- Poor overall stature
- Dull coat
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Low Energy
- Calcium, taurine, or vitamin deficiencies or excess
- Secondary DCM
- Increased risk of adult arthritis, wobblers, osteosarcoma, and orthopedic problems
There is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there about what to feed a Great Dane Puppy.

Today we are using science and modern knowledge to clear it up, once and for all!

If you are looking for dog food for an older or adult Great Dane (18+ months), read HERE.

Great Dane Puppy Food – What You Need to Know

We are going to cover some important need-to-know topics below. You may notice that we are going to dispel a LOT of myths about what to feed Dane puppies, too!

Here are some common nutrition myths in the world of Danes. If you hear these, you are hearing information from people that are stuck in 1993.

“Never feed puppy food!”

“Great Dane puppies should only eat adult food!”

“The protein level must be very low! Never feed a food with protein above 24%”

“Add calcium to the diet so their bones can grow.”

All of those statements are outdated and misleading! Let’s dig into this!

Should I feed puppy food or adult food to my Great Dane?

This is the biggest and most important question you can ask yourself as a Great Dane Owner! Should Great Dane puppies eat adult food?

Absolutely not! Get that idea out of your head right now.

Story time!

20 years ago we didn’t have an understanding about what causes growth disorders in large and giant breed puppies. Anecdotally, breeders found that if they fed adult food to their puppies, they experienced fewer growth problems.

At one time, this concept did have merit. The problem here is that it’s now 2023 and we have much, much better choices.

Adult food works to minimize growth disorders by literally starving the puppy of the nutrition that it needs to grow.

Seriously. I don’t know about you, but I am not ok with that. We see a LOT of 8-18 month old Great Danes that have no muscle tone and are hopelessly lanky and skinny. This is why! They are being fed adult food and don’t receive enough nutrients to support their muscle, tendon, and brain development.

Guess what?

Through feeding trials and data research, dry dog food formulas have been modified and updated. Many large and giant breed PUPPY foods are now considered ideal for giant breed puppy dogs.

A science-backed, properly formulated large-breed or giant-breed puppy food will have been designed, tested, and proven to encourage slow growth and healthy bone development. Veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists will repeat this.

Great Dane puppies should be on a well-researched large or giant breed puppy formula until 18-24 months. Intake and body condition should be monitored. You should never, ever feed traditional puppy foods that are not made for large breed dogs! This is of key importance.

Here is our list of appropriate foods to feed a Great Dane Puppy (more on why, below!):
- Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy – any flavor!
- Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Large Breed puppy – TOP PICK, salmon-based
- Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy (Great for active and sporting dogs)
- Purina One Large Breed Puppy (Excellent budget option)
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed
- Royal Canin Giant Puppy Dry Dog food (to age 12 months) – TOP PICK, PREMIUM OPTION
- Royal Canin Giant Junior Dry Dog food (8-24 months)
- Purina Large Breed Puppy Chow
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

Calcium & Phosphorus Ratios in Great Dane Puppy Food

In addition to being an appropriate grain-inclusive large or giant breed growth formula, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus is a key consideration when choosing food for your puppy.

Calcium must be at or below 1.3% (1.2% is even better) and the Phosphorus should be CLOSE behind it.

NOTE: However, even foods with correct calcium and phosphorus ratios may not be appropriate!

There is a lot more to nutrition than just that. Amino acids, the source of those nutrients (meat vs. peas or legumes), and ultimate bioavailability and formulation of the finished product are incredibly important. It is also believed that vitamin D and zinc levels contribute, which is why it is difficult to compare foods in an informed manner. Two foods may appear to be very similar based on the limited information the label provides, however, they likely are not.

A typical CA/PH analysis might look like this below, or similar. Do not feed food brands that don’t have this information easily accessible on the label!

Calcium 1.2%
Phosphorus 1.0%

Look specifically for the AAFCO large breed growth statement on the bag of food. This is a requirement to find in addition to seeing the calcium levels at or below 1.2%!

The AAFCO large breed growth statement will contain something that looks like this:

“including growth of large-size dogs (70 pounds or more as an adult)“

If it says “excluding growth of large-size dogs”, do NOT feed it. If it does not have a statement about the growth of large-size dogs, don’t feed that either.

What is the Best Protein Level for Great Dane puppy food?

Many people believe that protein is the most important thing to look at. This is fairly dated information, based again on old observations. Some people believe you should keep protein levels less than 24%.

Many Great Danes are being starved of protein in the name of this. Protein provides amino acids that are necessary for health. Protein must come primarily from a meat source. Meat meals and meat by-product meals are ideal, as they offer a concentrated source of amino acids and protein!

Food brands that use ‘fresh deboned meat’ and no meat meals will be deficient and likely heavy in starches; don’t fall for marketing that is designed to appeal to your tastes. Foods that are extremely heavy in peas, lentils, garbanzo beans, potatoes, or derivatives of them are not safe to feed.

Meat meals (or by-product meals) contain biologically appropriate meat tissue, bone, cartilage, and organ. These ingredients have also been shown to reduce the risk of bloat by 53%!

Some of the best foods will have protein levels up to 32%! Royal Canin Giant Breed Puppy, for example, which has been scientifically proven for growth.

Here are other considerations:
- Meat and/or ideally meat meals must be in the first 4 ingredients (may reduce the risk of bloat)
- Free of artificial colors and flavors
- Grain-inclusive (do not feed commercial grain-free kibble diets without veterinary guidance.)
- May be formulated with added Fish Oil or DHA/AHA and Probiotics for brain and gut health
- Food should be science-backed and meet WSAVA guidelines (recommendations) Read the guidelines HERE.
AAFCO Food Guidelines for Puppy Foods

The food you choose for your Dane puppy should have an AAFCO statement on the bag with only small variations to the following statement.

This statement should indicate that the food is formulated for the growth of large-sized dogs AND that food trials were used to prove that the formulation is correct for growth:

Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [THIS FORMULA] provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages, including growth of large sized dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

***Note: In dog food, ‘Large Sized Dogs’ is a simplified term that INCLUDES giant breeds.

Here is some additional information on AAFCO statements.

If the nutrition statement says “formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles”, it means that the food wasn’t substantiated in food trials. It was only seen to meet certain minimums on paper.

It’s important to understand that MANY food companies can use a computer program to spit out recipes, send it to their marketing department to make adjustments that appeal to you (ingredient splitting), and have it signed off by a consulting company that it meets AAFCO minimums.

Use your best judgment here. Ask questions and look past the marketing.

Best Food Brands for Great Danes

The following food brands are recommended for these reasons:
- They meet the highest standards for analysis, formulation, testing, science, nutrition, and ethics
- Formulated by on-staff board-certified veterinary nutritionists
- They use biologically correct ingredients such as meat by-product meals
- Subjected to millions of dollars in research, testing and feeding trials
- Balanced protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus ratios
- Proven
- Science-based, not marketing-based
All of the items below are links to this product on Chewy. We recommend placing your choice on autoship!

Large Breed Puppy foods from these brands are ideal for Great Dane Puppies:
- Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy – any flavor!
- Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Large Breed puppy – TOP PICK, salmon-based
- Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy (Great for active and sporting dogs)
- Purina One Large Breed Puppy (Excellent budget option)
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed
- Royal Canin Giant Puppy Dry Dog food (to age 12 months) – TOP PICK, PREMIUM OPTION
- Royal Canin Giant Junior Dry Dog food (8-24 months)
- Purina Large Breed Puppy Chow
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

This list is not exhaustive, and it is up to you to do your own research. It is important to note that the Great Dane community is full of anecdotal stories and dated advice.

Our blog is focused on science and we update it often with the most current recommendations.

We no longer recommend brands that do not meet WSAVA guidelines. See our FAQ for more information.

My great dane is not eating, now what?

Signs that your Great Dane puppy food may not be the right choice:
- You’ve chosen a food from a boutique ‘feel good’ company that doesn’t employ a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DACVN) to formulate and test the food
- Your puppy is knuckling
- Your pup has developed flat feet
- Your dog is experiencing panosteitis, HOD or wobblers
- You notice that your puppy has swollen joints, pain or limping
- You see your puppy suffering from lethargy and general weakness, unrelated to disease
- Your puppy is not developing muscle tone
- Your puppy is experiencing excess gas and loose stools that aren’t related to parasites or frequent dietary changes
- You’ve chosen a brand from an MLM scheme
We do not recommend Life’s Abundance or similar foods or supplements (including NuVet) where breeders receive commissions (‘kickbacks’) when you purchase from them.

These foods are not formulated by boarded, professional Veterinary Nutritionists. The high pricing is reflective of the commission scheme underneath the brand, not of the actual quality.

Choose science, instead:

The Ultimate Great Dane Feeding Chart

What is DCM in Great Danes?

Royal Canin Giant Breed Dog Food Review

Is Large Breed Dog Food Necessary?

Large Breed Adult vs. Puppy Food

Red Flag Dog Foods

Here is our list of dog foods and supplements we would never feed for any reason. These brands made this list because of extra-shady marketing tactics, having a bad reputation among the veterinary and veterinary nutritionist community, having high rates of harm caused by unbalanced nutrition, extreme ingredient splitting, and/or because they are MLM.
- Orijen
- Acana
- Gentle Giants
- Life’s Abundance
- Paw Tree
- NuVet
- Most grain-free kibbles, especially 4Health, Acana/Orijen, Zignature, Fromm, etc.
When should my Great Dane puppy switch to adult food?

As long as you are feeding one of our recommended formulas, you should follow the manufacturers recommendation.

Pro Plan, for example, has foods that encourage you to feed them until 18-24 months. Royal Canin does as well.

We believe that Great Dane puppies should have puppy food until 18-24 months.

Puppy Food Q&A

What are WSAVA Guidelines?

The WSAVA is a non-profit, worldwide organization dedicated to supporting veterinarians, health, science, and nutrition. Any food brand can sponsor these important efforts, however, most boutique brands do not.

The WSAVA has released a set of common-sense guidelines to consider when choosing food for your dog. These guidelines are simply a set of recommendations. There is no such thing as ‘WSAVA Approved’, and the WSAVA does not make ‘kickbacks’ or money from food brands.

See the guide HERE.

Is Large Breed Dog Food ok for Great Danes?

Some science-backed food companies (including Royal Canin and Purina) make ‘Giant Breed’ specific formulas, and those are fantastic!

The Royal Canin Giant Breed line is perfect.

However, many ‘giant breed’ formulas have been phased out or are hard to find.

Large Breed foods from Purina, Hills, Science Diet and Royal Canin are formulated and tested for dogs over 70+lbs, and this includes our giant breed dogs.

Therefore, both giant and large breed formulas are ideal and can be correct for Great Danes!

Meat Meal and Meat By-Products? YUCK, right!?

Many people see ‘Meat Meal’ or ‘Meat By Product Meal’ on the ingredients list and immediately believe that it must mean the food is full of cheap protein and junk.

Meal and Meat By-Product Meals are a concentrated form of whole-prey meat, not junk as you may have been led to believe.

Dogs don’t eat nicely cut and trimmed steak and chicken filets like us humans do.

They eat the WHOLE animal! Bone, organs, muscle, tendons and more. There is absolutely nothing wrong with meat meals and meat by product meals.

“By Product” simply means that the food is a rendering left over from some other process. Us humans don’t eat a lot of organ meat. Therefore, organ is ‘by product’.

Dogs NEED organ, bone and other ‘yucky’ things in their diet.

Whole prey model raw diets rely heavily on bone, organ and other tissues.

It’s not junk, it’s necessary nutrition.

What are Boutique Food Brands?

A boutique food brand is a dog food from a company that:

-Does not employ a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DACVN) to formulate and test foods
-Does not regularly utilize ongoing AAFCO food trials to test and substantiate their formulas
-Does not participate in or contribute to veterinary-level research and nutrition science
-Does not support ongoing veterinary health efforts (WSAVA, for example)

Boutique food brands often:

-Use marketing to make you ‘feel good’ about the food

-Rely on generic, unregulated terms such as ‘holistic’, ‘farm fresh’, ‘family-owned’ and ‘human grade’ to guide you so that you look past deficiencies in their scientific practices

-Will intentionally misrepresent science-backed and heavily-researched foods as ‘trash’, ‘garbage’, ‘fast food’ or ‘horrible’ so that you feel emotional or worried about food and buy their brand instead

Boutique food brands are linked to secondary DCM, a devastating heart condition that can cause sudden death in ‘healthy’ looking dogs.

I don’t see a popular food recommended here, why not?

Popular foods seen in the Great Dane community include Victor, 4Health, Diamond Naturals, Costco, Fromm, Zignature, Nulo, Nutro, Solid Gold, Orijen, Acana, The Farmer’s Dog, Honest Kitchen, Canine Caviar, Liberty, and Holistic Select (among others).

These are all ’boutique’ foods. We will not recommend them.

They do not employ DACVN Board-Certified veterinary nutritionists to formulate their foods. They do not participate in well-run nutrition research and food trials for their brand or for the greater good of dogs.

For example, Fromm foods are formulated by a chemical engineer.
Victor foods are formulated by a guy with an online certificate in dairy cattle feeding.

Contrary to popular belief, boutique food brands are not inherently ‘higher-quality’.

Marketing is what makes you believe that it is.

Boutique food brands are linked to secondary DCM, and should be fed with caution.

Many dogs that suffer from nutritional DCM have healthy coats and good stools! They die suddenly, often without warning because their heart enlarges and eventually gives out.

It is believed that a majority of nutritional DCM cases go undiagnosed, because of this.

Nutritional (Secondary) DCM is caused by unbalanced nutrition.

We recommend sticking with science at this time and feeding only the highest quality, heavily researched diets that were substantiated in actual feeding trials, not just looked over by a ‘nutritionist’ on paper.

Don’t vets get a kickback on food?

Many people believe that the only reason their veterinarian recommends Purina, Hill’s or Royal Canin is because their vet is receiving kickbacks and took all of their nutrition education from those companies.

Considering that those companies are the ones spearheading and funding most, if not all of our existing canine nutrition research, those are the companies that should be educating veterinarians!

Veterinarians that sell foods in their lobby mostly offer the prescription formulas to pets who need them and yes, they do receive a nominal amount of money for this, which covers the costs associated with stocking the food.

Keep in mind that the pet store who is trying to sell you the pricier boutique food brand with the higher margin is ALSO receiving a ‘kickback’ to promote the foods they sell. As a matter of fact, these kickbacks can be both high-pressure and HUGE. Influencers, bloggers (yes, even us here at Hello Danes), and brand reps all make money selling food brands to you.

No matter what food you buy, somebody somewhere stands to make money on the deal. Veterinarians are approached by ’boutique’ food brands OFTEN and absolutely could sell those options in their lobbies.

But they don’t, because veterinarians believe in science and research. Not marketing and woo.

My trainer/breeder/nutritionist recommended something else

Your trainer and breeder are not nutritionists. They are subject to the same marketing as you, which was created to make you feel nervous and guilty about choosing food for your dog. Follow the money here!

‘Nutritionist’ is an unregulated term. Anybody can take an online course and obtain that as a ‘title’. There are many ‘nutritionists’ out there, many of whom charge money for their services.

The only legitimate nutritionists are veterinarians who have obtained additional credentials, study, degrees, and board certifications in the field of animal nutrition. Read more about DACVN at https://acvn.org/

What about fresh foods?

We believe in fresh foods!

As a matter of fact, studies have shown that feeding a dry-kibble-only diet may increase the risk of bloat.

We recommend supplementing a healthy, well-formulated science-backed kibble with up to 10% raw or fresh foods. Purina One or Pro Plan Canned, balanced raw, Olewo Carrots, fresh fruits and vegetables, or Dr. Harvey’s are some of our favorites.

What about raw feeding?

Raw feeding can be done right!

We recommend working with a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist and learning a lot about raw feeding before getting started. www.perfectlyrawsome.com is a great resource.

Formulating your own raw dog food at home is rewarding, but you have to do it correctly. There are many misconceptions and myths about raw feeding and the truth is that most owners are not educated or equipped enough to do it correctly. Each meal must be perfectly balanced, and care must be taken to ensure food safety.

We do not recommend raw-feeding giant breed puppies during their extreme growth phase (birth to 9 months) without professional veterinary nutritionist support. https://acvn.org/

What about home-cooked diets?

Meat, veggies, and rice is NOT a balanced diet and may be extremely dangerous, despite the fact that it makes you feel like you are doing something ‘healthy’ for your pet.

If you do make a home-cooked stew, use it as a topper for an already balanced, science-backed commercial food.

Studies show that over 94% of home cooked diets are not correctly balanced (leading to nutrient deficiency or worse, toxicity). https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/homemade-dog-food-recipes-can-be-risky-business-study-finds

To feed a full home cooked diet, work with a veterinary nutritionist and utilize BALANCE IT to view what nutrients are missing from your recipe.

You can hire a DACVN HERE.

We do not recommend home-cooking for Dane puppies under the age of 1 year, if ever at all.
December 23, 2020
How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy
Crate training is not cruel, and we believe that you should crate train your Great Dane puppy! Many dogs find their crate to be a safe place to relax! They make potty training easier and give your puppy an ‘off switch’ for those times when both you and your puppy really just need a break.

This article is all about how to crate train a puppy without crying. We’ve included information on what crates to buy and how to make sure that the process is stress-free and effective!

In this post you’ll find:
- How to make the crate a safe space for your new puppy
- How to keep your puppy from crying in the crate
- Why crate training is important
- The best crates for Great Danes
Why You Should Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy

When you crate train your Great Dane puppy, you also make things much easier on them should they ever visit a veterinarian (we certainly hope you’ll be seeing a vet!), the groomer, or have to be transported.

Crate trained dogs have a safe space to go that is all theirs. This is fantastic for times when you don’t want your puppy underfoot or getting around your guests!

It’s important to note that over use of dog crates can be hard on their growth and can lead to rear-end weakness and developmental problems. Puppies should never be crated longer than they can realistically be expected to hold their bladder (1 hour for every month of life is a good rule of thumb), and never longer than 8 hours in a day (especially if under 7-8 months of age and/or crated overnight).

If you are raising a puppy while working long hours away from home, it will be best to pay somebody to check on your puppy often. An x-pen is a good alternative to crating for very young Great Dane puppies.

Continue reading for more information on how to crate train a Great Dane puppy!

The Best Crates for Great Danes

It is best to start small when choosing a Great Dane sized crate. Your puppy needs to be able to comfortably stand up and turn around in the crate, however if the crate is too large it increases the likelihood that they will pee or poop in there.

Many crates come with dividers for this purpose. As your pup outgrows the divider, you remove it.

You can always shop marketplace or ask friends if you can borrow a crate for a short time, if you prefer to just use a small crate! Fair warning though, Great Dane puppies grow FAST and adult sized crates are huge.

By 6-9 months your puppy will be ready for the big-daddy of all crates; the Midwest Homes or Frisco 54″ giant breed crate. This crate is HUGE. You’ve been warned.

Links are below for your convenience.

SHOP ON CHEWY

Frisco Double Door 54″ Crate

MidWest Solutions Double Door 54″ Crate + Crate Pad

Frisco Single-Door 54″ Crate

SHOP ON AMAZON

MidWest Solutions 54″ Double Door Crate

MidWest Solutions 54″ Single Door Crate

8-12 week old Great Dane puppies are exceptionally immature, need to pee a lot, and are learning rapidly about the world. Be patient, it will pay off!

The Best Dog Crate Setup for Puppies

At first the crate should be in a cozy location with no drafts or excess heat. It’s best if you can sleep next to the crate for at least the first few nights. It can always be moved to a different location once the puppy is sleeping well at night.

Provide the puppy with a proper orthopedic crate mat that has a nice sturdy cover and is washable. We recommend this one for the puppy crate then move up to a Big Barker bed when your puppy is older.

Many puppies prefer that the crate is fully covered. You can use blankets or purchase a cover on etsy. We found this one on Amazon for you.

Sleep and puppies don’t mix. Kind of like sleep and human babies! Establishing a solid routine and sleeping through the night comes with bladder control and emotional maturity.

Schedule for Bringing Home a Great Dane Puppy

How to Introduce the Crate to your Great Dane Puppy

An ethical breeder will likely have already introduced your puppy to a crate!

Give your puppy a few high value treats. Scatter some on the floor around the crate and make this experience fun and positive. We love Dr. Harvey’s single ingredient treats.

Code HELLODANES10 for 10% off all Dr. Harveys products

When your puppy is engaged with you, toss a few treats inside of the crate and say ‘CRATE’. Then say ‘FREE’ and toss some treats outside of the crate.

Make a super fun game of going into the crate (CRATE) and out of the crate (FREE). Most puppies pick this game up very quickly and enjoy playing it.

Randomly leave treats inside of the crate for your puppy to find in there.

Feed Your Puppy in the Crate

From the very first meal, feed your puppy inside of the crate!

Yes your puppy will likely make a mess (hence our recommendation for an inexpensive, washable orthopedic bed to start) and that is ok.

Depending on how comfortable your pup seems with going into the crate, it’s very likely that you’ll be able to shut the door during a meal time. Be calm and return when your puppy is finished.

Give lots of praise, open the door and say ‘FREE!’ then toss some treats outside of the crate.

HINT: Every time you release your puppy from the crate, take her out to potty!

Have Your Puppy Nap in the Crate

Contrary to popular belief, you will NOT ruin your puppy if you allow snuggles at nap time. Enjoy this time! We also know that Great Dane puppies sleep a LOT and you cannot always let them lay on you.

When puppy is ready for a nap (they need much more sleep than you think! Do not let your puppy become overtired and inconsolable), make sure they have had a potty break, then toss treats into the crate and say ‘CRATE!’.

Before you shut the door, give the puppy something appropriate to chew on; you can smear a small amount of safe (no xylitol) peanut butter inside of a Kong and freeze it.

Cover the crate and let your puppy rest.

Some puppies will be calm and comfortable in the crate, others may begin to fuss.

Some fussing is ok, but we discourage the practice of allowing this to escalate to inconsolable and panicked crying, pawing and barking. That kind of behavior inside of a crate breeds anxiety and stress. This is incorrect and the puppy should not be practicing that state of mind.

Unwavering ‘cry it out’ methods can lead to puppies that escape their crate and suffer from separation anxiety in the future, so be thoughtful here.

Many times puppies are crying in their crates because they are scared, lonely, cold, or have to pee.

To avoid creating a behavior chain where puppy learns that crying is how you’ll let them out, reassure your puppy so they know you are there. Wait for calm behavior, then reward the calm behavior by opening the door. They will learn with a few repetitions that crying is not how they get out, but being calm is.

Be boring, take the puppy out to pee, then try again. Repetition and consistency is key here. As above, it’s ok to ignore easy fussing and whining. Do not however let it escalate to panic.

How to Make Crate Training Fun for Puppies

Keep the door to the crate open during the day.

Make sure to routinely hide a goodie in the crate for the puppy to find.

Play with the puppy near the crate and continue to practice the ‘CRATE/FREE’ game. However, now when you say CRATE you’ll close the door for a moment, then open it and say FREE.

Gradually add time to the CRATE part of the game so that your puppy learns and is practicing calm awake behavior in the crate. Work up to 30 seconds, a minute, then several minutes.

If you do this correctly, your puppy will very quickly learn how to be calm in the crate while awake through the consistent practice of doing exactly that. Before you know it you’ll be able to put your wound up and awake puppy inside of the crate.

Because they have been taught to associate the crate with calm behavior and not crying or stress, they will immediately settle and eventually fall asleep. This is the goal here.

How to Crate Train Your Puppy at Night

The first few nights you may need to sleep on the floor with your puppy. You can reassure your puppy with your hand.

Keep in mind that puppies are used to sleeping next to mom in a puppy pile, so this is a BIG transition that many aren’t ready for yet (especially if they were taken from the litter prior to 8-10 weeks).

Your new puppy will need to go out for potty breaks several times during the night at first. For potty training tips, visit our ‘how to potty train a Great Dane puppy’ article.

Be patient! Multiple potty breaks are normal but will quickly become a thing of the past.

The more mature your puppy becomes, the longer they can hold their pee, and the more confident and secure they are in the crate the easier this will become! Done properly, crate training shouldn’t take long at all, and you’ll love having it as an option for your dog to ‘turn off’ when needed.

Crate Training Troubleshooting

MY PUPPY IS SCARED OF THE CRATE

If your puppy is terrified of the crate, consider using an x-pen temporarily while you work on crate skills. Keep a crate inside of the x-pen and hide treats inside of it.

Make sure the crate itself is not in a cold or drafty area, and make sure it’s not situated in a location where a buzzing sound or some other irritant may be present.

Many people have success with the addition of Adaptil plugins which mimic the pheromones put out by the nursing mother dog.

You can also try cozy soft blankets and the Snuggle Puppy, a warm stuffed toy with a heat pack and a heartbeat.

MY PUPPY PEES AND POOPS IN THE CRATE

This can be a common problem with puppies from puppy mills or breeders that didn’t keep the whelping place clean and teach puppies early potty skills, but it can happen to any puppy. By nature, puppies should NOT want to soil their crate.

If this is happening, it may be that the crate is too big. Make the crate smaller with a divider or by choosing a smaller crate.

This can also be a sign of distress. As above, practicing anxious behavior is not appropriate crate training. Back up several steps and focus on associating the crate with calm behavior.

Make sure to thoroughly clean bedding, and make sure that the puppy has had adequete opportunity to eliminate outdoors. It’s entirely possible that your puppy really just needed to pee or poop and had no other choice!

Diet changes, stress and too many rich training treats can muck up gut health and cause gastrointestinal problems.

The last thing to check is medical problems. Puppies that have a UTI, kidney problems, or issues with their gut health will struggle to keep their crate clean. Chat with your veterinarian.

I HAVE TO BE AWAY FROM HOME ALL DAY

Puppies really do require that a human is home to guide, teach, feed, play with, and let them out. If you must be gone this much, hire a dog walker to let your puppy out or consider letting your puppy hang out with a friend during the day.

There is no answer where we say ‘oh bummer. Just put the puppy in a crate for 8 hours, he’ll be fine‘. That’s never going to be an appropriate or easy solution for this. Older puppies can be left longer, but expect to need help until the puppy is at least 5 months of age.

I’VE TRIED ALL OF THIS AND MY PUPPY STILL CRIES

Your puppy could probably benefit from additional confidence building and time learning how to be independent. Timid puppies are especially prone to developing separation anxiety, so be patient here.

Reward mature, calm behavior by giving your puppy a high value chew (antler, bull stick, stuffed Kong) with supervision, but while you aren’t focused on the puppy.sf

Do several short basic obedience with positive reinforcement training sessions each day. 1-2 minutes at a time on early basics such as sit, down and leave it.

Encourage the puppy to explore the world; read our Great Dane Puppy socialization blog for tips.

I’M FRUSTRATED! HOW CAN I STOP MY PUPPY FROM CRYING?

It’s likely your puppy IS going to cry or fuss at first while learning. Even I have been known to shout ‘HEY. Knock it OFF’ to a puppy that I know is totally fine in there and hoping I’ll let him out.

This does NOT mean put a bark collar on your puppy, hit your puppy, shake pennies, or spray water at it.

Those things are the fast track to teaching the puppy to associate the crate with being trapped and punished, and with that you greatly risk creating an agitated and confused dog that cannot be safely crated or left home alone. Great Danes are too prone to separation anxiety to take a chance like this on punitive training methods.

Be patient, be consistent, and think about what the end goal is.

If you are frustrated, remember the ‘don’t shake a baby‘ campaigns from the 90’s? (Talk about a throwback!). Anyways, WALK AWAY.

Ask a friend for help. Let your puppy out, go for a boring potty break and try again.

If you are still having trouble or have a particularly timid puppy, seek out the help of a highly qualified professional dog trainer. Let your breeder know that you are having trouble crate training as well!

If your puppy is from a rescue situation, additional time, confidence building, help with medical issues and patience may be needed.
December 18, 2020
What Are Great Danes Like? Great Dane Breed Characteristics
Great Dane breed characteristics. Here it is. The no holds barred, honest-to-goodness truth about Great Danes!

What is it like to live with a Great Dane?
What is a Great Dane like?
Are Great Danes aggressive?
How much do they really eat? Can you tell me about the POOP? It’s a lot, right?

GREAT DANE BREED CHARACTERISTICS

From energetic to lazy, drooly to lap dogs, Great Dane’s characteristics can vary so greatly. The important things you need to know about a Great Dane are its energy levels, size, temperament, trainability, and all about food/poop.

Let’s dive in!

GREAT DANE ENERGY

Great Danes are not active in the way that many working, herding or terrier breeds are. However, that doesn’t mean that they are happy to lounge and do nothing 7 days a week!

They are giant dogs that still require exercise and mental enrichment. Lacking an appropriate outlet for their energy, they can quickly destroy a couch and drive you nuts with bouncing, whining, jumping and escaping.

Trick training, basic obedience training, scent work, free play/exploration, and dog sports are great ways to make sure a Great Dane is living the best life possible.

GREAT DANE SIZE

It’s no secret that Great Danes are HUGE dogs! Those of us who live with them are so used to their size that we forget how ridiculous it must look to ‘outsiders’.

Great Danes can be anywhere from 100-200lbs. If you measure from the floor to their shoulder, they will be anywhere from 30-38″ in height.

This does make them large and powerful dogs, however they can be incredibly gentle and fit into some surprisingly small spaces (including RV’s and yes, your LAP!).

It is extremely important that they be kept lean and fit; when a Great Dane is allowed to become heavy, or is bred incorrectly to be ‘oversized’ or ‘exaggerated’, it is extremely hard on their joints and overall health.

GREAT DANE TEMPERAMENT

A well-tempered Great Dane is an absolute joy.

They are playful and can be very silly.

It seems as though they understand English and many of them love to ‘talk’ back in full sentences.

As a general rule Great Danes are friendly, loving and should be courageous, steadfast and gentle.

Most are exceptionally wonderful with children and are fine being around other dogs.

They do require training to become the best dog they can be.

As with any dog: bored, neglected, untrained, under-socialized, unhealthy (painful or having another disorder), and/or poorly bred Great Danes may have faults in their temperament.

We highly recommend consulting with a veterinarian and highly qualified behaviorist if your Great Dane is exhibiting extreme fear or any kind of aggression. Great Danes may be protective, but they should never be nippy, or dangerous.

GREAT DANE TRAINABILITY

Great Danes are very trainable and many absolutely love to work for food.

A well socialized and properly bred Great Dane will be easy to train, but this doesn’t negate the need for consistency, boundaries and lots of teaching.

An untrained, under-socialized Great Dane can be pushy, rude, jumpy, and may steal food, bark too much, run out of doors and pull on a leash.

It is important to start early and work on the basics often! We recommend thoroughly teaching leash skills, come, sit, down, stand, stay, leave it, drop it, off, wait, shhhh, touch and place (go to mat/settle).

GREAT DANE FOOD & POOP

Yes, Great Danes eat more than most dogs.

More food = more poop. But seriously, is that really so bad? It’s bigger piles, not more piles.

Great Danes do require a holistic diet and specific formulations. They are not a dog that you can feed any old food to! Read our blog post on the Best Food for Great Danes here.

Danes are prone to a condition called bloat where the stomach fills up with gas, fluid, food or air and may twist on itself. This is a life threatening emergency that is notably correlated to anxiety, genetics and gut health.

Ethical breeding practices, robust gut health and the correct diet may be the key towards greatly minimizing bloat risk.

Are you interested in welcoming a Great Dane to your family? There are a few more key things to be aware of before you commit!
- Great Danes come with bigger vet bills.
- Great Danes must be highly trained. They require owners that are willing to teach. An untrained Dane is a dangerous Dane; they can pull hard or become rude, jumpy and destructive.
- Many homeowners insurance companies will not insure a home with a Great Dane in it. Check your policy.
- A lot of people are afraid of giant breed dogs. A friendly Great Dane may be seen as a threat by some people. It is important that your Great Dane is able to quickly and confidently change course when approaching somebody who may not be receptive.
- Great Dane puppies have no clue that they have four legs or that their tail is attached. They are CLUMSY and may be more prone to accidentally hurting children or other dogs.
- Heart, blood, thyroid, and joint disorders are common.
YES, GREAT DANES…
- Counter surf (steal food from counters)
- Fart (though, excess gas should be addressed)
- Take up a LOT of room on the couch, the bed, and in the car.
- Have NO clue how big they are!
We are clearly biased over here and think Great Danes are the best! We’d love to hear from you! Do you have a Great Dane? Do you want one? Leave a friendly comment below.

READ MORE:

The Best Crates For a Great Dane

Miniature Great Danes: The ‘Pocket’ Version of a Great Dane

Great Dane Puppy Growth Chart
December 17, 2020

Potty Training Great Dane Puppies

Potty training Great Dane puppies comes with a BIG responsibility. A Great Dane puppy gets big fast, and a big puppy means big pee!

Great Dane puppies are the BEST! That is, until they drop a squat and let loose on your carpet.

Again.

and again.

If you are searching for tips on the potty training process for your Great Dane puppy, you may be struggling. So here you have it: the ULTIMATE guide to housebreaking your Great Dane puppy!

Potty Training for Great Danes

POTTY TRAINING GREAT DANE PUPPIES

New puppies have very little bladder control, and no clue they need to pee until the pee is actually coming out.

The BIGGEST secret you need to know for potty training you Great Dane puppy is this nearly impossible task: don’t let your puppy make a mistake.

Consider this a fun game where the loser has to clean up poop: you want to avoid your puppy peeing or pooping in the house and practicing that behavior at all costs.

HOW TO HELP YOUR GREAT DANE PUPPY MAKE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEE ACCIDENTS POSSIBLE

You can manage this situation and lower the chance of a mistake happening by being diligent.

Here are some ideas:

Make sure your puppy is always being supervised. If you have to keep your puppy on a leash near you, that is ok! The puppy should not have much freedom until they demonstrate maturity. If your puppy walks off and is snooping around somewhere, QUICK! Take her out.
If your puppy cannot be supervised, they need to be ready for a nap and sent to spend time in a crate or x-pen. Dogs naturally don’t want to pee on their bed! Keep crate time no longer than the recommended age between potty breaks mentioned above.

POTTY TRAINING GREAT DANES USING PEE PADS

Skip the expensive and wasteful pee pads. Those literally teach a puppy that peeing indoors is ok, and make potty training take longer. No thanks!

Avoid accidents by skipping the potty pads and instead train your Great Dane to go to the bathroom in a designated area outside the house.

IN ORDER TO POTTY TRAIN GREAT DANES YOU NEED A TRAINING PROCESS

At first, you need to take your puppy out to pee every 20 minutes. Set a timer if you have to. These short spans between potty breaks will quickly grow longer as you learn how long your new puppy can ‘hold it’.

Get ahead of the curve and take your puppy out BEFORE they show signs that they need to pee! By then it’s probably too late.

POTTY TRAIN A GREAT DANE BY TAKING A POTTY BREAK OFTEN

It’s also helpful to automatically take the puppy out to pee after:

a nap
a meal
a play session
a training session
crate time

There are fun and silly ways to make this a good time for everybody. For example, pick a phrase somebody in the house tends to say a lot, or a common word such as ‘TV’ or ‘dog’. Every time they say it, they HAVE to take the puppy out to pee!

USING TREATS

Pet owners of baby Great Danes should begin using treats often to provide positive feedback and good behavior.

Fill your pocket up with treats. Go outside with your puppy. No being lazy here! Get out there, especially if it’s snowing or raining (your puppy will appreciate your confidence!).
Praise when they start to pee and then throw a treat party when they are finished.
Stay outside for a few minutes; chances are your new puppy has to pee again. This too is a quick phase and the puppy will quickly learn to fully empty his bladder. Until then, be patient.
Treat and praise some more.

USING POTTY BELLS

During potty training you can use bells to teach your dog to go to the bathroom outside from a young age.

Potty bells are an amazing tool. This inexpensive item from Amazon can be hung from a doorknob.

Every time you take your puppy out to pee, first ring the bell. Teach the puppy to touch the bell with a nose in exchange for a treat.
Then open the door and go out for the fun pee outside time.
The puppy will learn to use this as a signal to you that they want to go outside.
Gradually add time between required potty breaks. Continue to treat and praise.

Be consistent. One day, your puppy is literally going to go to the door, ring a bell and ask to be let out. Make a HUGE happy fuss about this and let your puppy out!

SHOP BELOW:

USING DOMINANCE

People used to advise puppy parents to take their puppy’s nose to their mess and rub their nose it whenever their pup or dog relieves himself in the house.

This kind of ‘training’ makes the trainer feel powerful and the dog feel powerless, which is a terrible reason for using it as a training method.

Shouting, scolding, correcting and scaring a puppy like this will not only erode trust, but may actually backfire on you when your dog is fully grown.

A puppy that has been taught to associate pee smell with punishment is a puppy who may hide pee behind furniture or in laundry. Ooops.

Puppies have NO idea that pee or poop is ‘gross’, and they have no clue why you’d want them to do that outside. Cut your puppy some slack here and instead train your Great Dane the desired behavior and other basic commands with positive training and patience.

CLEANING UP ACCIDENTS

It’s super important to thoroughly clean any accidents that do happen.

One way to make sure that the pee smell sticks around is to try and bury it with heavily scented carpet cleaners and ‘pet stain’ removers. Those rarely work well and don’t destroy the proteins.

First, clean out as MUCH of the mess as you can. If the area is extra bad, rent a carpet shampooer and rinse the area several times with hot water first.
Once you’ve removed most of the soil, apply a generous amount of Skout’s Honor and allow the flooring to air dry. Re-treat if needed.

It’s nearly impossible to potty train without some hiccups. Every dog is different! Some require MUCH more supervision and time than others. It may be helpful to temporarily put away expensive area rugs. Pro tip there!

TEACHING THE RIGHT PLACE FROM THE WRONG PLACE TO POTTY

This is actually the second piece of the potty training puzzle. A puppy needs to first learn to pee outdoors for reward. With consistency and praise, they also develop bladder control and learn what it feels like just before they have to pee.

Once they learn that they will begin to alert you. It’s not something you can teach, it comes with maturity, time, and finally understanding that all pee and poop needs to be outdoors.

We highly recommend using potty bells! This gives the dog a very clear way to say ‘let me out’. An independent dog is a happier dog, so learning where to go potty and having less accidents will help your pup feel better about their life.

MY PUPPY PEES A LOT. LIKE REALLY, A LOT

Young puppies dribble more than they pee and will usually have to pee multiple times each time they are taken outside. However, excessive peeing and not being able to hold it are signs of UTI.

Chat with your vet! UTI’s are surprisingly common and need to be treated.

Puppies also poop a lot. Sorry, that’s just a fact. They will regulate themselves more as their digestive system matures.

Potty training a Great Dane requires MANY potty breaks outside, and will likely have many accidents inside as well. Training a pup or dog with any skill requires patience and time.

CRATE TRAINING DURING POTTY TRAINING A DOG OR PUP

You can use crate training to minimize the dog from having an accident inside, help your dog feel safe and secure, and to speed up the house training process.

Crate training is an essential part of having a dog, and it can be used in helping raise a successful Great Dane puppy. If you are about to start potty training, you should invest in a large crate as well as an X PEN for play time and baby gates for safety and training for your new dog.

Shop for the best crate for Great Danes on Amazon

MY PUPPY IS PEEING or POOPING IN THE CRATE

This can be common with puppies that were raised in a puppy mill or with a breeder that didn’t keep the whelping space clean.

Or, you just have a puppy that doesn’t really care! That can happen too, just as some humans don’t mind mess.

In general, dogs do NOT like to soil their bedding or near where they eat, so try the following to troubleshoot.

Make sure the crate is small enough. If the puppy has too much space, they will find room to pee. They should be confined enough that pee would get on the bedding, which they don’t want.

Make sure your puppy has had plenty of opportunity to pee before being put in the crate. It may really just be that your puppy had to go. Reference the rule about about appropriate time between potty breaks based on age.

How to crate train a Great Dane: click here

Thoroughly clean bedding and around the crate. If it smells like pee, the puppy will resoil it.

Feed in the crate. The puppy will not like to pee near his or her foo

Address medical reasons such as UTI, loose stools and parasites. Chat with your vet and add a quality probiotic for gut health.

I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT

This is definitely more of a hassle if you don’t have a fenced yard, but there is literally no other problem here.

The same exact rules apply. When potty training puppies, they need to be strictly supervised anyways so the fenced yard is a moot point.

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IT’S RAINING AND SNOWING AND MY PUPPY WON’T GO OUT

It’s not uncommon for puppies to dislike cold and wet weather at first. Be positive and KEEP trying. Bundle up. Put puppy in a jacket. Hold an umbrella. Anything to show the puppy that potty training is NOT NEGOTIABLE.

Plan ahead if you are going to potty train a Great Dane puppy in an apartment. House training in ANY home requires that you get your dogs outside with ENOUGH time that they do not need to panic. Give yourself lots of time in those early days to walk all the way out of the house or apartment so that you avoid pee in the hallways or on you walk downstairs.

WORKING LONG SHIFTS

If you are away from home 8+ hours/day, a puppy may be a difficult choice to have made.

This is the time when it’s worth the expense to hire a dog walker to stop in often, or have your puppy stay with a friend who is home during the day.

Potty training your Great Dane will take much longer if you are away from the house all day and your dog is required to hold it all day long.

Most puppies will resort to peeing in their crate and ultimately will take an enormously longer time getting potty trained.

GREAT DANE POTTY TRAINING

HOW TO CRATE TRAIN A GREAT DANE

POTTY TRAINING A GREAT DANE PUP

HOW TO POTTY TRAIN IN AN APARTMENT

THE BEST CRATES FOR GREAT DANES

THE HARDEST PARTS ABOUT POTTY TRAINING

MY PUPPY HATES THE CRATE

In order to train a Great Dane to love their kennel, you should not force them to use their crate.

Use food and treats as well as toys while training them. Play with your pup or dog inside and outside the crate.

Throw food or toys inside the kennel and let your dog watch and run inside and walk back out.

Keep the crate in the same spot so that your pup can begin to associate it with it being their safe spot.

Visit our blog post How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy here.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

In order to potty train a Great Dane, there are items that you need to be successful.

Potty training a Great Dane requires:

Cleaning supplies
Crate
Treats
Leash / Collar
Waste Bags

Great Dane Puppy Treats — Code HELLODANES10 for 10% off all Dr. Harveys products

rabbit product shot 0e868327e6c3f164e800cbe07820bc8d — Code HELLODANES10 for 10% off all Dr. Harveys products

Poop Bags

LIMITING WATER INTAKE

Some people may recommend that you limit water intake to make potty training easier. After all, a puppy won’t have to pee as much if they don’t drink so much! To that, we say YIKES.

Here are reasons you should NOT limit water when potty training.

The puppy may learn to hoard, gulp, or guard water in the future. Keep in mind that guarding and hoarding is a dangerous behavior, and gulping may contribute to bloat risk.
It’s bad for their kidneys and overall gut function and health to not have access to fresh water at all times.
Puppies need to be well hydrated to be able to concentrate and learn.
A dehydrated puppy is a constipated puppy, which will make housetraining that much more difficult.
A dehydrated puppy is a sick puppy.

Overall, just don’t do it.

LEASH TRAINING A NEW PET IN RELATION TO GETTING THEM POTTY TRAINED

Believe it or not, getting a Great Dane comfortable with their leash is important in regards to training a Great Dane the right and wrong spot to pee.

A good dog will know that they should pee outside and not inside. And, logically, in order to go outside and be successful, Great Danes need to be able to walk on a leash without being too scared, destructive, or anxious.

Here are some tips to get your Great Dane used to their leash:

Start off training your Great Dane with a short leash in your backyard. Let them get used to the feel of the leash around their neck and you walking behind them.
Use treats to get their attention and make sure they are walking by your side and not in front of you. Practice going on short walks around your neighborhood.Make sure to praise them and give them treats when they are doing a good job.
If they start to pull, ask your Great Dane to sit and wait.
Make sure that time spent on leash with your Great Dane is not play time.
Next, train your Great Dane to wait at the door. This is an important step in leash training and will make sure that your Great Dane doesn’t bolt out the door every time it opens.

Leash training any dog is not an overnight task. For more tips on how to train a Great Dane on leash, be sure to check out this blog: LEASH TRAINING

TRAIN YOUR GREAT DANE ON LEASH

5 LEASH TIPS

DOG TRAINING REVIEW

RECALL FOR GREAT DANES

OFF LEASH FAILURES

HOW TO TEACH A GREAT DANE TO WALK ON A LEASH

OUR FAVORITE LEASHES

WHAT IS THE BEST LEASH?

LEASH TRAINING IS HARD

GETTING GREAT DANES TO POTTY TRAIN

If you have a Great Dane, you know that they are unlike other dogs. They are fascinating dogs who steal everybody’s heart!

Great Danes are fascinating creatures, but like any other dogs, accidents happen and learning something new takes time and consistency.

Use a lot of positive reinforcement, love and time and watch as your dog gets better at the little things, right before your eyes!

Seriously. Potty training takes time, patience and consistency. There is NO easy way out, but the more consistent you are the faster your puppy will learn! Hang in there and have fun with your puppy!

Great Dane Farts: The Funniest Collection of Photos and Videos on the Internet
Great Dane Not Eating – What to Do
How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy
The Best Collars for Great Danes

December 16, 2020

Bad Breeder Hall of Shame

This popped up recently from the Itawamba County Sheriff Department in Fulton, MS.
This post contains disturbing images of animal neglect.

PUBLIC RECORD:

Jayla Mckale Rogers with ‘Moonshine Danes’ learned that she could make a ton of cash selling Great Dane puppies, and turned her home into a puppy mill.

Think you want a cheap Great Dane, one that will be ‘just a pet, not a show dog’? Are you shopping for your Dane on Facebook or craigslist and excited to find a breeder with a litter of puppies ready to go?

Tread cautiously. We have a dirty truth to share with you. It’s important to note that WE SUPPORT breeders and rescues. What we don’t support is abuse, neglect, and profit-focused breeding programs.

‘Breeders’ like the one we are sharing below are unfortunately EVERYWHERE. While they may have ‘cheap’, available puppies and seem ‘nice’, they have one goal. To get your money.

How do they get by with neglect and abuse? Read on:

RED FLAGS

These breeders may meet you in the parking lot with only the puppy you’ve bought so that you never see how sketchy their breeding operation is.

They won’t let you meet the parents and may say that you cannot come to their kennel for any reason. They likely have multiple litters each year.

They won’t likely have an application, a contract or any kind of legitimate breeder support.

They may say the dogs are ‘vet checked’ or ‘health tested’, but you won’t find any results in the public database at www.ofa.org

You’re most likely to find a breeder like this on Facebook or on a listing service such as craigslist; or the breeder will reach out to you when you say you are looking for a puppy.

We HATE the breeder scam going around right now, but we hate this so much more.

Having ‘AKC papers’ does not mean that a breeder is operating with the health and well-being of dogs in mind. Even AKC breeders with a registered lineage may still be operating unethically and can have an awful lot to hide.

Great Danes are not cheap, and cheap Great Dane breeders are not great. If you are looking for a cheap puppy, make sure you are not supporting this kind of breeding operation.

When this breeding operation was exposed by animal control, they found 4 adult Great Danes in cages with no food or water. The breeder also had 16 other animals kept in cages in addition to several emaciated puppies. Many of the dogs needed immediate medical attention.

The owner has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty, but may only be fined as much as $1000. The sale of just one or two puppies would pay for that fine; it’s meaningless.

She has created and sold several litters.

This is NOT an isolated situation. Breeders like this are all over the place and continue to operate because people continue to fund their operation by purchasing puppies.

Read our ‘Bad Great Dane Breeders Page here (updated often).

BREEDING DAM CONDITION

This poor mama has likely been bred many times. More litters = more money. Your cheap puppy is making somebody rich, and it’s not this sweet mama dog who benefits.

Not only is this girl massively underweight, malnourished, and likely suffering with itchy skin and possibly even parasites, look at her front feet.

Her weak, low pasterns indicate nutritional deficiency, lack of appropriate free movement and exercise on outdoor terrain, over breeding, poor nail maintenance, and possibly even some bad genetics (that she no doubt passed onto the puppies).

She’s miserable and nervous, which is also how you create nervous, timid puppies.

Want a puppy that is timid, fearful, aggressive, and has health problems including a higher risk of bloat, cardiac disease, hip dysplasia, thyroid disease and autoimmune disorders? This is how you make that happen.

I DON’T NEED A SHOW DOG, I JUST NEED A PET

We think there are actually some great breeders out there that don’t show their dogs.

We also want people to understand that show breeders produce a lot of amazing pets. Not every dog in a litter can be a show dog.

Ethical breeders are much more likely to be breeding dogs that are healthy, excellent examples of the breed standard. They are more likely to be completing full OFA health testing and genetic screenings to eliminate common disorders in Great Danes. They are more likely to only be breeding dogs that have outstanding temperaments.

Ethical breeders care about their dogs, every single one of them and aren’t breeding to make money.

They have funds set aside for complications. They don’t over-breed their dogs. They don’t breed dogs that aren’t healthy. They spend hours each day with the puppies to care for them and socialize them.

Chances are that you WILL have to pay more for an ethically bred puppy, because the expenses associated with operating correctly are higher. That’s important, however because we cannot continue to financially reward people who breed dogs any other way.

Being a dog snob means making it socially unacceptable to breed untested, poorly treated dogs. It’s not a bad thing to be snobby about the welfare of dogs.

THESE PUPPIES WILL BE OK

Thankfully, all of these dogs and puppies were rescued by Save Rocky the Great Dane and are receiving medical treatment and much needed love, food, water and care.

Great people rescue dogs like this and great people adopt them. Many will likely have wonderful, long lives. Others may need a lot of behavioral and health support, and some simply may not be healthy enough to survive another day.

It is largely because of bad breeding operations that the rescues have to exist.

How many puppies did this breeder produce and sell to people before she was shut down?

How many of the puppies that this breeder sold in the past are currently waiting in rescue, surrendered by owners who couldn’t handle them? How many are timid, fearful, sick, and suffering needlessly from health conditions such as hip dysplasia?

Images from the Itawamba County Sheriff Department.

Everything stated here is a matter of public record.

Educate, advocate, rescue, foster, adopt.

Advocacy for Great Danes means supporting rescue efforts, fostering, and only choosing truly ethical breeders.

Anything else is supporting an industry where the health and welfare of the Great Danes we love is not considered.

December 15, 2020
SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES

Supplements for Great Danes matter because we all want our Great Danes to live long, healthy lives.

We are all here because we know that Great Danes are a SPECIAL breed!

They also grow astronomically fast and astronomically large. Hence the ‘Great’ part!

We love their big faces, bracing ourselves for the famous Dane lean, accessorizing our couch with them, and walking these gorgeous animals down the street.

These dogs deserve the best that we can give them. Because they are so large, they tend to be especially prone to painful and debilitating health conditions of their immune system, digestive system and joints. Some may have additional health and structural problems that are an unfortunate result of unethical breeding practices.

WHY DO OWNERS NEED SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES?

Great Danes, on average, live only 8 years. The high incidence of bloat and cardiac problems, which are perpetuated primarily by friendly BACKYARD BREEDERS (who appear reputable) greatly contribute to this statistic.

We believe that a quality diet and supplements can give our Danes the best chance at robust health. Read below for our favorite joint, anxiety relief, digestive and overall wellness supplements for Great Danes.

Please consult with your giant-breed veterinarian before changing or adding supplements. This is especially important if your Great Dane has a pre-existing health condition or is taking medications.

1. PROBIOTICS, PREBIOTICS & DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

Current research indicates that bloat may be notably related to gut health & genetics. If your dog is suffering from allergies, gas, itchy skin, or loose stools a probiotic supplement is highly recommended.

Prebiotics and digestive enzymes can provide even more benefit! Add this kind of supplement even if your kibble contains probiotics.

We like the powder form because most dogs will eat it right up when sprinkled onto their food.

Many people believe that farting and gas are just part of owning a Great Dane. We believe that is a sign that your dog needs digestive support and an adjustment to their diet. This is especially important in light of the current research that suggests a gut health and genetics link to bloat.

2. JOINT SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES

Glucosamine supports joint health and can be found in chicken feet, trachea, bone broth and other tasty whole food raw treats. “By-Products” in pet food are a good thing, as they are made from bone, cartilage (and organs) which contain a natural source of glucosamine.

Royal Canin Giant Breed Dog Food – Are By Products Good or Bad?

We like Green Lipped Mussel for joint health as well because it comes in powder form, is incredibly simple and is based on a whole food source.

You can also choose one of these veterinary-backed formulas for joint support:

Glcoflex III
Dasaquin

Be careful about using multiple commercial glucosamine chondroitin tablets and supplements! Too much can lead to toxicity.

VITAMIN C FOR GREAT DANES

A vitamin C supplement is one of those standard Great Dane things that a lot of people do.

It can help the dog process stressful and anxiety-inducing situations (ear cropping, spay/neuter, board and train, vet exams, etc.).

Unlike humans who must obtain vitamin C from their diet, dogs synthesize their own vitamin C. Low vitamin C levels can cause problems with bone growth in human babies. This explains how some people drew a connection between vitamin C and knuckling in dogs.

Supplementation itself has never been proven in research to prevent, treat, or cure developmental disorders in growing Great Danes.

If you choose to give your puppy Vitamin C, split the dose up over the course of the day. 1000-1500mg is standard. Too much will cause loose stool, so start slowly and work up to a full dose over the course of 2 weeks.

-Some foods contain added vitamin C in some form already, and a supplement may be excessive

Is My Great Dane Puppy Knuckling?
How to Prevent Knuckling in Great Dane Puppies
Is My Great Dane Puppy Too Small?
Great Dane Puppy Growth Chart

Fish oil comes in many forms and it’s not hard to find good ones. Even human grade fish oil capsules work! Just pop them with a pin and squirt the oil onto the food.

4. FISH OIL FOR DOGS

Fish oil is an amazing and simple way to help your dog receive the benefits of Omega 3’s. It’s good for skin, coat and teeth as well as cardiovascular health and brain development.

Our favorite Fish Oil for Great Danes: Health and Shine Salmon and Krill and Omega-3 Fish Oil. Use code HELLODANES10 for 10% off.

Health Risks in Great Danes
Fish Oil for Great Danes

Fish oil gives dogs a clean, shiny coat and healthy skin, which will keep your Great Dane looking amazing.

The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. We do our best to present the most up-to-date research, however it is up to the reader to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their dog. We make no claims here to prevent or treat bloat, cancer, arthritis or any other condition related to Great Danes. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them.

Some of the products we list on our website contain affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, we may receive a small commission for referring you. We only recommend products that we truly believe in. This commission does not affect the price of the product and is used to fund our content and expenses related to operating this website.

December 15, 2020
What is Backyard Breeding?
Is there a difference between backyard breeding and front yard breeding?

Don’t most breeders raise puppies in their backyard?

What could possibly be wrong with breeding dogs in a home environment?

Is it backyard breeding if the breeder seems friendly and the puppies are clean?

What if a dog chooses to have her puppies in the backyard instead of inside? Is that the problem?

Isn’t backyard breeding BETTER than a puppy mill? I’d rather know my puppy came from a home and yard than a kennel!

SO MANY QUESTIONS!

The good news is that none of those things have anything to do with breeding dogs in a backyard.

There is nothing wrong with a breeder raising puppies in their home environment, or for you as a Great Dane owner to want a ‘pet’, not a ‘show dog’.

Backyard Breeding is really just the term dog people have made up to describe people who are breeding random, low quality dogs ‘in their backyard’ to make cash.

These breeders aren’t necessarily interested in the health, structure, or temperament of the puppies they are creating, but they sure know how to get you to spend your money with them!

WHY IS BACKYARD BREEDING BAD?

Backyard breeders are often pairing two dogs for breeding that really should not be bred. They may have websites, ‘nice’ photos and even a nice home and clean puppies; however, they may still be unethical.

A Great Dane is not a Great Dane is not a Great Dane. AKC papers, Euro build and ‘neat colors’ are NOT enough to justify breeding two dogs together.

Backyard breeders, even the ‘nice’ friendly ones, are directly responsible for the number of dogs needing rescue, and for the ongoing health and temperament problems we see in Great Danes.

SIGNS OF A BACKYARD BREEDER
- They will have no records of proper health testing or only did some of the testing (ask for Full OFA tests with certificate & CHIC# to verify at www.ofa.org, or similar standard in other Countries
- They may market dogs primarily using buzz words such as ‘papered’, ‘designer colors’, ‘healthy’, or ‘Euro %’.
- They may send puppies home to buyers prior to 8 weeks of age.
- They will not have a lifetime return guarantee.
- They will not have buyers sign contracts.
- They will will not care if a buyer chooses to breed their dog.
- They may encourage buyers to purchase two puppies at the same time.
- They may advertise on marketplace or Craigslist, post repeated sales in local groups and may have a hard time selling puppies.
- They won’t be willing to show the parents, or the parents will be unkempt, heavy, untrained, or aggressive.
- The puppies may be timid, round, hunched, dirty, bug-eyed, and may look sick or weak.
- The breeders home and/or whelping area will be below standard, dirty, and may lack appropriate enrichment for the dogs and puppies.
Every time you support a backyard breeder, you support the creation of the exact types of dogs that strain our system of shelters and rescues. The rescues are here because of these dogs, and the unfortunate truth is that the backyard breeders do not care.

Oh be serious. ANY dog can end up in rescue, even one from an ‘Ethical’ breeder, so don’t blame this on the ‘backyard breeders’… right?

WRONG.

Ethical breeders care very much about structure, health and temperament.

They actively work to produce puppies that are unlikely to suffer from genetically related health problems such as hip dysplasia, bloat and entropion that cost owners heartache and money.

They aren’t creating white double merle dogs that end up in rescue when they cannot find somebody who wants a snappy, under-socialized 4 month old deaf puppy with no eyes.

They closely follow the written standard, and ask for feedback from their peers so that the dogs they breed look and act like healthy, robust, calm, loving Great Danes with strong features and beautiful structure..

They are picky about buyers and educate them well, because they know that the wrong home could mean a dog ends up being neglected, dumped, or used for backyard breeding.

They want the puppies they sell to have outstanding temperaments, so they are much less likely to end up in rescue because they became ‘too aggressive’, bit a child, or couldn’t be handled by the average pet owner.

Most of all, ethical breeders have a LIFETIME return guarantee. They support buyers with education and will take any dog back during its life for any reason.

Ethical breeders are NOT the reason that so many dogs are in rescue. Backyard breeders are. Still don’t believe us? Look at any rescue. Are any of those adoptable dogs from a breeder that would take the dog back themselves, give it vet care and help it find a home?

RUFFLED FEATHERS?

We understand that a post like this may ruffle some feathers.

Perhaps you have a dog that came from what you now realize was a ‘backyard breeder’, and a post like this can feel like an attack (especially if your backyard bred Great Dane is a loved family pet, as mine is). For that, we apologize.

We believe all Great Danes deserve love and a fantastic home, including the ‘imperfect’ ones, and especially the ones that need our help.

You got lucky with one of the special ones; but that’s not the point of this post.

Perhaps you are a breeder, and don’t like that we are calling you out. We don’t apologize for that. You will not change our minds. We do not respect that you skip OFA health testing, or that you are breeding dogs that barely look like Great Danes, or that the puppies you create have roached backs, entropion, and timid personalities.

We don’t respect that you throw around terms like ‘papered’ and ‘health tested’ just to make a buck. We also don’t respect your defensiveness towards improving your program and operating ethically. Try us, but be warned. We are pretty fed up with backyard breeders and know all the ‘lines’.

Our hope is that every owner with a loved family dog from a backyard breeder, every owner whose backyard bred dog died painfully at a young age, and every owner who is interested in purchasing a Great Dane will read this article and help us stop the cycle moving forward.

These dogs are too big to be given anything other than the chance at incredible health and wellness. Stop funding backyard breeders. Start holding breeders to a HIGHER standard. Our dogs deserve it!
December 11, 2020

Author: Hello Danes

BREEDER RED FLAGS

WITHOUT EXCEPTION

BREED STANDARD

Educate, advocate, rescue, foster, adopt.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD TRAIN YOUR PUPPY?

THE 5 ESSENTIALS FOR PUPPY TRAINING

POTTY TRAINING A NEW PUPPY

CRATE TRAINING A NEW PUPPY

LEASH PUPPY TRAINING TIPS

COMMON LEASH TRAINING MISTAKES IN A DOG’S LIFE

PUPPY SOCIALIZATION IS RELATED TO LEASH TRAINING YOUR PUP

FUN LEASH GAMES THAT CAN BE PLAYED FOR THE ENTIRE LIFE OF A DOG

THE WITH ME GAME – EARLY FOUNDATION FOR HEEL

BASIC OBEDIENCE COMMANDS

TRAINING YOUR PUPPY TO COME

THE LOOK AT ME GAME

ENGAGEMENT GAME TIME

TEACH YOUR DOG TO TOUCH YOUR PALM WITH THEIR NOSE

PUPPY SOCIALIZATION

CALM GREETINGS

CALM GREETINGS GAME TIME

SAY HELLO TO NEW FRIENDS FROM AFAR

CALM GREETING PRACTICE

GO TO YOUR PLACE

PLACE SKILLS GAME TIME

SOCIALIZATION HOLES AND GAPS

VACCINATIONS

SURRENDERED PUPPIES

TEETHING AND CHEWING

TRAINING A PUP TO GROW UP INTO A RESPONSIBLE DOG IS NOT ALWAYS EASY

Symptoms of Panosteitis Growing Pains in Puppies

What Causes Panosteitis in Puppies?

What Age Do Dogs Get Panosteitis?

How is Panosteitis Diagnosed?

How Long Do Puppy Growing Pains Last?

The Role of Diet in Healthy Large Puppy Growth

What Dogs Get Panosteitis?

How Long Do Panosteitis Episodes Last?

How Can I Treat My Puppy’s Growing Pains?

How to Slow Growth to Prevent Panosteitis in Puppies

2023 Best Foods for Great Dane Puppies

Great Dane Puppy Growth Disorders Caused by Wrong Food

Great Dane Puppy Food – What You Need to Know

Should I feed puppy food or adult food to my Great Dane?

Calcium & Phosphorus Ratios in Great Dane Puppy Food

What is the Best Protein Level for Great Dane puppy food?

AAFCO Food Guidelines for Puppy Foods

Best Food Brands for Great Danes

Signs that your Great Dane puppy food may not be the right choice:

Red Flag Dog Foods

When should my Great Dane puppy switch to adult food?

Puppy Food Q&A

What are WSAVA Guidelines?

Is Large Breed Dog Food ok for Great Danes?

Meat Meal and Meat By-Products? YUCK, right!?

What are Boutique Food Brands?

I don’t see a popular food recommended here, why not?

Don’t vets get a kickback on food?

My trainer/breeder/nutritionist recommended something else

What about fresh foods?

What about raw feeding?

What about home-cooked diets?

Why You Should Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy

The Best Crates for Great Danes

The Best Dog Crate Setup for Puppies

How to Introduce the Crate to your Great Dane Puppy

Feed Your Puppy in the Crate

Have Your Puppy Nap in the Crate

How to Make Crate Training Fun for Puppies

How to Crate Train Your Puppy at Night

Crate Training Troubleshooting

GREAT DANE BREED CHARACTERISTICS

GREAT DANE ENERGY

GREAT DANE SIZE

GREAT DANE TEMPERAMENT

GREAT DANE TRAINABILITY

GREAT DANE FOOD & POOP

YES, GREAT DANES…

POTTY TRAINING GREAT DANE PUPPIES