Bloat is one of the most terrifying and uncertain things we can face as Great Dane owners. It is painful, distressing, and can happen quickly to dogs that otherwise seem healthy. Great Dane bloat and gut health go hand in hand.
It’s important to address poor gut health in your Great Dane.
Bloat is a deadly emergency in large and giant-breed dogs where the stomach fills up with gas, air, food, or fluid.
It is a life-threatening event that requires immediate medical attention, especially if the stomach flips (‘torsion’).
While the exact cause of bloat in Great Danes has not been proven, a lot of research indicates that bloat has strong ties to genetics, anxiety, and gut health.
How genetics affects a dogs risk of bloat
Ethical breeders will utilize advances in modern genetics testing, plus a thorough study of the pedigree, to verify that the parents are unlikely to pass on the bloat genes. They should not breed dogs where a history of bloat is in the direct lineage.
Studies show that dogs with a genetic link have a significantly higher risk of bloating in their lifetime.
Emerging research also indicates that poor gut health may be a contributing factor to bloat, or at the very least does very little to help prevent it.
Basically, poor genetics + poor gut health create a perfect storm.
Great Danes that are otherwise low-risk for Bloat can still experience a bloat event, and it’s important to note that Gastropexy doesn’t prevent it.
Gastropexy/tacking can, however help keep the stomach from flipping (torsion) if a bloat event occurs.
Gut health can be affected by genetics, diet, medications, vaccines, vitamins and environment.
Many Great Danes struggle with diet and food changes.
Soft stools, excess gas, diarrhea, regular puking, tummy upset and allergies (itching, swelling, redness, yeast, buildup/gunk in ears) are all signs that gut health and diet need to be addressed.
Studies indicate a strong correlation between stomach bacteria, inflammatory bowel disease and bloat, and that a variety of similar risk factors (including genetics) contribute to this.
Addressing these factors is especially important if you are aware of a genetic link with bloat in the lineage of your dog (please hold breeders accountable!)
Add a probiotic supplement. Even if the food you feed contains ‘added probiotics’, a quality supplement is more likely to contain healthy, live, beneficial bacteria.
We recommend the following brands on Amazon (links to product):
Add these to their meals. Most dogs eat them right up, especially the powders sprinkled on top of a raw egg or scoop of fresh food. As always chat with your vet before starting any new supplement!
The Best Foods for Great Danes
Choosing the right kibble is exceptionally important for Great Danes. Check your labels. Avoid foods that are from companies who do not employ a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist to formulate their foods!
Boutique food brands are killing and harming our dogs.
4. Boutique food brands that don’t have a full-time board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist on staff. This includes (but is not limited to): Fromm, Victor, Nutrisource, Nulo, Nutro, 4Health, Diamond, TOTW, Life’s Abundance, Gentle Giants
We do recommend:
1. Foods with meat, meat meal, or meat by-product meal in the first 4 ingredients
2. Foods that have been subjected to food trials and research: brands include Royal Canin, Purina, Hill’s Science Diet and Eukanuba
3. Fresh food toppers such as balanced raw, raw eggs, water-packed sardines, goat milk (in moderation) and fresh fruits or vegetables, up to 10% of the diet
4. Probiotics and fish oil
5. Slow eating and smaller, more frequent meals.
If your Great Dane is struggling with gas, burping, puking, allergies and/or soft stools and diarrhea, you need to look at parasites, medical reasons, and the food.
We do not recommend low-quality kibbles. Choose a professionally formulated raw diet or a kibble that was formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
There is some interesting data regarding a notable increase of bloat events in places where kibble diets are more common, which could indicate an additional link between kibble and bloat. More studies are needed.
Encourage slow, stress-free eating.
Gut health may be improved through the thoughtful use of diet and probiotics. Chat with your veterinarian. It is extremely important to address gut health issues in Great Danes.
We can never really prevent bloat, but we can take steps to try and minimize the chance that a bloat event may occur. We owe it to our Great Danes to keep them healthy and address their gut health!
NOTES: There is no known way to prevent bloat, and the causes are not truly understood. 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. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them.
There is almost no reason for a breeder to send a puppy home prior to 8 weeks of age.
If your breeder is doing this, they are very unlikely to be a reputable, ethical breeder (no matter what they tell you about ‘why’). In many States, it is also illegal to send a puppy home prior to 8 weeks.
BREEDING PRACTICES: Puppies Should Stay with the Litter Until 8 Weeks
There are a few reasons why a breeder may claim that a puppy needs to go home before 8 weeks.
Here are some you may have heard:
The mom ‘rejected’ the puppies
The mom is being ‘mean’ to the puppies
The mom ‘weaned’ the puppies and they are eating solid food
The puppies are ‘fighting’
The puppies will ‘bond’ better if they go home before 8 weeks
The breeder has cancer/health issues/etc. and can no longer keep the litter
It’s ‘better’ for bonding
Do these sound familiar?
Puppies that go home prior to 8 weeks of age may lack bite control, will be immature and may have a harder time with potty training, puppy biting, crate training and socialization.
BREEDER CLAIMS THAT MOM IS MEAN TO THE PUPPIES
The mom may actually appear to have rejected the puppies. She may be nippy or snappy and walk away from them when they try to nurse.
Inexperienced breeders see this as a sign that the mom is becoming aggressive and may hurt the puppies, not realizing that this is an incredibly important part of the process. Or they will use it as an excuse to be lazy.
This is how the mom weans the puppies and begins to teach them manners and appropriate social skills.
A puppy who has not had a mother snap at them to establish ground rules is a puppy who may grow into a rude, pushy adult.
Puppies learn incredibly valuable social skills while with their mom and litter. If they don’t have their mom and litter to correct them, they may never learn how to properly interact with other dogs.
THE PUPPIES ARE FIGHTING
Inexperienced breeders may think that their pile of puppies has become aggressive with how noisy, growly and bitey they are.
The puppies are not fighting. They are teaching each other bite control and social skills!
They will growl, chase, nip, attack, pin, grab and bite each other. They yelp, bark and make all kinds of racket to tell the other puppy that they bit too hard.
This time spent learning how to control their jaws and bite pressure = puppies that have a LOT more maturity when it comes to social interaction and puppy biting.
Puppies need time and lots, and lots of play to teach each other how to interact with dogs. Be cautious about any breeder that is so tired of the puppies that they would skip this time.
THE BREEDER IS TIRED OF THE LITTER
Sometimes a breeder is tired of the litter for any number of reasons. They are expensive, noisy, needy, and aren’t worth much cash until people pick them up.
So they will say all sorts of things to get you to pick the puppies up, pay them, and take them out of their house as soon as possible.
They may even claim that the litter was an ‘ooops’ and that they have cancer and cannot deal with the puppies anymore (this is why we have rescues!); we see this a lot with ‘Craigslist’ breeders.
They want your cash and they do NOT CARE that they are setting a puppy up to fail by encouraging you to take it home at 5, 6, or 7 weeks of age.
CONSIDER THIS:
Great Dane puppies that are sent home prior to 8 weeks of age may:
Bite harder, may not have a ‘soft mouth’ Be timid & shy Be exceptionally immature Cry more & have a harder time with separation anxiety Struggle with potty training & bladder control Be rude or pushy and struggle to have appropriate interactions with other dogs Be difficult to socialize
It is a truly rare situation where a puppy may need to go home prior to 8 weeks of age. Do not let an unethical breeder convince you otherwise!
RARELY IS A PUPPY LEAVING THE LITTER EARLY A POSITIVE
It can happen where a puppy must leave a litter early.
Sometimes, the Dam really is just a bad mom, or she is inexperienced. An ethical breeder will work with the Dam and may hand-raise the puppies until 8 weeks or seek out the help of another breeder with an established Dam to help raise the litter.
Occasionally health issues may require that a puppy be separated (including the death of the Dam or severe health problems with the puppy). Ethical breeders will do everything in their power to thoughtfully and humanely resolve this, including placing the puppy in the care of another Dam and litter to learn social skills, or hand-raising it as needed.
RESOURCES
For more information on what ethical breeding practices and finding a quality breeder looks like, search our ever-growing collection of helpful topics!
If you have a young puppy in your home, what is done is done. Recognize first that your puppy will be developmentally behind others that come home at 8 or even 10 weeks, so you’ll need to be extra patient.
As obnoxious as puppy biting is, for an exceptionally young puppy they NEED to do it to learn how to control their jaw. If you can, meet with other (HEALTHY) same-aged puppies (be conscious of Parvo and other communicable disease!)
Knowing what to expect with a Great Dane puppy is near to impossible!
There is almost nothing more special (and unpredictable) than a Great Dane puppy! There is this insane time where your new puppy seems to grow right in front of your eyes.
Since we’ve recently been through the crazy new dane puppy phase, we thought it would be a great time to talk about what to expect when you bring a Great Dane puppy home!
Dog food is not at their disposal whenever they want
Eating the couch / wall / blankets / etc. is not allowed
Peeing in the living area isn’t fun or funny
Their collar won’t hurt them
Naughty behavior isn’t their full time job
As you can see- teeny puppies are FULL of behavioral problems that when you really get to thinking about it– are not actually problems at all.
More simply, it’s just a puppy dane in a new environment where every single turn down a new hallway is a whole new world.
Keeping this perspective with your little dane will help you gain empathy, be more prepared, and grow your Great Dane puppy into a strong and confident adult Great Dane.
THE FIRST NIGHT
The first night the puppy is either going to sleep well and TRICK you into thinking they are perfect, or they are going to cry and cry and cry.
Either way, just know that they are likely NOT going to be good sleepers for quite some time.
If you think bringing home a dane puppy is stressful for you and your family, just try putting yourself in their paws.
They’ve left their mom, pack, and previous house / life. Their breeder whom raised them said goodbye, and to them, that was their safe place.
So, get ready to spend time creating a bond and relationship that begins this first night and transpires over the course of your Great Danes life.
Also- keep in mind- this phase moves FAST! Before you know it, your pup is going to be HUGE!
Make sure they have warm bedding, a full tummy, and your comfort. Touch their crate, sleep near them until they learn that this new place isn’t so scary after all. Remember, less than 24 hours ago your puppy was cuddled up with littermates!
Don’t have a crate yet? You’re going to want one! Crates can help with managing behaviors (peeing, chewing, biting) and give your pup a calm space to lay down and nap.
PRO TIP: turn the auto-schedule off on your robot vacuum. Can we say ‘poop painting’?
Don’t expect consistency and reliability with potty training until at least 4-5 months of age, and that’s only if you have been diligent with training and management.
When potty training, be prepared to be VERY consistent with frequent bathroom breaks (and I mean VERY frequent). For the first week, it is significantly better if you do not have to leave your dane alone at the house and are able to let them potty as often as every 20 minutes.
In the long run, this intensive training upfront will help you set up a solid foundation for your Great Dane.
Cleaning Supplies
Remember all of that pee and poop? You’re likely going to need some cleaning supplies on hand to take care of that. Waste bags, odor eliminator, and some toxin free basic cleaning items are nice to keep on hand when bringing home a puppy.
All dogs are very messy- but a puppy is often outlandishly so.
Just gear up to spend about 50% of your life cleaning up after your dane puppy- but don’t worry, the bigger they get they tend to get less messy. Just kidding of course, Great Danes are pretty much ALWAYS a mess!
Biting is VERY normal for any puppy of any breed. It is not ‘aggressive’ behavior, it does not mean that your puppy is ‘bad’. Normally, your puppy either has a painful mouth from teething, etc. or they are just simply trying to play.
To work on stopping the bite, provide plenty of strong toys for your puppy. Giving your dog lots of exercise and mental engagement can also help them to feel fulfilled in other areas and not feel the need to bite everything else in the house- including yourself!
Tips for Stopping Your Great Dane Puppy from Biting:
Keep as many chew proof dog toys in the house
Exercise your dane puppy often
Get mental brain games and toys for your dane
Feed your dane with a slow feeder or puzzle
Keep baby gates up around children or small kids
Get started with training early and practice obedience skills continually with puppies
Pet owners, get ready to SAY NO! But, not to your dane puppy. To the humans!
Everybody is going to want to love on the puppy and meet him or her. Make sure you don’t overwhelm your new puppy with too many sights, sounds and experiences! They need lots and lots of sleep and lots of time to learn your routine.
You do NOT need to rush to the dog park for fear that your Great Dane will be scared of other pets or ‘unsocialized’.
Try taking your puppy on a walk: INSIDE YOUR HOUSE! Practice using the leash and gearing up for the big day when you take them on leash for a real walk outside (which should be done shortly after bringing your dog home).
However, remember that when you DO bring your puppy outside on a walk, you MUST be prepared to SAY NO! Having a million hands coming in to pet and touch him is not going to make him less afraid of humans, but could lead to stranger fear or reactivity.
Dogs deserve space, trust and the ability to determine when and how they’d like to greet other dogs or humans.
Our Great Dane Socialization guide is amazing for learning how to use modern training and socialization methods to create a confident, friendly and resilient family pet!
SOCIALIZATION 101
Have a Great Dane Puppy? Check out our positive socialization guide.
The work you are willing to put in to your Great Dane puppy is the amount of outcome you will get out of them. It’s usually as simple as that.
Now is the time to begin training! Make sure your pup has good experiences with you and with the environment.
Great Danes are not supposed to be fearful, timid, scared or aggressive. If you see those traits in your Great Dane puppy, start with a vet visit to rule out medical reasons.
Training Starts on Day 1: You are Your Great Dane’s First Dog Trainer
Basic training begins THE DAY you bring your puppy home. Training can consist of anything from learning how to play in the grass to playing appropriate with chew toys.
Nonetheless, training should be worked on daily with the use of positive reinforcement, a large crate, and treats – lots and lots of treats. Did we mention that Great Danes LOVE treats?
CUE THE COMMENTARY
People will have an opinion. Here are some of our ‘favorites’ that you can expect to hear:
You know that dog is going to be huge, right? (Nope, really? We had no idea!)
Being a Dane owner comes with SO many positives, but also comes with regular dane puppy commentary. When walking your pup or spending time with your dane out in public, expect to get comments… and LOTS of them!
You can reply with useful information or just laugh it off, but either way you should be prepared for lots of comments, conversations, and interest.
Most people have never seen a dog as big as a Great Dane.
SO MANY GOOFY PHOTOS
Great Dane puppies grow alarmingly fast. One day your dog is a puppy and the next they are full grown Great Danes.
Basically, they will take a 2 hour nap and WAKE UP BIGGER.
You cannot possibly take enough photos, so clear your phone now and get ready.
Within weeks you will no longer be able to pick your puppy up.
They are awkward, clumsy, and take forever to grow into graceful, loping, well-muscled adults.
The Moments Go Fast With Your Great Dane
Take ALL THE PHOTOS. Prepare to look back and sob!
If this is your first dane, take double as many photos and videos as you think necessary! You will want them later.
Looking back, at the end of the first two years with your Great Dane puppy, you might think it flies by, but you’ll realize that teeny moment of actual ‘dane puppy’ lasts only a few short weeks before they outgrow themselves, unlike most pets.
GREAT DANE PUPPY FOOD
Your Great Dane puppy is going to eat a LOT of food, and it has to be just the right formula. The wrong food can cause knuckling, panosteitis, HOD, and other orthopedic growth problems. You will want to do immense research into what is the best food to feed your Great Dane puppy.
The food you choose to feed fuels or does not fuel your dog, gives them energy or wears them down, creates a strong dog or creates musculoskeletal issues, helps to build a strong immune system or perpetuates sickness, etc.
Look into every dog food you’re considering before making the choice on what food to feed your Great Dane puppy.
Myth Busting: “My Great Dane should not eat regular puppy food. I was told that I should put them on adult dog food.” This is just not true. Science, research, and increase in the dog food market has transformed giant breed formulas into much more than it was 20 or even 15 years ago. The food that you provide your dane with should be fit for a growing Great Dane puppy. For some companies, that means the bag will say ‘large breed puppy’, and for some that means the bag will say ‘large breed adult’. It’s what is on the inside of the bag that matters, not the outside!
For information on feeding your puppy, we recommend starting with the Great Dane Feeding Guide! We can work together to make sure your Great Dane puppy is eating the best possible choice for them, their breed, and for your family.
The formulas below are what we recommend for growing Great Dane Puppies and the breed altogether. We’ve linked these photos up for you so that you can easily find them on Chewy.
Worried about knuckling? Great Danes are prone to certain health problems, including something called knuckling while they are growing. We’ve got resources for that, too. Because we know (speaking from experience here) that you are GOING TO WORRY!
That’s ok. Worry is normal and means that you really care about your new Great Dane Puppy!
Get ready to puppy proof your house for your Great Dane.
If you didn’t want your Great Dane puppy on that couch, it may be too late. (just kidding, sort of!)
Great Danes LOVE to think that the entire house is actually THEIR house, and that includes your bed, your car, your couch, your food, anything that is on your table, and did I mention your bed?
Training your Great Dane takes time, so in the meantime, prepare to puppy proof your house with a solid, giant crate as well as some baby gates and safe spaces for them to hang out in.
Crate Training
Crate training is a fabulous way to prepare both your Great Dane puppy for having some alone time and help them not develop separation anxiety (something that Great Danes are famous for), as well as keeping them safe if you need to clean, cook, go grab some thing at the store, or simply sit down and watch a movie. (Did you know that Great Danes do not think that any of those exist, because they simply have nothing to do with THEM! 🙂
Preparing to be able to sleep without your Great Dane
Many Great Dane owners LOVE to sleep with their puppies. Just keep in mind your little Great Dane will soon be consuming your bed.
We recommend utilizing a crate, but keeping it next to your bed for the comfort and security of having you nearby. Inside your crate, consider an orthopedic mat such as a Big Barker crate pad.
Joint Disease in Your Great Dane
Any large breed dog, including a Great Dane puppy, is predisposed to joint disease, and the best way to prepare is to prevent.
That is why we always recommend the only orthopedic mattress on the market that has been clinically studied by veterinarians to improve the health of your dog’s joints, Big Barker.
Your Great Dane may be frustrating at times and you may grow tired of the noise, peeing and biting but hang in there. These dogs are worth it! You’re about to fall in love with a Great Dane puppy, and truly there is really nothing better in the world.
Prepare to never go back!
Before you know it you’ll have a well-trained, calm adult dog and will be dreaming of the day when you will bring sweet puppy breath and snuggles into your home again.
We spend an awful lot of time here talking about bad breeders and dogs that have problems with their health and temperament.
If you have an ‘imperfect’ Great Dane, an underdog, a dog that is a ‘pet’ not a ‘showdog’ or is a Dane from a backyard breeder this can sometimes feel like an attack.
But it’s not about your dog! We LOVE your dog. We actually think your Great Dane is awesome.
We believe all Great Danes deserve the most loving home possible, even the ones that aren’t ‘perfect show dogs’, and we celebrate the people that love their Danes no matter where they are from.
ADVOCACY
As lovers of Great Danes and of the breed, we should all be advocates.
Advocacy means educating people and making it socially unacceptable to breed untested, poorly structured dogs for profit.
We love our imperfect Great Danes, but that doesn’t mean we have to love the places and breeders that they have come from.
Rescues are full because so many breeders have a habit of creating anxious, unhealthy dogs and not caring at all where they ever end up.
We believe Danes deserve better than this!
MEET MATILDA
Matilda is my own personal heart dog. She is actually the reason I became so heavily involved in advocacy for Great Danes! She is an amazing, strong girl with an unfortunate, preventable past.
Matilda was born in Oklahoma to a breeder that planned to keep her as a bitch/dam.
At 3 months of age she was hit by a car and her right leg was shattered. This breeder took her to a veterinarian’s office (yay!), but didn’t officially surrender her and didn’t come back to pay for her care (not yay!).
Matilda lived in a cage for 10 days with a shattered leg, all because her backyard breeder didn’t care.
She was finally released to rescue by the city, and the rescue veterinarian amputated her leg and spayed her when she was just 4 months old. How I ended up with this amazing dog is another story, but let’s just say that I think she’s pretty dang perfect.
Matilda is the ultimate underdog.
Her unethical breeder cost the rescue thousands of dollars in veterinary care and boarding, and cost sweet Matilda an easy, normal life on 4 legs. If she had taken care of this the day it happened, Matilda’s leg could have been saved. Instead, she was forced to suffer and wait while her backyard breeder failed to ‘get it together’.
This is not ok. Backyard breeding is not ok. Breeding dogs and then dumping them on rescue like this when they will fail to be ‘profitable’ is not ok.
When we purchase dogs from backyard breeders, we support the exact kind of operations that result in dogs like Matilda having to suffer. She’s lucky, she landed with a good rescue who placed her here with me, and she’s living the best life she possibly can.
WE ALL JUST WANT A PET
Not many people actually need or want a show dog. Most of us really do just want a pet!
It’s so important that we celebrate every single Great Dane, no matter where they came from or what they look like.
But that does not mean we should continue to financially support the kinds of breeders who do not care about this breed the way that we do.
Supporting ethical breeders isn’t about all Danes being show-dogs, it’s about all Great Danes being given the best chance possible at health, structure and wellness.
We support Great Dane rescue and ethical breeders.
There is absolutely room for both. But it’s up to us as advocates for the breed to make sure that breeders aren’t contributing to the rescue problem.
Make it socially unacceptable to breed poorly structured, untested dogs for profit.
Great Dane puppies are like little gremlins!!!! Even though Great Dane puppy biting is very normal, but can be very hard to handle. If you are ready to learn how to stop Great Dane puppy biting, you’ve come to the right place.
They bite, gnaw, growl, tug, grab your clothes, and dig their tiny little needle teeth into your arms and hands.
YOUCH!!! But your Great Dane puppy is so cute and snuggly too. It can be hard to understand how they can flip a switch and go from cute ball of fur to aggressive beast, but it’s actually nothing to be concerned about!
Many people worry that a biting Great Dane puppy may be trying to ‘be the boss’ or will turn out to be an aggressive dog, but neither of those things is actually true. Read on to learn why it is all apart of the puppy biting stage and how to stop biting in your Great Dane puppy.
Why Do Great Dane Puppies Bite?
Great Dane Puppies bite to learn how to control their jaws, to develop appropriate social skills, and because it’s hard to learn the difference between fingers and chew toys.
Watch a pile of Great Dane puppies play! Puppy bites is what they do to each other! One will wrestle and bite each other while the second one makes as many sounds as it can for a few minutes before the little guy bites back!
When the first Great Dane yelps, they back off for a minute.
The Great Dane puppy that bit learned that the bite was too hard, and both puppies just learned a valuable and important social interaction. These Great Dane puppies are acting as one another’s pet trainers!
Exposing puppies to this natural and proper training is a valuable part of their puppy biting development.
This is an important part of your Great Dane puppy’s development. When a Great Dane puppy isn’t given this time with their litter (until 8 weeks of age) they may have poor bite control.
When you bring your 8 week old Great Dane puppy home, they don’t WANT to stop biting. Like any breed, Great Danes thrive on play, training, toys, and attention. Positive reinforcement is very helpful when it comes to teaching safe alternatives to puppies biting.
Is My Great Dane Puppy Aggressive?
Great Dane puppy bites are completely harmless and come from a place of just wanting to find relief from their energy. It’s RARELY aggression and it’s never related to dominance.
Immaturity though? Yeah that’s a big culprit behind puppy biting!
At first, they don’t know or care about the difference between YOU and the other dogs from their litter. It is completely normal behavior to see a small puppy biting, gravitating to chew toys or having ‘puppy energy’.
All your Great Dane puppy knows is that biting is FUN. Chances are you are actually encouraging the behavior by mistake!
A common mistake many puppy owners make is to believe that their bitey, growly, crazy puppy is trying to dominate or “be the boss”. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
How to Stop Great Dane Puppy Biting
Here is our list of ways to minimize and STOP puppy biting.
You must be consistent and make sure everybody in the family does the same thing.
As always, be sure to speak with a highly qualified balanced dog trainer if you notice your Great Dane puppy act aggressively, bite people excessively, or if you cannot get your puppy to stop biting.
Start implementing these tips:
Remain calm
Be boring and encourage good behavior by demonstrating calmness yourself
When biting starts, cross your arms, turn your back and walk away
Use crates, gates and leashes to prevent the behavior and teach appropriate play
Know the signs: the ‘witching hour’ and being over-tired after long hours of play tends to make puppy biting worse!
Redirect calm puppies to an appropriate chew such as toys, a toy rope, a treat, or a game to play.
Practice training by keeping your Great Dane away from other dogs who might act aggressively
Likewise, encourage your Dane pup to engage with friendly dogs in a safe environment
Put your over-tired Great Dane in a crate with a frozen stuffed Kong toy or treat
Teach a settle/go to mat behavior in order that they practice the training method of remaining calm and to stop biting
Teach your Great Dane the primary skills: sit, down, touch, stand, leave it and wait
Bonus Tip: Teach the “Enough” Command
When your Great Dane puppy is playing with you, calmly say ‘ENOUGH’, then praise and offer a toy or treat.
Enough will quickly become a cue to use in training that implies you want your dane pup to ‘disengage’!
This will allow you to play with your Great Dane so they can practice putting teeth on you (which is good for their social and bite pressure development), AND gives your puppy a new skill that is very helpful when they are bigger.
Always remember that even though Great Danes are incredible dogs, they are still a massive size, even for ‘dane dog lovers’, so it is crucial to begin training at a young age.
While you are learning how to play with your Great Dane puppy, keep in mind that everything you do is either reinforcing (encouraging) or reducing (discouraging) certain behaviors. Think about what you want your Great Dane puppy to be like as an adult.
Common Puppy Biting Training Mistakes
Yelping DOES work to interrupt the behavior, and for most puppies it’s ok to do.
For some puppies, yelping can actually encourage biting! Yelping makes you sound like a squirrel or fun squeaky toy, which may make the puppy more wound up and interested in the biting game.
When a puppy in a litter yelps, they tell the other puppy ‘ouch, too hard‘. Not necessarily ‘STOP, don’t do that again!’. Keep that in mind. Yelping works, but don’t expect miracles or a quick stop to puppy biting.
NOTE:some puppies are frightened by yelping. If your puppy cowers, tucks tail, pin ears or runs away focus on building, no eroding confidence and trust. Sometimes the ‘yelp method’, ‘using loud noise’, ‘or the sharp cry method’ can actually create fear which can create the behavior of puppies biting harder.
#1 – Shoving, Tugging, and saying “NO”
This is a common, natural response to puppy biting!
When you shout, say ‘NO’, tug your clothes, try to run away, and shove the puppy off you actually REWARD the behavior by making puppy biting super fun. OOPS!
Dog’s LOVE to play and a dane pup can confuse you running away as a ‘biting people game’, which may make them want to bite more.
Be calm, boring, indifferent and REMOVE your attention from the dane pup. Walk away. Sigh. Stand still. Turn and walk the other direction. ANYTHING to show the pup that you lose all interest in them when they bite.
#2 – Alpha Rolls & Pinning
Some people will recommend that you pin your Great Dane to the ground until they calm down, and will say that doing so establishes ‘dominance’ with dogs.
We do NOT recommend this.
Alpha rolls are an aggressive form of training that can teach Great Danes (and all dogs) to fear you, fear your hands, and respond with increased aggression, frustration and confusion.
This could result in increased bites, unnecessarily rough play, and VERY frustrated Great Dane owners who are dealing with increased bites or aggressive, fearful and frustrating behavior in their adult dogs.
This outdated method is considered ‘woo’ by actual behaviorists and well-educated dog trainers.
At worst, it’s dangerous and at best, informed dog owners and most professionals are frustrated that people and even some ‘trainers’ continue to perpetuate this misguided concept.
A much safer and more fair alternative is to remain calm, walk away, and provide your Great Dane with a toy or treat.
#3 – Pinching, Tapping, Whacking, Kneeing, and Thumbing
Pinching the puppy, shoving a thumb down his throat, or whacking or tapping him on the nose is the fast track to making sure that your Great Dane is more likely to be resistant to teeth brushing, nail trims, veterinary care and coming when called.
Seriously, don’t do this. We cannot believe we have to say this. Great Danes are a sensitive breed and will have serious repercussions if handled with a human who demonstrates aggressive tendencies.
#4 – Spray Bottles
This method may work, and it’s a ‘quick fix’, but tread cautiously.
Dogs trained with spray bottles may become resistant to spray medication, baths/showers and even being outside in the rain. Plus, like many of the other methods above it teaches your dog to avoid you and run away, NOT engage with you.
If the only way your dog is controlled is if you keep spray bottles around the house as a threat, they aren’t fully trained.
As above, we believe there are better ways to work with your dog.
Good News About Puppy Biting
Puppies outgrow this behavior. Unless you’ve been accidentally rewarding it with a lot of shoving, running, tugging and attention most puppies stop doing it once they are more mature.
You do not have to live with this behavior until it goes away. As above, use crates, gates and leashes to prevent the behavior and separate yourself from a wound-up, biting puppy.
Prevent puppies from practicing this behavior, especially on children.
Spend lots of time teaching and rewarding appropriate behaviors such as touch, sit, down, leave it, and ‘go to your place’.
Warning Signs of Aggression in Great Danes
Some people are concerned that their puppy is actually aggressive because of how rough they bite and play. Playful puppies can bark, growl and be extremely noisy!
Most puppies are not actually aggressive.
Puppy biting is not a form of aggression. However, occasionally a puppy is wired wrong or has deep-seated fear aggression. Here are the warning signs that a puppy is aggressive, not playful.
Low growl
Stiff body, tense
Hackles up
Snapping or biting when a hand approaches their food, toy, or bone
Showing their teeth/grimace
Stiff tail wags or tucked tail
Ears pinned back
Turning the head away before biting
Not showing playful body language (bouncing, bows, loose body, loose tail, fun and cute play barks and play growls).
If you are unsure or are seeing signs that alarm you, seek out the help of a highly qualified trainer.
Puppy Biting & Ethical Breeders
Puppies from ethical, diligent quality breeders and robust well-tempered pedigrees are less likely to develop aggression, are easier to train and will be much more confident and mature when they come to your home!
Puppies that leave their litter prior to 8 or even 10 weeks of age tend to be much more difficult to train. This includes having problems with potty training, puppy biting, overall bite inhibition and confidence.
Do not let your breeder convince you that a puppy is ready to go prior to that point.
Bloat in dogs is a life-threatening emergency in Great Danes and other breeds with large chests.
As a Great Dane owner or owner of any other large chested breed, it is your responsibility to know the signs and to educate pet sitters, dog walkers and family on what to look for should a bloat event happen to your dog.
The full name of bloat is Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, and it is a life threatening condition that occurs when an affected dog’s stomach fills with air, causing torsion (when the dog’s stomach twists). A twisted stomach is the most dangerous associations with gastric dilatation volvulus, as a dog’s risk of death increases tremendously when their stomach flips / twists.
Bloat is a painful, distressing condition where the stomach fills up with gas, food, fluid and/or air.
Left untreated, the stomach can ‘flip’ (also known as ‘torsion’). Stomach flipping is especially dangerous.
Treatment for bloat may involve pressure relief (medications, tubes, incisions and/or needles into the stomach) or surgery, depending on the severity.
Bloat can quickly kill a healthy Great Dane that was previously running around playing as normal. It is extremely important to know the signs.
All Great Danes are at risk. The treatment for bloat can start at $2K and may cost thousands more.
WHAT CAUSES BLOAT?
As of this writing, the mechanism behind bloat is still not well understood. All Great Danes are at risk, regardless of their individual risk factor (see more below).
It’s important to understand that certain dogs are at a much higher risk of experiencing bloat than others. These are the three main risk factors associated with bloat:
Genetic markers (most often found in dogs with a parent, sibling or other close relative that has experienced bloat)
Poor gut health (chronic gas, loose stools and digestive issues)
This speaks, once again to the necessity of ethical breeding in Great Danes. Bloat risk can be greatly reduced by breeders who diligently build their pedigrees to focus on health, temperament and robust and proven lineage.
GUT HEALTH
There are many aspects to gut health; allergies, dry skin, gas, loose stools and lack of energy are all signs that there is a problem, however some dogs may present healthy and have underlying conditions.
Choose breeders that only breed healthy, well-tempered dogs. If you have a rescue Dane or purchased Dane that suffers from anxiety, fear or aggression, work with a trainer to lower stress levels. Some common forms of anxiety include fear during thunderstorms, separation anxiety and timid/fearful or aggressive behaviors towards house guests, children or strangers.
Avoid training methods that cause or worsen anxiety (‘alpha’ training, harsh punishment), stressful situations with children or adults (chasing, pinching, laying on or yelling at Danes). Socialize and train your Danes well from a young age using positive reinforcement.
Large breed dogs have increased risk factors to getting a bloated stomach. Pet owners of large dogs should take precautions and be aware of the clinical signs of a bloated stomach.
Affected dogs that are at highest risk include:
German Shepherds
Older Dogs
Great Danes
Basset Hounds
Setters
Labrador Retrievers
Dobermans
Poodles
Rottweilers
Giant Schnauzers
Stomach bloating can also occur in smaller dogs, but this is less common. There are many different reasons why a dog’s stomach might have gastric dilatation. Dog owners with predisposed breeds should study this life threatening condition and know the signs of an aggravated dog.
SIGNS OF BLOAT
These are the signs of bloat. If you see any one of these, get to the veterinarian immediately. Bloat can progress quickly and the longer you wait, the more serious the prognosis is.
Swollen, painful or distended abdomen/stomach.
Acting distressed
Pacing and restlessness
Drooling and/or panting
Looking at the stomach
Pale gums
Vomiting or retching without anything actually coming up
THE EARLY STAGES OF STOMACH BLOAT IN DEEP CHESTED DOGS
When a dog is in the early stages of gastric dilatation, a dog might give off signs that they are in pain, pant, drool or walk around aimlessly. The dog will be restless and may pace back and forth. He may also drool excessively and/or pant and turn down dry food or wet food.
THE PROGRESSIVE STAGES OF A DOG’S STOMACH BLOATING
If bloat occurs and is not treated quickly, torsion can happen within just a few minutes.
Torsion is when a swollen stomach filled with extra gas and air begins to twist, cutting off blood supply to vital organs. Without blood supply, a dog’s life is at risk within just minutes.
During these later stages of a dog experiencing stomach bloat, one might witness them going into systemic shock, unable to lay down, foaming a white, thick substance from their mouth, and/or their gums will turn white or blue.
A dog’s stomach may also feel hard to the touch because of the gastric dilatation and/or the torsion. A distended stomach is always indicative of a pet’s condition and should be treated as a veterinary emergency.
CAN BLOAT BE PREVENTED?
There is no actual sure-fire way to prevent bloat. All dogs are at risk, but especially Great Danes and other breeds with large chests. As above, Danes with genetic links/markers, poor gut health and unstable temperaments are at an even greater risk!
Here are some common things people believe will ‘prevent bloat’:
ELEVATED FOOD BOWLS
Raised Bowls – while raised bowls may be easier on your dogs neck, there is no legitimate data on its effect on minimizing or preventing bloat. As a matter of fact, some studies indicate that bloat incidence is 110% higher among dogs that regularly eat out of raised bowls.
Elevated food bowls do not help to prevent bloat in dogs. While bloat is unpreventable, there are things that can be done to limit the odds that your dog will develop bloat.
Not using raised food bowls is one of those things.
Veterinary medicine is always evolving, and in recent studies it has been shown that bloat in dogs is increased tremendously when dogs are fed with a raised food bowl.
Resting Before/AfterMeals – the idea behind this one is to prevent the dog from sloshing a full tummy of food around while running, playing and being excited. There may be some merit to this, however it is NOT likely a notable preventative and studies have shown no correlation at all.
Many cases of bloat happen in the middle of the night when a dog is resting on an empty stomach, or hours after eating (even if a dog had been rested first!).
Some owners are so committed to this that they only allow their dogs to eat on a strict schedule, which may actually increase bloat risk if the dog hoards, gulps and scarfs down large meals at once. Find a healthy balance here if you choose to rest your dog for several hours each day.
PUZZLE FEEDERS
Puzzle Feeders – We do believe there is some merit to making sure a dog eats slowly and works for their food. Puzzle feeders can be especially helpful for dogs that tend to gulp down meals without chewing.
WAYS TO LIMIT THE CHANCES OF BLOAT IN DOGS
Although bloat in dogs is not 100% unpreventable, there are a few things that can be done to help limit the chance that your dog will bloat.
GAS X
Gas-X – Gas – X (Simethicone) or Bloat Buster is extremely important to have on hand. It may buy you time if you notice your dog start to burp, heave or act uncomfortable. Some owners dose it with every meal, we aren’t convinced that over-medicating is the answer but we DO recommend having Simethicone in. your cabinet, just in case.
Stomach tacking, also known as ‘Gastropexy’ is a surgical procedure where a veterinarian permanently tacks the stomach to the abdominal wall, making it less likely but not impossible to twist.
This procedure may buy time by helping to keep the stomach from flipping, however it does NOT prevent bloat itself.
The best way to treat bloat is to use preventative measures such as gut health, exercise, and helping your dog live a stress free life.
Gastropexy is an abdominal surgery of the stomach wall, and all surgery involves risk. Risks of stomach tacking may include complications related to blood clotting, infection, rejection and anesthesia. Rarely, during a bloat event the stomach can flip anyways, and the stitched area may open and cause internal bleeding.
If you choose to do this surgery, please work with a highly qualified veterinarian who has a LOT of experience with the procedure, in particular the laparoscopic gastropexy which is much less invasive.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOOD FOR YOUR DOG
Since gut health in your dog has been shown to have high associations with gastric dilatation volvulus (gdv), it only makes sense that one would put careful thought into the dog food they choose.
Feeding dry food without soaking with water or adding raw / canned wet food on top has been known to increase dogs bloat.
Feeding one large meal rather than several small meals to your dog has been known to increase bloat in a dog. Instead, feed in two or more meals.
Dogs who eat super fast are known to have a higher chance of bloat than a dog who eats slow.
Dogs with ongoing gut health issues are more prone to bloating, so working on gut health with a strong probiotic will help a dog be less likely to bloat and increase their gastrointestinal tract health.
We believe all Great Danes should receive a probiotic supplement, and this is one of the main reasons why. We recommend Nature’s Farmacy Probiotic Max.
GENETICS
Dogs with a genetic background of bloat are, themselves, more likely to bloat.
If you are considering buying a puppy from a breeder, check with them and their lineage paperwork to see if any dogs within their lines have ever bloated. Checking to see if there is a genetic predisposition could ultimately save your dog from future veterinary intervention and even possibly save their life.
If you think your dog is experiencing bloat, it is crucial to get them to the vet immediately for medical attention.
First, your veterinarian will run blood tests, provide intravenous fluids, check vitals, and do a full physical exam of your dog.
X-rays will also be taken to see how much the stomach has distended. If the stomach is twisted, surgery will be required to untwist it and also to tack the stomach down so that it cannot twist further away from the body wall and cut off more blood flow.
A procedure called gastropexy preventative surgery (GDV Surgery) will be given during the emergency surgical correction in order to keep your dog’s stomach in normal position.
POST OPERATIVE CARE
Post operative care is important to treat bloat. Avoid strenuous exercise, provide high quality foods, and allow for lots of rest for the stomach wall to heal. If your dog gets dehydrated, they may need to return to their primary vet for more intravenous fluids, as it can be very hard for the dog to eat after even a simple bloat.
Pain medications should be administered per your veterinarians instructions.
BLOAT IN DOGS
Bloat in dogs is something that no pet owner wants to ever deal with. Losing blood flow is a medical crisis and should be treated as so.
Working to increase the overall health and longevity of our pets lives is important and we can do that by educating ourselves and others on the risks, causes, and treatments of bloat in dogs.
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OFA health testing isn’t perfect, but it is really, really important.
If you are looking to purchase a Great Dane puppy, you need to read this post!
OFA stands for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. It is a professional organization that was founded over 50 years ago and their mission is “To improve the health and well-being of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease,”
One of the most common disorders that can be passed on from parents to puppies is Hip Dysplasia.
Hip Dysplasia is painful, debilitating and expensive to treat. It’s also largely preventable through ethical breeding practices and OFA Health Testing.
This is where the OFA comes in.
Every breeder should OFA Health test their dogs, though many unfortunately skip this step or only do some of it!
OFA HEALTH TESTING FOR GREAT DANES
To be fully OFA Health Tested and receive a CHIC # (more on this below), a Great Dane must be age 2+ and pass the following exams before being bred:
HIP DYSPLASIA:
OFA Exam or PENNHIP (these are x-rays, usually done under sedation and reviewed by multiple veterinarians).
EYE EXAM:
Performed by an ACVO board certified Ophthalmologist.
AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS
OFA Evaluation from an approved laboratory (Blood Test)
CARDIAC EVALUATION
Advanced, congenital or basic Cardiac Exam. Exam must include an echocardiogram.
Both the DAM & the SIRE must complete and pass these tests to be considered ‘fully health tested’.
As you can imagine, this process is lengthy, expensive, and may provide results that a breeder doesn’t want to hear.
Many breeders skip OFA health testing, or worse: only do the bare minimum (just the eye exam or blood work for example) so they can use the word “OFA” as a buzzword in their marketing.
Some breeders will say they ‘health test’ their dogs and hope that you aren’t savvy enough to know the big difference between a vet-check and full breeder OFA health testing.
FACT: We do NOT support breeders who breed or stud out their Great Danes without completing FULL OFA Health Testing on both Dam & Sire.
THE ELUSIVE OFA CHIC #
Once a breeder has taken their dog for all of these tests, the dog has passed all of the tests, and the paperwork has been completed the OFA gives them a CHIC # and certificate for that dog.
Both the DAM and SIRE dogs should have these tests complete before any breeding happens.
A CHIC # is a badge of honor for a dog and for the breeder, and something they are immensely proud of!
Ask your breeder for the CHIC# of both the DAM and the SIRE of the dogs they are breeding.
You will be able to take this CHIC # and verify it at www.OFA.org.
Dogs that are fully OFA Health tested before breeding are MUCH less likely to pass on the following painful, sometimes deadly and expensive conditions:
Hip Dysplasia
Elbow Dysplasia (if tested)
Cardiac disease and disorders
Thyroid disease and disorders
Eye disease and disorders
You will likely have to pay more for a puppy from fully OFA Health tested parents, but you’ll be receiving a dog that will be much less likely to cost you later in veterinary bills!
Choosing ethical, thorough, thoughtful breeders really makes a difference.
They are seriously so special. Great Dane puppies change every single day. They grow so quickly and their giant feet make them extra sweet and clumsy.
Our quick post today is all about those cute little tiny puppy toenails!
It is SO important to start nail trims early and do them often.
PRO TIP: Your dog’s nails should never, ever grow so long that they touch the ground. This can cause swelling, irritation, pain, and worse: joint damage.
Supplies for Trimming Great Dane Puppy Nails
Miller’s Forge Clippers (Red Handle). These inexpensive clippers (see on Amazon) last forever, are easy to use and stay crazy sharp.
Dremel Tool. There are several models, including knock off versions at Walmart and even a pet-specific name brand version. You need the Dremel tool and a sander drum OR a Diamagroove.
High Value Treats. Lots of tiny bites of something really good. Kibble isn’t going to cut it. Think Ziwi Peak, Zukes, diced chicken and freeze-dried organ meats.
I like to trim nailsevery weekend. Some dogs barely need this much, other dogs need a little more. The dog in the photo above is past-due for a nail trim!
For puppies, especially if they are under 4 months, nail trims should be a simple matter of routine. Plan to spend a few quick minutes each day introducing the concept and making it a positive experience.
Show your puppy the Dremel and toss treats on the ground. Do this often and at random. Turn it on and toss another few treats. Keep practicing this so that the Dremel ALWAYS predicts good things.
Make sure you give your puppy lots of praise, but don’t make a big fuss either.
Too much fussing and excitement can make your dog resistant to the process! They don’t always understand why you are so crazy and high energy all of a sudden and may find it alarming. Be calm, patient and confident.
If all you get is one nail trimmed, that’s progress!
Trim the nail as close to the quick as you possibly can but avoid cutting into it.
Make sure to round off the top, bottom and sides as well by taking tiny slivers off with the clippers or by introducing a quick buzz from the Dremel.
As above, stay calm and follow that with praise and a treat!
Why is Nail Maintenance Important for Dogs?
PRO TIP: If the nails are black or if you are scared of trimming, read the files in the Facebook group called ‘Nail Maintenance for Dogs‘ so that you can learn how to ‘read’ the nail.
Well maintained nails help keep paws neat and destruction to your home, hardwood, and skin to a minimum.
Overgrown nails actually change the shape of the paw. This can be extremely painful and frustrating to your dog, who doesn’t have much of a voice on this topic.
Keep the nails trimmed so they never touch the ground.
How to Teach Your Puppy to Hate Nail trims
Ok we joke. You do NOT want your Great Dane to hate nail trims, but here are some common mistakes people make that can actually make nail trims and other care behaviors extremely difficult:
Teaching the puppy that human hands = bad things (examples: hitting, shoving, pinching, ‘alpha’ rolling, tapping on the nose). This kind of training breeds distrust and shyness of hands.
Playing with the paws and annoying the puppy about it (old advice that can actually make things worse).
Asking the puppy to recall/COME and then forcing the puppy into a nail trim (quick way to ruin BOTH recall and nail trims!).
Not properly socializing the puppy to a variety of sights, sounds and experiences and helping it build confidence. Calm, mature dogs are built in confidence.
Believing that training is a war for power and respect, not a teacher-student relationship.
This paw is from a five month old puppy who is being conditioned to accept weekly maintenance with the Dremel.
There is no sharp point and the nails do not touch the ground when the puppy is standing or walking and moving.
Over time they will be made neater, but perfection at this stage is not the goal. Keeping the nails from developing long, sharp points, and teaching the puppy to expect and accept routine maintenance is.
Make Nail Trims a Positive Experience
When you finish the nail trim, even if you only got one nail done, do something FUN! Play a game, offer a really good chew in the crate, do a quick 1 minute training session with the treats you have left.
Teach your puppy early that nail maintenance is FUN, not-negotiable, and doesn’t result in pain or fear.
If you are really nervous about trimming the dog yourself, find a groomer. Some will come to your house, or you may have a neighbor willing to do it that will love the extra cash.
You will still need to keep sharp points off the ground, so develop a schedule of maintenance and make sure that routine trips to the veterinarian or groomer for nail trims are part of life.
We highly recommend the group Nail Maintenance for Dogs on Facebook for resources, tips, and learning. This group is especially amazing if you have a dog that is afraid of nail trims.
It’s happening! The Holidays are upon us, and once again I’m dredging up this post so we can have an honest discussion about getting a puppy for Christmas.
Beautiful memories, kids, gifts, and…giant puppy feet come to mind!!! We’ve all seen the tear-filled videos of children learning that their big present that year was a dog. It’s beautiful and warms the heart.
For the solid majority of people, this is a really bad decision. Sorry, I’m going to be that person. I have to be Frank. Not Frank Abignail, but “frank” as in…we need to have a serious chat.
How do I convince my spouse to get a puppy?
Should I give a puppy as a Christmas gift?
Are my kids ready to have a puppy?
How can I surprise my kids with a puppy on Christmas?
We have so many things to discuss. I promise to make it fun, though!
Is Getting a Puppy for Christmas a Good Idea?
I could write an entire blog on all the amazing and beautiful things that happen when you bring a cute Dane puppy into your home. Of course, at Hello Danes we focus on giant breed dogs, but ALL puppies are cute. So this blog is for everybody!
If you haven’t caught wind yet of my opinion on this one, here goes.
If you think you want or need a Christmas puppy, chances are that you probably don’t need one.
Hold the FORT! What are we saying here?
Sorry, not sorry, this stuff just has to be said. If you think it’s a good idea to stuff a brand-new puppy into a box and let children squeal and scream at it with excitement, think again.
If you are considering getting a new pet for Christmas, ask yourself the following questions:
After Christmas/New Years is over, do you still have time for this dog?
How angry will you be if the heirloom rug in your living room is peed on?
How much drool are you willing to wipe off of your clothes and walls?
Can you afford a veterinary emergency of $2500 or more, immediately?
Do you know how to train a puppy? Train it, properly and thoroughly?
Are you willing to accept that even at 45 lbs a giant breed puppy is still VERY MUCH a baby and will get up in the middle of the night?
Do you have other dogs in the home who are well cared for, well trained, and accepting of a new dog?
If the puppy chews on the remote and shreds up the couch, could that lead to divorce?
Can you pay for the vet bills, including emergent ones?
Is your partner on board?
I say all of this with a bit of humor, but so much of it is true.
Christmas puppies are traditionally a HUGE problem.
Once you have your moment and get your viral video of the kids squealing and hugging your now terrified puppy in a box, are you prepared for what happens next?
(Hint: you’ll have a hefty, confused, full-of-poop over-tired gremlin with needles for teeth terrorizing your peaceful Christmas house).
How Shelters & Rescues are Affected by Christmas Puppies
Every year rescues, shelters and breeders notice an increase in demand for puppies and dogs during the Holidays. People adopt and shop during this time more than any other.
This is not a coincidence; you aren’t the only person ever to have the brilliant idea of giving a dog as a gift.
The problem? MANY of those dogs end up returned or worse, surrendered. Many rescues suspend adoptions until the New Year, as a means to prevent people from making poor gifting decisions.
To meet demand, unethical breeders ramp up ‘production’ and create litters full of puppies from parents with questionable genetics. These dogs often end up with health and temperament problems that make them difficult if not impossible for the average dog owner to handle.
Know that you may have to be on a waitlist to get a quality Dane and that any breeder with Danes magically available and ready to go at Christmas may actually be a scam or at best, unethical (Read our Breeder Scams Blog Here).
Puppy-proof the house. The last thing you’ll want to do is to haul your new Christmas puppy into the ER on day one because he found and swallowed a glass ornament, three legos, and a cooked turkey bone.
If you plan to give a Great Dane puppy as a gift, do you really, truly think it’s the best idea?
Great Dane puppies are adorable and can turn into amazing dogs, but not without a lot of work. Socializing and training a puppy properly takes time, dedication, and desire.
Lacking that desire, it can be very difficult for a new Dane owner to get past some of the more common and frustrating Dane puppy behaviors (biting comes to mind…oh the biting!!!).
Try these ideas instead of getting a Christmas Puppy:
Place your deposit with an ethical breeder and then have your people unwrap a photo, a leash & collar, a t-shirt, or a camera with a video of the puppy on it.
Give a coupon that says ‘this coupon is good for one Great Dane‘. After they open it, share with your people how you will shop for an ethical breeder or find a rescue dog to bring into your home, and do the whole thing as a family.
Have your family make a donation or volunteer for a Great Dane rescue. Be a ‘secret Santa’ to a rescue Dane. Volunteer to foster and bring one home that way!
Decorate the house with all of the things needed for a Great Dane: a huge bag of food, a large bed, and some big Dane-sized toys, and see how long it takes your family to notice. Once they do, show them a photo of the puppies from the ethical breeder you are working with, or the rescue Dane that you think would be a wonderful fit.
Basic idea here, DON’T GET SCAMMED, and don’t be ‘that person’ that realizes somewhere in the Spring that the Christmas puppy was a huge mistake.
We are here for you and we are here for the Danes!
If you’re in the market for a Great Dane puppy, it’s crucial to be informed about the Great Dane breeder scam! Every week, we hear from people who have fallen victim to these scams or are worried they have been targeted. We know a LOT about this topic and we’re here to equip you with the information you need to safeguard yourself.
Bringing home a new puppy should be a positive experience, not one resulting in financial loss and no puppy at all.
Here is how the puppy scam works:
There are hundreds of people out there who arepretending to be Great Dane breeders. In this common and extremely fraudulent ploy, they will show you cute photos of Great Dane puppies that are for sale.
These scammers will say anything they have to convince you that they have an adorable puppy for you.
They will take your deposit and then you’ll never hear from them again.
If you want to avoid falling victim to this, read on. I’ve updated this post in December 2023 with more information!
In this post:
How common the Great Dane breeder scam is
How to spot scam breeders and fake puppy brokers
What to do if a fake breeder took your money
How to find a real Great Dane breeder
How Puppy Scams Work
Puppy scams typically operate by preying on the emotions and desires of prospective pet owners.
Scammers create fake online advertisements or entire websites featuring adorable puppies, often popular or sought-after breeds like Great Danes, at unbelievably low prices. These fraudulent breeders may use stolen photos from legitimate breeders or other sources to create an illusion of credibility.
Once a potential buyer expresses interest, the scammer establishes contact, often through email or social messaging platforms. They may employ persuasive and urgent language to encourage quick decisions, emphasizing limited availability or exceptional discounts.
Unfortunately, once the payment is made, the scammer disappears, leaving the unsuspecting buyer without a puppy or any means of recourse.
How to Spot a Great Dane Breeder Scam
Here are common signs that a breeder is a scam. We will cover this more in-depth below:
Spotting a Great Dane breeder scam is crucial to ensure you’re dealing with a reputable source. Here’s a short list of signs that may indicate a potential scam:
Unrealistic Prices:
Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true. Scammers attract buyers by setting a low price point, usually around $600-$800.
Lack of Communication:
A legitimate breeder will be open to communication and willing to provide information about the breeding process, health records, and more. If the breeder avoids answering questions or is combative or unresponsive, it could be a red flag. Good breeders will be willing to meet with you in person or on video chat.
No References or Reviews:
Reputable breeders often have references from previous customers or positive reviews online. If you can’t find any information about the breeder or their past transactions, be very cautious.
Pressure Tactics:
Scammers may use high-pressure tactics to rush the decision-making process, claiming that there are limited puppies available or urging you to make a quick payment. Legitimate breeders will allow you time to make an informed decision.
Payment Methods:
Be cautious if the breeder insists on unconventional payment methods or requests payment through wire transfers, gift cards, or other non-traceable means. Legitimate breeders typically accept more secure payment options and will never accept payment from random people they have not spoken to in person (“Buy Now” buttons are also a red flag, more on this below!)
Unverified Contact Information:
Check the breeder’s contact information, including their address and phone number. Scammers may provide false or unverifiable details. Legitimate breeders should have a physical address and be willing to share it.
Limited or No Verifiable Health Testing or Guarantees:
Legitimate breeders care about the well-being of their puppies and will ask you questions to ensure a suitable environment. If the breeder does not seem concerned about the living conditions or does not ask about your ability to care for the puppy, it may be a scam.
Inconsistent or Generic Information:
Scammers may use generic information and pictures copied from other legitimate websites. Look for inconsistencies in the information provided and conduct reverse image searches to verify the authenticity of the pictures. Take note of the puppies they have for sale! If they are all different colors, photographed in different places, around 8-12 weeks of age, and “ready to go”, you’ve found a scam.
No Face-to-Face Interaction:
Whenever possible, visit the breeder in person or use video calls to see the puppies and their living conditions. Scammers may avoid face-to-face interactions and provide excuses for why this isn’t possible.
Remember, it’s essential to do thorough research and trust your instincts when dealing with Great Dane breeders. If something feels off, consider exploring other options to ensure a safe and ethical transaction.
Who Does the Puppy Breeder Scam Target?
Individuals who are particularly susceptible to falling victim to fake Great Dane breeders often include those driven by impulsive decision-making, intense emotional attachment to owning a specific breed, or a lack of awareness about common scam tactics.
People who are new to pet ownership or those with limited experience in purchasing animals may be more vulnerable. Additionally, individuals who prioritize cost over legitimacy and fail to conduct thorough research may become targets.
Scammers often exploit the emotional connection people have to pets, taking advantage of their eagerness to acquire a specific breed, especially if offered at seemingly unbeatable prices. Potential buyers must exercise caution, educate themselves about common scam red flags, and approach transactions with a healthy skepticism to avoid falling prey to deceptive breeders.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Am I looking for a puppy that I can take home ASAP?
Would I like to find a puppy for cheaper than the other breeders charge?
Do I tend to trust people, especially if they claim to be “family people” or “in hard times“?
Am I educated on what the OFA is, and how it’s used by reputable breeders?
While shopping, am I prioritizing quick availability, or am I patient enough to wait for the best puppy for my life?
Some people are more susceptible to being scammed than others. If you are looking for Great Dane puppies and hoping to find a deal, you are at risk.
Fake Puppy Breeder Red Flags
I will go into depth below with several other red flags that indicate that you’ve found a fake breeder.
This particular post is one of the most popular ones on our site. Even after reading it, we find people are still confused. We can spot a scam a mile away, so if you still aren’t sure, send us an email!
If you have any hesitation at all, don’t give the breeder a dime.
Let’s dive into this! Here are more fake puppy breeder red flags to watch for.
#1 – A Variety of Great Dane Puppies are Always Available
Scam breeders often have a selection of Dane puppies for you to choose from in a variety of colors. If you feel like you are shopping on Amazon for a puppy, it’s a scam!
The puppies will be available and ready to go, as soon as you purchase. It doesn’t matter when you found this breeder, they somehow magically have several 8-12-week-old puppies for you to consider.
#2 – The Dane Puppies are Potty Trained or Crate Trained
Scam breeders will often tell you that the Great Dane puppies are ‘potty trained’, ‘obedience trained’, ‘crate trained’, etc.
They will say anything to make you feel less anxious about purchasing an immature Great Dane pup.
This is a major red flag; while ethical breeders may begin the process of potty, crate, and obedience training, no young Great Dane puppy is going home with these skills set in stone.
#3 – The Great Dane Puppies are “Papered”
The scammers may tell you that the puppies are papered, AKC, or come with papers.
Additionally, they might use the word ‘champion lines’ to entice you further.
You will not find an AKC registered Great Dane puppy from fully OFA health tested champion titled parents for $650. It doesn’t exist. If a breeder is telling you that you have found this, they are trying to scam you.
#4-Buy Now or Purchase Now Option
This is an immediate red flag.
If a breeder has a buy now or “purchase this puppy” option on their site, run.
It’s a scam. Never, ever place a deposit online by clicking on a ‘buy now’ or ‘pay here’ button. It doesn’t matter if the button is on a website for a particular puppy, or a link that a “breeder” sent you via social messenger, this is a scam.
Do not give money to ANY breeder unless you meet them and the puppy in person or via video chat.
#5 – The Breeder Will Sell to Anybody
Scam Great Dane breeders do not care who you are.
You could be a dog abuser who keeps hundreds of dogs in cages; they don’t care. Scammers want your money, they aren’t interested in whether you are a good, humane, ethical, and educated home for the puppy they are selling.
Ethical breeders want to know where every puppy they sell is going, and will support you as the buyer for life. Ethical and Reputable breeders will be dedicated to their breeding program and to each puppy they produce.
#6 – High Pressure Sales Tactics
Scam breeders may use high-pressure sales tactics to get you to commit.
Here are some common phrases they may use:
I have several people interested in that puppy, if you want it, you must place a deposit now
My mother has cancer and we need the funds to pay for her meds
Somebody else already paid for that puppy, but, I have another one just like it and I’m willing to sell it to you for a little less!
If you pay for the puppy today, I’ll cover the cost of shipping him to you
We are reputable breeders and have just one puppy left, he could be in your arms tomorrow! If you let me know by 3 pm, I can get him with our shipping service
If you aren’t interested in this puppy, I need to know ASAP. The price is going to go up and I thought you might prefer to get him before he’s not on sale anymore
#7 – They Have No Reputation in the Breed Community
Scam breeders will have no reputation in the community, despite claims of being ‘established family breeders’.
Are they listed in the breeder registry at www.gdca.org?
If you feel uneasy, chances are you’ve found one of many common puppy scams!
#8 – They Stall when asked for more information
A scam Great Dane breeder will often become defensive if you ask too many questions, or they may stall by telling you lies about why they cannot answer yet.
Ethical, legitimate breeders want to answer your questions and help you find the right puppy for your family. They will be able to prove their dogs pedigrees, AKC titles, health test results, reputation, and more willingly and easily.
Worse yet, they will prey on owners who are uneducated about the health tests needed when breeding puppies! They are assuming the potential target (the buyer) is unaware of how to verify the information and will simply state “We love our pets and use only the best health tests to make sure they are perfect”.
#10 – They Will Share Incorrect Information
Because the Great Dane scammers don’t have Great Danes (or any other breed they are trying to target with their scam), they often know very little about them. We’ve seen some pretty wild claims from scammers, including information that Great Danes:
Are small and compact
Have long fur
Grow to be 50-60 lbs at maturity
Eat very little food
Require no training at all
I’m not even sure how to take that seriously…but listen. It’s a red flag!
#11 – The Breeder Solicited You
If a breeder reaches out to you to sell you a puppy (unsolicited), it’s a scam!
Run from anybody who sends you private messages on social media or via email to try and sell you a puppy.
If this isn’t a scammer and they do have puppies, you’re being pursued by a very unethical backyard breeder. This is also very suspicious!
#12 – The Breeder Needs to Sell, Urgently
If the breeder needs to sell the puppies urgently, that’s usually a sign that something is wrong.
Many scammers will tell you that the puppies must be sold ASAP to pay for medical bills, or because they will be dropped off at the shelter if people don’t buy them.
This is a scam, meant to push you over the edge and make a payment.
#13 – There is No Written Paperwork
This goes back to that shady ‘buy now’ button. Scam breeders rarely have applications, contracts, and guarantees. These are a MUST when choosing to purchase a Great Dane.
Ethical and reputable breeders will require an application, and once approved, there will be a written guarantee, Dane puppy advice worksheets, and a full contract to complete the transaction.
#14 – It’s All in the Name – Breeder Scam Names
A lot of scam breeder websites use ‘keywords’ and adjectives (descriptions) as their ‘kennel’ name or keywords all over their website.
Examples of shady keywords?
Tall Great Danes Best Great Danes Great Danes Puppies Heavy Great Danes Great Dane Pups Reputable Great Danes Big Pup Great Danes Magnificent Danes
#15 – Too Good to Be True Pricing
You won’t find an ethically-bred Great Dane from a healthy, proven, and fully tested lineage for less than $1200-$3000. Expect to pay at least $1200 for a Great Dane puppy from an ethical and reputable breeder.
If the price is too good to be true, that is because it is.
Ethical breeders put a lot of time, money and effort into their pedigree and the puppies they produce. This is not cheap and selling puppies is, as a result, not often profitable for them, either. Choose ethical breeders only.
#16 They Can and will Ship Your Puppy to you ASAP
The puppy scammers spend a LOT of time trying to convince you that they can safely ship their cute puppies to you in just a day or two.
Puppies are not Amazon Prime! Shipping puppies is complicated, and ethical breeders won’t often do it. This process is not a ‘normal’ part of puppy buying.
If a breeder can ship your puppy overnight and have it in your arms ASAP, it’s a scam. It doesn’t matter how well-written and convincing that their “Shipping Info” page is. Walk away.
#17 Missing Ethical Indicators
Scam breeders will not be able to share legitimate health testing results with you. These breeders will tell you that the puppies they sell are ‘certified’, ‘health certified’, or ‘veterinarian checked. Tread cautiously as this is just a facade.
Verify the health testing results of BOTH parents at www.ofa.org This is a fantastic way to immediately rule out both scams and unethical breeders.
#18 – Social Media Puppy Scam
There are many fake Facebook (or Instagram) profiles going around of people who are pretending to be a breeder or dog owners with puppies.
They will make you feel they are legitimate by being a ‘real person’, and through private messages will show you photos of cute puppies.
“I’m not a breeder, this was an accident” “My spouse/kid/mom has cancer/COVID/etc.” “I’m selling the puppies for my mom/friend/co-worker” “I got this puppy and don’t need/want it”
Once you place a deposit with them, they will often impose extra costs or offer excuses as to why they won’t be able to deliver your puppy that day.
Before you place a deposit or pay any money to the breeder, we recommend that you ask them to meet you in person or do a live video chat and show you the puppy. There is no legitimate excuse for a breeder to skip this important step.
#19 – Shady Reviews
Testimonials and reviews are intended to boost your confidence in the transaction. We recommend that you proceed with caution. The strange usage of language, spelling errors, and omissions often indicate fraudulent reviews that were written by the fake breeder.
With the ever-growing popularity and quality of AI-Generated written content, expect that the websites, interactions, and “reviews” from these fake puppy sellers will only become harder and harder to spot.
How to Find a Legitimate Puppy Breeder
Ethical breeders will market their pups based on their true strengths including health, structure, and disposition. These breeders WILL NOT use terms like “Euro,” “Champion,” or “Potty Trained.”
The single best place to start looking for a puppy is by visiting your breed’s parent club. For Great Danes, in the U.S., that would be the Great Dane Club of America.
From there, you can connect with your local club and rub elbows with the most dedicated and reputable breeders in your area. They can refer you to others as well!
Here is some information about legitimate and ethical breeders:
They are very interested in you as the buyer and have questions about your experience with Giant breeds, puppies, and having a dog in your home.
They will want to know about your veterinarian, home life, fencing, and work schedule.
They will have an application, a contract, and a return guarantee.
You will not likely be able to purchase a puppy right now and may have to get on a waitlist.
An ethical breeder will be cautious about shipping puppies if they ship at all.
Real breeders will send you photos and show you the puppy via video and video chat.
Ethical breeders will use Puppy Culture, ENS, and other socialization programs
The best Great Dane Breeders will prove their dog’s temperament and structure with AKC (American Kennel Club), CKC (Canadian Kennel Club), and FCI (European) obedience/CGC, trick, sport and/or conformation titles.
They keep a close eye on the written standard and actively breed to improve it and the health of their pedigree.
Will have a positive reputation in the breed community among other legitimate, ethical breeders, conformation judges, and breed fanciers and are affiliated with the GDCA/GDCC in some way (as a member or as somebody who is mentoring under a mentor. www.gdca.org is the best place to begin your search for an ethical Great Dane breeder.
If you are still unsure whether or not you’ve come across a fraud, go down this checklist:
If you are about to place a deposit with a breeder that has many of these red flags, you can send us an email to inquire. We will look into it and verify if the breeder you are dealing with is legitimate or not.
I can tell you from experience, that we receive several emails every week, and in 2 years of this (since we published this blog), there was not a single legitimate breeder.
Do a reverse image search (use Google) of the images the breeder has shared with you.
Ask them for references (be careful, they can fake this!).
Ask your local breed club and enthusiast groups if they are familiar with the breeder, if they aren’t, ask them who they recommend.
Ask the breeder that you are working with to provide information about the puppy’s AKC registration and CHIC (OFA) numbers. Verify this information with the AKC and at www.OFA.org
Ask them for more photos of the puppies. Are their markings the same from one photo to the next? Structure? Backgrounds?
Ask them to do a live chat where you can SEE the puppies and the parents. If they will not do this, or won’t do it without a deposit, RUN.
Never, ever place a deposit until you see the puppy (via video chat or in person) and verify the breeder’s pedigree and health testing information with the AKC and the OFA.
Grab this infographic and please share it on your social media or website! Help us spread the word about these insidious and common scams.
