Hello Danes

Category: Great Danes

  • Is My Great Dane Well-Bred?

    Is My Great Dane Well-Bred?

    Great Danes are incredible dogs, and they are not for everybody. Is your Great Dane well-bred?

    There is a stark difference between dogs that are well bred (ethically bred) and dogs that were bred for profit. If a Great Dane is well bred, they are less likely to suffer from common disorders such as orthopedic problems, heart disease, bad temperaments, and even bloat.

    Genetics play a role in everything from how a dog is built to how they interact with the world.

    This article is not to say that ‘poorly bred’ Great Danes are bad and ‘well bred’ Great Danes are good. It’s simply meant to be an educational comparison.

    The fact of the matter is that we have a serious problem in the world of Danes. For every breeder focused on health, structure, and temperament, there are tons of Great Dane breeders who are pairing dogs for no other reason other than fun and profit.

    Ear Cropping Great Danes
    Ear Cropping Great Danes

    Well-Bred Great Danes Come From Dedicated Breeders

    No matter what a Great Dane ends up looking like in the end, one of the key elements of being well-bred is that a dog comes from an ethical, dedicated breeder.

    Here are some basics that a breeder should meet to qualify as ‘ethical’.

    Lifetime support of every puppy they ever bred; this includes being willing to take dogs back into their home at any time, for any reason, and never dumping a dog on a rescue or shelter.

    • Breeding for health, temperament, and the written breed standard
    • Knowledgeable about sound Great Dane structure & movement
    • Willing to seek out a 3rd party opinion about the dogs they are breeding, including working with a well-respected mentor, attending AKC dog shows, taking conformation handling and obedience training classes, or by collaborating with the local Great Dane breeding club

    Full health testing of both parents, no exceptions. These tests include OFA Hips, heart, eyes, and thyroid. The results of these tests must be available for you to view at www.ofa.org

    • Exceptionally picky when choosing homes for the dogs they breed
    • Keeps puppies until 8 or 10 weeks of age
    • Never breeds dogs under the age of 2, especially if they aren’t fully OFA health tested

    An ethical breeder will never breed a dog that is aggressive, anxious, fearful, or that has bloat, heart disease, blood clotting disorders, or other known genetic health problems in the pedigree.

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    Well-Bred vs. Not Well-Bred Great Danes

    Coming from a good pedigree and an exceptional breeder who cares about the pedigree is a solid step in the right direction.

    Unfortunately, some breeders are so flippant about their breeding practices that the puppies they produce don’t look like Great Danes at all.

    If you’ve googled this and are wondering if your Great Dane is well-bred or not, we’re going to dig into this with some photos!

    Keep in mind that even in well-bred litters, only a few puppies will be ‘show quality’ (stellar examples of the breed). All puppies are pets, whether they are show-quality or not.

    Puppies who aren’t right for the show ring will still be well-bred, however! Very few puppies are exactly perfect. Some, however, are much further off of the target than others.

    It’s impossible to judge how well bred a puppy is just by looking at an image. Rather than focusing on what ‘well-bred’ looks like, let’s take a look at the opposite. What do dogs who are not well-bred look like?

    The dogs in this gallery below are cute, but do not meet the written standard for Great Danes:

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    Great Dane Faults

    A fault is a trait that a dog has which goes against the recommendations outlined in the written standard.

    Here is a list of faults seen in the dogs above. Again, this is not a beauty contest! It’s simply about making sure that Great Danes are built correctly so they can live long, healthy lives and look like…well…Great Danes!

    How many faults can you spot?

    • Flat feet
    • Long nails
    • Ears that come from the top of the head or that stick out (cute, but makes them look mixed breed)
    • Ears that are long and droopy (cute! But makes them look like hounds)
    • Extremely droopy jowls
    • Droopy eyes with redness and haw showing
    • Steep croup
    • Narrow hips
    • Roached back
    • Apple shaped/dome head
    • Lack of overall substance
    • Heavy and stocky
    • Cathedral chest or flat chest
    • Abused & neglected

    Unfortunately, many of the dogs in the gallery above will be mistaken for other breeds if met on the street. They may be loved family pets, but they are not well-bred.

    Many people will consider the differences in the dogs above to be related to “Euro” vs. “American” breedings, however those terms are nothing more than marketing from breeders who want to sell puppies. Read more about “EURO vs. American” here.

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    What Does a Well-Bred Great Dane Look Like?

    A well-bred Great Dane who comes from an exceptional breeder will be a solid, muscular dog that moves with grace and long forward strides. They will not be stocky, nor will they appear boney and small.

    They have a large head that is chiseled and full of regal expression, whether the ears are cropped or not.

    Their front and rear limbs will be built correctly, ensuring that they can comfortably hold their own weight up for years to come. They will have nice tight feet, short nails, and a glossy coat.

    The chest should be broad and muscular, not flat or weak.

    When they move and stand, they are comfortable keeping their head and neck up (not drooping down, which is a sign of discomfort), and they are not heavy or lumbering.

    Well-bred Great Danes are friendly and courageous.
    They should never be fearful, timid, or aggressive.

    You can read the original Great Dane standard (in the U.S., which is nearly identical to the Canadian and European version) HERE.

    When a Great Dane is built correctly from the ground up, they are less likely to suffer from painful orthopedic problems that cause them a lifetime of issues with movement.

    Notice in the overlay below that the Great Dane in the image:

    • Has an oversized, mastiff-like blocky head
    • Droopy jowls
    • He is unable to hold his head up correctly
    • His hips are higher than his shoulders
    • The top line is sloping up towards the hips, not gracefully down to them
    • He has an exceptionally steep croup with his tail placed very low
    • His rear legs lack angulation, as do the front
    • While the front angulation appears to match the overlay, it’s only because the dog is standing incorrectly
    Great dane well-bred

    Structural Faults in Great Danes

    Structural problems are arguably the most important reason to choose ethical breeders.

    Dogs carry roughly 60% of their weight on the front limbs; for an average 140 lb male, that’s 84 lbs of weight on the chest, shoulders, and front paws!

    It is unfair, shall I say borderline abusive for Great Dane breeders to continue breeding dogs who have significant faults in the way that they are built. Yet, some of the most popular breeders, those who are friendly and have nice websites, are to blame.

    Take the dog below as an example. This chocolate harlequin Great Dane is being bred by a local, very popular breeder. I believe that as of this writing, she is on her 2nd breeding.

    Notice that she has absolutely no chest and no angles; her front arms are so far forward on her ribcage that she has a ‘cathedral’.

    This weight on her front assembly is affecting her front paws, which are flat from struggling to hold herself up. Her rear legs might as well be made of wood; they are stick straight. As a whole this poor dog lacks substance and her rear feet are some of the worst I’ve ever seen.

    She is an AKC registered Great Dane.

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    AKC Papers are Meaningless

    Here is a fun fact for you.

    A dog can have AKC papers, or be from an “AKC Registered” breeder, and still be poorly bred.

    Putting two dogs with an AKC pedigree together is not enough to ensure the health and longevity of this breed that we love.

    If you want to get involved, help us spread the word! The breeder registry at www.gdca.org is a great place to dig through exceptional Great Dane breeders.

    Here is an example of an incredible stud who has passed full OFA screenings and received multiple titles because of how well he adheres to the breed standard: https://vandelftdanes.wixsite.com/mysite/quill

    For more photos of well-bred Great Danes, here are some links to a few favorites:

    Grateful Danes

    Daynakin Great Danes

    Van Delft Great Danes

    • Find ethical breeders on social media and like, comment, and follow them
    • Learn how to spot the difference between an ethical breeder and a ‘nice’ breeder with unethical practices
    • Attend dog shows, meet breeders, and involve yourself in the preservation side of Great Dane breeding. It’s fun and shows are usually free to attend and watch as a spectator!
    • For your next Great Dane, choose adoption or get on the list for well-bred dog
  • Getting a Puppy: The Good, The Bad, The Unexpected and The Inevitable

    Getting a Puppy: The Good, The Bad, The Unexpected and The Inevitable

    Bringing home a puppy is exciting and full of potential, but it’s also a big commitment that comes with many challenges. Before you bring your four-legged friend home, it’s important to understand the good, the bad, and the unexpected that come along with owning a pet.

    Top Ten Things to Know When Getting a Puppy

    Bringing a puppy home is a big decision and should never be taken lightly.

    If your family has decided that a puppy is the right fit, it’s important to do some research and know what to expect. Here are ten things you should be aware of and research when getting a pup:

    1. Puppy Food
    2. Puppy Training Tips
    3. All The Supplies a Puppy Might Need
    4. The Time and Commitment New Puppies Require
    5. Learn About Your Puppy’s Health
    6. Potty Training Your Puppy
    7. Keeping Your Puppy Clean
    8. Puppies Chew!
    9. Crate Training
    10. Are Your Family Members On Board?
    Getting a Puppy

    Can Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food? The Scary Truth of Feeding a Great Dane Puppy

    Puppy Food

    Your puppy requires different dog food than the other pets in your home. As your puppy grows, new pet parents will need to research the right dog food and puppy treats to provide their new canine companion.

    No, a new pup should NOT be on the same food as an adult dog. Puppies require PUPPY food and should NOT be on adult dog food.

    Pet parents should do their research and speak with their veterinarians about what is the best option to feed their new puppy.

    Puppy Training Tips

    Getting a dog trainer to help train your puppy is a vital part of having your first puppy.

    A young puppy is not going to turn into a well behaved dog overnight.

    To help your puppy grow up into a loyal and dedicated member of your family and society, you need to be consistent with your training and set aside time every day to practice.

    You will also want to look into puppy classes and other activities that can help socialize your pup.

    When hiring a dog trainer, look for one that always uses positive reinforcement AND helps your dog understand right from wrong. This is called balanced training and will help your canine companion become accustomed to life.

    Getting a Puppy

    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?

    All The Supplies a Puppy Might Need

    A new puppy is not cheap. New pet parents should set aside money monthly to save up for their new puppy. Puppy essentials add up. There are lots of items that a new puppy needs to be successful.

    Puppy gates, food and water bowls, grooming supplies.. the list goes on. Puppy parents should research these items to get the best ones for their pup and their budget.

    New Puppy Checklist

    A new puppy checklist is important for dog parents to figure out what they might need to buy when bringing home a new puppy.

    Puppy supplies included on a new puppy checklist include:

    1. Grooming Tools: Nail clippers, puppy shampoo / dog shampoo, baby wipes, poop bags,
    2. Puppy Toys: Dog toys to help your puppy succeed at teething, a chew toy (or a bunch!),
    3. Baby Gates: Help your puppy stay safe in the house (and keep your carpets clean!)
    4. Food and Water Bowls: Opt for a ceramic set and clean often.
    5. Dog Bed: A bed your pup can call their own. You may want to start off with a dog bed that is cheaper incase those puppy teeth go at it, and then move to something orthopedic like a Big Barker once you trust your new puppy more.
    6. Crate/Kennel: Opt for one that is big enough so they can move around in it but still feel secure.
    7. Leash, Harness and Collar Set: Choose one that fits your puppy’s neck size, being careful not to pull too tight.
    8. Treats: Most puppies will thrive on training with treats or a good chew toy. Low calorie treats can help significantly with teething puppies and house training.
    Getting a Puppy

    Potty Training a Puppy in an Apartment: 9 Steps to a Solid Potty Schedule

    The Time and Commitment New Puppies Require

    Raising a puppy requires lots of time, patience, consistency and dedication from all family members involved.

    A puppy is not like a stuffed animal that you can just leave in a corner or a dog crate when you want to be gone all day and all night.

    Get informed about the time that dogs actually require before getting one. Puppies will need to be taken out for walks and potty breaks, get lots of playtime, and require attention from their humans.

    If you are not sure if your lifestyle allows you the time it takes to own a puppy, consider doing some research before adopting or buying your new pet.

    By understanding what is needed to raise a healthy and well-behaved puppy, you can be sure that you are the right fit for your new furry friend.

    Getting a Puppy

    Potty Training a Puppy in an Apartment: 9 Steps to a Solid Potty Schedule

    Learn About Your Puppy’s Health

    Canine companions are not all fun and games. With adorable puppies comes a LOT of vet bills.

    Pet insurance early on can help to mitigate the cost of a new dog.

    When looking for pet insurance, find a plan that covers both routine visits and emergency medical services.

    It is also important to learn about the breed of your puppy. Knowing their common health concerns and needs can help you prevent problems or catch them early on.

    Your veterinarian is always a great resource if you have any questions regarding your pup’s health. They will be able to provide advice on what pet insurance would be best for your puppy.

    Potty Training Your Puppy

    Potty training is probably one of the toughest things to help your puppy learn.

    Be prepared with all the essentials to help your puppy learn to use the bathroom in the right spot. This includes puppy pads, a designated potty area, and lots of patience.

    Consistency is key when it comes to potty training your pup. Take them out on regular intervals, give them verbal cues such as ‘go potty’ so they understand what you are asking of them and reward them with treats when they go in the right spot.

    Lastly, never punish a puppy for having an accident as they are still learning. Be patient and understanding while teaching your puppy this important skill.

    Getting a Puppy

    12 Fool Proof and Fast Great Dane Potty Training Tips

    Keeping Your Puppy Clean

    You can puppy proof all you want, but it is inevitable that you are going to have a mess if you have a dog or puppy. Dog hair, accidents, and muddy paw prints are just part of it.

    It is important to keep your puppy clean and hygienic in order to prevent any health issues.

    A regular bath schedule (not too often!) with specific dog shampoo should be kept, as well as brushing your puppy regularly and cleaning their ears. Baby wipes also come in handy for quick clean ups in between baths.

    Finally, always remember to check their paws after they have been outside playing or walking, as dirt can build up and cause problems if left untreated.

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    Rocco and Roxie Cleaning Spray

    Puppies Chew!

    Puppies love to chew things up. If you have your own space with valuable items, it is YOUR responsibility to keep your puppy safe from that area, not theirs!

    Using a dog crate is a fantastic way to keep your pup safe and secure.

    In addition, providing chew toys can help keep them distracted from the items that could cause harm.

    The best chew toys are those made of rubber or nylon as they are harder for puppies to destroy and safer if swallowed than rawhide chews.

    Getting a Puppy

    5 Best Toys for Great Danes: Chew Proof and More

    Crate Training

    A dog crate is the perfect way to provide a safe and secure place for your puppy.

    Crate training is great for teaching puppies how to stay in one area, sleep through the night without having accidents, and learning when it’s time to be quiet.

    It is important that you start crate training as soon as possible with your new pup.

    Getting a Puppy

    The Best Crates for a Great Dane: Crates that Fit 100 lb+ Dogs

    Are Your Family Members On Board?

    Making sure that all members of your family are on board when you decide to bring home a new dog is of utmost importance.

    Otherwise, it can be difficult to create a harmonious environment at home.

    Talk with all members of your family to make sure that everyone is aware of what needs to be done and is willing to take part in the pup’s care.

    From potty training to feeding schedules, having everyone on the same page will help ensure your puppy’s successful transition into your family.

    Commonly Asked Puppy Questions from New Puppy Parents

    With puppies, come many questions! Here are some of the most commonly asked questions from new puppy parents.

    Where should a puppy sleep the first night?

    Starting your puppy off the first night in their new routine is important. But, remember that a puppy can not go longer than a few hours without a potty break.

    So, it is recommended to create a safe space for them in their crate and set an alarm for every two hours to take the pup outside to go potty.

    Getting a Puppy

    New Great Dane Puppy? This Guide is For You!

    What are the first things to do when you get a puppy?

    The first things to do when you get a puppy include setting up the puppy’s sleeping area, establishing a feeding schedule, and introducing them to their potty spot.

    It is also important to start socializing your puppy and enrolling them in an obedience class.

    Finally, remember that puppies needs lots of love and attention , so make sure to spend quality time with them!

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    Keep your puppy safe with a Tractive GPS collar!

    What should I know before getting a puppy?

    Before getting a puppy, it is important to know what type of breed best fits your lifestyle, and whether you are ready to make the commitment that comes with owning a dog.

    Puppies need lots of attention, exercise, and training in order to stay healthy and happy. It is also important to have a plan for potty training and prevention of destructive behavior.

    In addition, you should research what type of supplies you will need to have on hand for your new pup. This includes a crate, food and water bowls, chew toys, grooming supplies, and more!

    Finally, make sure to budget for regular vet visits and potential medical costs that may arise.

    How much money should I save up before getting a dog?

    It is recommended to save up at least $1000 before getting a puppy. This money can go towards supplies such as food, treats, toys, and a crate; as well as costs associated with vet visits and potential medical expenses that may arise.

    Having this money saved up ahead of time will help you be prepared for any unexpected costs.

    How long can a puppy be left alone?

    The rule of thumb for puppies going without potty breaks is about one hour for every month of age.

    So, a three-month-old pup should not be left alone for more than three hours. However, it is important to note that puppies need lots of attention, so it is best to limit their alone-time as much as possible.

    It is also recommended to have someone watch your puppy for you if you will be gone for any length of time. A pet sitter can help to make sure to keep your dog safe if you will be gone longer than the recommended amount of time.

    Following these steps and doing the necessary research before bringing home a new pup can help ensure that both you and your pup have a positive transition to their new home. With patience, love, and dedication, owning a puppy can be an incredibly rewarding experience!

    Getting a Puppy

    How to Teach a Puppy to Sit

    Should you let a puppy cry at night?

    No, you should not let your puppy cry at night.

    Puppies may cry during their first few nights in a new home as they adjust to their new environment, so it is important to provide comfort and reassurance. Taking them outside for potty breaks (every two hours) and giving them a safe space to sleep can help them feel more secure and can reduce the amount of crying.

    Giving your pup lots of love and attention during their first few nights in a new home will also help to make them feel safe and secure. With patience, consistency, and plenty of positive reinforcement, you can ensure that your puppy has a smooth transition into their new home.

    What to consider before buying a dog?

    Before buying a dog, it is important to consider your lifestyle and make sure you are ready for the commitment that comes with owning a new puppy. You should also research what type of breed best fits your lifestyle and be prepared to purchase all necessary supplies such as food bowls, a crate, toys, grooming supplies and more. Don’

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  • Great Dane Surgery & What to Ask Your Veterinarian

    Great Dane Surgery & What to Ask Your Veterinarian

    Great Dane surgery can be expensive and scary. Many people are concerned about the risks of anesthesia for their Great Dane, and understandably so!

    A quick glance around any of the Great Dane social groups on Facebook and it’s easy to spot yet another devastating story of a Great Dane that didn’t survive a routine surgical procedure.

    In response to this problem, the Great Dane Club of America has released some helpful guidelines and information to consider when your dog has to be put under anesthesia for any reason.

    We will share this information below, and show you how to keep your Great Dane safe during surgery.

    (This post contains images of healthy Great Danes under anesthesia.)

    Why is Surgery Risky for Great Danes

    Large and giant breed dogs can be prone to surgical complications including:

    • DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy), which causes blood clotting issues
    • Heart failure
    • Shock
    • Hypothermia (becoming too cold)
    • Anesthesia drug overdose, which can lead to seizures & vomiting


    It is important to note that every dog has a different risk factor. Many Great Danes successfully undergo surgery all the time, however, and it’s important to not be fearful of quality veterinary care .

    As a general rule, dogs with existing health problems (including Dilated Cardiomyopathy/DCM or Von Willebrand) or obesity are at a much higher risk of developing complications than others.

    In addition to those factors, Great Danes are giant breed dogs who take up a lot of space in the veterinary office and surgical suite. In some places, they may actually be too large for the surgical equipment available, or may be too bulky for the staff to handle as carefully as possible.

    Great dane surgery

    What Surgeries do Great Danes Get? Great Dane Surgery types:

    Before we get into how to prevent surgical complications in your Great Dane, let’s talk about a few reasons why you may need to elect surgery for your dog.

    Here are just a few common reasons why your Great Dane may have surgery:

    In many cases, the benefits of surgery far outweigh the risks, especially when taking individual risk factors into account.

    We cannot emphasize this enough: overweight Great Danes and those who suffer from preventable health conditions such as nutritional DCM, abuse and neglect, or certain genetic disorders are at a much higher risk of complications during surgery.

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    Great Dane Club of America Surgical Guidelines

    The GDCA has outlined some evidence-based surgical guidelines for Great Dane owners. This information should be used in tandem with an honest discussion with your veterinarian prior to your dog undergoing surgery.

    It is so important to work with a veterinarian that you trust!

    The GDCA states (summary) that owners should consider the following:

    • Work with a veterinarian who is experienced in large & giant breed surgeries
    • Perform surgery only on healthy animals (barring emergencies, of course)
    • If elected, spay should be done about 3 months after the last season
    • The veterinarian should do a complete examination of the dog
    • An EKG should be performed to assess the health of the dog’s heart
    • Pre-surgical blood work is a must, and should include a CBC, Serum Chemistry Panel, and Blood Clotting Profile

    If all of those factors are met, and the choice to proceed with surgery is made, there are additional things to keep in mind:

    • The dog should fast overnight prior to surgery
    • During surgery, fluid IV therapy should be administered
    • Pulse oximetry, cardiac monitoring, and blood pressure monitoring
    • Propofol and Sevoflurane are considered the safest anesthetic agents
    • Ketamine, Valium, and isoflurane are more available, less expensive, and acceptable
    • Rompun, Acepromazine, and Thiopentals are not recommended
    • Adequate pain control and comfort measures to reduce stress are necessary

    During surgery, dogs are prone to becoming too cold and suffering from hypothermia. This can cause problems for the dogs heart and cardiovascular system, blood clotting/coagulation, recovery time, and may increase the risk of infection.

    Temperature monitoring, warmed IV fluids, blankets, heating pads, and even bubble wrap are recommended and necessary.

    We do not recommend that Great Danes undergo surgery at low cost clinics, if they can be avoided. Low cost clinics are an incredible resource especially for those on a budget; however, they may not have the time, staff, or tools needed to keep a Great Dane safe according to the GDCA recommendations.

    You can read (and print) the GDCA Surgical Recommendations HERE (click on “Surgical Guidelines for the Great Dane”). Share this information with your veterinarian.

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    When is a Great Dane too Old for Surgery?

    While age can slightly increase complications, it’s important to remember that “age is not a disease.” Many mature-aged Great Danes (age 5 and up) undergo surgery with no complications at all.

    As a matter of fact, in some cases, choosing surgery is the choice with less risk!

    A Prophylactic Dental Cleaning is a great example of a place where, for most dogs, the benefits of elective surgery far outweigh the risks.

    Many people are hesitant to have their veterinarian clean their dogs teeth under anesthesia, however, bad dental health can lead to a slew of health problems that can shorten lifespan. Not only that, but bad teeth can be exceptionally painful for your dog!

    Read here for why sedation-free dentistry is bad

    No matter what your dog’s age, talk to your veterinarian. Experienced professionals who understand how to safely perform anesthesia on large and giant breed dogs can put your mind at ease.

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    Great Dane Surgical Death Statistics

    Check out this quote from Mary Anne Zanetos, chairwoman of the GDCA Health Survey Committee:

    Most of the post-surgical deaths were seen in young, healthy dogs undergoing elective procedures.

    No wonder so many Great Dane owners struggle with the decision to put their dog through elective surgery! Many underlying conditions, including nutritional DCM and blood clotting disorders can be a factor for dogs who appear otherwise to be very healthy.

    Reducing complications in surgery for Great Danes requires a three-factor approach:

    1. Ensure through ethical breeding that genetic disorders such as heart disease and blood clotting problems are not passed on to future generations
    2. Use science-backed health, nutrition, and care practices so that the dog is as healthy as possible
    3. Working with an experienced veterinarian who is using evidence-based protocols in the care of giant breed dogs that are put under anesthesia

    Read HERE for why Grain-Free Dog Food Should NOT be Fed to Great Danes

    Purina Great Dane Update Surgical Guidelines for Great Danes

  • Why Do Dogs Mark? The Mystery Behind the Male Dog Peeing 100 Times Per Day

    Why Do Dogs Mark? The Mystery Behind the Male Dog Peeing 100 Times Per Day

    There is nothing quite like coming home to a house that has been flooded with your furry friend’s urine or feces.

    While owning a dog can bring immense joy, one of the less desirable behaviors they can exhibit is marking in the house. This behavior involves a dog urinating or defecating on surfaces such as furniture, carpets, walls, and even on people. It can be incredibly frustrating for owners to deal with this type of behavior; however, understanding why it occurs can help with developing strategies to control or prevent it from happening. 

    What Exactly is Marking and Why Do Dogs Mark?? 

    Marking is when dogs urinate or defecate in order to establish their territory and show dominance over other animals and people. They may also do this as a sign of stress or anxiety. If your dog begins to mark inside your home, it could be because of changes in the environment such as new furniture, visitors coming over, or even other pets joining the family. 

    Why Do Dogs Mark

    Male vs. Female Great Dane: Which is Right For My Family?

    Recognizing When Your Dog is About to Mark 

    If you want to prevent your pup from marking their territory in the house, keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior! They may start sniffing around like a bloodhound on a search and rescue mission; or they might even give themselves away by lifting its leg up onto furniture – it’s almost as if Fido is raising his paw to swear allegiance. In this situation, distract them with something else before their naughty little paws get carried away!

    Why Do Dogs Mark

    Potty Training a Puppy in an Apartment: 9 Steps to a Solid Potty Schedule

    How To Stop Marking Behavior 

    The best way to stop this behavior is by properly training your dog so that they understand what is acceptable and what isn’t while they are inside the house. Properly training them not only helps prevent marking but also helps build a bond between you and your pup over time. Additionally, providing enough mental stimulation through exercises like walks and playtime will help reduce their stress levels which can lead to marking inside the house as well! 

    Prevent Urine Marking Behaviors

    Dealing with marking behavior from your dog inside your home can be incredibly frustrating; however, understanding why this type of behavior happens can help with developing strategies for prevention and control.

    Training your pup properly will not only help ensure that they don’t mark inside but also create a strong bond between you two over time! A little bit of patience goes a long way when dealing with this issue so make sure that you take things slowly while implementing strategies aimed at preventing any future incidents!

    To stop a Great Dane from marking in the house, it is important to figure out why the dog is doing it and address that underlying issue.

    Male Dogs and Why They Mark Their Territory

    Marking behavior in dogs is seen more commonly in male dogs than female dogs, likely due to the fact that unneutered males will mark their territory as part of reproductive behaviors. Spaying or neutering your pet can significantly reduce marking behavior in the home. In addition to being associated with reproductive behaviors, marking may also occur due to boredom, anxiety, excitement or attention-seeking behaviors. 

    Male dogs also have an instinctive need to mark their territory with urine, which is why it’s important to thoroughly clean any areas in your home that they have marked. Cleaning the area with a solution of 1-part vinegar and 3-parts water will help reduce the odor and discourage future marking in that spot.

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    How Do I Stop a Great Dane from Marking

    Female Dogs and Dog Marking

    Female dogs can also mark their territory, although it is less common than males. Female dogs may mark if they feel threatened by another animal, if they are in heat or as a way to communicate with other dogs. If your dog is marking inside the house, it’s important to figure out what is causing the behavior and address that first before attempting any other form of intervention.

    Taking them for walks, playing with them or giving them interactive toys can help keep their minds busy so they are less likely to engage in any negative behaviors such as marking inside the house!

    Why Do Dogs Mark

    9 Important Factors to Consider About When to Spay a Great Dane

    One: Separation Anxiety and Dog’s Urine Marking

    Anxiety can also be a cause behind why dogs might mark inside their home environment. If a pet is feeling anxious or stressed about something then they may attempt to communicate this by leaving their scent around the house either through urine or feces deposits.

    To reduce anxiety, you should try to identify what is causing them distress such as being left alone for long periods of time without human companionship or contact from other animals and work on addressing those underlying issues through positive reinforcement training methods. 

    Urine Marking Can Happen When a Dog May Feel Threatened

    A dog’s anxiety can certainly trigger urine marking. But, it may not always be typical ‘urine marking’.

    A dog’s anxiety can also trigger a behavior known as ‘status marking’. This is when a dog is feeling threatened or intimidated by another animal, and they mark their territory in order to claim it.

    Loud noises, other dogs, a new pet in the home, new objects, physical contact from a stranger, new smells, any changes in a dog’s environment or a new territory might make dogs begin to urine mark out of fear or nerves.

    If you can associate the the time your dog began urine marking with something new in their life, it may be from your dogs experience and might be related to their nerves. In this case, behavior modification can help the dog marking come to an end.

    Two: Excitement and Urine Marking Behavior

    Excitement is another possible reason why some pets might mark indoors; after all, when we’re excited we sometimes do things outside our normal range of behavior too!

    Try providing positive reinforcement whenever your pet exhibits desirable behavior so that they learn that good things come from behaving properly instead of engaging in inappropriate activities like marking inside the home environment. 

    Crate training is an excellent way to cut the dog marking when it is related to excitement. Most dogs do not mean to create more work for their humans. But, in order to reduce urine marking, one can crate their dogs at high stimulation moments like dinner time, or if you know that someone is about to ring the doorbell.

    Why Do Dogs Mark

    Running with Your Great Dane

    Three: Frequent Urination and Dog Behavior Problems

    Finally, some dogs might begin urine marking as a way of seeking attention or simply as a form of a behavior issue that needs corrected.

    Attention-seeking behaviors could be another factor influencing why your dog may be marking inside your home; it’s not uncommon for pets who feel neglected to act out in ways that get them noticed so try giving them plenty of love and affection throughout the day if you notice that they’re beginning to display these sorts of behaviors more frequently than usual. 

    Urine marking could be a sign into a deeper problem such as insecurity, lack of training or not being given the proper attention and care that dogs need.

    For example, if you notice your dog urine marking every day around the same time, it is possible that they are in need of mental stimulation during that time of day that their schedule is lacking.

    Four: Medical Causes of Urine Marking

    It is possible that your dog marks due to a medical issue. Many dogs will urine mark their entire lives, but if you notice your dog begin urine marking out of the blue, that could be an indication of an underlying medical issue.

    In this case, it is important to take them to the veterinarian for a check-up as soon as possible. A diagnosis could reveal an infection or other health concern that needs treatment before the urine marking behavior can stop.

    Urinary Tract Infection

    Probably the most common of all medical issues that cause a dog to mark territory or creates mall soiled areas in the house is a urinary tract infection.

    A UTI happens when bacteria is able to enter the urinary tract and cause an infection. A UTI can cause your pet to start urinating frequently in small amounts, or even with no warning at all, leading them to leave puddles around the house.

    Other signs of a UTI may include increased licking of their genital area, pain when urinating, and even signs of blood in your dog’s urine.

    As UTI’s can be extremely painful, be sure to take your dog to the veterinarian to check their urine for bacteria and get antibiotics that can clear this up.

    Why Do Dogs Mark

    What Health Tests do Great Danes Need for Breeding?

    Five: Reproductive Status and Why Dogs Dogs Mark

    Sometimes people will report that their dog will start marking at different times of sexual maturity.

    There are certainly hormonal influences on a dog that cause them to urine mark, and spay or neutering your pet may be able to help reduce the problem. However, keep in mind that there are an abundance of evidence that spay can create premature incontinence in female dogs, so this applies mostly to you if you have a male dog.

    On top of that, it is important to keep in mind that intact males are more likely to engage in this behavior than neutered male dogs, as well as intact female dogs compared to spayed female pets.

    Spay and Neuter

    Lastly, it is crucial that you allow your large breed, growing dog to reach sexual maturity (24 months) as neutering your dog prematurely can cause various health issues.

    Therefore, if you find your pet urine marking only at certain times, such as when they reach sexual maturity or when a female is in heat, it could be an indication that their reproductive status is playing a role in this behavior.

    Why Do Dogs Mark

    9 Important Factors to Consider About When to Spay a Great Dane

    However, regardless of the cause of the urine marking behavior, it is important to look at all angles to see whether you should or should not get your dog spayed or neutered.

    Six: Submissive Urination

    A dog who is extremely submissive might portray ‘submissive urination’.

    Dog Tail In Between Legs: Is Your Dog In Pain, Scared or Fearful?

    This dog will display submissive postures, such as lowering their head, averting eye contact, wagging their tail with the tip tucked between their legs, and even urinating when being scolded or approached.

    Dogs Ears Back: What It Means and What to Do

    Dogs who display this behavior are trying to show you that they do not mean any harm and will usually be found in a very timid dog or young puppy. If you find that your pet is eliminating out of fear or anxiety, then it might be a good idea to get them professional help from an animal behaviorist.

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    THE HELLO DANES GREAT DANE PUPPY RESOURCE PAGE

    Everything you need to know! ↗

    Solutions to Cut the Urine Marking Altogether

    If you are fed up with urine all over your home, you are not alone. There are a few small tweaks you can do to help your dog find success with this issue.

    Belly Bands

    Belly Bands are a great way to help manage male dogs who are marking in the house.

    Belly bands are a type of “diaper” for your dog, which will catch any urine that is excreted when they have an accident. With just a couple of weeks of consistently wearing one and getting praised for keeping it dry, many owners have seen a marked decrease in urine marking.

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    Dog Diapers

    For female dogs, dog diapers are the way to go rather than a belly band. Dog diapers are specifically designed to fit female dogs, and they will make sure that your pet is not getting her fur wet and soiled.

    By providing the same consistency of praising them when they keep it dry, you can help reduce urine marking in your female dog as well.

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    Dog Diapers – Shop Here

    Consistency

    Probably the most important thing to remember when it comes to curbing urine marking in your home is consistency.

    No matter which option you go with, the key is to be consistent with praising them for keeping their area dry and not allowing any accidents.

    This will help your pet associate positive reinforcement with being clean, and can lead to less messes.

    Clean Up your Dog’s Messes

    Cleaning up your pet’s messes immediately is also important. If you clean it up before they have a chance to sniff it, they are less likely to return to the same area when they need to use the restroom or mark their territory.

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    Natures Miracle Stain and Odor Remover

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, there are many potential causes behind why dogs might mark indoors but understanding what triggers these undesirable behaviors can help us come up with effective strategies for preventing and controlling this type of response in our furry family members.

    Providing adequate physical exercise opportunities along with mental stimulation activities such as interactive toys will go a long way towards helping keep your pet healthy both physically and mentally while also improving their overall behavior at home and in public settings; additionally paying attention to signs of distress whether it’s due to loneliness or anxiety can help stop any further unwanted actions before they occur within your household environment!

    Read More:

  • How to Make a Great Dane Live Longer

    How to Make a Great Dane Live Longer

    Unfortunately, Great Danes, like many larger dog breeds, have shorter lifespans compared to smaller breeds. In this blog, we’re going to explore the key factors that can contribute to helping your Great Dane live longer and have a healthier and more fulfilling life.

    From nutrition and exercise to healthcare and lifestyle choices, we’ll delve into the strategies and insights that can make a meaningful difference in prolonging your Great Dane’s life and ensuring you have many more years of joy and companionship together.

    How to Make a Great Dane Live Longer

    2 3

    Why Do Great Danes Have Short Life Spans?

    Before we can understand how to help our Great Dane dogs live longer, healthier lives we have to understand why Great Danes have short life spans in the first place.

    There are 6 main reasons that Danes lives tend to be cut short:

    • Orthopedic issues, including hip dysplasia
    • Being overweight
    • Bloat
    • Heart Disease (DCM)
    • Cancer
    • Genetics

    I placed genetics last on the list, because every single reason in the list before it can also be caused by genetics. That’s a big one, and speaks to the reasons why choosing an ethical breeder is so important.

    The good news here is that there are many things you can do to extend your Great Danes lifespan!

    6 4

    Observations about Great Danes that Live a Long Time

    A quick glance around social media and at dog shows, there are a few key things seen among Great Danes who live long, healthy lives.

    When we see an older (8 years +) Great Dane that is still going strong, we most often see some combination of the following:

    • A dog with good genetics, from proven pedigrees
    • Excellent body condition score; not overweight (this is really important)
    • Sound, stable temperament, free of fear, stress, and aggression
    • Excellent structure, feet, and angulation (which is genetic but also can be related to early puppy nutrition)
    • Trimmed nails & clean teeth
    • Well tempered dogs that received training and enrichment throughout life
    • Pet parents who trust their veterinarian, keep their dog active, and feed an appropriate diet

    Genetics play a huge role in temperament, overall structure, cancer risk, bloat risk, and heart disease. Of course, not all Great Danes are given exceptional genetics. Knowing that, there are still things that can be done to help your Great Dane live longer!

    What Health Tests do Great Danes Need Before Breeding?

    13

    Nutrition for Great Danes

    One of the easiest ways you can help extend your Great Danes life is to make sure they are getting the correct nutrition from day one.

    Feeding the wrong food to a puppy can result in a lifetime of orthopedic problems including hip dysplasia. Not only that, but certain foods have been proven in research to increase the risk of heart disease!

    Great Dane puppies should be fed a well-researched large or giant breed puppy food from a company who employs veterinary nutritionists, until age 2. This is the most current, science-backed recommendation available, which promotes proper bone growth, joint development, and structure.

    If you aren’t sure what brands or formulas to choose, our popular Great Dane Puppy Food post will get you started.

    For adult dogs over the age of 2, continue onto a grain-inclusive adult formula that contains a meat meal, and add balanced canned or fresh toppers. The addition of carefully selected wet foods can decrease the risk of bloat! If the toppers are unbalanced, do not allow them to exceed more than 10% of the daily intake of food.

    Here is our list of Great Dane foods that promote health, wellness, and longevity. These brands are commonly fed by veterinarians and to the top show and sport dogs, for a reason:

    For Adults:

    For Puppies:

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    5

    Heart Disease in Great Danes

    DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy), AKA Heart Disease or congestive heart failure is one of the top reasons why Great Danes don’t live long. Many Danes with DCM will show very little signs and may suddenly collapse one day, or die while undergoing surgery.

    This horrible disease is primarily genetic. It is passed down through the pedigree.

    When purchasing a puppy from a breeder, verify that both parents received OFA heart echocardiograms. The results of those tests will be available at www.ofa.org and if it isn’t? Run. Your breeder is unethical and may be passing heart disease onto the puppies.

    DCM can also be caused by unbalanced dog food. This is commonly a problem with kibbles that contain a lot of peas, lentils, potatoes, chickpeas, and garbanzo beans, as well as any diet that is not correctly formulated in some way.

    Because Great Danes are already genetically prone to DCM, feeding a low-quality (commonly grain-free) diet effectively increases their risk of dying suddenly from heart disease.

    Read more about the DCM – Nutrition Link HERE

    Learn about DCM in Great Danes HERE

    Was the DCM and Grain-Free Foods Link Debunked? Read more HERE.

    1 2

    Active, Lean Great Danes Live Longer Lives

    Did you know that lean dogs with a healthy body condition score live, on average, 2 years longer than dogs that are overweight or obese?

    A healthy Great Dane is leaner than you might think and should be covered in muscle, not fat.

    Read more from the Purina Body Condition Scoring Guides HERE

    Great Danes should have a defined waist and may even show a few ribs. They should be graceful, powerful, and athletic. Not stocky, droopy, slow, or heavy.

    Excess weight on your Great Dane increases their risk of joint disorders and pain, heart disease, diabetes, and complications during anesthesia and surgery. An overweight dog that experiences a health emergency (such as bloat) is less likely to survive, too.

    Talk to your veterinarian about helping your dog lose weight and gain muscle!

    We recommend off-leash training for Great Danes so that they can move freely without potentially damaging physical restraints. Off-leash movement on soft, varied terrain helps build muscle and maintain fitness levels, and we can’t think of a more fun way to help your Great Dane live longer!

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    Bloat in Great Danes

    Bloat (also known as GDV or Gastric dilatation and volvulus, aka ‘bloat and torsion’) is an emergency that will affect 1-in-4 Great Danes on average. When bloat occurs, the stomach fills up with gas, fluid, or air and then may twist over itself (torsion). Torsion is both painful and deadly.

    Fixing this requires expensive emergency surgical treatment and many dogs (especially those with heart disease, obesity, blood clotting disorders, or other serious health issues) do not make it out alive.

    Don’t let these statistics scare you, however! There are things you can do to reduce the risk of bloat and torsion so that your Great Dane can live longer.

    FACT: Studies have shown that moderate exercise after meals might decrease the risk of bloat by as much as 50%! This goes against everything we’ve been taught. Read more HERE.

    Bloat is, as most things, primarily genetic. When choosing a breeder, verify that there is no history of bloat, poor gut health, or bad temperaments in the last several generations.

    Consider a gastropexy; this life-saving and simple procedure results in better outcomes for Danes that bloat.

    Feed a quality kibble that contains meat meal, and offer 2-3 small meals each day topped with some kind of balanced canned, fresh, or raw food. Encourage slow, stress free eating.

    6 3

    Orthopedic Disorders in Great Danes

    Another reason why Great Danes have short lifespans is because they suffer, unfortunately, from orthopedic disorders.

    Nutrition, especially in puppies, plays a huge role here but so do genetics and exercise.

    Great Danes nails should be trimmed at least twice each month. We recommend a Dremel tool. Overgrown nails lead to pain and joint damage.

    Wobblers disease is an unfortunately common disorder in Great Danes that leads to painful and debilitating mobility issues. Read more about wobblers HERE.

    IMGD, hip dysplasia, flat feet, and poor overall conformation also have genetic roots that must be addressed by thoughtful, careful breeding practices as well as appropriate movement and strength building.

    For dogs with structural and orthopedic issues, working with a canine physical therapist and a veterinarian is a must.

    Do not purchase puppies from breeders who are breeding dogs that don’t meet the written structural standard for Great Danes. These breeders are genetically perpetuating structural problems that debilitate Great Danes and shorten their life span.

    27

    Cancer in Great Danes

    Unfortunately, Great Danes are susceptible to certain types of cancer, including osteosarcoma.

    Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that often appears suddenly and often requires amputation and treatment or euthanasia.

    There are many theories about what causes cancer in dogs (such as dog food or vaccines), however, these theories have never been proven or founded.

    It is understood, however, that cancer is primarily a genetic disorder.

    Some dogs are at higher risk than others; for example, early spay and neutering has been correlated in studies with an increased risk of osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, and mast cell tumors.

    Some researchers have also theorized, but not yet fully studied, that there may be a link between excess calcium intake and overfeeding in puppyhood to dogs that develop brittle bones and bone cancers later in life.

    We recommend keeping Great Danes intact until 18-24 months, if possible, and feeding an appropriate large or giant breed puppy food with well-controlled calcium levels to dogs under the age of 2. Never feed any food with more than 1.2% calcium.

    Excess calcium is damaging to bones during growth, and damaged bones are more prone to disorders such as arthritis, bone cancer, and wobblers disease.

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    Cost of Great Dane Ear Crop

    Help Your Great Dane Live Longer by Reducing Stress

    Stress and anxiety are not healthy for humans or dogs.

    Studies show that increased levels of cortisol and adrenaline can contribute to a shorter life span by weakening the immune system and causing problems with the heart, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems.

    Dogs that are chronically stressed are going to be more susceptible to health problems of all kinds.

    Here are some signs that your dog is stressed or anxious:

    • Pacing, whining, crying
    • Destructive behavior
    • Drooling, panting
    • Ears pinned, hunched body language
    • Timid or fearful behaviors
    • Growling, nipping, and aggression
    • Depression

    Reduce your dogs stress by making sure you offer plenty of exercise and enrichment. This may mean changing your routine and habits to alleviate boredom and get your dog doing more.

    Our E-Collar training guide is a popular resource for helping anxious Great Danes get safely off-leash and exploring the world.

    You can also reduce stress by using enrichment toys such as the West Paw Toppl Toy. Stuff it with soaked kibble or canned food and freeze before serving.

    Talk to your veterinarian about supplements and calming care for dogs that are stressed by fireworks and loud noises, too. This calming probiotic may be an excellent choice for your dog.

    Work with a modern, positive balanced dog trainer on confidence building and socialization. A scent work class may be just the ticket!

    Avoid outdated training techniques (alpha/dominance, Cesar Milan, ‘police dog training’, etc.) which use a lot of intimidation and stress to shut behaviors down.

    12

    Final Tips to Extend a Great Danes Lifespan

    Here are a few final tips.

    See your veterinarian, regularly. Complete a full blood panel every year so that developing health problems (such as thyroid disease, liver and kidney problems, or diabetes) can be addressed early.

    Before surgery, pay the extra money for a full exam, blood work, and health screening.

    Keep your dog up to date on flea and tick prevention. Reactions to preventatives are typically minor and happen much less often than the rate at which dogs catch nasty diseases from parasites; you do not want to put a Dane through heartworm treatment!

    Have your dogs teeth cleaned by a veterinarian. Nasty teeth lead to pain, infections, and heart damage.

    Make sure your dog always has clean, fresh water available from a clean bowl (wash daily or as often as possible).

  • Bloat in Great Danes Research & the Resting After Meals Myth

    Bloat in Great Danes Research & the Resting After Meals Myth

    Bloat in Great Danes is deadly. It’s painful, dangerous, and as many as 1-in-4 Great Danes are likely to experience it in their lifetime.

    For decades now, people have cited that resting after meals would prevent bloat from happening.

    The occurrence of bloat in large and giant breed dogs has increased dramatically in the last decades, despite ‘resting after meals’ being cited as the most common preventative.

    I mean, I hate to say this…but it’s pretty clear here that resting after meals is not working.

    Not only that, but research has emerged which indicates that moderate movement after meals may actually help prevent Great Danes from developing bloat!

    In other words, have people had this all wrong? Have we actually been increasing our dogs risk of bloat by diligently resting them after meals?

    Oh…dear.

    Before we dig in, if you need a refresher on what bloat is in dogs, read HERE.

    bloat in great danes

    Does Resting After Meals Prevent Dog Stomach Bloat?

    We’ve been reading journals and publications for a while, and it’s actually fascinating to learn that there is absolutely NO research or science (that we’ve found) proving that resting after meals prevents bloat.

    As a matter of fact, I have yet to find anything that shows that it could even reduce the risk of bloat.

    Of course, if you google this, there are 100’s of blogs and social media posts, even from veterinarians, who say that large and giant breed dogs should always rest after meals.

    But none of it is backed by science, research, or data.

    It’s all anecdotal. Speculation.

    The Great Dane community has eaten this up, too. Some people are so dedicated to resting their dogs that they do so for an entire hour before meals and two hours after.

    Imagine the heartbreak when their dog experiences deadly bloat and torsion despite the caution that had been taken.

    It happens more often than you might think…

    14

    Should Great Danes Rest After Meals?

    We’re going to take a scientific, although controversial approach to this and make a statement that may rattle everything you think you know about keeping Great Danes safe from GDV bloat and torsion.

    The practice of resting dogs after meals to prevent bloat is hopelessly outdated and may actually contribute to higher bloat risk.

    A 2013 study, done as part of ongoing bloat research, found something alarming and interesting.

    Dogs that received moderate exercise (for example a walk or playtime) after eating were less likely to suffer from bloat!

    This is the exact opposite of what we’ve all been told for decades.

    Combing through the 2,551 questionnaire responses, what the researchers found is that moderate physical activity after eating, including playing with other dogs or “running the fence,” appears to reduce the chance for developing bloat by almost half.

    Tufts University Your Dog

    Read that again.

    Moderate exercise, including running the fence and playing, may reduce the chances of bloat by 50%!!!

    10 1

    Does Exercise Cause Bloat in Dogs?

    It’s been said for years that dogs who exercise on a full tummy can get bloat and end up at the veterinarian in dire straits. As we can see from the research, this issue isn’t quite so cut and dry.

    To further back up our claim that resting after meals is outdated and even wildly inaccurate advice, I’m looking towards another study that was done by Tufts University. (Remember, we like science here, not anecdotes).

    Several popular theories regarding bloat were not substantiated during the study. There was no correlation of bloat risk to exercise before or after eating, as most dogs bloated in the middle of the night with an empty, gas-filled stomach.

    Tufts University Bloat Research

    In other words, not only have they found that moderate exercise after eating can potentially cut bloat risk in half, they found that movement has no correlation to bloat occurring.

    Food and movement are not the enemy that they’ve been made out to be!

    16

    Common Sense for Bloat in Great Danes Prevention

    This is not to say that you should feed your Great Dane a big fat meal and send them off-leash on a wild adventure.

    Humans don’t like hard exercise on a super full stomach, either. Doing this can also stretch the hepatogastric ligament, which over time might increase bloat risk as a whole.

    Great Danes should never be fed single large meals. Smaller, more frequent meals are healthier.

    So let’s use some common sense here when it comes to bloat prevention in Great Danes and other large or giant breed dogs.

    Feed a normal sized meal (we recommend 2-3 meals each day) and then let your dog be a dog.

    Because bloat risk is affected by many factors, I’ll outline some other (science-backed) risk reduction techniques below.

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    How to Prevent Bloat in Great Danes

    Prevention is a misnomer. You cannot prevent it from occurring. You can, however, drastically reduce the chance that your Great Dane has bloat or dies from it.

    Bloat in Great Danes are influenced by three major factors: genetics, temperament, and gut health.

    All Great Danes are at risk. However, Great Danes with the highest risk of getting (and dying from) bloat include Danes that:

    • Have a 1st degree relative that got bloat
    • Are timid, unsure, flighty, aggressive, nippy, anxious, or unstable
    • Have poor gut health, including chronic loose stools or IBD
    • Are fed only a dry-kibble diet and no fresh or canned foods
    • Are fed a low quality kibble diet that does not contain rendered meat meal
    • Have DCM and/or are fed a diet that contains a lot of peas, garbanzo beans, lentils, potatoes, or chickpeas (which increases their risk of DCM and dramatically lowers the chance of successful outcomes)
    • Are fed from raised bowls (above mid-chest height)
    • Are fed single, large meals
    • Eat their food quickly
    • Have not had a Gastropexy

    If you want to reduce the chance that your dog bloats, go down the high-risk check list above and remove as many factors as possible. We’ll outline more of this below.

    27

    Bloat GDV Risk Reduction

    Let’s dig into this a little further!

    It’s critically important when purchasing a Great Dane puppy from a breeder that your breeder can prove that the pedigree is free of bloat, DCM, and unstable temperaments.

    Use modern training and socialization methods to help your dog develop a stable, friendly, and confident temperament. Work with a trainer if your dog experiences anxiety, fearfulness, or shows aggression. Our popular Great Dane early socialization guide can help!

    Talk to your veterinarian to address issues with gut health. There are many things that cause chronic loose stools in Great Danes including poor quality food, unbalanced nutrition, low fiber diets, adult foods fed to puppies, overfeeding, health problems, and parasites.

    Feed a dry kibble that contains rendered meat meal and balanced protein, fat, carb, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D ratios.

    Do not feed grain-free or poorly researched kibble foods from brands with a small market share.

    Add balanced canned, fresh, or raw food toppers to the kibble, and feed 2-3 small, stress-free meals each day.

    Remember to keep toppers balanced. If they cannot be served as a fully nutritious meal, they are considered treats and should be less than 5% of overall intake.

    Lastly, consider a preventative Gastropexy for your Great Dane. This simple procedure can help keep the stomach from flipping (also called torsion) and save your dogs life if bloat were to occur. Statistics show much better outcomes for dogs who have had a Gastropexy.

  • Why Does My Great Dane Look So Skinny?

    Why Does My Great Dane Look So Skinny?

    Does your Great Dane look so skinny that you are concerned he’s not eating enough? Were you expecting a giant, robust, beefy dog and ended up with a walking skeleton instead? A lot of people are concerned about their Great Danes’ weight and we’re here to clear up any myths and misconceptions.

    There are so many reasons for a Great Dane to appear skinny, and I’m going to cover them all. To get you started, here is a short list. I will go into more depth on this below:

    Reasons that your Great Dane may look underweight:

    • Genetics
    • Age
    • Nutrition
    • Lack of exercise
    • Early spay or neuter
    • Medical problems

    Chances are your Great Dane is not actually too thin!

    why does my great dane look so skinny

    Skinny Great Danes & Genetics

    Like humans, Great Danes can come in different body shapes.

    For information on the Great Dane breed standard, read HERE.

    It’s entirely possible that your Great Dane appears skinny to you because you were expecting a more stocky, mastiff-like dog, and that’s not the genetics your dog has.

    The Great Dane written standard in both the U.S. and Europe say that Danes should be balanced, powerful, muscular, and smooth. They should never be stocky or heavy.

    Read more about EURO Danes HERE.

    Some Great Danes are built like tanks, with a short stocky build.

    Other Great Danes are built more like greyhounds, and have a lean wirey build.

    Here is an illustration of the correct Great Dane body type. These dogs below are not stocky, nor are they greyhound like.

    If your Great Dane seems thin and lacks substance, it could just be genetics at play. Those genetics may also result in slow maturity; some Danes take years to reach their full potential, and patience is key.

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    Age and Weight in Great Danes

    Some Great Danes appear skinny because of their age.

    Puppies, especially intact males under the age of 2, are notoriously lean and lanky (read more about this in the nutrition section). Seeing a few ribs is normal and healthy.

    Older adult dogs may also begin to appear thin, as they lose muscle mass with age.

    One of the most common concerns we see from Great Dane owners is that their growing puppy looks too skinny.

    One of the worst things you can do in this case is to start adding fatty foods, toppers, and supplements. Do not “give your dog more groceries” in order to bulk them up or fill them out. This dangerous practice can lead to pancreatitis or obesity; neither are things that you want.

    For puppies, make sure you are feeding a correct diet and getting your pup moving freely on soft, varied terrain as much as possible so they can build muscle and tendon strength. For older dogs, the same thing applies.

    As always, talk to your veterinarian if you are worried that your dog is too thin. 99% of the time, you’ll learn that your dog is actually just fine!

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    A very lean, healthy intact male Dane around 14 months of age

    Nutrition for Great Danes

    Another reason you may find that your Great Dane is too skinny has to to with nutrition!

    Some formulas simply do not have the correct recipe that will allow your Great Dane to thrive. The information I’m about to share may surprise you!

    Great Dane puppies will be starved of certain nutrients if they are fed adult formulas that were not created to support large & giant breed Growth.

    It is not uncommon for us to see 6-12 month old Great Dane puppies, who were fed adult foods, that are incredibly lanky and unstable looking.

    These dogs will benefit from a properly formulated puppy food that will have the correct protein, fat, and carb ratio to promote muscle development, skin, heart, brain, eye, and bone health.

    It’s 2023, Here is Why Great Danes Should Have Puppy Food

    Great Dane Puppy Foods

    For adult dogs (24 months +) who seem to be struggling with muscle development, energy levels, skin and coat health, or structural stability, talk to your veterinarian.

    We recommend sticking to dog food brands that have board-certified veterinary nutritionists on staff, and that do a lot of peer-reviewed nutritional research.

    Here is our list of top-tier foods for Great Danes. Feed the puppy formulas until 18-24 months.

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    7 4

    Lack of Exercise & Great Danes Weight

    Great Danes were originally bred to hunt wild boar.

    They are meant to be a lean, graceful, athletic, and muscular breed.

    In other words, it’s not natural for Great Danes to get all or even most of their exercise from obedient leashed walks on pavement.

    Of course, all Great Danes should know how to walk politely on a leash.

    However, the most natural thing for a Great Dane is to be able to freely move on soft, varied terrain as often as possible. Off-leash activities such as exploring fields and trails are ideal for physical and mental health.

    Many Great Danes who appear thin and unstable simply lack muscle.

    If you are not able to get your dog moving safely (and legally) off-leash, we recommend a long biothane line clipped to an escape-proof martingale collar, and spending time together in an empty field!

    Teach a Great Dane to Recall with an E-Collar

    Off-Leash Training Guide for Great Danes

    You can also look into swimming. Many canine therapy and training, boarding, or sporting facilities have pools for dog swimming that can be rented by private users.

    Contrary to popular belief, Great Danes are not lazy dogs. They have an excellent off-switch and love the couch at home, but they should be robust and athletic otherwise.

    If your Dane is excessively lazy or docile, talk to your vet. They may be in pain, have a medical issue (see below), are depressed, are overweight, need better nutrition, require a nail trim, or have unstable structure that makes it difficult or even painful to move normally.

    12

    Early Spay & Neuter in Great Danes

    This is a big one. Many people are understandably confused about when to spay or neuter their Great Dane.

    Research on this topic is ongoing, and many veterinarians now believe that delayed spay and neuter is beneficial for joint development and stability.

    We believe that most Great Danes should remain intact until at least 18, if not 24 months.

    For starters, it’s not ideal to perform a gastropexy prior to 18 months of age (after the time when the dog is less likely to experience any more explosive growth spurts), and you generally want to perform the spay/neuter and gastropexy in the same surgery. So waiting has its benefits here, too.

    Second, studies have shown that large and giant breed dogs skeletal development could benefit from being kept intact through maturity. The benefits may include:

    • Lower risk of ACL / CCL tears and ruptures
    • Lower risk of developing hip dysplasia
    • Lower risk of developing certain cancers, including osteosarcoma
    • More stable structure overall

    If your Great Dane appears to lack bone, muscle, and substance, and seems unusually thin, lanky, and even a little too tall, early spay/neuter may have been a contributing factor.

    Of course, owning an intact giant-breed dog is a huge responsibility. Training, socialization, and management are key.

    If you cannot keep your Great Dane under control and on your property at all times, spay/neuter is recommended to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

    Screen Shot 2022 12 28 at 10.17.08 AM
    The Ideal Great Dane structure, from the GDCA Written Standard

    Great Dane too Skinny and Medical Problems

    Of course, all of the above reasons for your Great Dane looking too skinny mean nothing if the root cause is a medical problem.

    Here are some common medical reasons why your Great Dane may be struggling to gain or maintain weight.

    Talk to your veterinarian if you are worried about the health, weight, or wellness of your Great Dane.

    Common reasons for weight loss and skinniness in dogs:


    Of course, that list is not exhaustive. A veterinary checkup can address issues and get you on the path towards health with your Great Dane!

  • Dr. Judy Morgan, DCM and the FDA

    Dr. Judy Morgan, DCM and the FDA

    Those of you heavily invested in dogs (as we are) have probably heard about the FDA and DCM as it relates to grain-free dog foods and boutique (BEG) diets causing heart disease. You may also have heard a lot about Dr. Judy Morgan and want to know if she is a legitimate, trustworthy source of information.

    This topic is a HOT one and we’re coming in with all the tea. What prompted this post?

    Oh, just Dr. Judy Morgan (an influencer) posting something that was blatantly anti-science and having thousands of followers blindly follow her without any critical thinking.

    It’s been months since I wrote this post, and now Dr. Morgan has launched a profitable smear campaign against all dog kibble.

    Dr. Morgan is a controversial figure in the world of veterinary medicine, and if you follow her, or want to know if she’s a reliable source of information, this post is for you.

    10 1

    Is Dr. Judy Morgan a Legitimate Veterinarian?

    Dr. Judy Morgan is a licensed veterinarian in at least one state. From what we understand she no longer practices medicine the traditional way.

    U.S. law prohibits her from diagnosing and treating disease via telehealth or online consultations in most cases, so she generally sticks to ‘nutritional consultations’.

    On her website, Dr. Morgan highlights her certifications of unknown origin in chiropractic care, acupuncture, and food therapy, which are all offered with a “holistic” mindset.

    Dr. Morgan makes her money through affiliate links and speaking engagements, as well as by selling “holistic” supplements, food, recipes, books, and online nutrition courses.

    Despite claiming to be a nutrition expert, Dr. Morgan is NOT actually boarded in nutrition. That title is reserved for a select few veterinarians who complete a nutrition residency, pass rigorous exams and present legitimate nutrition research. She has done none of these things.

    www.acvn.org

    This wouldn’t normally be an issue, except that she promotes herself as a nutrition expert and goes on to actively denounce the opinions, studies, research, and mentoring provided by veterinary professionals with much more advanced credentials in nutrition than she has.

    3 1

    Dr. Morgan, Dr. Becker, and Holistic Pet Care

    You may have heard a few big names in the “holistic pet care” community. Dr. Morgan, Dr. Karen Becker, and Dr. Marty come to mind.

    What does the word “holistic” mean?

    “It is characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of an illness.”

    Holistic pet care, an approach that evaluates the animal’s whole body health, absolutely has a place. Most people use many “holistic” and whole-food approaches in their own home!

    For example, we address exhaustion by eating a healthier diet and nailing down the reasons for the anxiety that keeps us up at night. Or we might choose ibuprofen to tackle a severe headache, and chase it with lemon water to aid in digestive upset.

    We give our dogs Olewo carrots to help with loose stools and fish oil to help with coat and skin health.

    The idea of holistic pet care is a good one, actually a great one.
    The word “holistic”, however, has been bastardized.

    Through marketing, people have come to believe that something labeled as “holistic” is higher quality, better, healthier, and more natural.

    Where “holistic” fails is that it’s become associated with a lot of pseudoscience and misinformation.

    Being more “natural” isn’t necessarily a good thing. Arsenic is perfectly natural, for example.

    The “appeal to nature fallacy” is a great discussion on this very thing. (Read more about this topic HERE).

    Unfortunately, “holistic” is an unregulated term. There is no legal definition and therefore, any food brand, veterinarian, practice, or supplement can claim to be “holistic”, no matter what. This term is being abused.

    31

    Pseudoscience & Cherry Picking in Holistic Pet Care

    Here is where my concerns with celebrity Veterinarians such as Dr. Judy Morgan (and her “holistic” colleagues) come into play:

    They often denounce evidence-based medicine and nutrition information, discredit their peers, and re-frame official statements from the FDA.

    Doing so is VERY profitable for celebrity veterinarians! Click-bait style headlines drive engagement, traffic, and sales.

    Keep in mind that Dr. Judy Morgan’s end goal is profits: she wants followers to purchase her supplements, books, and recipes.

    That’s completely fair. We all want to make money by sharing our talents with the world. It is not to say that Dr. Morgan has never contributed valuable information and content. She has! I’m sure many people have learned valuable things that helped them with their pets.

    I believe it’s essential for us to scrutinize prominent influencers, however. When their views are perceived as controversial or deviate from the mainstream, it’s crucial to dig deeper and ask additional questions. Especially if their platform relies heavily on discrediting peers who hold a more popular, or science-backed opinion on something.

    9 1

    How are Pseudoscience and the FDA Reports on DCM Connected?

    To put this simply, Judy Morgan is a master at interpreting and presenting research, science, and official statements to suit her needs and the desires of her followers. This is a great talent to have, but also, a really good thing to keep in mind when assessing how media and content can be used to engage, mislead, inspire, or even manipulate us.

    Let’s explore this further. Grain-free diets and their potential link to Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) have become a contentious issue, sparking a debate between scientists and researchers on one side and the ‘holistic’ pet community on the other.

    In December 2022 the FDA released an updated statement on its page about dietary DCM in dogs.

    Dietary DCM is a complex issue, with multiple research studies having been developed to address concerns related to dogs developing heart disease on certain diets.

    Because researchers have yet to pin down the reasons why it happens, many people in the holistic pet community have promoted that it’s a hoax made up by big pet food companies.

    You can see the FDA DCM announcement page HERE.

    The statement reads:

    December 23, 2022: 

    “FDA does not intend to release further public updates until there is meaningful new scientific information to share. A count of reports of DCM in dogs submitted to FDA as of November 1, 2022, has been added to Questions & Answers: FDA’s Work on Potential Causes of Non-Hereditary DCM in Dogs. FDA has followed up on a subset of these reports, but is unable to investigate every report to verify or confirm the reported information. While adverse event numbers can be a potential signal of an issue with an FDA regulated product, by themselves, they do not supply sufficient data to establish a causal relationship with reported product(s). FDA continues to encourage research and collaboration by academia, veterinarians, and industry.“

    Let’s dig in, shall we?

    The scientific and critically curated summary of the FDA statement on DCM is as follows:

    • The FDA was unable to thoroughly investigate every report (of which there were many) submitted to them
    • Adverse event numbers such as the reports submitted above could signal a problem, however, that factor alone isn’t enough to definitively create a correlation between grain-free foods and DCM
    • The research related to this topic has been passed off to researchers to continue investigating (they are more qualified than the FDA)
    • Finally, the FDA will withhold further public updates until additional scientific information is available (further updates may be incoming in the future)

    On the flip side, Dr. Judy Morgan has interpreted the statement to say (paraphrased) that “the FDA called bullshit on the DCM/Grain-Free link, it doesn’t exist, it’s made up by “big dog food” to generate profits, and the discussion is over”.

    These deliberate wording choices are made to trigger emotions that breed suspicion, anxiety, conspiracy theories, and distrust. The resulting emotions and beliefs can be used to manipulate and leverage entire groups of people into believing something that has absolutely no scientific backing.

    She even goes on to say that “millions of pets were switched to poor quality pet food brands because big pet food companies used their influence on the FDA to make more money!“, a statement that has absolutely no proof behind it.

    (Have you heard about the wellness to QAnon pipeline? It fits into this discussion. If you want some more tea, dig in HERE)

    34

    DCM & Grain-Free Dog Food

    Now, if you aren’t up-and-up on the whole grain-free heart disease thing, this entire conversation may be a little confusing to you. So here is a summary:

    Around 2014, board-certified veterinary cardiologists (heart doctors) noticed an alarming trend. Dogs with no genetic link to DCM were turning up with heart disease. Since then, 100’s more reports have been filed, with new ones coming weekly.

    When they looked into this, most of the dogs with this disease (confirmed) had been eating boutique grain-free foods (which at the time were trending alongside boutique and “holistic” food options that were marketed as higher quality).

    In 2019 the FDA released a statement citing that a handful of brands were highly associated with this correlation. Those brands included foods by Fromm, Acana, Zignature, and 4Health.

    None of the implicated brands have a qualified person on staff to formulate the food they are selling.

    Following the release of that statement, pulse & legume growers (whose profits largely came from dog food brands like the ones listed in the report) went to bat. Financial motivations from these farmers (note, not big dog food!) began to complicate things.

    Despite this, multiple studies continued to show a correlation between nutrition and heart disease. However, the correlation, as it turns out, had little to do with a lack of grains or low taurine.

    It appeared to be related to pulse ingredients (peas, potatoes, legumes, chickpeas) and their use in formulation as a whole.

    In other words, it’s NOT grain-free that is the issue. Just as the FDA has said.

    If a dog food brand uses a lot of peas, potatoes, beans, and chickpeas in their food, whether the food has grain or not, they often effectively replace a lot of actual meat (and certain amino acids, which are necessary for heart health) with plants.

    Anybody who doesn’t think that’s a problem is fooling themselves.

    12 1

    Holistic Veterinarians and Ignoring the Science

    To date, multiple studies have shown that there is a link between poorly formulated foods and dogs developing heart disease. Veterinary Cardiologists also report positive outcomes for dogs with nutritional DCM, when they are switched to a properly formulated (and often grain-inclusive) diet.

    The most recent study (December, 2022), indicated that every single one of 23 dogs who were fed non-traditional diets (foods with a lot of peas, potatoes, or legumes) had changes to their heart muscle.

    Why is the holistic community, and influencers like Dr. Morgan ignoring the published research on this topic?

    We have questions about how the “holistic” community reconciles their deep concern about a potential conspiracy within “big dog food” while overlooking the fact that many of their favored “holistic” foods lack formulation oversight from individuals with veterinary or nutrition credentials.

    Those “better foods” are often co-packed in factories handling multiple brands. They aren’t better.

    What leads her to dismiss the existence or significance of the nutrition-DCM link, despite numerous confirmed diagnoses, while concurrently promoting the view that veterinary flea and tick preventatives are harmful and always toxic because a handful of dogs had a negative reaction?

    It’s confusing and alarming.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 8-1-1024x745.jpg

    One Simple Answer – Marketing Rules

    Dr. Judy Morgan operates by keeping people suspicious and full of anxiety about anything mainstream or evidence-based. Vaccines, flea and tick prevention, and pet food are all targets.

    It’s one thing to promote sea kelp (brown algae) for dental health (heck, my veterinarian promotes this and we use it in our home). This is a legitimate “holistic” whole food remedy that has science behind it.

    It’s another to cherry pick science and studies to intentionally drive mistrust for veterinary medicine and pet foods that are backed by dedicated teams of highly educated and experienced researchers and boarded nutritionists.

    If only Dr. Morgan could stick to selling science-backed supplements (including sea kelp) and balanced home dog food recipes.

    13 1

    More Information on DCM, Nutrition & Science-Backed Research

    Are you with us? Would you like to get away from pseudoscience?
    I will add to this list as more information becomes available:

    All Trades DVM Famous DCM Timeline

    Is the DCM Debate Over?

    Report Nutritional DCM to the FDA (yes, they are still accepting reports!)

    Comparison of Echocardiograms Between Dogs Fed Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Diets

    Veterinary Science and the FDA

    Tufts University Petfoodology

    https://skeptvet.com/Blog/

    https://nutritionrvn.com/

    Balance It (Balanced Home Cooked Diets Calculator)

    Holistic Veterinarians and Therapeutic Diets

    5 4

    Should I Feed My Dog Grain Free?

    Only you can decide.

    It makes no sense to feed dogs a diet that is comprised mostly of peas, potatoes, and legumes in place of meat.

    Unfortunately, most grain-free foods are loaded with those ingredients. If they aren’t loaded, they are also often from companies that don’t employ qualified staff to formulate the diet.

    We recommend feeding a large or giant breed dry diet from an established brand with a large market share such as Purina, Royal Canin, Hill’s, Iams, or Eukanuba and thoughtfully supplementing the diet with balanced fresh or canned foods to reduce the risk of bloat.

    Some extremely dedicated, educated owners who are working with veterinary nutritionists may also be interested in looking into fully home-cooked diets.

    6 1 20231129 211404 jpg

    Dr. Judy Morgan and the Purina Panic

    This paragraph is a new update to this post, as of January 2024.

    A now-debunked viral post on Facebook (December 2023) speculating that “toxic levels of metal” in Purina Pro Plan killed a dog became the kindling for what I call the “Purina Panic”.

    People who read that viral post shared it with commentary such as “See, I keep telling you Purina is bad, when will you listen?”

    The fire grew. As people read it, they began to be concerned that their pet’s health problems were caused by Purina, so they shared their story.

    Vomiting? Purina.

    Diarrhea? Purina.

    Bad dreams? Purina

    Weakness? Purina

    You get the idea. A Facebook group, with Dr. Judy Morgan as an administrator and “veterinary expert” became a hub for this activity. The group exploded almost overnight, with thousands of people joining to blame their pet’s random health problems on Purina.

    Some dogs had died of Parvo. Their deaths were blamed on Purina, and Dr. Morgan and her loyal advocates were there to swoop in and provide the solution. Seizures are a common genetic disorder, but Purina is taking the blame.

    Conveniently, all members need to do is visit Dr. Morgans’s website for courses and supplements to detox their pets.

    The group is convinced that a “recall is coming” and claims that thousands of dogs have definitively been harmed or killed by Purina pet foods. Meanwhile, the group leadership is discouraging people from sharing their pet’s medical records with the FDA or with Purina and has told them not to get the food tested, either.

    I’m going to make a controversial statement here. This anti-Purina rhetoric is nothing more than profit-driven fear-mongering, and the activity of the group promoting the panic is scarily suspicious of cult behavior.

    I have many thoughts on the topics of social panic and cult-like behavior, which I cover more in-depth in our new blog post “Is Purina Making Sogs Sick”. You can read that HERE.

    I suppose I haven’t truly summarized why Dr. Morgan is so concerning to the pet community, but if you’ve made it this far into my post, please leave a comment! We’d love to hear from you, no matter which side of the fence you stand on. Unlike the Purina Panic group, we don’t shut down our critics. All we ask is that you bring critical thinking and an open mind to the table.

    Cheers!

  • Homemade Dog Food for Great Danes

    Homemade Dog Food for Great Danes

    Embarking on the journey of preparing homemade dog food for Great Danes can be a well-intentioned endeavor, driven by the desire to offer these magnificent animals a nutritious whole-foods diet tailored to their specific needs.

    While the idea of creating wholesome meals at home may seem appealing, it’s crucial to approach it with caution. I cannot state this enough; homemade food for dogs has it’s benefits but it’s very easy to get wrong.

    Great Danes, due to their large size and rapid growth, have specific nutritional requirements that can be challenging to meet consistently through homemade recipes. Achieving the right balance of essential nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and protein in the correct proportions is crucial for their bone and muscle development and health.

    We’re going to deep-dive into giant breed nutrition and homemade dog food! Here is a summary of what to expect in this article:

    • The benefits of fresh food for Great Danes
    • Homemade dog food recipes
    • How to balance homemade dog food
    • The problems with making your own dog food at home
    • How to choose a nutritious kibble
    13

    The Benefits of Fresh Food for Dogs

    There are many bloggers and influencers who claim incredible benefits associated with fresh home cooked food for Great Danes and other dogs. Yes, there are some fresh food benefits that are backed by clinical research!

    Unfortunately, however, many of these benefits are overstated. Some people who promote them might encourage you to ignore veterinary advice including recommended medications, treatments, and foods (uh, yikes).

    They might even tell you that fresh foods can:

    • Reduce, cure, or even prevent cancer
    • Cure allergies and skin conditions
    • Extend lifespan
    • Provide a shiny coat and more energy
    • Reduce or eliminate the need for medications and treatments
    • Prevent or even treat parasites and worms without the need for veterinary preventatives

    Of course, some of these things all sound amazing. But tread cautiously: extreme claims tend to be based on anecdotes or pseudoscience, and are often presented as a means to drive clicks and revenue.

    Be smart about it.

    That caveat out of the way, of course there are some legitimate benefits to feeding a home cooked diet to your Great Dane, especially if they suffer from food allergies or certain health conditions!

    Knowing exactly what goes into your dogs food is one of the key benefits of cooking your pet’s food.

    One study found that fresh foods, added to a dry kibble diet, helped reduce the risk of bloat in Great Danes. That is a huge benefit and the main reason for this article today!

    But, you have to do this right. Let’s head to the kitchen….

    27

    Home Cooked Diets for Dogs Study

    Before you start cooking up some ground beef, rice, and veggies, you should be aware of a major study that was done at U.C. Davis.

    They tested 200 homemade dog food recipes from bloggers, Pinterest, veterinarians, and board certified veterinary nutritionists.

    The study found that 191 out of the 200 homemade dog food recipes tested were deficient or in excess of at least one nutrient.

    What does this mean for you as a well-meaning pet parent? It means that you should be very, very cautious about making dog food up in your home kitchen, especially when using recipes from dog owners, influencers, bloggers, books, and Pinterest.

    Nutritional deficiencies are dangerous for a number of reasons! Without the correct balance of amino acids and nutrition, you’d basically be starving your pup to death without knowing it.

    Excess nutrients can actually be toxic, too. Vitamin D and copper are commonly seen in high amounts in poorly balanced homemade dog food recipes.

    To put this simply: a crock pot full of meat, rice, and veggies is not a balanced diet. In feeding something like that, you may actually be doing more harm than good.

    16 1

    How to Balance Home-Cooked Dog Food

    This doesn’t mean that all homemade dog foods are bad!

    As a matter of fact, Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists have responded to this by creating an incredibly useful tool called BALANCE IT.

    You simply plug in the ingredients that you wish to include, and it tells you how much of each to add to your recipe as well as what supplements are needed to make it nutritionally complete.

    VIEW THE BALANCE IT WEBSITE HERE

    For fun, I plugged a popular Great Dane dog food recipe of meat, veggies, and rice.

    Balance It replaced the rice with millet and also told me it still had 15 nutrient deficiencies, unless I added a recommended supplement powder. This is because it’s incredibly difficult to reliably get all of the necessary nutrients into the recipe.

    BalanceIT.com 3

    Nutrient Deficiencies in Homemade Dog Food

    15 nutrient deficiencies is not something to mess around with. If your dog food is not correctly balanced, it can lead to some serious health problems.

    These health problems include:


    Most, if not all popular recipes online are deficient without supplementation; and you can’t just throw a random multivitamin at the problem.

    A tool such as Balance It can help resolve this issue. They will move ingredients around and then recommend the exact portion of specific vitamin and mineral supplement to add.

    Dr. Judy Morgan’s homemade “Pup Loaf” is a popular and common dog food recipe. However, Balance IT was unable to resolve the deficiencies in the formula without significant changes. The system even said that some ingredients could result in dangerously high levels of certain nutrients and even…toxicity.

    2 1

    How to Create a Dog Food Recipe From Scratch

    If you are still interested in moving forward with home cooking for your dog, the Balance It tool and/or working with a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist is the only way to do this safely.

    Tread cautiously with self-made “nutritionists” and Canine or Pet “food and nutrition experts”. Unless they have a veterinary degree and are boarded in nutrition, they aren’t qualified.

    Here are a few additional tips:

    • Visit www.petdiets.com and find a veterinary nutrition expert to help you
    • Work with ingredients that are readily available to you
    • Once you have a recipe dialed in, be careful with substitutes as they can throw off the entire balance of the food
    • Follow the directions given to you in your Balance IT recipe as closely as possible
    • Run your recipe through Balance It on occasion, as updates in nutrition science may change the algorithm that is used by their system
    • Use one of the pre-made recipes on Balance It to get started
    • Follow the directions given to you by Balance It for your recipe regarding how much homemade dog food to feed: every recipe you make will be different!
    • See your veterinarian regularly; they spent nearly a decade in school learning how to keep your pet as healthy as possible

    NOTE: what BALANCE IT does not do is differentiate between puppies, adults, and large or giant breed dogs. For this reason, we recommend speaking with your veterinarian or a DACVN as well as diligently reading the nutrient analysis of the recipe you create.

    Especially if you are feeding a Great Dane puppy (more on this below)!

    19

    Homemade Food For a Great Dane 101

    I would not recommend feeding a home cooked diet to a Great Dane under the age of 12-18 months, especially if you are not being diligent about formulation.

    Giant breed puppies have very particular nutritional needs, and unless you are working directly with a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist, I would steer clear.

    For Great Dane puppy food advice, read HERE.

    Once your dog is more mature, and you’ve chosen to start feeding some fresh foods, we recommend topping a balanced kibble with balanced fresh.

    One study showed that dogs fed a dry-only diet had a higher risk of bloat, and that adding fresh and canned foods to the diet reduced the risk of bloat.

    This is where making your own dog food will shine.

    I recommend topping your dog’s kibble with fresh, canned, or raw food IF that food is completely balanced according to the BALANCE IT tool.

    Make sure that you reduce your kibble to account for the extra calories from the topper. Use calories to calculate the reduction, as cup-for-cup the values may be very different.

    5

    Kibble vs. Fresh Food for Great Danes

    Formulating your own dog food at home can be rewarding and incredibly helpful for dogs that just don’t do well on commercial foods.

    However, as you may have noticed, it’s not exactly a cake walk. A misstep could cost your dog its life and health.

    It’s important to note that kibble-fed dogs are living long, healthy lives. Properly formulated kibble is safe and healthy. Switching entirely to fresh foods may provide some minor benefits, but for most dog owners, the risk of formulation issues isn’t worth the reward.

    I personally feed my dogs a kibble diet (Pro Plan Large Breed and Royal Canin Giant Breed) and top their food with canned, fresh, and raw options.

    They thrive on a 90/10 ratio, which is recommended by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists:

    90% complete and balanced kibble

    10% balanced fresh or canned including unbalanced treats, toppers, and dental chews

    Sometimes I offer up to 40% balanced fresh foods in lieu of kibble.

    The key here is BALANCE. Balanced nutrients and educated feeding.

    20 1

    Homemade Food for Great Dane Puppies

    I have mentioned this above, but felt that this topic was worth it’s own heading.

    Homemade food for Great Dane puppies is rarely if ever recommended. This is because they need exact levels of calcium and phosphorus, plus the correct balance of amino acids, proteins, carbs, and fats.

    Lacking this balance, Dane pups can suffer from knuckling, painful inflammation, hip dysplasia, flat feet, poor conformation, and poor development of brain, eyes, tendons, and muscle.

    We promise, the ‘benefits’ of fresh homemade dog food are massively overstated in this case especially, and you would be smart to stick to a properly formulated large or giant breed puppy food from a reputable company.

    Here is our list of quality, approved Great Dane puppy foods. Feed these until 18-24 months of age. If you want to add fresh foods, remember to keep it balanced and reduce kibble intake accordingly, beginning no sooner than 6-8 months of age.

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

  • Can Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food? The Scary Truth of Feeding a Great Dane Puppy

    Can Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food? The Scary Truth of Feeding a Great Dane Puppy

    Feeding Great Dane puppies is no easy task. They eat a lot, and there is a ton of misinformation and outdated advice out there about what to feed them!

    Great Dane puppy owners are bombarded with a million ideas of what is ‘best’ for growing Great Dane puppies.

    Home cooked diets, raw diets, grain free food, or even adult dog food…. What the heck SHOULD your Great Dane puppy eat?

    We’re digging into the science of Great Dane puppy nutrition and bringing you current advice about feeding puppy vs. adult food to your puppy.

    1. Why feeding adult food to Great Dane puppies is an outdated practice
    2. How to choose the right food for your Great Dane
    3. The research behind pet nutrition
    1 2

    Should Great Dane Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food?

    We’ve all heard it.

    You’re minding your own business in the Great Dane facebook group, chatting happily with other loving pet owners, sharing cute pictures and talking about your love of large breed dogs when someone decides to talk with you about your puppy’s diet.

    “Never feed puppy food!”

    “Feed low protein adult food ONLY”

    “Puppy food causes knuckling”

    …If you’ve heard dog owners give this speech about your large breed dog-

    they….

    are…

    wrong…

    Large Breed Puppies and Science Development

    Historically, (think 15+ years ago) dog food brands were lacking in their research on large breed puppy food.

    In result, giant breed dogs were typically fed adult food rather than the puppy food brands on the market, which were unsuitable for growing giant breeds.

    In other words, those who had to feed a Great Dane puppy historically were ‘stuck’ without giant breed specific formulas, and thus resorted to feeding their dane puppies adult food in order to get as close as possible to the nutrient requirements for growing Great Danes.

    Giant Breed Puppies Suffer When Great Dane Owners Don’t Know How to Feed a Growing Large Breed

    Sadly, many Great Dane puppies are experiencing the consequences of outdated advice to feed them “adult only” dog food. These pups tend to be lanky and suffer from chronic loose stools due to overeating in an attempt to make up for nutritional deficiencies – resulting in a lack of proper muscle development.

    But…..

    But, in more recent years, there have been an incredible advancement in the research and development of large breed puppy food.

    As a result, there are now numerous dog food brands (especially science-based and veterinarian formulated kibble brands) that are offering formulas specifically designed for giant breeds.

    These formulations contain the right balance of protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus to promote controlled growth rates in Great Dane puppies.

    So……

    So, when you hear someone tell you to feed your Great Dane puppy adult dog food, keep in mind that this is an outdated way of thinking.

    If you are looking for the best food for your Great Dane puppy, there are many options on the market specifically designed to meet the needs of giant breed puppies.

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    Great Dane Breeders

    Many large breed breeders who have been producing dane puppies for generations are ‘stuck’ in a mindset of feeding Great Dane puppies adult dog food due to the lack of them keeping up with the research in large breed puppy diets.

    If you are buying a Great Dane puppy from an experienced breeder, they should suggest you feed a large breed puppy food, and explain why.

    If they don’t- you may want to reconsider the breeder you are considering and look for someone who is more up-to-date on nutrition and breeding large breed puppies responsibly.

    Giant Breeds, Great Danes and Their Unique Need for Large Breed Food

    Great Dane pups need Great Dane puppy food! Do not feed your Great Dane pup adult food.

    With its impressive size, Great Dane puppies require special nourishment to reach their full potential – feed them a large or giant breed puppy food until they turn 18-24 months old and watch as they grow into magnificent adult dogs!

    Here are our favorites:

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    Giant Breed Growth: Why It Matters to Feed Great Dane Puppy Food

    It matters that you, as your Great Dane puppy’s guardian, are aware of the importance of feeding a large breed puppy food.

    This type of kibble is formulated to provide the proper levels of calcium and phosphorus for controlled growth, as well as adequate protein and fat levels for muscle development.

    Feeding your Great Dane puppy adult dog food will cause them a lack of important nutrients, leading to health complications as an adult due to their fast rate of growth.

    By making sure your Great Dane pup is getting the right nutrition from the start, you will be helping them grow into a healthy and happy dog in adulthood.

    What to Look For in a Great Dane Puppy Food

    AAFCO

    AAFCO is a term you’ll see on your bag of puppy food- this stands for the Association of American Feed Control Officials. This organization sets standards and regulations for pet food in the US, so a bag with an AAFCO stamp will ensure that the product is safe and balanced to feed your pup.

    Having an ‘AAFCO approved’ label is not enough to ensure your pup’s food has everything they need. Modern puppy formulas are extra special; with nutrients that have been carefully crafted to promote even bone and joint development, as well as improved muscle tone, vision health, gut function and mental clarity!

    Having said that, by seeing the AAFCO statement, you can discover key insights on a dog food label that will help determine if it meets your pup’s nutritional needs.

    Feed a Great Dane Quality Proteins

    High-quality proteins should come from animal sources like chicken, beef or salmon meal.

    Despite misconceptions, Great Danes need more protein in their diets than one might think! A lack of sufficient levels of this essential nutrient can put a damper on muscle growth and energy output. A common myth in the Great Dane world is that Great Danes will wither or knuckle on a diet that has too much protein. This is false!

    Fats

    Fats are necessary for brain development in puppies, so make sure the food also contains high-quality fats.

    Omega fatty acids and other antioxidants will help ensure optimum health for your giant puppy as he grows into an adult Great Dane.

    Feeding the correct diet to your Great Dane puppy is one of the most important decisions you can make for their long-term health and wellbeing.

    Here is the list of best puppy food for Great Danes:

    Home Cooking

    Home cooking meals for your dog means taking ‘human grade’ food such as fresh meat, vegetables and grains then preparing them in a way that your pup will be able to digest.

    This is an excellent option for people who want to ensure their pet is eating only wholesome ingredients and foods that are tailored to their individual needs. It does however require some research and education on the part of the owner, as meals can VERY EASILY become unbalanced. We do NOT support home cooking unless you are working with a board certified veterinary nutritionist.

    Finding a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist

    All canine nutritionist are not made equal. An inexperienced nutritionist may give advice that is not balanced or appropriate for your pet. To ensure you are getting the best help possible, it is strongly recommended to search for a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DACVN).

    A veterinary nutritionist has specific expertise in canine nutrition and will be able to make dietary recommendations tailored to your individual dog’s needs.

    When selecting a food for your Great Dane it is important to review the nutritional information on the label, speak with your veterinarian and/or board certified veterinary nutritionist, and consider the reviews of other owners who have used the same product with their large breed pup. With so much choice available it can be difficult to know what is best for your Great Dane, but a good quality food that provides optimum nutrition will be worth the time and effort!

    The right diet for your Great Dane puppy is essential for their long-term health. Feeding them with a high-quality large breed puppy formula with plenty of protein, carbohydrates, fats and minerals.

    Red Flags to Look for When Feeding Your Great Dane Puppy

    Being aware of red flags when feeding your Great Dane puppy can be the difference between a healthy, happy pup and one that experiences health issues.

    Food For ‘Adult Maintenance’ Does Not Work for Great Danes

    Two decades ago, Great Dane puppies faced a unique challenge – finding the right food to ensure they stayed healthy and strong. Fortunately today, there is an expansive range of special formulas that make sure these pooches get all the nutrients needed for optimal growth!

    With today’s incredible progress in nutrition, puppy food is specially designed to support a pup’s growth and nourish them from head-to-tail! It helps promote healthy bones & joints as well as muscle strength, vision, digestive system development and cognitive capacity.

    Companies That Tell You “Meat Meals are Evil”

    Companies that tell you that meat meal is evil are often wrong. Meat meal can be an excellent source of protein and other vitamins & minerals that are perfect for your Great Dane puppy’s growth.

    Meat meal, after all, contains significantly less water and therefore animal protein than fresh meat and is cooked & dehydrated which increases the concentration of nutrients. In general, high-quality meat meals contain more protein compared to fresh meats, as well as higher concentrations of other micronutrients like iron and zinc.

    MEAT MEAL + MEAT BY-PRODUCT MEAL TO REDUCE BLOAT

    Meat meals are a nutrient-dense, high-protein, dehydrated form of organ meats and muscle, skin, and cartilage tissue that has been shown in studies to reduce the risk of bloat.

    Bloat is a common problem with Great Danes, and when fed the right kind of meat meal blend, it can help reduce the risk. Meat meals such as chicken meal, lamb meal or turkey meal are often combined with meat by-product meals to provide your pup with a nutritious and balanced diet that will keep them healthy and strong for years to come.

    By-Products are a key to keeping your Great Dane healthy and energized! These often misunderstood ingredients, such as liver, bone marrow & cartilage actually provide essential nutrition like protein and minerals. So don’t hesitate: add some by product meal into the mix next time you feed Fido – it’s one of the healthiest gifts you can give them!

    When it comes to keeping your pup at its peak health, animal byproducts provide the perfect nutritional balance. Moreover, going beyond just parts of an animal and utilizing all sources available is a forward-thinking approach that shows care for our ethical values, financial wallets as well as environmental impact.

    Plain meats such as chicken might not provide the same nutritional benefit you would expect. After all, it’s mostly water! To truly receive optimal nutrition for your pet, consider going with meat meals instead – they are much richer in essential vitamins and minerals than muscle meat is.

    Pet parents everywhere are being duped by deceptive marketing of ‘fresh meat in kibble’, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Let’s upgrade the pet food story and give our furry friends better nutrition!

    Ingredient Splitting

    Big brands are getting crafty when it comes to disguising unhealthy ingredients in their products. Through ingenious ingredient splitting, they can sneak additives past unsuspecting consumers – even though these substances may be detrimental both health-wise and financially. Be sure to read labels carefully!

    What’s in our pet’s food? The ingredients list can give us a glimpse into how nutritious the dish is. Fresh meat may be deemed high quality, but once water evaporates during production of kibble there isn’t much left – simply an illusion to its original state!

    Despite their flashy appearance, consumers should be wary of foods with ingredients like spinach and blueberries – they may just be marketed as a healthier alternative to real meats that truly contain the necessary proteins.

    Read more here.

    The Food is Not Formulated by a Professional

    Exciting news for owners of large-breed puppies! Companies like Purina, Hill’s and Royal Canin have dedicated resources to uncover the nutritional needs required by giant pooches such as mastiffs and Great Danes. Soon these canine specialists may be able to provide tailored nutrition plans that will help ensure healthy growth – no matter how big your pup is!

    Grain Free Dog Food

    Should you feed your dog grain free dog food?

    Many dogs know nothing better than the delicious crunch of kibbles, providing them with tasty sustenance day in and day out!

    Every pup knows their daily dose of kibble to stay nourished, but its crunchy goodness doesn’t last long without an additional starch! Grain-inclusive varieties provide the perfect combination; keep your furry friend’s diet complete and healthy with a hearty helping of starches like rice or oats.

    And, without an added starch, the kibble would fall apart!

    However, some (most/all) companies are using an alternative ‘binder’ in their grain free formulas: peas and lentils. This poses a MASSIVE issue.

    Grain Free and DCM (Heart Disease)

    Many wonder if grain free dog food causes DCM in dogs.

    Well, a study released in December of 2022 states that diet is indeed a risk factor for canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). So, if your pup is on a grain free diet, you should consult with your vet to consider changing their food regimen.

    But- it’s not because of the lack of grain!

    Believe it or not, some of the food you may be feeding your beloved four-legged companion could potentially put them at risk for developing heart disease.

    What to Avoid

    Pulse ingredients may include:

    • Peas
    • Garbanzo beans/chickpeas
    • Lentils
    • Potatoes
    • Sweet potatoes
    • Beans

    The Calcium and Phosphorus Ratio is Not Appropriate for Great Dane Feeding

    Not all dog breeds require an exact ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the same way that Great Danes do.

    Too much or an uneven balance of Calcium and Phosphorus can cause serious health issues in our four-legged friends, ranging from trembling to bone diseases. This can lead to them being unable to walk properly or have weakened bones – ouch! Keep these vital nutrients balanced for your pet’s wellbeing.

    Recalls

    Most people wither and fear the dreaded recall.

    But are recalls really that bad?

    A recall means that a product has been identified as potentially harmful to your pet. It is important that you check with the manufacturer regularly and be aware of any recalls for the products you are feeding your pup!

    It is also essential to stop using a food immediately if it has been recalled. Even if your dog hasn’t displayed any symptoms, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

    An Ethical Brand Will Recall Their Food

    The truth of the matter is all brands will have bad batches of food.

    However, which brands choose to inform you of those bad batches is the difference between an ethical and an unethical brand.

    An ethical pet food company will issue a recall as soon as they are aware of any potential problems with their products, as well as provide assistance to anyone who has been affected. They understand the importance of maintaining their customer’s trust and strive to do right by them every time.

    It is alarming to discover brands that refuse to recall their foods from consumers, even after becoming aware of harmful outbreaks.

    Darwins Refuses to Recall Their Pet Food After Salmonella Outbreak

    Victor Foods Unprecedented Recall

    FEEDING A GREAT DANE PUPPY

    Feeding a Great Dane consists of finding a high quality puppy food, becoming knowledgeable on puppy foods, and speaking with your vet about all their is to know about large breeds and their needs.

    Feeding your Great Dane does not need to be a difficult task. With the right knowledge and understanding, you can provide your pup with a nutritious diet that will keep them healthy and happy for years to come!

    It is important to ensure your dog’s food is being sourced from an ethical brand, as well as being aware of any potential recalls which could pose a risk to your pet’s health. Additionally, it is essential to maintain an appropriate calcium and phosphorus ratio in order to avoid any negative health consequences.

    By doing your research and following the guidelines set by experts, you can rest assured that your pup’s diet will be tailored to their needs!

    It is also important to remember that not all grain free diets are bad for your pup, but it is essential to do your research and understand the ingredients. Additionally, it is important to check in with your vet about any potential dietary changes for your pet- especially if they are at risk of developing DCM.

    Let us know in the comments what you feed your Great Dane puppy!

    READ MORE:

    New Great Dane Puppy? This Guide is For You!
    Blue Great Danes – Facts, Photos, and Care
    The Best Collars for Great Danes
    Great Dane Puppy Food
    Great Dane Farts: The Funniest Collection of Photos and Videos on the Internet
    Great Dane Not Eating – What to Do