Great Dane pricing is something that many people wonder about. If you’re asking, “How much does it cost to buy a Great Dane?” then you’re not alone. Great Danes are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, and they come at a price.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what factors influence the Great Dane pricing, and how you can find a reputable breeder. Let’s get started!
A mantle Great Dane puppy from an ethical breeder
GREAT DANE PRICING FROM BREEDERS
The Great Dane pricing from a breeder can range anywhere from $600 to $4000. The average Great Dane price is between $1600-$2500, but this can vary depending on the breeder.
There are a few things that will affect the price of a Great Dane from a breeder:
Great Danes from legitimate, ethical breeders are not going to be cheap. Expect to pay in the neighborhood of $1700-$2000 (average), and possibly more if you are planning to show and breed your puppy.
Here are key things to look for in a Great Dane Breeder:
Full health testing of both parents, including heart, hips, eyes, and thyroid
Rescues typically have lower adoption fees than breeders, and they often have Great Danes of all ages that need good homes!
Rescue fees also typically cover the cost of vaccines and spay/neuter surgery prior to adoption. This can save you thousands of dollars!
The information contained on this page 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, Panosteitis, DCM 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.
We occasionally like to pick a random pet food brand or gear and do a review. On the list, today is our Life’s Abundance Dog food review. This popular food is often recommended by breeders (who receive kickbacks for selling it), however, it is rarely if ever recommended by veterinarians. I wanted to dig into why that is!
Many breeders will offer and promote Life’s Abundance puppy food to puppy buyers, and may even require it as part of your contract or health guarantee!
This is not your typical review! We are not a dog food clickbait site – you won’t see us breaking down the merits of a food solely on its ingredients, but rather, it’s manufacturing process, formulation practices, and overall ethics.
Let’s dig in!
Life’s Abundance Food & Great Dane Breeder Recommendations
It is really important to understand first that Life’s Abundance Food is an MLM Marketing Scheme.
That means that it’s often sold through a hierarchy of distributors (often breeders) who make a profit on the sale of the food. They can also profit by building teams through the recruitment of ‘Field Representatives’.
Simply put, the promotion of Life’s Abundance dog food is done in a similar way to other MLM brands such as Herbalife, Scentsy, Mary Kay, and Young living Oils.
Because their ability to profit from this product is directly tied to their ability to sell it to buyers and recruit other sellers, breeders are greatly motivated to produce more and more puppies to uphold their income stream.
This may be done without regard to health, structure, or diligence to breed type.
The Great Dane Breeders who are successful in selling lots of puppies will often be fanatic in their promotion of Life’s Abundance because, for them, it’s a winning numbers game.
More puppies produced = more food sales.
This creates an environment where unethical breeders are encouraged to breed more and more in the pursuit of ongoing commission-driven profits from puppy buyers.
Life’s Abundance is NOT a Dog Food Manufacturer or Company
Life’s Abundance is an MLM that sells nutritional supplements, cleaning supplies, and randomly…dog food.
Life’s Abundance is NOT a dog food company, and as of this writing, they do not manufacture or pack their products.
Additionally, the company does not make AAFCO Nutritional or formulation information easy to find.
As far as we can tell the brand is not involved in ongoing peer-reviewed nutritional research or legitimate testing. Despite this, their marketing relies heavily on the promotion that they sell a ‘proprietary’ blend of ingredients.
Without extensive testing and feeding trials, there is no proof behind the ‘health’ claims that this brand makes.
Life’s Abundance reps love to talk about how the brand is ‘free of recalls‘, however, this is intentionally misleading marketing. It can also be wildly unethical (see our study on Victor dog food, which had no recalls until November 2023 when it was discovered by a 3rd party that they had been selling contaminated food for months with no accountability).
‘No Recalls’ is a red flag. Recalls are a positive sign that a brand is making efforts to uphold standards and mitigate formulation and production issues within its product.
A brand with no recalls, that wishes to uphold that record for marketing purposes is likely to ‘hide’ minor formulation and quality control problems instead of recalling them publicly.
In other words, ‘no recalls’ is NOT a key indicator of quality and safety. Recalls can happen for several reasons and many are not catastrophic.
Life’s Abundance Dog Food and Breeder Ethics
Many breeders who promote and profit from this product will offer a more robust health guarantee to buyers who keep their puppies on this food.
Some will even require that the food and/or supplements be purchased, no matter what.
The health guarantee and breeder support may become ‘void’ if the food’s auto shipment is turned off, and these breeders may even require that you return the puppy to them if you don’t support their food commission scheme.
It is not uncommon for puppy buyers to feel pressured into keeping their puppies on Life’s Abundance foods and supplements despite knuckling, chronic loose stools, stomach problems, allergies, flat feet, heart problems or low energy.
All of these are health problems where nutrition, especially nutrition from a company that has no legitimate scientific backing, may play a key role.
It is extremely unethical for a breeder to require the purchase of Life’s Abundance food and/or supplements. We consider this practice a key red flag, as it often rides in tandem with other unethical breeding practices such as inadequate health testing and breeding dogs with questionable structure.
Life’s Abundance Quality
Life’s Abundance makes it difficult to find their ingredients list; on their website, you can expect a list of ingredients within the food, but not in any particular order.
We are not board-certified Veterinary Nutritionists, so we have no business commenting on the specific ingredients, formulation, or health claims.
Coincidentally, neither do the breeders, ‘Dog Food Advisor’, or any other ‘food rating’ website.
Not to mention the fact that Life’s Abundance is not even formulated by a credentialed, board-certified veterinary nutritionist (DACVN).
A DACVN is one of the only people qualified to completely formulate kibble dog food and judge ingredients. (Read more here: https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/06/why-you-shouldnt-judge-a-pet-food-by-its-ingredient-list/)
The person in charge of creating the Life’s Abundance recipes is a ‘holistic’ veterinarian whose writings and focus seem to have been on…cats. While some people may take no issue with this, consider this.
The current FDA warnings about grain-free foods and boutique diets causing heart problems indicate that the problem is strongly correlated with boutique diets that are not formulated and rigorously tested by a credentialed veterinary nutritionist. So yes, that should alarm you.
Life’s Abundance is a marketing company, not a pet nutrition expert company.
The nutritional analysis of protein, calcium, and phosphorus in some Life’s Abundance formulas appear to be appropriate for Great Dane puppies, however, we are unable to definitively say if the correct balance of other nutrients (including key meat-based amino acids) is present.
For a 40lb bag (the typical size needed when raising Great Danes), you can expect to pay nearly $100.
As with all MLM products, the price is high to support the commission-based business model, not necessarily because it’s a higher-quality product.
We do not recommend Life’s Abundance dog food and encourage you to tread cautiously with any breeder that is heavily promoting, selling or encouraging this brand.
The same can be said for Life’s Abundance supplements and NuVet Vitamins, which we will cover in another blog post.
Do you sell or use Lifes Abundance dog food? Leave your comments below! We are open to friendly, polite, scientific dialogue on this topic.
Our favorite breed of dog is known by many to have a shorter lifespan, but that doesn’t have to be a reality. What is the Great Dane lifespan and how can we extend our favorite dog’s life?
Great Danes live an average of about 8-10 years, but with good breeding practices and a proper diet and exercise regime, they can live up to 12 years old or more!
Many people have experienced the devastating loss of a Great Dane at a young age and this happens most often because of bloat, heart conditions, orthopedic problems, and other genetic issues.
On the flip side, many people have had Great Danes live for 10 years or even longer!
There is a misperception about the lifespan of Great Danes, and we are here to fix that. Great Danes make amazing family pets in the right homes, and can absolutely live long and healthy lives.
It is well known that Great Danes tend to have shorter lives than other smaller dogs. This is because they are a giant breed and are prone to a number of health problems. (Health Risks in Great Danes)
Great Danes live, on average, 8-10 years.
Many smaller dogs live 10-15 years, for comparison.
The average life expectancy of a gentle giant is low, but it doesn’t have to be!
The oldest Great Dane currently known in 2021 is Maggie Mae, at the ripe old age of 16.
Some of the health problems that Great Danes are prone to include canine hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, bloat, cancer, and heart disease which can lower the average life span. All of these health issues can be genetic, and lead to a shorter lifespan in the breed as a whole.
Great Danes can live long, robust lives. While 8-10 years is the average, many live to be 12 years of age or more!
Since Great Danes are such big dogs, they frequently suffer from a list of health issues that are often FATAL and nearly always GENETIC. These health issues significantly lower the average expected lifespan. Unethical breeding practices are to blame, not the Great Dane breed itself.
HEART DISEASE AND AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A DOG’S LIFE
DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) is a silent killer. Many Danes are lost to this but it’s not always diagnosed; they often have very few symptoms and may pass suddenly (as if they had a heart attack).
Your dog’s chances of developing Hip and Elbow Dysplasia are higher if you choose a reputable breeder who’s dogs have a health history of having Hip Dysplasia or other joint related health problems.
Since Great Danes frequently suffer from joint problems, and it is known that mobility issues can lower the average lifespan, it is important to start your Great Danes on joint supplements. Great Danes should be on a joint supplement from the time they are just a Great Dane puppy until they are adult dogs.
When you are raising Great Dane puppies, keep them on a healthy diet and Buffered Esther Vitamin C, which will support their joints and keep them from knuckling.
To support your dog’s joints during their adult lives, include Glucosamine and/or Dasuquin in their healthy diet to promote good health of their joints.
It is very unlikely that a Great Dane with any of these unfortunately common disorders will live long and robust (10+ year) lives.
HOW DO I MAKE MY GREAT DANE LIVE LONGER?
The reality here is that most of us want our Great Danes to live forever. So then, how do we make the Great Dane lifespan as long as possible and minimize the health risks?
There are things you can do to help them live long, healthy lives and increase the average lifespan. The most important one starts with the breeder you choose.
Many of the Great Dane breeders perpetuating these common health problems are friendly, say they ‘health test’, breed often and have cute puppies and nice websites!
Treat cautiously with ‘friendly backyard breeders’ who are more interested in profits than the breed itself.
Friendly backyard breeders may even be popular, especially on social media. It’s easy to fall into this trap, and it’s unfortunate because bad genetics is like a game of telephone.
It’s very hard to get rid of the bad genetics so long as they continue to be reproduced.
Wobblers, bloat, heart issues, blood clotting disorders, anxiety, painful structural problems (including flat feet and roached back) and even cancer have genetic links that can be traced back to the lineage and careless breeding.
Their waistline should be visible when looking down at your dog from above, and you should be able to feel their ribs with light pressure but not see them.
An Underweight Great Dane
A Healthy Weight Great Dane
An Overweight Great Dane
An hour a day of moderate activity is what’s recommended for most adult Great Danes.
Use e collar training to help your Great Dane know the boundaries and rules of society, which will help your Great Dane lead a stress and anxiety free life.
KEEP THE NAILS TRIMMED AND SHORT ON YOUR GREAT DANE
Since a big Great Dane is prone to developing painful arthritis, Great Danes need their nails kept trimmed and short.
Check them regularly and if they get too long, it is far past due.
If you have a Great Dane, you should be familiar with the tools required to groom their nails, and become familiar with how to use them.
Your options are to use a Dremel or nail clippers.
Click below to shop our favorites of each.
A Great Dane should get their nails trimmed weekly! If you are not comfortable trimming the nails of your Great Dane by yourself, you should schedule regular veterinary visits to get them taken care of.
A Great Dane has big, strong nails, so it can be very painful if they are touching the floor.
More so, it can actually cause joint and structural issues if the nails of a Great Dane are too long.
Check out our favorite grooming tools for the big nails of a Great Dane here.
EXERCISE FOR A GREAT DANE
Great Danes are NOT couch potatoes!
Nothing in life, not a Great Dane and not smaller breeds should be left stagnant!
Most dogs thrive when they get an abundance of free play, exercise, and training, which can help them grow both physically and mentally.
Proper exercise for a Great Dane includes offering plenty of free play and exploration on soft, varied terrain. For this reason, we believe that all Great Danes should be reliably off-leash trained!
Using an e collar to train your Great Dane is one of the best ways to ensure that you can provide your Great Dane with the proper amount of free play and freedom that they need.
All of the Pandemic Puppies flooding into rescue right now have me thinking, once again, about backyard breeders.
So for fun, I hopped into CANVA and made a backyard breeder bingo card that you can share to your IG story or on your blog! Just right click and steal it from us, we will DEFINITELY allow you to take and share this one! (Though, we do ask that you keep the board as-is and don’t crop or photoshop it). You can tag us on IG @hellodanes
I will clarify each square below! Note, this card is in reference to backyard breeders who INTENTIONALLY breed dogs for profit. Not truly accidental or rescue litters. Please also see our note below the post about how ALL dogs do deserve a home, and how you can make sure that happens without supporting unethical breeding practices!
Why is backyard breeding such a problem? Because unethical breeding practices are almost solely responsible for heartbreak, sick dogs, aggression, health problems and the sheer volume of dogs that are overwhelming our Great Dane rescues right now.
BUY NOW BUTTON/ONLINE STORE – This is always shady business for two reasons. Number one, a lot of ‘scam’ breeders with no puppies at all use this as a money grab and two, no ethical breeder is going to let you just checkout/purchase a puppy without getting to know you first. Never, EVER purchase a puppy by using a ‘buy now’ or online checkout option, even if you think the breeder is ‘reputable’.
NO LIFETIME BREEDER SUPPORT – Ethical breeders care VERY much about the lives they produce. They never want to see a single one of their dogs in rescue or sick because of a congenital or genetic problem. Ethical breeders will support you if something pops up from training issues to health problems, and will be there for you even if you are simply unable to care for the dog you purchased. Backyard breeders? They just want your money and to be done with it. Ask every Dane sitting in rescue right now if their breeder cared where they ended up in life…
UKC OR CKC/CONTINENTAL KENNEL CLUB REGISTRATIONS – These registries (not to be confused with the CANADIAN Kennel Club/CKC, which is reputable) are littered with litters from backyard breeders. Any breeder that cannot obtain a real AKC or Canadian registration will go to the UKC or the Continental Club. Reasons that your breeder may not have AKC or Canadian registrations? They may not have had breeding rights for the parents they were breeding, the pedigree is mixed or the lineage is unknown. Either way you shake it, it’s unlikely those dogs should have been bred.
DOESN’T ADHERE TO GDCA ETHICS BASICS – We are consistently astounded how many ‘friendly’ and ‘caring’ breeders miss the boat on the ethics of breeding put forth by the Great Dane Club of America (and Canada). If you are going to breed Great Danes, shouldn’t the parent club be your resource and guide? Read their ethics and recommendations here, and make sure your breeder is following these basic guidelines when developing a breeding program: https://gdca.org/breeders/code-of-ethics
‘DESIGNER’ COLORS IS THE MAIN SELLING POINT – Off-standard colors really shouldn’t be a problem, however many backyard breeders are so focused on creating popular and unique colors that they disregard temperament and sound structure. Color should NEVER be the main selling point of a breeding program. Health, temperament and structure first, always. After that? If the color fits, wear it.
SPOT-TO-SPOT BREEDING/DOUBLE MERLE – Breeding two dogs together that each carry the merle gene (you know, the gene responsible for those pretty merle coats and MANY ‘designer’ colors), each puppy has a 1-in-4 chance of receiving both copies of that gene. Sounds ok, right? It’s not. These dogs are called ‘double merle’ and many of them have significant health problems, blindness and/or deafness. Read more about double-merle dogs here: https://www.hellodanes.com/double-merle-great-danes/
BREEDING RIGHTS FOR ANY BUYER/FULL AKC – Ethical breeders will be very cautious about selling a puppy to somebody that wants to use it for breeding. While it seems like you should be able to do whatever you want with a purchased dog, we have to remember that dogs aren’t couches. They are living beings, and breeding them is a massive responsibility. Ethical breeders protect their lineage and understand the difference between a ‘pet’ Dane and one that has the correct structure and genetics to be bred. Want to breed? Find an ethical breeder and ask them to mentor you. Prove that you care about developing a sound breeding program; this will greatly increase your chances of getting access to purchase a quality foundation dog for your program.
PARENTS HAVE BAD STRUCTURE, FEAR OR AGGRESSION – A lot of breeders who sourced their foundation dogs from breeders that didn’t care if they bred the dog or not (see above) are also the same types that are breeding dogs with structural and temperament faults. Flat feet, roached backs, bad angulation, extremely red droopy eyes, fear and aggression…these are NOT things that should be passed onto a litter of puppies. Breeding a dog like this ignorant and gross. Meet the parents! They should be excellent examples of the breed standard with beautiful movement and structure and wonderful personalities. Ethical breeders are very proud of the parents they are breeding. Want to learn more about structure? Read the written standard here: https://gdca.org/wp-content/uploads/TheGreatDane/An-Illustrated-Standard-and-Guide-for-the-Evaluation-of-the-Great-Dane-1.pdf
NO CONTRACT REQUIRED – If a breeder doesn’t require a contract, it’s a sign that they do NOT care who you are as the buyer, do NOT care to support the dog for life, don’t offer any kind of legitimate health guarantee, don’t care if you breed or not, don’t care if you surrender to a rescue. THEY DON’T CARE. Contracts outlining responsibilities, health and return requirements are a must. Verbal contracts likely don’t hold up in court, either so be suspicious when a breeder doesn’t want to put anything in writing.
MINIMAL EARLY SOCIALIZATION PROGRAM – Keeping dogs in a barn or on a tile floor with a short play session on grass and some exposure to kids or farm animals is NOT thorough socialization! Ethical breeders focus a lot of effort into creating confident puppies by exposing them to a huge variety of sounds, textures and experiences. They have puppies exploring obstacles (tires, water, ramps, gym mats, etc.), facing their frustrations and learning about household sounds (vacuums, for example), nail maintenance (clippers and dremel), crating, potty training, kids, handling, exams, collar/leash and more. Puppy Culture, ENS and Avidog are examples of appropriate early socialization programs.
SHIPS ASAP/WILL SHIP ANYWHERE – Dogs. Are. Not. Couches. If a breeder is willing to ship live animals that deserve love, affection, training and a good home to anybody sight unseen, TREAD CAUTIOUSLY. Some ethical breeders and rescues will ship dogs, but they require extensive checks into references and a video call or local visit to see your home and where the dog will be living. They will often use a network or a transportation nanny to move through the system with the dog and ensure it arrives comfortably and in perfect health!
PUPPIES ARE TIMID OR SCARED – If you go to meet the puppies, or see photos and videos and notice they are timid or scared, there is a HUGE problem. The breeder may be breeding timid/fearful parents, not socializing the puppies, abusing the puppies or the puppies have health issues. Any way you shake this, it’s bad news. Puppies should be energetic, bouncy, curious and playful. Not afraid. Contrary to popular belief, being ‘timid’ is NOT a ‘Great Dane Thing’.
IT’S YOUR DOG, DO WHAT YOU WANT – This is a breeder that is breeding for profit and has no desire to support you as the buyer or ensure that the puppy is never surrendered to rescue, bred unethically or abandoned. They want to wash their hands of you and the dog and they package that dirty practice up in a neat phrase that sounds like they are giving you more ‘freedom’ as a dog owner. Yikes.
PUPPIES SENT HOME BEFORE 8 WEEKS – This is money grab central, folks. Breeders get tired of the puppies and from 6-8 weeks they eat a TON of $$ food, they are noisy, they are annoying, the mama dog is over it. A breeder that sends a puppy home prior to 8 weeks is setting that dog up to fail, however. They need corrections from their mama and littermates to learn bite control and appropriate play, as well as dog interactions, confidence and more. Read more about why taking dogs home before 8 weeks is both unethical and a huge problem here. There are very, very few reasons for a breeder to do this, and 99% of them are not a good reason. https://www.hellodanes.com/why-great-dane-puppies-should-stay-with-the-litter-until-8-weeks/
UNDERAGE PARENTS (UNDER 2) – While some sources allow for dogs to be bred prior to 18-24 months, in Great Danes we consider this practice to be extremely unethical. Growth plates are not even fully closed yet on a Dane that isn’t 2: giant breed dogs don’t mature until at least then. Additionally, you cannot fully register some health testing results with www.ofa.org until a dog is 2 years old. All dogs should be fully tested (and passed) before being bred, so jumping the line with an underage stud (and especially with an underage dam) is bad practice.
‘CHAMPION’ BLOODLINES BUT NO AKC, FCI, of CKC/CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB CH., GCH. or BIS TITLES – ANYBODY can put together a dog show and award ribbons and ‘champion’ titles. The only legitimate champion lineage comes from the major, reputable registries that work with the breeds established parent club: AKC, Canadian Kennel Club and FCI. The pedigree should be well-documented. Say what you want about ‘show dogs’, but dogs that have been awarded real CH. titles are excellent examples of the breed. Dogs that have been awarded fake or low quality CH. titles? Seems pretty shady to us…
NO APPLICATION REQUIRED – Without an application, how is a breeder to know if you are a legitimate, caring, committed home or not? Remember, abusive people can be friendly when you meet them in person. Good breeders want information about your home, your experience with Giant breed dogs, children in the house, your desire to work with your dog or breed it, and whether or not you actually plan to seek vet care, professional training and otherwise. They are more interested in choosing the right home for each puppy than in going down the list and selling puppies as fast as possible.
VERY FEW PHOTOS OF ADULT DOGS – A good breeder is going to be proud of the parents. Be wary of any breeder where the focus is primarily on puppies (profit generator) instead of on the adults, the lineage, structure and health. There should be several clear photos of the adult dogs being bred, ideally where you can see their structure and possibly even seeing them interacting with people, dogs and even kids. If a breeder is hiding photos of the adults or isn’t sharing them as much as (if not more so) than the puppies, be curious about WHY. The adults may be being abused, are sick or are poor examples of the breed.
PARTIAL OR NO OFA HEALTH TESTING – OFA Health testing is so much more than a vet check, and it’s extremely important. Each dog being bred should have hip/elbow x-rays to test for abnormalities (including dysplasia), an echocardiogram to test for genetic and congenital heart problems, a thyroid test and an eye exam with a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist. Make NO mistake, a breeder that skips these tests or only does one of them so they can ‘claim’ to be ‘OFA health tested’ is likely being SHADY. Proper health testing costs money and may require that the breeder wait before breeding or remove a dog from their program. They tend to skim over testing or avoid it altogether because of this. The results should be published to www.ofa.org for you to verify.
PUPPIES HAVE FLAT FEET/WORMS/KNUCKLING – Yeah, this is backyard breeder territory. Experienced, thoughtful Dane breeders know how to deal with (and avoid) flat feet and knuckling. Flat feet may also be genetic (yikes!). There is no excuse in the world for a puppy to have disease, sores or WORMS. Gross. However, these things are fairly common with some of the worst breeders…even the ones that appear ‘popular’ or ‘friendly’.
NO TITLES ON ANY DOGS – did you know there are 100’s of titles a dog can obtain that have nothing to do with dog shows? A breeder that is active with their dogs, or that has owners who are active with them, will have titles in the lineage that include everything from obedience (CGC) to dock diving, scent work and more. While many breeders don’t obtain titles (and it’s not automatically a ‘bad’ thing), it’s one standard we do like to see considered more often. Look for titles in the lineage and from other puppy buyers, proving that the Danes being made are enthusiastic, well-tempered and trainable. A litter of puppies built with the correct temperament to obtain Canine Good Citizen titles is a litter of puppies that will make EXCELLENT family pets!
BREEDING FOR COLOR BEFORE HEALTH – This is a huge can of worms. Great Danes come in piles of beautiful, interesting and unique colors. Only 7 are colors that are considered ‘standard’ and can be shown. There are questionable ethics and a lot of argument regarding both sides of this fence; some believe off-standard colors are bad while others believe they are necessary, with opinions everywhere in between. Our position is that off-standard colors are ok IF the breeder is focused first on health, structure, temperament, lineage, and the breed as a whole. If the breeding program is focused first on color, odds are you’re going to have a lot of dogs with interesting coat colors that have poor structure, instability and worse…shortened life spans. These are all genetics that they may pass on to future generations, too. It’s not fair to paint a dog ‘lilac fawnequin’ if obtaining that also means that it will be born with a heart defect, allergies and cow hocks. Color is fun, but don’t believe for a second that color is the only reason to choose which parents to breed.
SELLING IN A FACEBOOK GROUP – Yup, we’re going to go there with this one. Some breeders make themselves appear ‘popular’ and even ‘reputable’ because they are so NOISY trying to sell puppies on social media. They post available puppies and litters in Facebook groups, often multiple times with very slow sales, indicating largely that they bred their dogs before knowing if there was even any interest in them. With RARE exception, ethical breeders often have waitlists and will not need to resort to desperately trying to ‘home’ an 8+ week old puppy on social media. This is actually a RED flag and not a sign that a breeder is popular simply because you keep seeing their name pop up in your local community.
EVERY DOG DESERVES A HOME
Nobody is saying that a dog from a backyard breeder is any less deserving of love or a home.
But before you focus only on the cute puppies, take a look at the 100’s of dogs sitting in rescue right now. Many of them are unadoptable, require insane amounts of funding for their veterinary needs, have significant issues with their training and socialization and may have permanent medical problems (including missing limbs, megaesophagus, being blind or deaf or needing heart medications for life).
ALL of these dogs deserve homes. The problem is, every time we support a backyard breeder, we directly fund the production of the same animals that end up with expensive health problems, abused, neglected, abandoned and unwanted. There are so many backyard breeders, and so many more about to breed again, because people keep buying dogs from them.
When they can’t sell the puppies, they will typically give them away or surrender them to rescue…at which point, the applications FLOOD in and the puppies all find homes. But the 4 year old dog in rescue that has resource guarding issues and permanent joint damage because of his congenital flat feet? That dog may never find a home…and it’s the backyard breeders we have to blame for that.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of shady breeders and Great Dane breeder scams in the world of Great Danes. These unethical breeding practices are harming our beloved breed and making it hard for pet parents to navigate their search for a well-bred Great Dane puppy.
We see a lot of this. The unethical breeders prey on people who are new to Great Danes or don’t know much about ethical breeding practices. What’s worse, is that they know how to appear ethical, friendly, and reputable.
The dogs and the owners end up suffering for it. Backyard breeding practices are almost solely responsible for the reason that so many purebred Great Danes are in rescue.
We are on a mission to shut these shady, scammy, unethical breeders down, and make room for breeders that are operating with the best interest of every dog in mind.
This post will dig into some favorite shady tactics that unethical Great Dane breeders may use to get your business!
Shady Breeder Tactic #1: Bare Minimum Health Testing
One way that backyard breeders will attempt to appear reputable and legitimate is by doing a ‘vet check’ or genetic screening so they can claim that their dogs have been health tested.
Note: a breeder who only completes a ‘veterinary clearance’ or genetic screening is NOT properly health testing their dogs! There is no exception to this. When you hear these things from a breeder, you are hearing about their corner-cutting practices.
Diligent health testing must include at minimum:
Veterinary check, ideally with a reproductive veterinarian
A full study of the pedigree of both parents to include information about health conditions seen in the genetic lineage
Genetic screening for known genetic conditions and coat color
OFA screening by the breed’s parent club recommendations.
For example, in Great Danes, OFA health screening for each parent in the pairing must include:
OFA Heart – an echocardiogram of the heart
OFA Thyroid – Thyroid panel/blood test
OFA Eyes – Exam with a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist
OFA Hips – X-rays read and graded by orthopedic specialists
Reputable breeders will log their OFA health testing at www.ofa.org
You should be able to see the screening results for BOTH parents on that website. If any OFA tests are missing, find a different breeder.
If you are outside of the U.S., your breeder probably doesn’t use OFA, but they will still check their breeding stock for quality hips, eyes, heart, and thyroid.
Don’t just take their word for any of this! Ask for proof. Ask them why it matters.
Sketchy Dog Breeders Red Flag: Puppies, Puppies Everywhere!
Tread cautiously with any breeder that always seems to have puppies, especially if they have a regular habit of maintaining multiple litters and pregnant dams at the same time, all year round.
These breeders may appear ‘popular’ and reputable because they have so much ‘business’, but in the world of ethical breeding, this is one of the worst offenses.
Many of these same breeders may keep adult dogs in outdoor runs all day, require the purchase of ‘Life’s Abundance’ or ‘Nuvet’ (MLM commission schemes), and/or have a huge network of ‘guardian homes’ through which they can always have litters available.
Running a breeding business like a puppy factory isn’t fair to the dogs, owners, or puppies.
It implies that each life is worth only the cash it generates.
Breeders that are overrun with dogs and puppies are less likely to be able to offer proper puppy socialization and care, robust breeder support, and appropriate attention, affection, training and accommodations for the dogs being used in their breeding program.
Many breeders that operate this way are keeping dogs in runs or barns outdoors, not as loved pets that are trained in obedience, shown in dog shows, socialized, and kept as part of the family.
Do not mistake high volume for popularity.
Ask yourself if a ‘high volume’ breeder is doing this because they care about maintaining and enhancing the breed, or if they are in it for ego and cash.
Breeder Red Flag: Will Ship Anywhere
Some ethical breeders are willing to ship puppies to highly qualified, well-considered buyers.
We are very leary of any breeder that always seems to have puppies and is willing and able to ship them almost anywhere to anyone, however.
Great Danes are NOT an item that you order online. They are living beings that should be bred and raised with care and love.
They should not be bred by volume and shipped all over the Country like bags of dog food.
Ethical breeders typically have waitlists of local buyers and don’t need to do this to sell puppies.
Any breeder with a habit of regularly shipping or ‘delivering’ dogs to multiple different states is a breeder who does not likely have a good name in their local community.
As before, don’t mistake even expensive high-volume shipping operations with ethics, ‘popularity’, and desirability.
The Ethical vs. Shady Breeder Showdown
Ethical:
The ethical breeder will have OFA and genetic screening results to show you for both parents. They will be able to speak to the pedigree, with information about common health disorders in the breed such as heart disease, cancer, and GDV Bloat.
Shady:
The shady breeder will say their dogs are health tested and healthy. They might do OFA Hips or thyroid (but not all of them) so they can use the word ‘OFA’ in their marketing.
Ethical:
These breeders can tell you about the breed standard if you ask about angulation, top lines, eyes, head shape, croup, feet, color, temperament, and health problems.
Shady:
Unethical breeders will attempt to sell you on their puppies by mentioning that their dogs are “Euro” and come in “rare colors”.
Ethical
Exceptional breeders have a robust early socialization program that they are very proud of. It should include early exposure to people, children, animals, textures, touch, sounds, crates, handling, leashes, and potty training.
Shady:
Corner-cutting breeders will say they raise the puppies ‘indoors’ and ‘around children’.
Ethical:
Breeders that care want to know a lot about you as a buyer, including your experience, desires, etc. They will often have a long waitlist of buyers who understand the reasons for waiting to support an ethical breeder.
Shady:
Unethical breeders often have to do a sales pitch to sell dogs and will sell them to nearly anybody willing to buy. They may even encourage puppy buyers to take home multiples and will often be seen on social media trying to sell the puppies.
All Dogs Need Good Homes
It’s hard to turn your back on a dog that is already here, waiting to be purchased.
The problem, however, is an endless loop. When you intentionally purchase a dog from a backyard breeder, puppy mill, or pet store you are also funding the production of more unethically bred puppies.
So while it feels good at the time to give THAT dog a home, the money rewards a breeder that doesn’t truly care about that dog or any others that follow.
Make it a point to seek out and purchase ONLY from ethical breeders.
A backyard breeder with a litter of poorly bred, unhealthy, or sick puppies that don’t sell may eventually give up and surrender those dogs to rescue. The rescue can find great homes for them, and the backyard breeder may think twice before breeding again.
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.
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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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.
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.
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.
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 Breedingis 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.
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!
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.
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!
There are questions to ask a dog breeder to examine whether they are producing quality puppies!
We hear often from people who brought a puppy home from a bad dog breeder, an unethical or back-yard breeder and said ‘I just didn’t know any better’.
Breeding dogs should be something for responsible dog breeders, NOT for everyone. Likewise, a new puppy owner should be educated on what puppy is the right puppy for them, be sold a healthy puppy, and be prepared to take care of them for the entire puppy’s life.
Questions to Ask Dog Breeder
Responsible breeders LOVE to answer questions from puppy buyers!
Reputable dog breeders pour their life and heart into their new puppies. A dog breeder who is hesitant to answer questions is NOT a good breeder!
Puppy buyers should never be afraid to ask ALL of the questions, as a legitimate breeder will love to discuss all of your wonderings.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DOG BREEDER
Does the mom and dad have temperament testing?
Do the puppies come with a health guarantee?
Are there health certificates to show the health tests that have been done on the mom/dad?
What is the breed’s temperament?
Are there any genetic diseases in the genes?
Are you able to visit the breeder’s home and see the puppies in real life?
How many dogs does the potential breeder own?
Is the dog breeder apart of a kennel club?
Are you able to speak with previous puppy buyers?
Does the breeder own the puppy’s parents?
Do the puppies get taken to vet visits?
Do the puppies and dogs get socialized from a young age, and if so what are the methods?
How many litters has the female and stud dog had?
RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS VS. BACKYARD BREEDING
Whether we like it or not, bad breeders are out there. They are everywhere. Some are even scams: they just want your money and have no puppies to sell at all.
If you are looking for your next (or first!) Great Dane puppy, we wrote this post for you. Just because a breeder has puppies doesn’t mean that they are operating ethically or selling healthy puppies that were raised with care.
Look for Red Flags When You Are Getting a New Puppy
Responsible breeding is not easy to do. Dogs and puppies cost a lot of money and time to care for properly. If a breeder is not asking questions about you and your home, they may not be as interested in finding the best homes for their puppies as they should be.
A responsible dog breeder will:
Be able to tell you about the temperament of the parents and grandparents
Have done health testing on the parents
Ask you a lot of questions about your home and family
Help you to pick the right puppy for your lifestyle
Give you a contract that outlines their health guarantee and terms of sale.
When you are looking for a breeder for a puppy, look for ‘red flags’ to help you identify the reputable breeders from the ones who may not be the right breeder for ou.
RED FLAG NUMBER 1: The breeder has no name or a bad name in the local community.
Keep in mind that just because people might know about your breeder or may even recommend them, does not mean that they don’t have other red flags!
A newer responsible breeder may not have an established presence, but if they are operating ethically, they are working under the mentorship of other breeders and will have a reputation that way.
It is ultimately the breeder’s responsibility to make connections within the breed clubs and find mentors that will help them produce the best puppies for their puppy buyer.
RED FLAG NUMBER 2: No or limited OFA Health Testing.
Breeders that invest in OFA health tests are more likely to be interested in the breed standard and health as a whole. When both parents have been fully tested, they are less likely to pass on painful, preventable, and sometimes life-threatening conditions such as hip displasia, thyroid disease, and cardiomyopathy. Ensuring that your puppy has a health certificate can be the difference between many breeders who are breeding solely for financial gain vs. buying a puppy from a reputable breeder who wants to better the breed.
Ask the breeder for the CHIC # for both dogs contributing to the litter. If they cannot give you this number, don’t have it, or you cannot verify it in the database at www.ofa.org, it is a MASSIVE red flag.
Outside of the U.S. the process for this will be different, however, it is a red flag if the breeder doesn’t complete at minimum x-rays, echocardiograms, eye exams and blood work to check for hip dysplaysia, elbow dysplays, eye disorders, thyroid disease and cardiac problems on both dam and sire.
Expect NOTHING less. A vet check is NOT health testing.
RED FLAG NUMBER 3: They seem desperate, too ‘perfect and impersonal’ or require a deposit provide more information.
Desperation is a classic breeder red flag that may also indicate that the breeder is a scam and may not even have real puppies to sell you.
If they seem pushy and offer high-pressure sales, list off all of the triggers (‘Health tested’, ‘Raised in a Home’, ‘Comes with a Leash and Collar’, ‘Snuggly and cute’), and seem to have very little interest in making sure you are the right home for the dog, tread cautiously.
Great dog breeders don’t have the capacity to get an entire litter of puppies potty trained, leash trained, and even ‘fully trained’ before sending them home. Yes, a responsible breeder can get started on these things and other dog related activities, but it is ultimately up to the puppy’s parents to finish these tasks1
A breeder should NEVER require you to place a deposit before answering your questions, and good breeders are exceptionally picky about buyers. You should have to work a little to prove yourself. If it’s the other way around, be wary.
RED FLAG NUMBER 4: The breeder won’t show the parents, or the parents are aggressive, look sick, or don’t look like Great Danes or the breed.
A professional breeder is proud of their Dam and Sire dogs. They keep them in a home environment and make sure that they are healthy, clean, and well-cared for.
Run from any breeder that won’t show you the parents, or if you see that the parents are kept in a kennel/barn, are not well-kept or lack breed type. It is unacceptable to see dogs being bred that have roached or sway backs, narrow hips, minimal substance, flat feet and overall poor structure. The parents should be excellent example of breed type in both structure and temperament.
RED FLAG NUMBER 5: The puppies are sick, weak, timid, roached or are knuckling and have flat feet.
Ask to see photos and videos of the puppies often as they are raised.
They should have plenty of substance (they should not appear wimpy or scrawny), great structure, nice head shapes and large, solid tight well-knuckled feet.
A reputable breeder will be exposing them to a variety of textures and obstacles (ramps, tunnels, boxes, grass, tile, gravel, etc.) that help build their confidence and strength. Additionally, the breeder should keep the puppies clean and trim their nails often.
IS YOUR GREAT DANE PUPPY KNUCKLING?
Check out our science-based and constantly growing knuckling resource page.
Timid or ill-tempered puppies (those that resource guard or are pushy and rude) often become timid and ill-tempered adults.
Quality breeders work very hard through thoughtful breeding practices and socialization to make sure puppies have excellent substance and temperaments.
Ideally you want to see that the puppies are curious, stand up tall and appear enthusiastic and healthy.
If you notice something looks off about the entire litter, there could be something amiss with the breeder. A whole litter getting sick is a red flag.
RED FLAG NUMBER 6: The breeder doesn’t have a contract or lifetime breeder support and return guarantees.
Don’t get sucked into the line that the dog breeder is ‘desperate’ or ‘has cancer and cannot offer support’. Dog breeders who do this solely for the money will make up all kinds of lies to tug at your heartstrings.
Ethical breeders care very much about their puppies and never, ever want them surrendered or ending up in rescue. Run from any breeder that doesn’t state in the contract that they want the dog back for any reason.
The contract will also outline breeding rights, spay/neuter timelines, and care guidelines. A dog breeder who truly cares about their dogs will be there for the entire dog’s life. Buying a puppy from a good breeder is not ‘a moment’, but a relationship!
The dog breeder should require you to return the dog to them if you are unable to keep it for some reason.
As a dog owner, this gives you an opportunity to return the dog to a safe place (the breeder who can then rehome him or her) if needed, instead of dumping the dog into the lap of our already strained Great Dane rescue system. If the breeder doesn’t offer lifetime support and at least a 2 year guarantee warranting the dog against certain health problems, run.
RED FLAG NUMBER 7: The dog breeder allows the puppies to go home prior to 8 weeks of age.
Inexperienced or careless breeders may claim that the mom ‘lost interest’ and ‘isn’t caring for the puppies’ around the time that the puppies naturally wean from the mother.
The mother may snap at the puppies to remind them to stop nursing or to correct them for being rude, and breeders will use this as an excuse to send the puppies home weeks before they should be leaving their mom.
The communication the mom gives the pups, and the communication the pups give each other is an incredibly important part of their development.
Puppies that go home prior to 8-10 weeks are extremely immature and struggle with bite control and potty training. There is rarely a reason for a puppy to go home earlier than this; if the mom is truly exhibiting dangerous aggressive behavior towards the pups, she should not have been bred.
Be patient and hold your dog breeder to a higher standard!
Double Merle puppies can be deaf, blind, or may have allergies and other health conditions. In the right hands these dogs can live a wonderful life, but many of them are either euthanized or end up in rescue and have questionable temperaments and high veterinary bills.
It is very important when buying a puppy to be able to see a full health certificate of all of the dogs within their genetics to make sure that your puppy was not the result of a double merle breeding.
Double Merle puppies are preventable. Make sure your breeder only pairs genetically proven (through testing) solid colors (such as mantle, black or blue) when breeding to a harlequin, merle or piebald dog.
Did you buy from a ‘red flag’ breeder? We’d love to hear your experience!
