There is almost no reason for a breeder to send a puppy home prior to 8 weeks of age.
If your breeder is doing this, they are very unlikely to be a reputable, ethical breeder (no matter what they tell you about ‘why’). In many States, it is also illegal to send a puppy home prior to 8 weeks.
BREEDING PRACTICES: Puppies Should Stay with the Litter Until 8 Weeks
There are a few reasons why a breeder may claim that a puppy needs to go home before 8 weeks.
Here are some you may have heard:
The mom ‘rejected’ the puppies
The mom is being ‘mean’ to the puppies
The mom ‘weaned’ the puppies and they are eating solid food
The puppies are ‘fighting’
The puppies will ‘bond’ better if they go home before 8 weeks
The breeder has cancer/health issues/etc. and can no longer keep the litter
It’s ‘better’ for bonding
Do these sound familiar?
Puppies that go home prior to 8 weeks of age may lack bite control, will be immature and may have a harder time with potty training, puppy biting, crate training and socialization.
BREEDER CLAIMS THAT MOM IS MEAN TO THE PUPPIES
The mom may actually appear to have rejected the puppies. She may be nippy or snappy and walk away from them when they try to nurse.
Inexperienced breeders see this as a sign that the mom is becoming aggressive and may hurt the puppies, not realizing that this is an incredibly important part of the process. Or they will use it as an excuse to be lazy.
This is how the mom weans the puppies and begins to teach them manners and appropriate social skills.
A puppy who has not had a mother snap at them to establish ground rules is a puppy who may grow into a rude, pushy adult.
Puppies learn incredibly valuable social skills while with their mom and litter. If they don’t have their mom and litter to correct them, they may never learn how to properly interact with other dogs.
THE PUPPIES ARE FIGHTING
Inexperienced breeders may think that their pile of puppies has become aggressive with how noisy, growly and bitey they are.
The puppies are not fighting. They are teaching each other bite control and social skills!
They will growl, chase, nip, attack, pin, grab and bite each other. They yelp, bark and make all kinds of racket to tell the other puppy that they bit too hard.
This time spent learning how to control their jaws and bite pressure = puppies that have a LOT more maturity when it comes to social interaction and puppy biting.
Puppies need time and lots, and lots of play to teach each other how to interact with dogs. Be cautious about any breeder that is so tired of the puppies that they would skip this time.
THE BREEDER IS TIRED OF THE LITTER
Sometimes a breeder is tired of the litter for any number of reasons. They are expensive, noisy, needy, and aren’t worth much cash until people pick them up.
So they will say all sorts of things to get you to pick the puppies up, pay them, and take them out of their house as soon as possible.
They may even claim that the litter was an ‘ooops’ and that they have cancer and cannot deal with the puppies anymore (this is why we have rescues!); we see this a lot with ‘Craigslist’ breeders.
They want your cash and they do NOT CARE that they are setting a puppy up to fail by encouraging you to take it home at 5, 6, or 7 weeks of age.
CONSIDER THIS:
Great Dane puppies that are sent home prior to 8 weeks of age may:
Bite harder, may not have a ‘soft mouth’ Be timid & shy Be exceptionally immature Cry more & have a harder time with separation anxiety Struggle with potty training & bladder control Be rude or pushy and struggle to have appropriate interactions with other dogs Be difficult to socialize
It is a truly rare situation where a puppy may need to go home prior to 8 weeks of age. Do not let an unethical breeder convince you otherwise!
RARELY IS A PUPPY LEAVING THE LITTER EARLY A POSITIVE
It can happen where a puppy must leave a litter early.
Sometimes, the Dam really is just a bad mom, or she is inexperienced. An ethical breeder will work with the Dam and may hand-raise the puppies until 8 weeks or seek out the help of another breeder with an established Dam to help raise the litter.
Occasionally health issues may require that a puppy be separated (including the death of the Dam or severe health problems with the puppy). Ethical breeders will do everything in their power to thoughtfully and humanely resolve this, including placing the puppy in the care of another Dam and litter to learn social skills, or hand-raising it as needed.
RESOURCES
For more information on what ethical breeding practices and finding a quality breeder looks like, search our ever-growing collection of helpful topics!
If you have a young puppy in your home, what is done is done. Recognize first that your puppy will be developmentally behind others that come home at 8 or even 10 weeks, so you’ll need to be extra patient.
As obnoxious as puppy biting is, for an exceptionally young puppy they NEED to do it to learn how to control their jaw. If you can, meet with other (HEALTHY) same-aged puppies (be conscious of Parvo and other communicable disease!)
Knowing what to expect with a Great Dane puppy is near to impossible!
There is almost nothing more special (and unpredictable) than a Great Dane puppy! There is this insane time where your new puppy seems to grow right in front of your eyes.
Since we’ve recently been through the crazy new dane puppy phase, we thought it would be a great time to talk about what to expect when you bring a Great Dane puppy home!
Dog food is not at their disposal whenever they want
Eating the couch / wall / blankets / etc. is not allowed
Peeing in the living area isn’t fun or funny
Their collar won’t hurt them
Naughty behavior isn’t their full time job
As you can see- teeny puppies are FULL of behavioral problems that when you really get to thinking about it– are not actually problems at all.
More simply, it’s just a puppy dane in a new environment where every single turn down a new hallway is a whole new world.
Keeping this perspective with your little dane will help you gain empathy, be more prepared, and grow your Great Dane puppy into a strong and confident adult Great Dane.
THE FIRST NIGHT
The first night the puppy is either going to sleep well and TRICK you into thinking they are perfect, or they are going to cry and cry and cry.
Either way, just know that they are likely NOT going to be good sleepers for quite some time.
If you think bringing home a dane puppy is stressful for you and your family, just try putting yourself in their paws.
They’ve left their mom, pack, and previous house / life. Their breeder whom raised them said goodbye, and to them, that was their safe place.
So, get ready to spend time creating a bond and relationship that begins this first night and transpires over the course of your Great Danes life.
Also- keep in mind- this phase moves FAST! Before you know it, your pup is going to be HUGE!
Make sure they have warm bedding, a full tummy, and your comfort. Touch their crate, sleep near them until they learn that this new place isn’t so scary after all. Remember, less than 24 hours ago your puppy was cuddled up with littermates!
Don’t have a crate yet? You’re going to want one! Crates can help with managing behaviors (peeing, chewing, biting) and give your pup a calm space to lay down and nap.
PRO TIP: turn the auto-schedule off on your robot vacuum. Can we say ‘poop painting’?
Don’t expect consistency and reliability with potty training until at least 4-5 months of age, and that’s only if you have been diligent with training and management.
When potty training, be prepared to be VERY consistent with frequent bathroom breaks (and I mean VERY frequent). For the first week, it is significantly better if you do not have to leave your dane alone at the house and are able to let them potty as often as every 20 minutes.
In the long run, this intensive training upfront will help you set up a solid foundation for your Great Dane.
Cleaning Supplies
Remember all of that pee and poop? You’re likely going to need some cleaning supplies on hand to take care of that. Waste bags, odor eliminator, and some toxin free basic cleaning items are nice to keep on hand when bringing home a puppy.
All dogs are very messy- but a puppy is often outlandishly so.
Just gear up to spend about 50% of your life cleaning up after your dane puppy- but don’t worry, the bigger they get they tend to get less messy. Just kidding of course, Great Danes are pretty much ALWAYS a mess!
Biting is VERY normal for any puppy of any breed. It is not ‘aggressive’ behavior, it does not mean that your puppy is ‘bad’. Normally, your puppy either has a painful mouth from teething, etc. or they are just simply trying to play.
To work on stopping the bite, provide plenty of strong toys for your puppy. Giving your dog lots of exercise and mental engagement can also help them to feel fulfilled in other areas and not feel the need to bite everything else in the house- including yourself!
Tips for Stopping Your Great Dane Puppy from Biting:
Keep as many chew proof dog toys in the house
Exercise your dane puppy often
Get mental brain games and toys for your dane
Feed your dane with a slow feeder or puzzle
Keep baby gates up around children or small kids
Get started with training early and practice obedience skills continually with puppies
Pet owners, get ready to SAY NO! But, not to your dane puppy. To the humans!
Everybody is going to want to love on the puppy and meet him or her. Make sure you don’t overwhelm your new puppy with too many sights, sounds and experiences! They need lots and lots of sleep and lots of time to learn your routine.
You do NOT need to rush to the dog park for fear that your Great Dane will be scared of other pets or ‘unsocialized’.
Try taking your puppy on a walk: INSIDE YOUR HOUSE! Practice using the leash and gearing up for the big day when you take them on leash for a real walk outside (which should be done shortly after bringing your dog home).
However, remember that when you DO bring your puppy outside on a walk, you MUST be prepared to SAY NO! Having a million hands coming in to pet and touch him is not going to make him less afraid of humans, but could lead to stranger fear or reactivity.
Dogs deserve space, trust and the ability to determine when and how they’d like to greet other dogs or humans.
Our Great Dane Socialization guide is amazing for learning how to use modern training and socialization methods to create a confident, friendly and resilient family pet!
SOCIALIZATION 101
Have a Great Dane Puppy? Check out our positive socialization guide.
The work you are willing to put in to your Great Dane puppy is the amount of outcome you will get out of them. It’s usually as simple as that.
Now is the time to begin training! Make sure your pup has good experiences with you and with the environment.
Great Danes are not supposed to be fearful, timid, scared or aggressive. If you see those traits in your Great Dane puppy, start with a vet visit to rule out medical reasons.
Training Starts on Day 1: You are Your Great Dane’s First Dog Trainer
Basic training begins THE DAY you bring your puppy home. Training can consist of anything from learning how to play in the grass to playing appropriate with chew toys.
Nonetheless, training should be worked on daily with the use of positive reinforcement, a large crate, and treats – lots and lots of treats. Did we mention that Great Danes LOVE treats?
CUE THE COMMENTARY
People will have an opinion. Here are some of our ‘favorites’ that you can expect to hear:
You know that dog is going to be huge, right? (Nope, really? We had no idea!)
Being a Dane owner comes with SO many positives, but also comes with regular dane puppy commentary. When walking your pup or spending time with your dane out in public, expect to get comments… and LOTS of them!
You can reply with useful information or just laugh it off, but either way you should be prepared for lots of comments, conversations, and interest.
Most people have never seen a dog as big as a Great Dane.
SO MANY GOOFY PHOTOS
Great Dane puppies grow alarmingly fast. One day your dog is a puppy and the next they are full grown Great Danes.
Basically, they will take a 2 hour nap and WAKE UP BIGGER.
You cannot possibly take enough photos, so clear your phone now and get ready.
Within weeks you will no longer be able to pick your puppy up.
They are awkward, clumsy, and take forever to grow into graceful, loping, well-muscled adults.
The Moments Go Fast With Your Great Dane
Take ALL THE PHOTOS. Prepare to look back and sob!
If this is your first dane, take double as many photos and videos as you think necessary! You will want them later.
Looking back, at the end of the first two years with your Great Dane puppy, you might think it flies by, but you’ll realize that teeny moment of actual ‘dane puppy’ lasts only a few short weeks before they outgrow themselves, unlike most pets.
GREAT DANE PUPPY FOOD
Your Great Dane puppy is going to eat a LOT of food, and it has to be just the right formula. The wrong food can cause knuckling, panosteitis, HOD, and other orthopedic growth problems. You will want to do immense research into what is the best food to feed your Great Dane puppy.
The food you choose to feed fuels or does not fuel your dog, gives them energy or wears them down, creates a strong dog or creates musculoskeletal issues, helps to build a strong immune system or perpetuates sickness, etc.
Look into every dog food you’re considering before making the choice on what food to feed your Great Dane puppy.
Myth Busting: “My Great Dane should not eat regular puppy food. I was told that I should put them on adult dog food.” This is just not true. Science, research, and increase in the dog food market has transformed giant breed formulas into much more than it was 20 or even 15 years ago. The food that you provide your dane with should be fit for a growing Great Dane puppy. For some companies, that means the bag will say ‘large breed puppy’, and for some that means the bag will say ‘large breed adult’. It’s what is on the inside of the bag that matters, not the outside!
For information on feeding your puppy, we recommend starting with the Great Dane Feeding Guide! We can work together to make sure your Great Dane puppy is eating the best possible choice for them, their breed, and for your family.
The formulas below are what we recommend for growing Great Dane Puppies and the breed altogether. We’ve linked these photos up for you so that you can easily find them on Chewy.
Worried about knuckling? Great Danes are prone to certain health problems, including something called knuckling while they are growing. We’ve got resources for that, too. Because we know (speaking from experience here) that you are GOING TO WORRY!
That’s ok. Worry is normal and means that you really care about your new Great Dane Puppy!
Get ready to puppy proof your house for your Great Dane.
If you didn’t want your Great Dane puppy on that couch, it may be too late. (just kidding, sort of!)
Great Danes LOVE to think that the entire house is actually THEIR house, and that includes your bed, your car, your couch, your food, anything that is on your table, and did I mention your bed?
Training your Great Dane takes time, so in the meantime, prepare to puppy proof your house with a solid, giant crate as well as some baby gates and safe spaces for them to hang out in.
Crate Training
Crate training is a fabulous way to prepare both your Great Dane puppy for having some alone time and help them not develop separation anxiety (something that Great Danes are famous for), as well as keeping them safe if you need to clean, cook, go grab some thing at the store, or simply sit down and watch a movie. (Did you know that Great Danes do not think that any of those exist, because they simply have nothing to do with THEM! 🙂
Preparing to be able to sleep without your Great Dane
Many Great Dane owners LOVE to sleep with their puppies. Just keep in mind your little Great Dane will soon be consuming your bed.
We recommend utilizing a crate, but keeping it next to your bed for the comfort and security of having you nearby. Inside your crate, consider an orthopedic mat such as a Big Barker crate pad.
Joint Disease in Your Great Dane
Any large breed dog, including a Great Dane puppy, is predisposed to joint disease, and the best way to prepare is to prevent.
That is why we always recommend the only orthopedic mattress on the market that has been clinically studied by veterinarians to improve the health of your dog’s joints, Big Barker.
Your Great Dane may be frustrating at times and you may grow tired of the noise, peeing and biting but hang in there. These dogs are worth it! You’re about to fall in love with a Great Dane puppy, and truly there is really nothing better in the world.
Prepare to never go back!
Before you know it you’ll have a well-trained, calm adult dog and will be dreaming of the day when you will bring sweet puppy breath and snuggles into your home again.
We spend an awful lot of time here talking about bad breeders and dogs that have problems with their health and temperament.
If you have an ‘imperfect’ Great Dane, an underdog, a dog that is a ‘pet’ not a ‘showdog’ or is a Dane from a backyard breeder this can sometimes feel like an attack.
But it’s not about your dog! We LOVE your dog. We actually think your Great Dane is awesome.
We believe all Great Danes deserve the most loving home possible, even the ones that aren’t ‘perfect show dogs’, and we celebrate the people that love their Danes no matter where they are from.
ADVOCACY
As lovers of Great Danes and of the breed, we should all be advocates.
Advocacy means educating people and making it socially unacceptable to breed untested, poorly structured dogs for profit.
We love our imperfect Great Danes, but that doesn’t mean we have to love the places and breeders that they have come from.
Rescues are full because so many breeders have a habit of creating anxious, unhealthy dogs and not caring at all where they ever end up.
We believe Danes deserve better than this!
MEET MATILDA
Matilda is my own personal heart dog. She is actually the reason I became so heavily involved in advocacy for Great Danes! She is an amazing, strong girl with an unfortunate, preventable past.
Matilda was born in Oklahoma to a breeder that planned to keep her as a bitch/dam.
At 3 months of age she was hit by a car and her right leg was shattered. This breeder took her to a veterinarian’s office (yay!), but didn’t officially surrender her and didn’t come back to pay for her care (not yay!).
Matilda lived in a cage for 10 days with a shattered leg, all because her backyard breeder didn’t care.
She was finally released to rescue by the city, and the rescue veterinarian amputated her leg and spayed her when she was just 4 months old. How I ended up with this amazing dog is another story, but let’s just say that I think she’s pretty dang perfect.
Matilda is the ultimate underdog.
Her unethical breeder cost the rescue thousands of dollars in veterinary care and boarding, and cost sweet Matilda an easy, normal life on 4 legs. If she had taken care of this the day it happened, Matilda’s leg could have been saved. Instead, she was forced to suffer and wait while her backyard breeder failed to ‘get it together’.
This is not ok. Backyard breeding is not ok. Breeding dogs and then dumping them on rescue like this when they will fail to be ‘profitable’ is not ok.
When we purchase dogs from backyard breeders, we support the exact kind of operations that result in dogs like Matilda having to suffer. She’s lucky, she landed with a good rescue who placed her here with me, and she’s living the best life she possibly can.
WE ALL JUST WANT A PET
Not many people actually need or want a show dog. Most of us really do just want a pet!
It’s so important that we celebrate every single Great Dane, no matter where they came from or what they look like.
But that does not mean we should continue to financially support the kinds of breeders who do not care about this breed the way that we do.
Supporting ethical breeders isn’t about all Danes being show-dogs, it’s about all Great Danes being given the best chance possible at health, structure and wellness.
We support Great Dane rescue and ethical breeders.
There is absolutely room for both. But it’s up to us as advocates for the breed to make sure that breeders aren’t contributing to the rescue problem.
Make it socially unacceptable to breed poorly structured, untested dogs for profit.
Great Dane puppies are like little gremlins!!!! Even though Great Dane puppy biting is very normal, but can be very hard to handle. If you are ready to learn how to stop Great Dane puppy biting, you’ve come to the right place.
They bite, gnaw, growl, tug, grab your clothes, and dig their tiny little needle teeth into your arms and hands.
YOUCH!!! But your Great Dane puppy is so cute and snuggly too. It can be hard to understand how they can flip a switch and go from cute ball of fur to aggressive beast, but it’s actually nothing to be concerned about!
Many people worry that a biting Great Dane puppy may be trying to ‘be the boss’ or will turn out to be an aggressive dog, but neither of those things is actually true. Read on to learn why it is all apart of the puppy biting stage and how to stop biting in your Great Dane puppy.
Why Do Great Dane Puppies Bite?
Great Dane Puppies bite to learn how to control their jaws, to develop appropriate social skills, and because it’s hard to learn the difference between fingers and chew toys.
Watch a pile of Great Dane puppies play! Puppy bites is what they do to each other! One will wrestle and bite each other while the second one makes as many sounds as it can for a few minutes before the little guy bites back!
When the first Great Dane yelps, they back off for a minute.
The Great Dane puppy that bit learned that the bite was too hard, and both puppies just learned a valuable and important social interaction. These Great Dane puppies are acting as one another’s pet trainers!
Exposing puppies to this natural and proper training is a valuable part of their puppy biting development.
This is an important part of your Great Dane puppy’s development. When a Great Dane puppy isn’t given this time with their litter (until 8 weeks of age) they may have poor bite control.
When you bring your 8 week old Great Dane puppy home, they don’t WANT to stop biting. Like any breed, Great Danes thrive on play, training, toys, and attention. Positive reinforcement is very helpful when it comes to teaching safe alternatives to puppies biting.
Is My Great Dane Puppy Aggressive?
Great Dane puppy bites are completely harmless and come from a place of just wanting to find relief from their energy. It’s RARELY aggression and it’s never related to dominance.
Immaturity though? Yeah that’s a big culprit behind puppy biting!
At first, they don’t know or care about the difference between YOU and the other dogs from their litter. It is completely normal behavior to see a small puppy biting, gravitating to chew toys or having ‘puppy energy’.
All your Great Dane puppy knows is that biting is FUN. Chances are you are actually encouraging the behavior by mistake!
A common mistake many puppy owners make is to believe that their bitey, growly, crazy puppy is trying to dominate or “be the boss”. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
How to Stop Great Dane Puppy Biting
Here is our list of ways to minimize and STOP puppy biting.
You must be consistent and make sure everybody in the family does the same thing.
As always, be sure to speak with a highly qualified balanced dog trainer if you notice your Great Dane puppy act aggressively, bite people excessively, or if you cannot get your puppy to stop biting.
Start implementing these tips:
Remain calm
Be boring and encourage good behavior by demonstrating calmness yourself
When biting starts, cross your arms, turn your back and walk away
Use crates, gates and leashes to prevent the behavior and teach appropriate play
Know the signs: the ‘witching hour’ and being over-tired after long hours of play tends to make puppy biting worse!
Redirect calm puppies to an appropriate chew such as toys, a toy rope, a treat, or a game to play.
Practice training by keeping your Great Dane away from other dogs who might act aggressively
Likewise, encourage your Dane pup to engage with friendly dogs in a safe environment
Put your over-tired Great Dane in a crate with a frozen stuffed Kong toy or treat
Teach a settle/go to mat behavior in order that they practice the training method of remaining calm and to stop biting
Teach your Great Dane the primary skills: sit, down, touch, stand, leave it and wait
Bonus Tip: Teach the “Enough” Command
When your Great Dane puppy is playing with you, calmly say ‘ENOUGH’, then praise and offer a toy or treat.
Enough will quickly become a cue to use in training that implies you want your dane pup to ‘disengage’!
This will allow you to play with your Great Dane so they can practice putting teeth on you (which is good for their social and bite pressure development), AND gives your puppy a new skill that is very helpful when they are bigger.
Always remember that even though Great Danes are incredible dogs, they are still a massive size, even for ‘dane dog lovers’, so it is crucial to begin training at a young age.
While you are learning how to play with your Great Dane puppy, keep in mind that everything you do is either reinforcing (encouraging) or reducing (discouraging) certain behaviors. Think about what you want your Great Dane puppy to be like as an adult.
Common Puppy Biting Training Mistakes
Yelping DOES work to interrupt the behavior, and for most puppies it’s ok to do.
For some puppies, yelping can actually encourage biting! Yelping makes you sound like a squirrel or fun squeaky toy, which may make the puppy more wound up and interested in the biting game.
When a puppy in a litter yelps, they tell the other puppy ‘ouch, too hard‘. Not necessarily ‘STOP, don’t do that again!’. Keep that in mind. Yelping works, but don’t expect miracles or a quick stop to puppy biting.
NOTE:some puppies are frightened by yelping. If your puppy cowers, tucks tail, pin ears or runs away focus on building, no eroding confidence and trust. Sometimes the ‘yelp method’, ‘using loud noise’, ‘or the sharp cry method’ can actually create fear which can create the behavior of puppies biting harder.
#1 – Shoving, Tugging, and saying “NO”
This is a common, natural response to puppy biting!
When you shout, say ‘NO’, tug your clothes, try to run away, and shove the puppy off you actually REWARD the behavior by making puppy biting super fun. OOPS!
Dog’s LOVE to play and a dane pup can confuse you running away as a ‘biting people game’, which may make them want to bite more.
Be calm, boring, indifferent and REMOVE your attention from the dane pup. Walk away. Sigh. Stand still. Turn and walk the other direction. ANYTHING to show the pup that you lose all interest in them when they bite.
#2 – Alpha Rolls & Pinning
Some people will recommend that you pin your Great Dane to the ground until they calm down, and will say that doing so establishes ‘dominance’ with dogs.
We do NOT recommend this.
Alpha rolls are an aggressive form of training that can teach Great Danes (and all dogs) to fear you, fear your hands, and respond with increased aggression, frustration and confusion.
This could result in increased bites, unnecessarily rough play, and VERY frustrated Great Dane owners who are dealing with increased bites or aggressive, fearful and frustrating behavior in their adult dogs.
This outdated method is considered ‘woo’ by actual behaviorists and well-educated dog trainers.
At worst, it’s dangerous and at best, informed dog owners and most professionals are frustrated that people and even some ‘trainers’ continue to perpetuate this misguided concept.
A much safer and more fair alternative is to remain calm, walk away, and provide your Great Dane with a toy or treat.
#3 – Pinching, Tapping, Whacking, Kneeing, and Thumbing
Pinching the puppy, shoving a thumb down his throat, or whacking or tapping him on the nose is the fast track to making sure that your Great Dane is more likely to be resistant to teeth brushing, nail trims, veterinary care and coming when called.
Seriously, don’t do this. We cannot believe we have to say this. Great Danes are a sensitive breed and will have serious repercussions if handled with a human who demonstrates aggressive tendencies.
#4 – Spray Bottles
This method may work, and it’s a ‘quick fix’, but tread cautiously.
Dogs trained with spray bottles may become resistant to spray medication, baths/showers and even being outside in the rain. Plus, like many of the other methods above it teaches your dog to avoid you and run away, NOT engage with you.
If the only way your dog is controlled is if you keep spray bottles around the house as a threat, they aren’t fully trained.
As above, we believe there are better ways to work with your dog.
Good News About Puppy Biting
Puppies outgrow this behavior. Unless you’ve been accidentally rewarding it with a lot of shoving, running, tugging and attention most puppies stop doing it once they are more mature.
You do not have to live with this behavior until it goes away. As above, use crates, gates and leashes to prevent the behavior and separate yourself from a wound-up, biting puppy.
Prevent puppies from practicing this behavior, especially on children.
Spend lots of time teaching and rewarding appropriate behaviors such as touch, sit, down, leave it, and ‘go to your place’.
Warning Signs of Aggression in Great Danes
Some people are concerned that their puppy is actually aggressive because of how rough they bite and play. Playful puppies can bark, growl and be extremely noisy!
Most puppies are not actually aggressive.
Puppy biting is not a form of aggression. However, occasionally a puppy is wired wrong or has deep-seated fear aggression. Here are the warning signs that a puppy is aggressive, not playful.
Low growl
Stiff body, tense
Hackles up
Snapping or biting when a hand approaches their food, toy, or bone
Showing their teeth/grimace
Stiff tail wags or tucked tail
Ears pinned back
Turning the head away before biting
Not showing playful body language (bouncing, bows, loose body, loose tail, fun and cute play barks and play growls).
If you are unsure or are seeing signs that alarm you, seek out the help of a highly qualified trainer.
Puppy Biting & Ethical Breeders
Puppies from ethical, diligent quality breeders and robust well-tempered pedigrees are less likely to develop aggression, are easier to train and will be much more confident and mature when they come to your home!
Puppies that leave their litter prior to 8 or even 10 weeks of age tend to be much more difficult to train. This includes having problems with potty training, puppy biting, overall bite inhibition and confidence.
Do not let your breeder convince you that a puppy is ready to go prior to that point.
Bloat in dogs is a life-threatening emergency in Great Danes and other breeds with large chests.
As a Great Dane owner or owner of any other large chested breed, it is your responsibility to know the signs and to educate pet sitters, dog walkers and family on what to look for should a bloat event happen to your dog.
The full name of bloat is Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, and it is a life threatening condition that occurs when an affected dog’s stomach fills with air, causing torsion (when the dog’s stomach twists). A twisted stomach is the most dangerous associations with gastric dilatation volvulus, as a dog’s risk of death increases tremendously when their stomach flips / twists.
Bloat is a painful, distressing condition where the stomach fills up with gas, food, fluid and/or air.
Left untreated, the stomach can ‘flip’ (also known as ‘torsion’). Stomach flipping is especially dangerous.
Treatment for bloat may involve pressure relief (medications, tubes, incisions and/or needles into the stomach) or surgery, depending on the severity.
Bloat can quickly kill a healthy Great Dane that was previously running around playing as normal. It is extremely important to know the signs.
All Great Danes are at risk. The treatment for bloat can start at $2K and may cost thousands more.
WHAT CAUSES BLOAT?
As of this writing, the mechanism behind bloat is still not well understood. All Great Danes are at risk, regardless of their individual risk factor (see more below).
It’s important to understand that certain dogs are at a much higher risk of experiencing bloat than others. These are the three main risk factors associated with bloat:
Genetic markers (most often found in dogs with a parent, sibling or other close relative that has experienced bloat)
Poor gut health (chronic gas, loose stools and digestive issues)
This speaks, once again to the necessity of ethical breeding in Great Danes. Bloat risk can be greatly reduced by breeders who diligently build their pedigrees to focus on health, temperament and robust and proven lineage.
GUT HEALTH
There are many aspects to gut health; allergies, dry skin, gas, loose stools and lack of energy are all signs that there is a problem, however some dogs may present healthy and have underlying conditions.
Choose breeders that only breed healthy, well-tempered dogs. If you have a rescue Dane or purchased Dane that suffers from anxiety, fear or aggression, work with a trainer to lower stress levels. Some common forms of anxiety include fear during thunderstorms, separation anxiety and timid/fearful or aggressive behaviors towards house guests, children or strangers.
Avoid training methods that cause or worsen anxiety (‘alpha’ training, harsh punishment), stressful situations with children or adults (chasing, pinching, laying on or yelling at Danes). Socialize and train your Danes well from a young age using positive reinforcement.
Large breed dogs have increased risk factors to getting a bloated stomach. Pet owners of large dogs should take precautions and be aware of the clinical signs of a bloated stomach.
Affected dogs that are at highest risk include:
German Shepherds
Older Dogs
Great Danes
Basset Hounds
Setters
Labrador Retrievers
Dobermans
Poodles
Rottweilers
Giant Schnauzers
Stomach bloating can also occur in smaller dogs, but this is less common. There are many different reasons why a dog’s stomach might have gastric dilatation. Dog owners with predisposed breeds should study this life threatening condition and know the signs of an aggravated dog.
SIGNS OF BLOAT
These are the signs of bloat. If you see any one of these, get to the veterinarian immediately. Bloat can progress quickly and the longer you wait, the more serious the prognosis is.
Swollen, painful or distended abdomen/stomach.
Acting distressed
Pacing and restlessness
Drooling and/or panting
Looking at the stomach
Pale gums
Vomiting or retching without anything actually coming up
THE EARLY STAGES OF STOMACH BLOAT IN DEEP CHESTED DOGS
When a dog is in the early stages of gastric dilatation, a dog might give off signs that they are in pain, pant, drool or walk around aimlessly. The dog will be restless and may pace back and forth. He may also drool excessively and/or pant and turn down dry food or wet food.
THE PROGRESSIVE STAGES OF A DOG’S STOMACH BLOATING
If bloat occurs and is not treated quickly, torsion can happen within just a few minutes.
Torsion is when a swollen stomach filled with extra gas and air begins to twist, cutting off blood supply to vital organs. Without blood supply, a dog’s life is at risk within just minutes.
During these later stages of a dog experiencing stomach bloat, one might witness them going into systemic shock, unable to lay down, foaming a white, thick substance from their mouth, and/or their gums will turn white or blue.
A dog’s stomach may also feel hard to the touch because of the gastric dilatation and/or the torsion. A distended stomach is always indicative of a pet’s condition and should be treated as a veterinary emergency.
CAN BLOAT BE PREVENTED?
There is no actual sure-fire way to prevent bloat. All dogs are at risk, but especially Great Danes and other breeds with large chests. As above, Danes with genetic links/markers, poor gut health and unstable temperaments are at an even greater risk!
Here are some common things people believe will ‘prevent bloat’:
ELEVATED FOOD BOWLS
Raised Bowls – while raised bowls may be easier on your dogs neck, there is no legitimate data on its effect on minimizing or preventing bloat. As a matter of fact, some studies indicate that bloat incidence is 110% higher among dogs that regularly eat out of raised bowls.
Elevated food bowls do not help to prevent bloat in dogs. While bloat is unpreventable, there are things that can be done to limit the odds that your dog will develop bloat.
Not using raised food bowls is one of those things.
Veterinary medicine is always evolving, and in recent studies it has been shown that bloat in dogs is increased tremendously when dogs are fed with a raised food bowl.
Resting Before/AfterMeals – the idea behind this one is to prevent the dog from sloshing a full tummy of food around while running, playing and being excited. There may be some merit to this, however it is NOT likely a notable preventative and studies have shown no correlation at all.
Many cases of bloat happen in the middle of the night when a dog is resting on an empty stomach, or hours after eating (even if a dog had been rested first!).
Some owners are so committed to this that they only allow their dogs to eat on a strict schedule, which may actually increase bloat risk if the dog hoards, gulps and scarfs down large meals at once. Find a healthy balance here if you choose to rest your dog for several hours each day.
PUZZLE FEEDERS
Puzzle Feeders – We do believe there is some merit to making sure a dog eats slowly and works for their food. Puzzle feeders can be especially helpful for dogs that tend to gulp down meals without chewing.
WAYS TO LIMIT THE CHANCES OF BLOAT IN DOGS
Although bloat in dogs is not 100% unpreventable, there are a few things that can be done to help limit the chance that your dog will bloat.
GAS X
Gas-X – Gas – X (Simethicone) or Bloat Buster is extremely important to have on hand. It may buy you time if you notice your dog start to burp, heave or act uncomfortable. Some owners dose it with every meal, we aren’t convinced that over-medicating is the answer but we DO recommend having Simethicone in. your cabinet, just in case.
Stomach tacking, also known as ‘Gastropexy’ is a surgical procedure where a veterinarian permanently tacks the stomach to the abdominal wall, making it less likely but not impossible to twist.
This procedure may buy time by helping to keep the stomach from flipping, however it does NOT prevent bloat itself.
The best way to treat bloat is to use preventative measures such as gut health, exercise, and helping your dog live a stress free life.
Gastropexy is an abdominal surgery of the stomach wall, and all surgery involves risk. Risks of stomach tacking may include complications related to blood clotting, infection, rejection and anesthesia. Rarely, during a bloat event the stomach can flip anyways, and the stitched area may open and cause internal bleeding.
If you choose to do this surgery, please work with a highly qualified veterinarian who has a LOT of experience with the procedure, in particular the laparoscopic gastropexy which is much less invasive.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOOD FOR YOUR DOG
Since gut health in your dog has been shown to have high associations with gastric dilatation volvulus (gdv), it only makes sense that one would put careful thought into the dog food they choose.
Feeding dry food without soaking with water or adding raw / canned wet food on top has been known to increase dogs bloat.
Feeding one large meal rather than several small meals to your dog has been known to increase bloat in a dog. Instead, feed in two or more meals.
Dogs who eat super fast are known to have a higher chance of bloat than a dog who eats slow.
Dogs with ongoing gut health issues are more prone to bloating, so working on gut health with a strong probiotic will help a dog be less likely to bloat and increase their gastrointestinal tract health.
We believe all Great Danes should receive a probiotic supplement, and this is one of the main reasons why. We recommend Nature’s Farmacy Probiotic Max.
GENETICS
Dogs with a genetic background of bloat are, themselves, more likely to bloat.
If you are considering buying a puppy from a breeder, check with them and their lineage paperwork to see if any dogs within their lines have ever bloated. Checking to see if there is a genetic predisposition could ultimately save your dog from future veterinary intervention and even possibly save their life.
If you think your dog is experiencing bloat, it is crucial to get them to the vet immediately for medical attention.
First, your veterinarian will run blood tests, provide intravenous fluids, check vitals, and do a full physical exam of your dog.
X-rays will also be taken to see how much the stomach has distended. If the stomach is twisted, surgery will be required to untwist it and also to tack the stomach down so that it cannot twist further away from the body wall and cut off more blood flow.
A procedure called gastropexy preventative surgery (GDV Surgery) will be given during the emergency surgical correction in order to keep your dog’s stomach in normal position.
POST OPERATIVE CARE
Post operative care is important to treat bloat. Avoid strenuous exercise, provide high quality foods, and allow for lots of rest for the stomach wall to heal. If your dog gets dehydrated, they may need to return to their primary vet for more intravenous fluids, as it can be very hard for the dog to eat after even a simple bloat.
Pain medications should be administered per your veterinarians instructions.
BLOAT IN DOGS
Bloat in dogs is something that no pet owner wants to ever deal with. Losing blood flow is a medical crisis and should be treated as so.
Working to increase the overall health and longevity of our pets lives is important and we can do that by educating ourselves and others on the risks, causes, and treatments of bloat in dogs.
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They are seriously so special. Great Dane puppies change every single day. They grow so quickly and their giant feet make them extra sweet and clumsy.
Our quick post today is all about those cute little tiny puppy toenails!
It is SO important to start nail trims early and do them often.
PRO TIP: Your dog’s nails should never, ever grow so long that they touch the ground. This can cause swelling, irritation, pain, and worse: joint damage.
Supplies for Trimming Great Dane Puppy Nails
Miller’s Forge Clippers (Red Handle). These inexpensive clippers (see on Amazon) last forever, are easy to use and stay crazy sharp.
Dremel Tool. There are several models, including knock off versions at Walmart and even a pet-specific name brand version. You need the Dremel tool and a sander drum OR a Diamagroove.
High Value Treats. Lots of tiny bites of something really good. Kibble isn’t going to cut it. Think Ziwi Peak, Zukes, diced chicken and freeze-dried organ meats.
I like to trim nailsevery weekend. Some dogs barely need this much, other dogs need a little more. The dog in the photo above is past-due for a nail trim!
For puppies, especially if they are under 4 months, nail trims should be a simple matter of routine. Plan to spend a few quick minutes each day introducing the concept and making it a positive experience.
Show your puppy the Dremel and toss treats on the ground. Do this often and at random. Turn it on and toss another few treats. Keep practicing this so that the Dremel ALWAYS predicts good things.
Make sure you give your puppy lots of praise, but don’t make a big fuss either.
Too much fussing and excitement can make your dog resistant to the process! They don’t always understand why you are so crazy and high energy all of a sudden and may find it alarming. Be calm, patient and confident.
If all you get is one nail trimmed, that’s progress!
Trim the nail as close to the quick as you possibly can but avoid cutting into it.
Make sure to round off the top, bottom and sides as well by taking tiny slivers off with the clippers or by introducing a quick buzz from the Dremel.
As above, stay calm and follow that with praise and a treat!
Why is Nail Maintenance Important for Dogs?
PRO TIP: If the nails are black or if you are scared of trimming, read the files in the Facebook group called ‘Nail Maintenance for Dogs‘ so that you can learn how to ‘read’ the nail.
Well maintained nails help keep paws neat and destruction to your home, hardwood, and skin to a minimum.
Overgrown nails actually change the shape of the paw. This can be extremely painful and frustrating to your dog, who doesn’t have much of a voice on this topic.
Keep the nails trimmed so they never touch the ground.
How to Teach Your Puppy to Hate Nail trims
Ok we joke. You do NOT want your Great Dane to hate nail trims, but here are some common mistakes people make that can actually make nail trims and other care behaviors extremely difficult:
Teaching the puppy that human hands = bad things (examples: hitting, shoving, pinching, ‘alpha’ rolling, tapping on the nose). This kind of training breeds distrust and shyness of hands.
Playing with the paws and annoying the puppy about it (old advice that can actually make things worse).
Asking the puppy to recall/COME and then forcing the puppy into a nail trim (quick way to ruin BOTH recall and nail trims!).
Not properly socializing the puppy to a variety of sights, sounds and experiences and helping it build confidence. Calm, mature dogs are built in confidence.
Believing that training is a war for power and respect, not a teacher-student relationship.
This paw is from a five month old puppy who is being conditioned to accept weekly maintenance with the Dremel.
There is no sharp point and the nails do not touch the ground when the puppy is standing or walking and moving.
Over time they will be made neater, but perfection at this stage is not the goal. Keeping the nails from developing long, sharp points, and teaching the puppy to expect and accept routine maintenance is.
Make Nail Trims a Positive Experience
When you finish the nail trim, even if you only got one nail done, do something FUN! Play a game, offer a really good chew in the crate, do a quick 1 minute training session with the treats you have left.
Teach your puppy early that nail maintenance is FUN, not-negotiable, and doesn’t result in pain or fear.
If you are really nervous about trimming the dog yourself, find a groomer. Some will come to your house, or you may have a neighbor willing to do it that will love the extra cash.
You will still need to keep sharp points off the ground, so develop a schedule of maintenance and make sure that routine trips to the veterinarian or groomer for nail trims are part of life.
We highly recommend the group Nail Maintenance for Dogs on Facebook for resources, tips, and learning. This group is especially amazing if you have a dog that is afraid of nail trims.
It’s happening! The Holidays are upon us, and once again I’m dredging up this post so we can have an honest discussion about getting a puppy for Christmas.
Beautiful memories, kids, gifts, and…giant puppy feet come to mind!!! We’ve all seen the tear-filled videos of children learning that their big present that year was a dog. It’s beautiful and warms the heart.
For the solid majority of people, this is a really bad decision. Sorry, I’m going to be that person. I have to be Frank. Not Frank Abignail, but “frank” as in…we need to have a serious chat.
How do I convince my spouse to get a puppy?
Should I give a puppy as a Christmas gift?
Are my kids ready to have a puppy?
How can I surprise my kids with a puppy on Christmas?
We have so many things to discuss. I promise to make it fun, though!
Is Getting a Puppy for Christmas a Good Idea?
I could write an entire blog on all the amazing and beautiful things that happen when you bring a cute Dane puppy into your home. Of course, at Hello Danes we focus on giant breed dogs, but ALL puppies are cute. So this blog is for everybody!
If you haven’t caught wind yet of my opinion on this one, here goes.
If you think you want or need a Christmas puppy, chances are that you probably don’t need one.
Hold the FORT! What are we saying here?
Sorry, not sorry, this stuff just has to be said. If you think it’s a good idea to stuff a brand-new puppy into a box and let children squeal and scream at it with excitement, think again.
If you are considering getting a new pet for Christmas, ask yourself the following questions:
After Christmas/New Years is over, do you still have time for this dog?
How angry will you be if the heirloom rug in your living room is peed on?
How much drool are you willing to wipe off of your clothes and walls?
Can you afford a veterinary emergency of $2500 or more, immediately?
Do you know how to train a puppy? Train it, properly and thoroughly?
Are you willing to accept that even at 45 lbs a giant breed puppy is still VERY MUCH a baby and will get up in the middle of the night?
Do you have other dogs in the home who are well cared for, well trained, and accepting of a new dog?
If the puppy chews on the remote and shreds up the couch, could that lead to divorce?
Can you pay for the vet bills, including emergent ones?
Is your partner on board?
I say all of this with a bit of humor, but so much of it is true.
Christmas puppies are traditionally a HUGE problem.
Once you have your moment and get your viral video of the kids squealing and hugging your now terrified puppy in a box, are you prepared for what happens next?
(Hint: you’ll have a hefty, confused, full-of-poop over-tired gremlin with needles for teeth terrorizing your peaceful Christmas house).
How Shelters & Rescues are Affected by Christmas Puppies
Every year rescues, shelters and breeders notice an increase in demand for puppies and dogs during the Holidays. People adopt and shop during this time more than any other.
This is not a coincidence; you aren’t the only person ever to have the brilliant idea of giving a dog as a gift.
The problem? MANY of those dogs end up returned or worse, surrendered. Many rescues suspend adoptions until the New Year, as a means to prevent people from making poor gifting decisions.
To meet demand, unethical breeders ramp up ‘production’ and create litters full of puppies from parents with questionable genetics. These dogs often end up with health and temperament problems that make them difficult if not impossible for the average dog owner to handle.
Know that you may have to be on a waitlist to get a quality Dane and that any breeder with Danes magically available and ready to go at Christmas may actually be a scam or at best, unethical (Read our Breeder Scams Blog Here).
Puppy-proof the house. The last thing you’ll want to do is to haul your new Christmas puppy into the ER on day one because he found and swallowed a glass ornament, three legos, and a cooked turkey bone.
If you plan to give a Great Dane puppy as a gift, do you really, truly think it’s the best idea?
Great Dane puppies are adorable and can turn into amazing dogs, but not without a lot of work. Socializing and training a puppy properly takes time, dedication, and desire.
Lacking that desire, it can be very difficult for a new Dane owner to get past some of the more common and frustrating Dane puppy behaviors (biting comes to mind…oh the biting!!!).
Try these ideas instead of getting a Christmas Puppy:
Place your deposit with an ethical breeder and then have your people unwrap a photo, a leash & collar, a t-shirt, or a camera with a video of the puppy on it.
Give a coupon that says ‘this coupon is good for one Great Dane‘. After they open it, share with your people how you will shop for an ethical breeder or find a rescue dog to bring into your home, and do the whole thing as a family.
Have your family make a donation or volunteer for a Great Dane rescue. Be a ‘secret Santa’ to a rescue Dane. Volunteer to foster and bring one home that way!
Decorate the house with all of the things needed for a Great Dane: a huge bag of food, a large bed, and some big Dane-sized toys, and see how long it takes your family to notice. Once they do, show them a photo of the puppies from the ethical breeder you are working with, or the rescue Dane that you think would be a wonderful fit.
Basic idea here, DON’T GET SCAMMED, and don’t be ‘that person’ that realizes somewhere in the Spring that the Christmas puppy was a huge mistake.
We are here for you and we are here for the Danes!
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!
Great Dane puppy socialization is NOT for the faint of heart… BUT…
Socialization is one the MOST important things that you can do with your Great Dane puppy!
This process begins with the breeder. An ethical breeder will have already exposed your puppy to a variety of sights, sounds, people, textures and obstacles. They will have also taught the puppies some early basics about collars, crates, cars, handling, sitting politely for a treat, coming back and peeing outdoors.
Unfortunately, not every breeder is that thorough, but it really does make a difference.
Make sure you choose breeders that are breeding dogs with good temperaments. Puppies that come from anxious, fearful or aggressive parents are more likely to have those behaviors as well, no matter how much you socialize them.
GREAT DANE PUPPY SOCIALIZATION IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK
Many people believe that socializing a puppy means taking him to a pet store or dog park and meeting lots of people and dogs.
The truth is, both of those places and situations are the exact kind of environment where a dog may actually learn to be afraid of dogs and people!
Dog parks and pet stores are for mature, confident dogs that are vaccinated and already engaged with you as the owner. Not under-vaccinated or terrified dogs that are still learning about the world and how to appropriately handle interactions with humans and dogs.
Now that I’ve made a mess of your beliefs about socialization, it’s time to chat about what socialization for Great Dane puppies actually looks like!
SOCIALIZATION is about positive exposure to novel things
The more positive, safe, calm and curious exposure your puppy has to novel things, the more likely it is that your puppy will be confident and able to handle new situations (including people, dogs, and travel).
OBSTACLES
Create a ‘puppy playground’ and change it every day. Make sure to include novel items and obstacles that require the puppy to climb up, over, under and around. Encourage the puppy to explore.
Well socialized dogs are calm, confident and gentle. They are much easier to train because they are less excited by or anxious about the environment, people, sounds and dogs!
Early desensitization to common sounds is important. Play these sounds and then praise and treat the puppy. Play them and act like it’s no big deal. Mix it up!
Play the sound of thunder, babies, cars, gunshots and fireworks from your phone.
Knock on the door.
Have somebody ring the doorbell, randomly (ignore it every time!).
Bang pots and pans together.
Drop things on the floor.
Run the vacuum, drill, dremel, & hairdryer.
If at any time your puppy seems scared (ears pinned, cowering, shaking, stop! This is meant to be fun.
Yes it’s important to keep puppies safe before they are fully vaccinated. But that’s no reason not to socialize them. There are MANY things that you can do before your puppy is truly ready to meet the world.
TOUCH
Because Great Danes are SO large, it is important that they are accepting of touch.
Touch the puppies toenails with trimmers and a Dremel, treat and praise.
Brush the puppy all over with crinkled up foil, a dog brush, or your hands.
Do a pretend vet and judging exam. Look at teeth and ears and do a pretend shot using a ballpoint pen.
Rub the puppies ears and pretend to clean them.
Run your hand down your puppies back and to the tip of the tail.
Gently pick each foot up and put it back down again.
Brush the puppies teeth.
Do not use training methods that involve hitting, pinching, shoving, tapping or pinning/alpha rolls. These can seriously undermine the work you do to make your puppy trust you and trust your hands and the hands of a veterinarian or groomer.
TEXTURES
Textures are all things your dog may encounter in the world. Make a point to explore and touch all of these surfaces at minimum:
Sand & gravel
Grass
Wood chips
Concrete & asphalt
Snow & Ice
Puddles and wet spots
Bridges
Tile
Hardwood
Carpet
Foam
Foil/shiny objects
After all that, it’s still true that your puppy needs to be exposed to people and dogs. We encourage you to do this part thoughtfully. Exposure to rude people and rude dogs is not socialization.
WATCH
Sit on your lawn, near a bike path, or at a park. Be calm and just WATCH.
Children playing
Strollers
Wheelchairs and walkers
Bicycles & Scooters
Large dogs
Small dogs
Barking dogs
Wildlife
People of all kinds
Reward your puppy for looking at you and ignoring these things. Ultimately, that is what you want from your dog as an adult! Calm confidence.
Of course, greeting people (calmly) and dogs (safely) is also important! Consider taking a puppy preschool class in a clean facility where early social skills are reinforced.
When meeting people, there is no reason to reward a jumping, excited, peeing or nervous puppy with attention from people that are squealing with excitement to meet him! That scenario is the fast track towards creating a 120lb adolescent Great Dane that either jumps and tackles people with enthusiasm, or is unfortunately afraid of them.
Know body language. If at any time your puppy is scared (ears pinned, stiff, avoidance, hiding, shaking, panting, tail tucked, lip licking) these are signs that you are moving too fast.
EARLY TRAINING
Every experiences that your puppy has a young age (good or bad) can shape the future.
If you take a puppy that has had very little exposure to early training basics (sit, look, leave it) into a store you may accidentally be having your puppy practice the WRONG behavior in those situations.
People will be so excited, and your puppy may either be fearful (bad socialization experience) or too excited (that’s not pretty when they weigh 140lbs!).
Focus on training inside of stores! They are a great place to practice ignoring people and dogs.
Be choosy! One bad experience with a rude, out of control dog or a pesky child can ruin a puppy for life. It’s much better for a puppy to learn to ignore and walk away from those two scenarios than it is for them to learn to ‘tolerate’ it.
Your Great Dane is bored. It’s true. Many Great Danes are bored, and frustrated pet parents see the symptoms as a sign of disobedience or dominant behavior.
This is important. Most people imagine their Great Dane should be a couch potato, content to lounge all day. They kind of are. They do like to lounge! Most will happily park themselves on a couch given the opportunity. They don’t need the same kind of intense working and exercise that a herding dog or terrier might need. But they are still dogs, and I think we all tend to forget that.
Great Dane Signs of Boredom
Imagine a life inside a home. You cannot see friends, watch TV, read a book, work on a hobby or go for a walk. This is the life most pet dogs are living.
A few toys scattered about and a quick 15 minute walk really isn’t fair, nor is it enough.
Boredom is something that plagues many pet dogs, not just Great Danes. All of us get stuck in a routine and forget that our dogs are living their lives alongside us, and have different needs than us, too.
Do any of these common ‘complaints’ accurately describe your dog?
Boredom, frustration, confusion and anxiety are key factors with dogs that are destructive, out of control and difficult to live with. Not ‘Dominance’ or being ‘defiant’ or ‘stubborn’.
Dog Behavior & Boredom Go Hand-in-Hand
SO many difficult behavior problems are minimized or even eliminated when you solve issues related to boredom, anxiety, and a lack of sleep.
Stir crazy, under-stimulated, over-tired anxious dogs are really hard to live with.
Any good dog trainer worth their salt will address most behaviors by first assessing the routine and what kind of access the dog has to appropriate mental enrichment and exercise.
Destruction, digging, chewing, getting into the trash, barking and hopping the fence are all signs that a dog literally doesn’t have any appropriate outlet for the correct behavior.
They are saying, in dog language that they are BORED.
Enrichment Ideas for Great Danes
Are you ready to tackle boredom and common behavior problems?
Even just a few minutes per day can go a long ways here. If you have more time on the weekend, save that for the big stuff. During the work week, compromise where you need to and make up for it later. That’s ok to do!
#1 – Unstructured Walks
Instead of structured walks on pavement, consider also adding unstructured walks that involve sniffing, exploration, and moving naturally on varied terrain such as grass, sand and gravel. (This can help their feet too!)
This DOES mean getting off your property; remember, your backyard is not a novel or interesting environment.
In this situation it is incredibly important that your Great Dane be a calm, gentle, and friendly ambassador of the breed. This is NOT a good activity for Danes that lunge, pull, bark, or are fearful or aggressive.
It’s also important that the stores you visit are truly dog friendly! Only service dogs (who are task trained to assist with a specific medical condition such as seizure alerts or blind navigation) are allowed in most stores. If you are unsure, call the manager to ask in advance, and always err on the side of caution.
Sit at a park on a blanket and watch people and dogs walk by.
Not only is this activity mentally engaging, but it socializes your Great Dane by allowing them to realize that they can be ‘in’ the chaos without being apart of it.
People watching is also a great opportunity for you to work on your obedience training with your dog! By using positive reinforcement, you can teach your dog that engaging with you is much more fun than lunging, pulling, barking, or reacting towards people, dogs, bikes, and children.
Use clicker training and teach your Great Dane a new trick each week.
Clickers are a fantastic tool that work by communicating to your dog the exact moment they do something you like.
Many people think that clicker training means clicking at the dog with the clicker to get their attention. This is completely wrong!
Clicker training starts by teaching the dog that when they hear a click, they get a treat.
Click, treat. Click, treat. Click, treat.
With a little practice, you can then begin to CLICK when your dog completes a behavior such as sit, paw, down, or touch. For example:
Sit, Click, Treat. Sit, Click, Treat.
or
Touch, Click, Treat. Touch, Click, Treat.
The dog learns to ‘work for the click’ because clicks = good things! Clicker training aids in providing your dog with clarity and precision, which means they learn more, faster.
Take a class together. Learn how to stand for the show ring (conformation class), work up to your Canine Good Citizen (obedience) title and then go a step farther into Rally Obedience.
There are MANY amazing sports and obedience classes that you can take through local training clubs that will help you build a better relationship with your dog and possibly even provide you with a fun new hobby.
Here are some ideas:
Basic, intermediate, and advanced obedience
Conformation (how to act like a show dog)
Rally (Obedience course)
Dock Diving (Dive off a dock for a toy)
Scent Work (Learn how to find things by scent tracking)
Agility (Athletic course)
Lure Course (Running quickly after a lure)
Trick Training
#6 – Learn Scent Work with Your Great Dane
This goes hand-in-hand with taking a class, but you can also learn to do this at home with youtube videos.
Scent work is an incredible way to work your dogs mind.
Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and within a few training sessions, most dogs are able to find ‘hides’ (scent) that are just out of sight.
It only takes weeks from that point to teach them to find scent that is well hidden! If you enjoy the process and your dog is good at it, you can even earn ribbons and titles together.
Some handlers are paid very well for dogs that can scent track things such as bed bugs or drugs, and many are even used in search and rescue efforts.
#7 – Fitpaws & Body Confidence Training
Purchase some FITPAWS or other dog fitness gear and learn how to use them to teach your Great Dane better balance, coordination and body awareness.
These are fun and can be used in your living room or backyard. When used under the supervision of a canine rehabilitation specialist, they can also be incredibly helpful for building core strength as well as building strength in the toes and ankles.
Because standing on the FITPAWS is basically a dog trick, using lots of positive reinforcement is key. This will wear out your dogs mind and body!
If you don’t have FitPaws, watch Youtube videos online for dog coordination exercises.
Have your Great Dane eat meals out of a puzzle feeder.
This will slow down their eating, reduce their risk of bloat, provide them with better digestion, and wear their brains out, too!
Puzzle feeders come in so many shapes and sizes. Experiment with what works well for your pet.
If you don’t want to spend money on bowls to clean and wash, you can roll your dog’s kibble up into a towel! They have to forage to get it out and will love ‘working’ for their dinner.
Stuff rubber KONG or West Paw Topl toys, freeze, and let your dog figure it out!
Here are some popular dog Kong or Topl stuffing ideas:
Kibble (hydrate with bone broth)
Peanut butter (take it easy with this one)
Pumpkin
Plain yogurt
Canned dog food
Make sure that you only replace 5% of the normal diet with treats, toppers, and stuffing. Your dog does NOT need a Kong filled to the brim with peanut butter, in other words! Rehydrated kibble is always a good choice, as it’s part of the normal diet and gives you a base upon which you can be creative.
For example, smear peanut butter inside before stuffing it with the canned food or rehydrated kibble, then add a treat for the dog to find in the middle!
Freezing the Kong or Topl before serving will make it last longer, and can be a great activity for dogs that have separation anxiety.
#10 – Play Hide & Seek with your Great Dane
There are many ways to play with dogs, and hide and seek games are perfect indoor activities for those not-so-nice weather days.
You can play hide and seek by hiding in another room or behind a curtain and then rewarding your puppy or adult Great Dane for finding you! This fun game also builds on recall (staying close and always looking where you are), so your dog will have better off-leash skills out of the home, too.
You can also hide toys or treats for your dog to find around the house, and make doing so a fun daily part of the routine.
#11 – Introduce a Flirt Pole to Your Great Dane
For dogs aged 2+, you can introduce a flirt pole.
Flirt poles tap into natural prey drive; dogs love to chase, circle, and ‘catch’ the lure on the end.
However, a flirt pole is an incredible alternative to laser pointers. It results in the same fun behaviors and play, but unlike a laser, the dog can actually ‘catch the prey’ and is less likely to develop obsessive or compulsive behaviors.
Flirt poles can also be used as a reward as part of a positive training program.
Don’t expect any miracles here, at least not straight away.
A dog that has made a habit of chewing up beds and hopping fences is a dog who has made these things part of the routine. Adding a TON of enrichment will help, but many times this also requires thoughtful training and management.
Get creative here! Get ahead of the curve and keep the enrichment activities coming. Work with a highly qualified trainer to change or even eliminate the behaviors that are unacceptable.
Even just one new enrichment activity is bound to get even the most wound up dog to settle more!
If your dog is currently showing signs of boredom and anxiety, don’t stress! Jump in, change your routine and go from there.
