If you are looking for a Great Dane puppy, or are just interested in the breed, you may be curious about a lot of things. A very common question that we get is “What does Euro mean in Great Danes?”
There are actually a lot of misunderstandings about ‘Euro’ vs. ‘American’ Danes, and we’re going to clear that up. Fair warning, we like science and the written standard.
What Does Euro Mean in Great Danes?
There are many Great Dane breeders in the U.S. who breed ‘Euro’ Great Danes. Occasionally they come from European lineage, however, more often they are simply dogs who have the ‘Euro’ look.
In other words, being ‘Euro’ and ‘European’ is not necessarily the same thing.
Common features of the ‘Euro’ type Great Dane include:
Shorter, bulkier, and stockier structure
Heavier weight
Slower movement, less athletic
Larger, more dome-shaped or apple-shaped head
Bigger jowls
Heavy ears that may be long and set low on the head
Larger feet
Mastiff-like features
Wide-set eyes that are often droopy and may have red haw showing
Euro is a look, produced by breeders who intentionally breed for these traits. Many of these traits, especially those related to heft, movement, eyes, ears, jowls, and head shape are considered faults in the written standards for Great Danes.
No matter what you think about the different, heftier look of ‘Euro’ Great Danes, it’s important to note that many FCI European Great Dane breeders are actually pretty frustrated that so many people think all European Danes are droopy and heavy.Interested in more information about ‘EURO’ Dane breeders? Read here.
This ‘Euro’ Great Dane below is suffering from poor structure related to breeding for size, heft, and the ‘Euro’ look.
Euro vs. American Great Danes
Every purebred dog has a written standard. The idea that there is a huge difference between American and European Great Danes is a myth.
According to these standards, a Great Dane from Europe should look very much the same as a Great Dane from the U.S., as both standards are nearly identical on paper. A Great Dane is a Great Dane.
Below is a well-bred European Great Dane (used with permission).
Well-bred dogs have good structure, health and type (they look like the breed standard)
Just as ‘Euro’ might imply that a dog is heavier and drooper, many use the word ‘American’ to imply that a dog is lighter and more ‘greyhound’ like.
Neither the ‘Euro’ nor the ‘American’ type dog meets the gold standard or goals for the breed as a whole.
To compare, here is a well-bred Great Dane from the U.S., bred with the standard in mind. He is neither too refined, nor is he droopy and heavy. He is still a large, well-built dog.
Bruce and the European-bred dog above are nearly the same.
What does Ethical Great Dane Breeding Look Like?
In many ways, the deliberate pursuit of some exaggerated ‘Euro’ traits is unethical and problematic.
Great Danes are already huge dogs and should not be intentionally bred for larger and stockier frames, droopier eyes, and larger jowls, especially if structural health, eye health, heart health, and longevity are casually ignored as a result.
If you are looking for a Great Dane breeder, Euro or not, verify the following:
Both parents have excellent structure, including neat eyes, tight feet, straight backs (no ‘roach’ or sway), well-developed chests and well-angled limbs.
Both parents have excellent temperaments, free of aggression, fear and anxiety.
The breeder will support you for the life of the dog.
It’s ok to prefer a Great Dane with larger stature. Unethical backyard breeding practices, however, have led many to believe that all ‘American’ Danes are ‘refined’, which is just as unfortunate as the practice of intentionally breeding for size and droop, regardless of health.
To put it simply, the word ‘EURO’ is a term associated largely with ‘friendly backyard breeding’ . Many of those breeders are more focused on size, heft, and profits than they are on robust health and breed standards.
Use the slider below to toggle between a poorly bred EURO (hyper type) and a poorly bred AMERICAN (hypo type) Great Dane. Neither of these dogs meets the breed standard.
For comparison, below are some very well-bred Great Danes that could fit any proper written standard (GDCA/U.S., GDCC/Canada, FCI/Europe).
Do you like modern positive+balanced off-leash dog training, science-based information, life with Danes, educated ownership and chatting with other like-minded people?
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.
Today we are chatting about Great Dane Ear Cropping! Are there any benefits to cropping Great Dane ears? When is ear cropping done on puppies?
We will highlight the risks and benefits of Great Dane clipped ears and ear cropping, as well offer as a little bit of history, information on what to expect if you choose ear cropping for your Great Dane puppy, and more.
Is Ear Cropping Abusive?
Many anti-crop people consider the procedure of Great Dane ear cropping to be abusive, unnecessaryand painful while pro-crop people tend to gloss over and minimize the procedure, risks and aftercare requirements.
The ‘Great Dane ears cropped vs. not’ debate has gone on for a long time! We hope that this blog post helps bring balance to extreme opinions and helps you make an informed decision regarding Great Dane ear cropping!
Please be kind to others. We welcome comments below but will not approve misleading information, cursing, bullying or inflammatory statements.We take a neutral position on ear cropping, and understand that it is a somewhat heated and controversial topic. I have made every effort to present this blog post with honesty and truth, free of bias.
What is Great Dane Ear Cropping?
Great Dane ear cropping is a surgical procedure performed on young Great Dane puppies (7-10 weeks, typically).
The procedure is done under anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian. The ears are shaved and the flap is trimmed using a guide, an artistic eye and surgical tools such as scalpel, scissors or laser.
Roughly 40-70% of the ear flap is removed, leaving a much smaller, pointy ear. The cut edge is sutured and bandaged, and the puppy is given a long lasting pain medication and antibiotic.
The puppy is sent home the same day, often with a large cone holding their bandaged ears up.
Here is a fawn Great Dane puppy, before being cropped, and again as an adult with fully healed ears.
With proper after-care (more information below), cropped ears are trained to stand up on their own as we see below. Ears that are not cropped cannot stand as they are too heavy.
BEFORE& AFTER
For comparison, below. An 8 month old male Mantle Great Dane with intact ears.
DOES CROPPING HURT ?
It is important to acknowledge that cropping is a surgical procedure involving anesthesia, cutting, blood, sutures and a healing period.
It is well tolerated, however, by most puppies especially when performed by an experienced veterinarian that offers pain medication and appropriate after-care. Were it not for that, this procedure would be inhumane and painful.
Many breeders and pro-crop Dane owners say that their puppies are all up and playing within 12 hours of the procedure, as if nothing happened at all.
Dogs do not ‘mourn’ this or worry about it, and do not know that there is any difference at all.
Many of the veterinarians that excel at ear cropping are retiring now.
We’ve heard reports that many current veterinarians will NOT crop ears, but that show breeders often have connections (some of which may or may not be entirely ethical in their cropping practices).
What are the Benefits of Ear Cropping Great Danes?
Ear cropping is primarily aesthetic.
It is noted that as a general rule, show dogs with cropped ears often receive better placement.
Cropping may reduce the chance that a dog will develop a hematoma (a painful blister or sore on the ear flap that bleeds).
Some believe that cropped ears are less susceptible to ear infections, however studies (and the AVMA) do not currently back this theory up.
Cropping was originally performed because it helped prevent working dogs from ear injuries. Working dogs may benefit from being cropped.
Ultimately, ear cropping is a highly personal choice and a decision that, when done by a licensed veterinarian, you should not feel bad about making.
Cropping a puppies ears under anesthesia is not abuse, especially not when you compare it to the fact that millions of dogs are actually starved, neglected and beaten.
Comparing professionally done ear cropping to abuse or torture is inflammatory and misguided.
What are the Risks of Ear Cropping
Anesthesia comes with its own risks. With any surgical procedure, death is a possibility.
Unhealthy puppies and those with blood clotting or heart disorders may be especially at risk; chat with your veterinarian.
Infection & scabs can be somewhat common complications. It is important that the ears are kept clean, dry, properly bandaged and cared for. Healing should be closely monitored.
Some ears never stand properly, even with diligent posting and bandaging.
Because cropping happens during the prime socialization window, it is important that the entire process is as positive as possible.
Antibiotics, pain medication & anesthesia can have negative effects on gut health.
When choosing ear cropping, we recommend making sure your puppy is receiving vitamin C (which can help them process stress and heal) and has had at least 48 hours to settle in at your home before the procedure. Ideally, cropping is handled by the breeder at 7 weeks of age.
Moving to a new home, a change in diet and then surgery can be a lot for a little puppy to handle, so chat with your veterinarian and breeder to ensure that this transition is as smooth as possible.
Show Dogs & Great Dane Breeders who Crop Ears
The majority of dogs competing in conformation (dog shows) in the United States are cropped.
Many believe that cropped dogs, in general, score better, however there is a growing movement of breeders showing un-cropped dogs and judges who do not bias towards cropped.
For breeders that do still crop, many actually crop entire litters as part of their process before the puppies go home at 8-10 weeks. They take care of the early healing and guide owners on the posting and taping required to make the ears stand up.
Chat with your breeder! We believe this is one of the healthiest ways to deal with cropping in Great Danes (have the breeder do it).
It is extremely important when choosing to crop your puppy that you choose a veterinarian that has an amazing portfolio and plenty of experience. A good breeder can provide recommendations if they themselves don’t take care of the cropping.
In addition to a portfolio of previous work (that was ideally done on high-performing show dogs from ethical breeders), the veterinarian should be interested in the health and comfort of your puppy.
Because this procedure is largely aesthetic, a crop performed by the wrong hands could mean that your dog looks awkward, unbalanced or crooked. It’s like getting a bad nose job! Permanent.
We’ve seen some really questionable crop jobs in both Danes and Dobermans, and heard of a few sketchy cropping operations.
Don’t give your dog a permanent “bad haircut” or traumatic experience by choosing the wrong veterinarian!
A crop that is done properly is done with care and with the overall final look in mind.
The ears will be symmetrical, cut in a manner that will give them the best chance of successfully standing, will heal beautifully (no jagged edges or scar tissue), and will perfectly balance and show off the shape of the head.
Most importantly, a good veterinarian will make sure that your puppy has a good experience. They will not skimp on pre and post-op care, proper anesthesia protocols, or otherwise.
This is not something you find the cheapest vet for. Get recommendations and ask a lot of questions.
Great Dane Ear Crop Styles
Chat with your breeder and veterinarian about the best style for your puppy.
Show Crop – this is the most beautiful crop, longer and often with a little flare at the tip. This crop is the most difficult in terms of getting the aesthetic correct and getting the ears to reliably stand.
Pet Crop – this is a medium crop, easier to care for and a great choice if you are new to cropping. The ear is cut shorter overall and may not have the same artistic flare or regal look as a show crop.
Short Crop – most of the ear flap is removed and the final cropped ear is short and sturdy. Usually reserved for working dogs.
There is a huge range of styles and looks to choose from, even within these basic categories.
Look online for images and ask to see your veterinarian’s crop portfolio for inspiration. It is also helpful to look at photos of your puppies pedigree, many of them may have been cropped and you can get a better idea of what crops look best within the lineage that your puppy shares.
If your veterinarian doesn’t have a crop portfolio, keep looking. They should be proud to show off their work in this department and it should be something that they regularly do.
Additionally, some puppies should NOT be cropped because they aren’t healthy enough (parvo, blood clotting disorders, poor breeding situations, etc.) or have ears that aren’t built in a way that is conducive to success (may be common with puppies from breeders not focused on appropriate conformation of the Great Dane head).
A good breeder and veterinarian will prioritize educating you on this before choosing profit (from doing the procedure anyways). Be open to their opinion and advice.
Great Dane Puppy Ear Cropping After Care
After the cropping procedure your puppy may be drowsy or loopy, and may decline to eat for a short time while the anesthetic works its way out.
It is imperative that the ears be kept clean and dry. Keeping nails properly maintained can help minimize scratching and damage to the newly (less than 14 days) cropped ears.
Supervise your puppy and discourage other dogs in your home from licking the sutures, as they will likely be exposed during the initial healing period.
At first, the ears may bleed and the puppy may be bothered by the cone and the incisions, so discourage your puppy from fussing with it.
Many people report that they are surprised how bloody and messy their puppies crop is the first days following the procedure. Be aware of this so you aren’t surprised, especially if you are squeamish.
It may depend on the skill of your veterinarian how ‘neat’ and clean the fresh crop incision and bandages actually looks.
Some veterinarians will have you clean the sutures often with a Betadine or similar topical, and will want you to keep a close eye on the formation of scabs and scar tissue that can be problematic for the success and final aesthetic of the crop.
Infections are a notably common complication with Great Dane ear cropping. Know the signs: discharge, redness, heat and swelling in addition to the possibility of a fever, lethargy and occasionally signs of illness (vomiting, diarrhea).
A puppy in pain may whine, pace, cry, shake or scratch at the ears. Make sure your vet has prescribed adequate pain medication, and call if you have questions.
This is not the time to bath your puppy or encourage play in water or mud! Follow the aftercare instructions provided by your veterinarian.
The veterinarian will schedule an appointment for suture removal (usually by 14 days, often sooner). Your puppy may need to wear a ‘cone of shame’ if he/she is particularly fussy about the sutures (which may become itchy as they heal!).
Great Dane Ear Posting & Taping
Once the sutures have been removed, you will need to keep the ears clean and dry and maintain a schedule to change bandages and posts. Depending on the bandages you choose, you can expect to change them every 2-7 days on average.
Cropping requires months of diligent after-care, especially if you chose a longer show crop!
The ears will need to be taped and posted until the cartilage has fully set and the ears are standing reliably on their own, usually 5-9 months, occasionally longer.
It is best to stick with the process of posting and not give up too soon. The ears may quickly appear to stand fairly well, but if left without support for too long may quickly fall again.
Do not stop until you are positive teething has been completed and your puppy is holding the ears up.
It is important that the cartilage has had every chance to develop properly, and that the puppy has been encouraged to perk the ears up on top of their head. You can whistle, clap and make silly sounds to encourage this!
Great Dane Cropping Cost
Costs depend largely on your location and may even be further driven by the experience and quality of the veterinary performing the procedure.
Some veterinarians specialize in cropping and will have lots of resources and a portfolio to share with you. This is ideal.
Breeders that have entire litters cropped on the same day will typically receive a bulk discount, and they roll the cost of the crop into the price of the puppy. This is often the simplest and most cost effective way to have a cropped Great Dane puppy.
When you are pursuing crop yourself, expect to pay anywhere from $250-$1200.
There may be additional expenses associated with travel (if you cannot find a good cropping veterinarian locally), posting (the supplies can cost money each month) and complications (infections may require additional medications, veterinary visits and treatment).
With all things related to Great Danes, we believe that knowledge and educated ownership is important. We hope this guide helps you make a truly informed decision about ear cropping! Hello Danes will support you, 100% with whichever you choose.
As above, we believe there are things happening the world of Danes that are infinitely more problematic and abusive (including backyard breeding) than an elective, mostly benign procedure done by a veterinarian with proper pain and infection control. There is nothing wrong with being informed, OR with choosing the procedure as an informed pet owner.
The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. We do our best to present the most up-to-date research, however it is up to the reader to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their dog. We make no claims here to prevent or treat bloat or any other condition related to Great Danes. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them.
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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.
A lot of people are intimidated by Great Danes because they are so large. There is this assumption that Great Danes are aggressive, perhaps because they are large and generally protective. To make matters worse, many landlords and leasing companies, as well as homeowners insurance companies will list Great Danes as a restricted or ‘aggressive’ breed.
So, are Great Danes aggressive? Do Great Danes make good family dogs? Are Great Danes good for protection work?
We are going to look first at the actual written breed standard.
Just because Great Danes are not supposed to be aggressive, doesn’t mean that they never develop it. There are many factors that contribute to temperament problems in Great Danes.
Breeders that breed poorly tempered dogs
Unethical and unhealthy breeding practices
Poor early experiences in the litter
Puppy mills & backyard breeders
Nutrition issues, including malnutrition
Genetics
Health problems, including thyroid disease, dysplasia, poor eyesight, cancer, overgrown nails, bad teeth, arthritis, hormones, etc.
Training practices that employ intimidation, fear or pain, including alpha rolls
Poor socialization and poor early social experiences, lack of training
The tragic part here is that nearly every single one of those circumstances is preventable through thoughtful breeding practices, educated ownership, positive socialization and appropriate training.
Aggression, resource guarding, leash reactivity and nipping at children are major reasons that Great Danes are surrendered to rescue.
PUPPIES vs. RESCUE
Many people choose a breeder over a rescue because they want to raise the puppy ‘their way’ and make sure it isn’t ‘aggressive’, which is an interesting thought. It comes with one major stipulation, however.
So many temperament problems could be greatly reduced in Great Danes if we all made the effort to only support breeders that truly care about health, temperament and structure.
Dogs from rescue and dogs from breeders can have amazing temperaments, or they can be aggressive and unpredictable. If you absolutely need a dog with an outstanding temperament, choose a rescue with a well-known and well-tested personality, or choose a highly ethical breeder with fully tested, proven lines and a thoughtful socialization program.
HEALTH & HORMONES
Spay and neuter are often advertised as the solution to behavior problems. While removing those hormones may help, it is unlikely to eliminate aggressive behaviors.
There are many other health problems that can lead to snapping, growling and aggression.
Just like humans, dogs can have mental health conditions that may be treatable with prescription medications.
Painful health problems such as hip dysplasia, overgrown nails, growths, and even cancer can cause a dog to have a short temper.
Thyroid disease or even eyesight and hearing problems can also present first as aggression.
If your Great Dane has become aggressive suddenly or over time, we highly recommend that the first step, in tandem with the help of a highly qualified, credentialed behaviorist be a thorough and complete vet check. A blood panel should include screening for diabetes and thyroid disease. The heart, hips and eyes should also be evaluated.
A note on ‘BE THE BOSS’
Many people believe (perhaps because they were taught this from reality TV star Cesar Milan) that the solution to all aggression is to ‘Be the boss’ and ultimately lead with some form of intimidation (physical or emotional).
An aggressive dog that is met with such a challenge may actually become more aggressive…and dangerously so.
Science tells us that aggression is not related to pack hierarchy as previously thought. Find a qualified trainer or behaviorist to help you.
The biggest problem with a blanket approach to aggression of ‘be the boss’ or ‘be the alpha’ is that it fails to take into account the many reasons a Great Dane may be aggressive: fear, pain, hormones, undiagnosed medical problems, lack of mental and physical enrichment or mental health issues.
Calm, benevolent leadership, training, management, enrichment and respect are needed. Not intimidation, isolation and a power struggle.
GREAT DANES & CHILDREN
Great Danes that are well socialized, trained and raised around children make wonderful family dogs!
The majority of real bites to children happen from known family dogs, and often ‘out of the blue’. Children should never:
Scold, pinch, shout, hit or scream at dogs
Chase, corner or pin dogs
Ride, bounce, lay or sit on dogs
Bug dogs when they are sleeping
Take their food, toys or bones
Proper socialization of Great Danes around children means teaching them to be calm around children (go to a mat, sit near them, no jumping) and teaching them that children are positive, fun and great to be around. Manage your puppy so that jumping, nipping and chasing children are not behaviors that are practiced.
A well socialized Great Dane has a much higher tolerance for those times when a child (or even an adult) does something rude, scary or annoying.
GREAT DANES PROTECTIVENESS
At their core, Great Danes are still working dogs. They have protective tendencies.
Do not mistake fear and aggression with protection! A fearful or aggressive dog will hide, growl, snarl and even snap, lunge or bite.Those behaviors are NOT necessarily protective or appropriate.
A protective Dane may bark as a form of alert, but will be able to move on if threat is determined safe.
They act out of protection, not blanket fear or frustration towards dogs and people.
NOTE: This is very different than Danes that are trained in actual bite and protection work.
Great Danes that are prone to contact (biting, nipping) should be considered dangerous, and muzzle training, strict management and working with a highly qualified trainer is highly encouraged.
Dogs that are trained to bite on command (bite work/Schutzhund) are dogs with excellent impulse control and obedience, not dogs that are aggressive, fearful, confused, under-enriched or out of control.
RESCUE AND ABUSE
Some Great Danes in rescue may be aggressive because they come from an abusive or difficult background.
It’s important, however, to never assume that all aggressive or fearful rescue Danes were abused.
They may simply be the result of poor breeding practices and improper socialization and training.
They may be fearful of men, for example, but that doesn’t always mean they were abused by men.
Many rescue Danes just need a chance to build trust and to be respected and appreciated; they open up and can become wonderful, friendly, safe and happy family pets.
We encourage all Great Dane owners and breeders to support rescue through volunteering, donations, advocacy, education and adoption. You may never choose adopt a Great Dane, but even a small donation to their operating expenses is a meaningful way to support Great Danes.
DO YOU HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE GREAT DANE?
If you are struggling with a Great Dane that is nipping, lunging, growling and even biting it is extremely important to follow these steps:
Use management tools to prevent the behavior: space, time, crates, muzzles & leashes.
Create a journal and document the body language leading up to the aggression, as well as the situation and reaction that happened.
Have your dog thoroughly checked by a veterinarian (blood panel at minimum).
Seek out the help of a highly qualified trainer with behavior credentials, or a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist.
