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
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….
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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)!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is your Great Dane marking in the house!? This nasty little habit can be a major headache for family life and the cleanliness of your home. It’s time to dig in and learn about why dogs mark things, and how to stop a Great Dane from marking in your home!
Why Do Dogs Mark Things?
All dogs (male or female, spayed or neutered) can and will urine mark things. There are several reasons for leg lifting, including:
Scent marking
Dogs on a walk will often lift their leg on things as they sniff around. In doing so, they are able to leave their scent, too. This tells other dogs that they were there.
Ownership & Territorial marking
This occurs when the dog wants to mark an area they deem to be theirs. This can be a common issue when moving to a new home, or if a dog feels the need to mark a boundary (for example a couch, bed, fence line, or exterior wall of a home) to warn others (neighbor dogs, other pet dogs, or otherwise) that they live there.
Hormones
Intact male dogs in particular are susceptible to hormone-induced urine marking. If a female is in heat nearby, he may become distressed and territorial, and begin to mark things that he normally would have have before.
Poor Cleanliness
Many dogs will mark (or urinate) over areas that were previously soiled by themselves or another dog. We cover how to clean up indoor urine marking stains below!
Stress& Boredom
Stressed and anxious dogs are more likely to urine mark, as it may be a form of stress relief. This is especially true if they are not receiving enough mental, physical, and emotional enrichment.
Medical Reasons
Dogs with a UTI, kidney or bladder stones, thyroid disease, diabetes, or otherwise may be likely to urinate or mark indoors.
If your dog started marking indoors and never did before, a visit with the veterinarian may be helpful to rule out medical causes.
How to Stop a Great Dane from Marking
After you see a veterinarian to rule out infections and other health problems that can lead to poor indoor potty habits, it’s time to buckle down on training.
Here is a quick, simple guide to follow:
Step One: Clean up the mess
We’re covering this below!
Step Two: Supervise
A dog that marks in the home is a dog that has lost the privilege of freedom. Supervise your dog at all times, even if that means using a crate or tethering the dog to you while you sort out the behavior.
With strict supervision, you can prevent the behavior and that is a key step in eliminating it.
Step Three: Address the Root Cause
If your male is marking in the house because there is an intact female nearby, it’s likely that the behavior will go away once the females heat passes. Neutering can also help with this particular cause.
If your dog is anxious, bored, or frustrated, add mental enrichment!
If the scent from marking remains in your carpet or furniture, you need to follow our diligent cleaning protocol (included below).
Step Four: Retrain
It may feel frustrating to have to do this, but go back to potty training 101.
Fill your pocket with treats, prevent mistakes, and go outside often. When your dog marks or pees outdoors, immediately praise and treat.
For a potty-trained dog older than 7-8 months (when sexual maturity begins), it’s also ok to correct a marking behavior if you witness it happen indoors. You MUST catch your dog in the act to issue an appropriate correction. I like a sharp ‘AH-AH’ followed by immediately taking the dog outside.
Belly Bands that Fit Great Danes
Some people try to find belly bands for their Great Dane that marks in the house.
Belly bands can be a helpful tool for intact males that may be marking for hormonal reasons, however, in general, we don’t consider them a healthy tool to rely on every day of the year. Urine being held against the skin as well as rubbing from the elastic can cause irritation.
They must be changed often, and nothing replaces diligent supervision and training to eliminate the marking behavior. However, if you are looking for belly bands that fit Great Danes, there are some fantastic options on Amazon!
PRO TIP: If you want them to last longer in between washes, you can easily line them with human sanitary pads.
How to Clean Pee From Carpet & Couches
This is a quick version of my popular and insanely effective method for cleaning up urine and marking stains from your home.
Step One: Remove Liquids
Use paper towels or microfiber to remove as much of the liquid as possible. The more you can get out, the better. On carpet, you can lay down towels and then put something heavy on top of them to help with moisturewicking.
Step Two: Rinse Rinse Rinse
Use a quality carpet shampooer and hot water to rinse the affected area as much as possible. The goal here is to remove as much of the stain as you can.
Do NOT use carpet cleaning solution, vinegar, baking soda, or any kind of soap. All this will do is minimize the effectiveness of the enzyme cleaner in the next step.
Once the area is as clean as you can possibly get it (having used nothing more than water), you want to lightly saturate (not dripping, but not dry) the area with one of my favorite enzyme cleaners.
I have personally tested and used both of these with exceptional result. They work much better than Nature’s Miracle and similar formulas.
Enzyme cleaners work to eliminate urine stains by attacking the proteins that cause the smell. These cleaners become much less effective if a lot of soaps and shampoos were used in the previous step!
The idea that dogs urine mark out of spite is actually incorrect.
A dog that pees in the house out of spite or anger is actually acting on insecurity.
If there is stress in your home, shouting, yelling, harsh training, stomping, or general anxiety, a dog may pee or mark in areas that they normally. This behavior is actually caused by fear.
Many people mistake this act as deliberate; however, dogs don’t actually have the mental capacity (ie, they don’t have the part of the brain necessary for this) to harbor ill-will, resentment, and spite.
They cannot draw a conclusion from point A to point B that peeing on something will make you angry and ‘get you back’ for something that you did to them.
Not only that, but dogs in general actively seek to avoid conflict. This is a basic principle of survival. It makes no sense for a dog to purposefully anger somebody when in doing so, it may put themselves in harms way.
Does your Great Dane mark in the house? Share your story below!
I’m going to jump straight into the deep end with this one. Should Great Danes have puppy food?
Yes. Without a question.
This answer may surprise you! Today I’m going to dig into the science of giant-breed nutrition and bust some pet food myths (that just won’t die) in the Great Dane community.
Great Dane puppies should be fed a large or giant breed puppy food until 18-24 months of age.
Ready to understand why? Let’s dig in!
Problematic Great Dane Nutrition Advice
Visit just about any Great Dane community on Facebook and ask what to feed a Great Dane puppy, then prepare to be overwhelmed.
People are actually very passionate about this issue! Here are some common responses:
“NO PUPPY FOOD!”
“My vet said to feed puppy food, not adult”
“Ask your breeder, not your veterinarian”
“Protein levels must be below 24%”
“Puppy food is bad! Never feed puppy food!”
“Adult food is for adults, not puppies. Feed puppy food”
“Great Danes are giant breed dogs, not large breed dogs, they must have adult food”
“I just feed my Danes fresh meat, they used to be wolves, kibble is trash!”
So on, and so forth. The “no puppy food ever” people tend to be particularly emphatic.
This kind of information can be confusing to Great Dane owners, especially because so much of it is in direct contradiction to itself. What a headache!
Why Should Great Danes Have Puppy Food
We believe that all of this back and forth is unnecessary and harmful to Great Danes. It is 2022 (actually, almost 2023 as of this writing) and we have much better options when it comes to feeding giant breed puppies than we did even just 15 years ago.
A small handful of dog food companies (Purina, Hill’s, and Royal Canin in particular) have dedicated some legitimate resources towards understanding large and giant breed puppy growth.
20 years ago, “All Life Stages” (and in some cases, adult formulas) were actually among the only safe options for feeding Great Dane puppies.
These days we have some incredible options in puppy foods that were designed to support slow, even bone and joint growth in addition to muscle, tendon, eye, gut, and brain health.
I’m going to dig into this more below, but here is our list of approved Great Dane puppy foods:
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
The Problem with Adult Food for Great Dane Puppies
The reason adult foods were considered the ‘gold standard’ for so long is because anecdotally, breeders noticed that their puppies had fewer growth problems (such as knuckling) when being fed adult foods.
In general, adult foods tend to have lower protein, fat, and calories per cup than many puppy foods, and thus, kept Great Dane puppies from growing too quickly.
To put it simply, the intent behind feeding adult food to Great Dane puppies was to starve them of nutrition. In doing so, they could better control growth rates.
The thing is, we don’t have to do this anymore. Some puppy foods have been reformulated and designed specifically to support large and giant breed growth. They have the correct protein/fat/amino acid/nutrient levels and balanced calcium/phosphorus.
People who hold onto this old idea about only feeding adult foods to Great Dane puppies are deliberately ignoring the current science and research on this topic.
Why are Puppy Foods Good for Great Danes?
Unlike comparable adult formulas, well-researched puppy foods from Purina, Hill’s, Eukanuba, or Royal Canin have been designed specifically for this.
Adult foods work in a way by restricting calorie, fat, and protein intake. While this may minimize the chance of overfeeding and the resulting development of growth disorders in fast-growing giant breed puppies, many adult formulas actually do not provide enough balanced nutrition to support holistic growth.
Growing Great Dane puppies need support for their bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, brain, and eyes. These are all things that may actually suffer as a result of being fed adult formulas from a young age.
Brittle bones, poor overall conformation, dry skin, chronic loose stools, extreme lankiness, sensitivities, and poor muscle development can all be related to not receiving the right nutrition.
Modern large and giant breed puppy foods have been reformulated to support slow, even growth and the development of the entire body from head to tail.
How Long Should Great Danes Eat Puppy Food
This next answer may also surprise you.
As long as you have chosen a science backed large or giant breed puppy food from the list below, your Great Dane puppy should remain on puppy food until 18-24 months of age.
Veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists, who are the experts on this topic, agree.
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
Remember, Great Dane puppies are NOT adult dogs. Just because they are bigger than most dogs by 3-4 months of age doesn’t mean that adult nutrition is correct for them. They are still growing rapidly at that stage and every ounce of balanced nutrition counts.
NOTE: In pet foods, both large and giant breed dogs are defined as one in the same as they have identical nutritional requirements. While statements from the FDA and AAFCO may only say “large breed”, this is meant to include all dogs that are 70 lbs or more as adults.
Still not convinced? Here are some articles that may be of interest to you:
While modern puppy foods are safe and beneficial to feed your Great Dane puppy, one piece of advice is still very true.
It is extremely important that you do not overfeed your puppy! Too much food can lead to growth disorders, obesity, and chronic loose stools when using any formula (including adult foods).
We recommend offering 3-4 small meals each day until 4-6 months of age, then 3 meals each day until 9 months of age, at which point you can switch to 2 meals each day. Encourage slow, stress-free eating.
Use kibble as training treats whenever possible.
The amount depends a lot of the food you feed (higher quality foods such as Pro Plan and Royal Canin will require that you feed less), growth spurts, and the metabolism of your dog. The feeding chart on the back of the bag is an excellent guide to get you started.
Then, adjust intake accordingly! If you see that your puppy is becoming heavy or growing too fast, cut things back. If your puppy seems to be hungry and asking for more, don’t be afraid to let them eat a few larger portions!
December is a popular time to get a new Great Dane puppy. I believe that a lot of this is related to the Holidays; puppies are readily available, adorable, and popular to receive or give for Christmas!
If you are new to the world of Great Danes, or ready for a refresher, let’s jump in. I’ll be covering:
Great Dane puppy nutrition
Crate and potty training
Training and socialization basics
Favorite must-have Great Dane puppy products
What to Feed a Great Dane Puppy
This is arguably the most common question we see in the community. Because Great Danes grow so quickly, they are prone to a number of devastating growth disorders such as knuckling, hip dysplasia, Pano, and Angular Limb Deformity.
Nutrition plays a big role in these disorders. Great Dane puppies cannot eat just any food that you pick out at the pet store. They require nutrition that is balanced specifically to support their growth.
Lucky for you, we made a list! No need to deep dive, research, or read a million labels. (Though, if you are a science nerd like we are, we have TONS of great deep-dive style Great Dane puppy nutrition articles, which I will link below).
Great Dane puppies should be fed a well-researched large OR giant-breed puppy food until 18-24 months of age.
So simple. Here is the list to choose from. These foods are safe, nutritious, correctly balanced, and packed with everything your Great Dane puppy needs to thrive. If they are on this list, it’s because we believe in the science behind them:
Ethical Great Dane breeders will have already started the process of potty training your puppy. The good news is that if you chose an exceptional breeder, this process should be a breeze!
For puppies that weren’t given a head-start, expect to put a little more time in. Your patience, however, will pay off.
To potty train a Great Dane puppy, follow these steps:
Keep your puppy near you and supervised at ALL times
Go outside often, especially after naps, meals, training sessions, and play
Don’t expect your puppy to hold their bladder for more than 2 hours at first, even overnight
When your puppy does their business outdoors, immediately praise AND offer treats
If your puppy has an accident indoors, ignore it. Clean it up with Rocco & Roxie Urine Destroyer (my personal favorite, it smells amazing and works like a dream)
Great Dane puppies grow up incredible fast! While potty training your puppy may seem like a chore, it will be a distant memory before you know it.
How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy
Hopefully you’ve chosen to crate train your Great Dane puppy! Crates are not cruel; they are a safe space for your puppy and may become their favorite place in the house!
Use a West Paw Toppl Toy before naps; stuff it with soaked kibble (freezing this can make an extra challenge) or balanced canned food (in moderation at first)
Encourage positive, stress-free interactions with the crate; not crying and panic
Play the “Catch & Release” game below
To play “CATCH & RELEASE”
Toss a treat into the crate and say “CRATE!”
Then toss a treat outside of the crate and say “FREE!”.
With repetition, your puppy will quickly bounce into and out of the crate on command.
Gradually add time between the two commands (increasing the time that your puppy is inside of the crate before being released) and begin closing the door, even if only for a moment at first.
Play this game several times each day until you can say “CRATE” from several feet away (and your puppy runs in with enthusiasm) and until your puppy will not exit the crate until you say “FREE”.
We recommend minimizing excessive crate use in exceptionally young puppies; focus first on positive crate training and supervision (even if this means hiring a pet sitter to help out for the first month or two).
Socialization, next to proper nutrition, is one of the most important things you can do to raise a healthy, confident, friendly puppy.
Many people believe that socialization means going to the pet store or the dog park and flooding a puppy with people and other dogs (who may be rude, pushy, or scary). This is actually a huge mistake!
Socialization actually means: “Positive exposure to a variety of interesting, novel, and everyday things”.
This could mean exposure (good experiences) to:
Other dogs walking by (and ignoring them)
Children playing from a distance
A variety of people
Loud sounds such as fireworks, doorbells, hammers, and knocking
Things that are noisy such as vacuums, cars, lawnmowers, and large fans
Being handled and touched all over: teeth, paws, ears, torso, tail
Being brushed, groomed, and manicured
The veterinarians office (including the scale and exam room)
Pet friendly stores (and learning to ignore things in them)
If you want to raise a stable puppy, start by choosing a breeder who is known for creating stable, friendly, confident puppies. Socialization is the icing on top!
Last, but not least, here is our list of Great Dane 101 tips!
Don’t stop at puppy classes! Continue working on obedience until your Great Dane has ideally obtained at minimum their Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title. Use lots of positive reinforcement.
Avoid training tools such as Gentle Leaders, Halti Head Collars, and “No-Pull” or “Front Clip” style harnesses that work by restricting movement and applying aversive (and even damaging or dangerous) pressure to the shoulders, chest, or head.
Consider E-Collar training your Great Dane; our modern method uses less pressure than a leash and will allow complete freedom of movement (Get our E-Collar training guide HERE)
Puppy knuckling is when a puppy’s feet appear crooked or bowed out. It often happens due to various factors, including incorrect nutrition, genetics, and care. Some information available about puppy knuckling is outdated, confusing, or misleading. We get it!
Rather than boring you with science and research data, I will lay this out in a quick-start guide-type format. It’s 2024, and we have new information about how to prevent knuckling in puppies and how to treat it, too!
Read on if you have a large or giant breed puppy, such as a Great Dane, showing signs of puppy knuckling.
Signs of Puppy Knuckling and “Bowing Out”
Your puppy may be knuckling over if you see the following signs:
Flat or weak feet
Turned out feet (which may also be genetic)
An ankle that bows over the foot
Ankles that shake or roll over the foot on soft surfaces
Feet and limbs that don’t look right
In the image below, you will see three puppies experiencing knuckling, from severe to mild. Mild knuckling in puppies can become severe or even permanent if left untreated.
How to Treat Puppy Knuckling
Here is our easy 3-step guide for treating puppy knuckling!
STEP ONE – SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN
STEP TWO – CHANGE YOUR FOOD
STEP THREE – CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE
Step One – See Your Veterinarian
Veterinarians attend school for many years to learn about companion animal health and wellness. They see hundreds of dogs weekly in a clinical setting and will know much more about the current science and research than any other resource you may find.
Many veterinarians are highly experienced in large and giant breed dogs and will give you the best advice.
Not only that, but if your puppy has crooked feet, your veterinarian needs to rule out other health conditions that may be similar or that may be contributing to growth disorders in your puppy:
Forget everything you hear in breed groups and from pet owners. An alarming amount of it is based on anecdotes, profit-driven marketing, and other nonsense. The correctly balanced puppy foods (listed below) are necessary to fix growth disorders.
Switch foods quickly. Do not add toppers or supplements, and keep training treats to a minimum. Getting your puppy onto 100% correctly balanced nutrition will be a key to success.
We dig deeper into the science with our posts linked below. But for this quick-start guide, here is a list of dog food to feed a knuckling puppy. These are readily available at Petsmart or on Chewy.com (which we’ve linked below for your convenience).
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
It is critically important that you do not overfeed your Great Dane puppy, especially if they are knuckling. Too much food is related to growth disorders. Encourage small, frequent meals.
Step Three – Change Your Routine
Large and giant breed puppies have delicate joints. Protect the soft cartilage and help your puppy strengthen their feet by avoiding hard, slick surfaces and encouraging movement on soft, varied terrain.
Here are some movement and exercise ideas for puppies that are knuckling or that have flat feet:
Explore a natural area with small rolling hills
Play in sand or gravel
Stand on couch cushions and gym mats
Sit on a grassy lawn or at a park and watch the world go by (also great for socialization)
Put runners and mats down on slick floors in your home. Discourage your puppy from jumping.
Trim nails weekly. We recommend a DREMEL. Keeping the nails short will help protect the joints and keep unnecessary pressure off of the toes.
There’s something uniquely special about Great Danes – they’re big, muscular dogs that are often referred to as the gentle giants of the canine world. But despite their docile appearance, many Great Danes are scared of everything!
Great Danes are not actually supposed to be timid or fearful, but unfortunately many of them are.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the reasons why these dogs might be so fearful and offer some tips for helping them overcome their fears.
Why Are Great Danes Timid?
Unfortunately, many people have come to believe that all Great Danes are timid and scared of everything, even if there is no real evidence to suggest this.
It’s true that some Great Danes may be more anxious or skittish than other dogs, but every dog responds differently to different situations.
Genetics can play a role in a dog’s temperament, and some Great Danes may inherit a predisposition to anxiety or fearfulness. Early socialization is critical for all dogs, and if a Great Dane doesn’t receive adequate exposure to different people, animals, and environments during their crucial developmental stages, they may become more apprehensive.
Additionally, traumatic experiences, such as loud noises or frightening encounters, can contribute to fear in Great Danes, as they can in any dog breed. It’s important for Great Dane owners to provide a supportive and nurturing environment, along with proper training and positive reinforcement, to help their dogs build confidence and overcome their fears.
The Great Dane Breed Standard
The Great Dane breed standard describes the ideal physical characteristics and temperament of a Great Dane, including their fearlessness.
If you look closely at the breed standard, you’ll find that “courage and vigilance” are some of the most important characteristics of this noble dog.
Here is a direct quote from the Great Dane Club of America’s written standard for Great Danes:
The Great Dane must be spirited, courageous, always friendly and dependable, and never timid or aggressive.
Fearful Great Danes Everywhere
So, if the written standard states that the Great Dane should be a confident, fearless, and friendly dog, why do so many people believe or notice otherwise?
There are several things that lead to this (which we will dig into below), but the biggest culprit driving the belief is social media.
People are sharing and normalizing these traits, and it’s having a significant impact on the public perception of Great Danes.
Have you ever seen somebody in a social media group who is upset or amused that their dog is terrified of strangers, objects, or even simple things such as a wrapped present?
Several dog owners will often chime in and say things such as:
“That’s just a Dane thing!”
“Totally normal! These dogs are such chickens!”
“Danes are afraid of everything, it’s just how they are.”
I hate to break it to you, but no, this is not a “Dane Thing” and no, Danes are not actually fearful timid chickens.
At least, they aren’t supposed to be.
Why is my Great Dane Afraid?
Below, I’m going to list the factors that contribute to fearful and anxious behavior in Great Danes. How many of these things can be avoided?
Genetic Predisposition
The genetics of temperament is not yet well understood, but there is enough research pointing to the fact that the pedigree strongly impacts fearfulness and poor behaviors in Great Danes.
Unfortunately, these dogs will also be more prone to bloat, a painful and extremely deadly condition in large and giant breed dogs. There are definitely genetic causes behind fearfulness, bloat, and temperament that need more research.
One of the best ways to avoid this occurring is to never support breeders that aren’t heavily invested in the genetic background, OFA health testing, structure, and health of the dogs being bred.
Environmental Factors
The environment in which a dog is raised has a tremendous impact on its behavior and fear levels. It is believed that dogs with a genetic predisposition to fearfulness, anxiety, and aggression may be more susceptible to damage caused by these factors.
This is why some dogs can experience traumatic events and still be calm, sweet, and loving while other dogs will become extremely reactive and fearful after a mild but stressful everyday occurrence (such as a veterinary visit or being left home alone).
Great Danes who are exposed to loud noises, sudden movements, or rough handling when they are young may be more likely to become fearful than those who are not. There is a huge difference between positive exposure to things in the environment, and flat-out scaring a puppy for life.
These environmental factors can include anything from thunderstorms to being scolded. For some dogs, hearing a loud car zoom by just once is enough to cause them to fear cars for life.
These dogs may also be more prone to developing separation anxiety and becoming overly attached to their owners, too.
Negative Experiences
Dogs living in shelters, or who have been rescued from situations such as puppy mills, often come with a multitude of behavioral issues. Some of this is because of the aforementioned genetic link, and some of it is because they weren’t offered the gentle, positive early socialization that they needed in life.
In some cases, the fear stems from past traumas or abuse. These experiences will stick with a dog and can cause them anxiety and fearfulness that they will live with for their whole lives.
A single dog attack, a bad experience with a child, or a yank of the leash on the neck can be enough to cause a dog to become fearful of certain people, animals, situations, and environments.
This is not to say we should coddle our dogs and prevent all forms of stress or potential negative experiences!
As a matter of fact, previous studies show that small amounts of stress can actually build confidence. It is important to be aware of our dog’s degree of fear and make sure to provide them with gentle guidance and encouragement when possible, not coddling.
Bad Dog Training Methods
This is one of the most commonly overlooked reasons why Great Danes are often scared of everything. When a dog is trained using punishment, fear, intimidation, or too much physical restraint it can become fearful and anxious.
Positive training techniques should always be used with Great Danes to ensure that their relationship with humans is based on trust and respect.
For modern, humane training methods, find a dog trainer who uses balanced + positive techniques focused on rewards, great experiences, and happy body language.
Even the most gentle, well-tempered dog is susceptible to this.
Therefore, it is important to teach the correct behavior and avoid excessive jerking, tension, or yanking when walking your dog; especially if they see another dog or human on the path nearby!
Communicating to your dog with vocal cues (such as “easy”, “with me”, or “look”) and rewarding that behavior is much more effective than relying on physical restraint and force. Pair this with the gentle on/off pressure from a properly fit prong collar to teach positive loose-leash walking skills.
Finally, dogs have an innate sense of body language that can greatly affect how they interpret a handler’s attitude. If their owner or handler is anxious or fearful, the dog will pick up on those emotions and become anxious as well. It is important to remain calm when handling Great Danes in order to communicate that there is nothing to fear.
Poor Socialization
A lack of socialization can cause Great Danes to develop fear and anxiety about new people, places, animals, and situations.
Bringing an overwhelmed, scared puppy into a pet store or around rude dogs in an uncontrolled situation (ehhh…the dog park) is not socialization; that is a bad experience. It’s important to advocate for your puppy.
Good breeders are using programs such as Puppy Culture and ENS to develop strong and resilient dogs by taking advantage of the early stages of development. Brain development in the first weeks of life is incredible and every experience that the puppy has at that stage can have a significant impact on temperament.
Giving Great Danes a good start in life with responsible breeding, positive training, and proper socialization methods should help prevent them from being scared of everything!
We’ve created a well-loved Great Dane puppy socialization guide for reference. You can view it here:
Last, but not least, we have to mention that pain and medical conditions (including thyroid disorders, arthritis, heart conditions, poor conformation, and even overgrown nails) can affect how a dog views and interacts with the world.
Your veterinarian can rule out any physical ailments or conditions that could be causing the fear response in your dog. Even something as simple as a change in diet can make a big difference in how a dog looks, feels, acts, and behaves!
Even puppies can be suffering from medical conditions and pain that cause them to be nervous, anxious, timid, frustrated, or aggressive.
Always talk to your veterinarian if your dog isn’t happy, healthy, energetic, and robust.
How do you Calm a Scared Great Dane?
If you have a fearful, timid, or reactive Great Dane, the key is to provide them with positive experiences.
Focus on building trust and strengthening your bond – working through a few simple obedience exercises (or learning new tricks) can be a great way to bond with your pup and give them something to focus their energy on.
It’s important to set up successful experiences for your dog, too. When a dog is practicing fearful and timid behavior on repeat, they are actually reinforcing (practicing and worsening) that behavior and those emotions.
Never coddle your dog, either! It’s important to recognize that your pup needs help, but it’s also important to be strong and confident in your leadership.
Many times, by showing confidence and calm indifference yourself, you can naturally deescalate the fear and anxiety that your dog is feeling.
Throw in a little bit of positive reinforcement and with time, your dog can learn that great things and opportunities are all around them. A quality training program can be the difference between a scared and timid pup, to an outgoing and confident dog.
A lot of people believe that a fearful dog can be “cured” with enough love and attention. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
Dogs can learn to cope better and develop more confidence over time, but many times the fear is still likely to remain at some level. It’s important to remember that fear was an evolutionary adaptation for our dogs – in the interest of survival, it’s quite normal for them to be cautious of some things!
It’s our job as owners and guardians to help them learn to live with and cope with that fear, rather than trying to “cure” it away.
It’s also important that we stop spreading misinformation. It’s not a “Dane thing” to be fearful, unstable, and flighty.
Don’t Make This Mistake
Showing a dog something that they are scared to elicit a funny (read: fearful) reaction for social media is not cute.
This is extremely poor handling and is wildly unfair to dogs who aren’t sure how to cope with the world in a healthy way.
If you have a scared or anxious dog, know that you are not alone. Many other dog owners share your struggles!
Reach out to your veterinarian, an experienced trainer, and professional resources for help in working with and managing your pup’s behavior. Do some research into positive behavior modification techniques such as B.A.T. 2.0 by Grisha Stewart as well.
It can take time and patience to get to the bottom of why your pup is so scared, but doing so will be better for their health and happiness!
When it comes to choosing the best dry dog food for a Great Dane, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Not all dog foods are created equal, and some will be better for your pet than others! In this post we will discuss:
A list of the best foods for Great Danes, by brand, and handpicked to make your job easy!
How to read a dog food ingredients label
Deceptive marketing tricks to watch out for
What to look for in a Great Dane food
How to choose a dog food that is healthy for your pet
Information about dog food recalls
This post does not cover raw, freeze-dried, or air-dried diets. We support balanced fresh feeding, however, that’s not the purpose of the post today.
Here we will be covering kibble + wet dog food diets, which are the most popular ways to feed a Great Dane!
The best food for any dog will of course be the one that they do best on.
Keep in mind that a shiny coat and good stools are only minor indicators of health. A perfectly ‘healthy’ looking dog can suffer from congestive heart failure or other devastating disorders if the nutrition isn’t correct.
That said, there are some important things to consider when you are on the search to find the best canine nutrition among the thousands of dog food options on the market today. Let’s dig in!
What to Look for in a Great Dane Dog Food
Great Danes are not like other dogs. They are a giant breed with specific nutritional needs. Choosing dog food is even more overwhelming when we throw that aspect into the mix!
In order to grow and develop properly, Great Danes need a diet that has the correct balance of calcium, phosphorus, and amino acids.
Many health problems can arise when Great Danes are not offered the right dog food for their needs, especially when they are puppies and growing rapidly. The food you choose must be formulated for the dog’s life stage, which, for giant puppies means large or giant breed puppy food (more on this below!).
When it comes to choosing the best dry dog food for a Great Dane, look for a food that meets the following criteria:
Professionally Formulated Dog Food
This key factor will help eliminate literally thousands of options, making it much easier to choose good dog food!
Did you know that Fromm, a popular brand, is formulated by a chemical engineer? Victor, another popular brand, is formulated by somebody who has an online certificate in dairy cattle nutrition.
These people are, unfortunately, not qualified to formulate dry dog food.
While on paper these foods (and thousands of others like them) meet AAFCO bare minimums, they may be deficient in important amino acids and nutrients over the long term.
We would never dream of buying baby formula that was created by people who were less than qualified to do so, especially if that food wasn’t also heavily tested and researched before being sold.
This is an unfortunate reality, though, of many expensive pet foods.
Your pet’s health is closely related to the quality and formulation of the ingredients in their food!
This is not an area where you want to cut corners. Keep in mind, however, that a higher price does not necessarily mean higher quality.
For an adult dog or definitely for a puppy, I recommend choosing dry kibble diets that were formulated by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists (DACVN), who are also directly employed by the actual brand itself for that purpose.
Look up your brand and see! If they didn’t answer, refused to answer, or the food brand doesn’t directly employ a DACVN / ACVN or Veterinarian with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition, keep looking.
Pro Tip: Having a ‘team’ does not count. Many times, what a statement like that actually means is that the brand pays an outside firm (consultants) to check boxes. Ask more questions.
The Pet Nutrition Alliance has asked this question of hundreds of pet food manufacturers.
Make sure that you verify that the name brand itself (Merrick, GO, or Earthborn, for example) has a qualified person formulating the brand of food, dedicated specifically to that brand, not the parent company.
For example, Mars employs Veterinary Nutritionists that are dedicated to the Royal Canin brand, but not ones dedicated to the Nutro brand (also owned by Mars Pet care).
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. Contrary to popular belief, they are a GOOD thing to see in your pets food!
Bloatis a deadly condition in Great Danes and other large and giant breed dogs.
Because meat meals are more likely to contain valuable nutrition such as liver, bone, skin, and cartilage, it makes sense that this ingredient can help keep your Great Dane healthy!
Don’t be afraid of ‘By-Product Meal’. By-Products, such as liver, kidney, bone, and cartilage are commonly fed as part of a raw diet because they are SO nutritious.
Animal byproducts are exactly what your dog needs in its diet. Not to mention, using the whole slaughtered animal is the ethical, economical, ecological, and responsible thing to do.
Fresh ‘human grade’ meat, on the other hand, is roughly 70% water, so after it’s turned into kibble there may not be much meat or nutrition left. The nutritional value of muscle meat is much less than what is found in organ meats!
Many pet owners have been misled by ‘fresh meat in kibble‘ marketing, and we think it’s time to change the narrative!
It’s important to always choose dry food where meat meal (such as poultry meal) or meat by-product meal makes up the bulk of the nutrition.
Grain-Inclusive vs. Grain-Free Diet
Grain-free diets (kibble) replace grains and often some of the meat protein as well with ingredients such as lentils, peas, garbanzo beans, and potatoes.
A grain-free kibble is NOT free of carbohydrates!
While a ‘grain-free diet’ may sound healthier and may lead us to believe it has more meat, the truth is that it may have less meat, which could be devastating for your dog’s health.
When choosing kibble, Great Danes should only be fed a professionally formulated grain-inclusive meat-based diet. Do not feed a grain-free diet to your dog without professional help from a board-certified veterinary canine nutritionist.
It’s important to note that many common grains used in premium dog food are good for a dog’s digestive system. They provide fiber which is great for reducing bloat risk and firming up stools!
Balanced Calcium + Phosphorus Ratios
This is one of the most important factors to look for on a pet food label for Great Dane adult dogs and puppies, and one that is often overlooked!
If the Calcium and Phosphorus levels are too high or too far apart from each other, it can cause nutrient imbalances that lead to weakness, tremors, heart palpitations, bone growth disorders (including knuckling, HOD, Pano, or Hip Dysplasia), or bone density issues.
Studies show that giant breed puppies should NOT be fed excessive calcium. Many veterinary nutritionists (the experts on this topic) recommend keeping calcium at or below 1.2% and at 3.5g or less calcium per 1000kCal, especially for Danes under the age of two.
This means that VICTOR foods are not safe or healthy to feed, as most formulas (Beef and Rice, Hi Pro, Professional) exceed this recommendation, often dangerously so!
We recommend finding foods where the calcium and phosphorus are as close to a 1:1 or 1.3:1 ratio as possible, as well.
Here is a common and acceptable dry matter analysis:
1.1% calcium
0.8% phosphorus
You can also learn more about giant breed nutrition at The Giant Dog Food Project which displays the nutrient levels of over 600 brands and formulas.
Many people believe that Great Dane Puppies should never be fed puppy food, as it may cause them to grow too quickly.
This is a truly odd practice, given the fact that giant breed dogs experience explosive growth and don’t mature until 2-3 years of age. If any dog should have puppy food, it’s a Great Dane!
Thankfully, science and research have solved an age-old problem, and now Great Dane puppies should be fed a large or giant breed puppy food until age 2!
They often also have chronic loose stools (from overeating to compensate for the missed nutrition) and low muscle mass.
Large or giant breed puppy foods are the way to go. Our dogs deserve to have the status quo changed on this one.
Here are our favorite brands and formulas of food for Great Dane puppies. These have been well researched, properly formulated, and proven in feeding trials for slow, even growth:
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
How to Read a Dog Food Ingredients Label
It may be tempting to choose your dog’s food based on the packaging or on appealing marketing claims, but it’s important to understand how to read the label and the ingredients.
Below we’re sharing information about what you should be looking for on a dog food label!
AAFCO Statement
This statement simply indicates that the food meets the nutritional minimums required to be sold as balanced dog food.
Being ‘AAFCO Approved’ is not a badge of honor, nor is it an indication of quality and health. It’s pretty easy to make a dog food meet minimums for certain nutrients.
That said, the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) statement is important, as it will give you valuable insight on the dog food label into what the food is formulated for.
For example, some dog foods are formulated for growth, puppies, adults, large breeds, small breeds, or seniors. Life stages are important to consider when choosing dog food!
We like to see statements similar to the one below:
“Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of food) proves complete and balanced nutrition for (life stage).”
The guaranteed analysis is where you’ll find the minimum percentage of crude protein and fat, and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture.
You’ll notice that it’s slightly different with every single food.
Contrary to popular belief, Great Danes can actually have food with higher protein levels. Too low protein can actually be detrimental to their muscle development and overall energy levels.
The low-protein myth was debunked in studies, so you don’t have to worry anymore!
The Ingredients List
Of course, you’ll want to look over the ingredients list too, but it’s not as important as some may have led you to believe. There are a lot of tricks companies use to make the ingredients list appealing and marketable, however, that doesn’t mean that the formulation is correct.
Here are some things you want to look for:
A food that contains a meat meal or meat by-product meal will almost always be the more nutritious choice.
Watch out for ingredient splitting (see more below), which allows brands to tactfully, legally, and potentially dangerously reorganize the ingredients list to appeal to you and your wallet.
Fancy additions such as spinach, blueberries, apples, or collard greens (for example) are there for marketing purposes and provide very little nutrition. If anything, they may be displacing meat.
Fresh meat, deboned meat, and ‘raw’ meat in an ingredients list indicate ingredients that are roughly 70% water. Not only that, but once they are extruded (dried) into kibble they are no longer fresh and there isn’t much left, either. Think about this one for a moment.
There is no such thing as fillers in dry dog food. (READ HERE)
Logically, a company isn’t going to waste money on such things as it would increase shipping, manufacturing, sourcing, and formulation costs, not to mention kill dogs from malnutrition.
Corn, for example, has a better nutrient profile than beef. Once it’s ground (for inclusion in kibble), it is 98% digestible and a fantastic source of linoleic acid (Omega 6).
Of course, you want to choose a kibble with high-quality ingredients. This is where sourcing matters. Meat-based proteins from one company may not be held to the same standard as they are from another.
We recommend choosing a well-established dog food brand with solid and reliable quality control and sourcing practices.
Recalls
Recalls are actually a positive thing, indicating that a dog food company is willing to stand by their product and take it off the market if they find something wrong with it.
Recently, Darwin’s pet food has been urged by the FDA to take some of its products off the shelves because of salmonella that was making pets sick. They refused...after all, recalls are bad for the marketing department.
In another story, Victor pet food issued two recalls in 2023. Both of them were triggered by random 3rd party testing of their products, which is alarming. This is an indication that they weren’t testing for these things themselves. This has marred their “no recalls” record from the past, and caused many to realize that “no recalls” often means that the company is simply not looking for problems.
I don’t know about you, but that’s not good.
Just because dog food manufacturers claim “no recalls” doesn’t mean that they have a clean record. Ask more questions.
Not only was Darwin’s caught avoiding recalls, Champion foods (the makers of Acana and Orijen) knowingly left food on the shelves that had been produced with contaminated beef tallow. The tallow tested positive for phenobarbitol (the euthanasia drug), and Champion chose not to recall the foods from that lot.
“No recalls” is a shady marketing tactic. Don’t fall for it.
Deceptive Dog Food Marketing Tricks
I’m going to outline some common deceptive marketing tricks that many dog food brands use to encourage you to make a purchase.
I remember being very surprised by these the first time I’d heard them! After all, isn’t a fresh, holistic diet the better choice?
Maybe not.
The best dog food is not what you think. Read on…
Ingredient Splitting
With ingredient splitting, brands are able to effectively reorganize the ingredients list to be more appealing to you.
The ingredient splitting trick makes it so that many foods can say ‘Real Chicken is the 1st Ingredient‘, even though the finished kibble is comprised mostly of peas.
The most nutritious dog food will be a meat-based diet focused on nutrients and amino acids, not one designed explicitly to sell you dog food at a premium price.
Unregulated Marketing Terms
Many dog food companies are exceptional at marketing but don’t have qualified professionals or research to back up their claims.
Not only that, it’s important to keep in mind that many common pet food marketing terms are unregulated and have no legal definition.
This means that anybody can start a dog food company, have a company manufacture it for them, and then promote the food with any of the following terms:
Holistic
Super-Premium
Family-Owned & Operated
Biologically Appropriate
Species Appropriate
Healthy & Nutritious
Perfectly Balanced
Scientifically Formulated
Vet Approved
Just because a food is labeled as “holistic and super premium” does not mean, in any way, that it’s actually better for your pet.
As a matter of fact, the opposite may be true! Of course, we want to feed our dogs a high-quality diet. However, educated pet owners know how to sort out facts from marketing.
False Claims
Some dog food brands and influencers will use dubious and often false, unverifiable, or inaccurate claims that are designed to be misleading and confusing.
By misleading and alarming you, they can easily generate profits for whatever brand of food, supplements, or education (books, courses, etc.) they are selling.
Here are some common examples:
“Your pet will live longer on this food”
“This food prevents cancer”
“This food will eliminate allergies”
“Dry dog food has no nutrients”
“Kibble causes cancer”
“Corn is bad for dogs”
“Most dogs are allergic to chicken”
“Contains ‘fresh’ or ‘raw’ meat” (not possible after extrusion)
“Grains are bad for dogs and cause allergies and cancer”
“Purina, Royal Canin, Hill’s, Eukanuba, and Iam’s are junk foods full of fillers and diseased animals. They are not high-quality food”
“Recalls are BAD!”
“Kibble is full of fillers”
“Feeding kibble is like feeding your dog french fries or cereal for every meal”
No food company should be making claims that their food will increase lifespan or reduce the risk of cancer, however, such statements are common.
There are 300-400 new dog food brands each year in the United States. It stands to reason that they will say anything they have to in order to get your attention.
It’s time for the dog community to stand up and learn to separate fact (science) from marketing buzzwords.
Unfortunately, the veterinary community is weary. They want to help our pets, not harm them.
The Best Dog Foods by Brand
When choosing food for your dog, I believe the following options are among the best nutrition you can get when choosing a kibble dry food diet.
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
How to Feed a Great Dane
When feeding your dog, we recommend the use of stainless or ceramic bowls which, unlike plastic bowls, will not harbor bacteria that can cause irritation and zits.
I always add canned food to my dog’s diet! Not only do they absolutely love it, but I feel good knowing that they are getting some variety in their diet. Wet dog food tends to be lower in carbohydrates, as well.
Extruded dry food is not bad, but there is some logic to giving dogs wet food containing moisture.
Make sure you feed your dog quality canned food that matches your dog’s dry food. It should be a complete and balanced formula, not one created only for supplemental feeding.
Supplements for Great Danes
Don’t over-supplement your Great Dane!
If you have chosen well-formulated dry food + canned wet food, you don’t need to go nuts with the expensive supplements.
Here are some that you may need or want, depending on your dog’s needs!
Esther C is commonly used for Great Dane puppies to help support their growth and reduce the chance of knuckling, HOD, or Panosteitis. While this is not well-researched, many people swear by it. Get Esther C HERE.
Joint Support is ideal for dogs who are older (age 3+) or that are struggling with orthopedic issues, including poor structure, flat feet, arthritis, missing limbs, or dysplasia. I recommend GLYCOFLEX Stage III, get it HERE.
Fish Oil can be helpful for dogs that struggle with dry or itchy skin and a dull coat.
Tips for Dogs with Allergies
Some dogs have allergies. Most are environmental, but some are caused by a food allergy.
The signs and symptoms of allergies and intolerances of any kind include:
Itching
Redness
Sore spots
Hair loss
Swollen paws
Hives
These things can also be indications of other things, too. Not just allergies. Don’t immediately jump to food being the cause.
All commercial dog food diets are likely to have been contaminated with grains or chicken, even if the ingredients list contains no grains or chicken. If your dog is truly allergic to those things, you need to feed your dog a hydrolyzed prescription diet from your veterinarian.
Chances are, however, that your dog is not actually allergic to those things! Whole grains are very nutritious in dry dog food and don’t need to be avoided.
Blood and saliva allergy tests are NOT accurate and many times are nothing more than a money-grabbing scam. This is especially true of tests you can purchase and complete yourself.
A food trial elimination diet and careful monitoring of symptoms to identify triggers will be key. If blood or saliva tests are taken, repeat them with a different company for secondary results and use them as part of your treatment plan, not as the sole source of information.
Many dogs with allergies actually have environmental intolerances. Constant food switching to ‘find something that works’ and bribery to encourage eating (which can unbalance the diet) will make these things worse.
Instead, try this:
Talk to your veterinarian, have an open discussion
Choose a well-formulated food and stick with it for 4-6 months, minimum
Wipe dirt and dander from the fur and paws nightly using a damp towel
Ask about medicated wipes or shampoo
Talk about medications
We recommend seeking veterinary advice for food allergies or anything related to your pet’s health for all dogs and pet owners.
If you’re thinking of adding a Great Dane puppy to your family, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for the challenge! Learning how to care for a Great Dane puppy is easy and fun, but you must know this: Great Danes are not like other dog breeds!
These dogs are big and powerful, and they need plenty of the right kind of nutrition, exercise, and training. Today I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about taking care of a Great Dane puppy.
What do I Need to Know About Raising A Great Dane?
Proper Great Dane care requires a little bit of research. The great news here is that you’ve made it to this blog post!
Great Danes make incredible family pets. They are gentle, loving, and protective of their people. But before you bring one home, it’s important to understand what goes into taking care of a Great Dane.
Adding toppers and bribery will only serve to unbalance their diet and encourage ‘picky eating’.
At this time your pup will be moving into the second stage of growth (the time when a well-balanced large or giant formula puppy food will be the most important thing).
If you MUST use a harness, stay away from restrictive no-pull versions that can damage movement and orthopedic health. The “Easy-Walk” harness is a common example of a bad harness that should not be used.
When your pup is ready, we recommend modern e-collar training which is incredibly freeing, positive and fun!
There are a lot of inexpensive beds on Amazon that often go flat and fall apart quickly. These beds do not support Great Dane joints and will need to be replaced often.
When choosing what kibble to feed your Great Dane, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind.
The food should be formulated by an on-staff board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist, DACVN (call the company and confirm)
It should be backed by intensive feeding trials and peer-reviewed and published scientific research, proving that they are experts in kibble formulation and puppy growth
Is manufactured by an established and reputable company, using their own facilities, and are willing to issue recalls to keep your pet safe (“No Recalls” is a red flag!)
Many enthusiastic pet parents get excited to feed their large breed puppy and start adding all manner of supplements and toppers such as raw egg, rice, sardines, bone broth, freeze-dried toppings or goat’s milk.
This practice is both largely unnecessary and may be disruptive to the nutritional balance of the food. Goat’s milk, for example, causes gastro-distress. Too many eggs can cause a biotin deficiency. Too much rice can fill the dog up so much that they don’t get the right amino acids and nutrients from other sources.
Many commercial ‘toppers’ and food items encouraged in ‘build a better bowl’ type marketing campaigns are overpriced revenue-generating nonsense.
We recommend a loose free-feeding schedule until 12 weeks of age. The trick with this is to not allow your dog to scarf food or overeat; habits that can lead to serious health problems. Offer 3 meals/day but let your pup graze on the food (or use some for training) between meals as well. Monitor intake: overfeeding is dangerous!
After that, offer 3 schedule meals each day and take the food up after 20 minutes. Don’t offer more than your dog can finish in that time, and closely monitor body condition.
Topping meals with same-brand canned food can reduce bloat risk and make meals more appetizing, without causing nutritional imbalance.
At 8-12 months of age, you can transition to 2 meals per day.
Encourage slow, stress-free eating. I like Royal Canin Giant formula food because the kibble pieces are huge to encourage chewing.
If your dog is resource-guarding their food, stop sticking your hands in the bowl. This outdated training technique encourages stressed eating and may increase bloat risk.
NEVER feed one large meal each day, as this will increase your dog’s risk of getting BLOAT, a deadly and common life-threatening condition in large dogs. Smaller more frequent meals are best.
Great Dane Puppy Food Myths
Some people are still promoting the idea that Great Dane pups should never be fed puppy food and that the food must be low in protein.
Neither of these concepts is rooted in science. They are based on anecdotal evidence from a time when well-formulated puppy foods were NOT available to correctly support the growth of giant breed dogs.
15+ years ago, adult food was the safer choice, and low protein foods generally had better calcium and phosphorus ratios. It had nothing to do with the protein itself, though, at the time nobody knew that.
These ideas, at one time, justifiably made sense. Giant puppies grow extremely fast and over-nutrition is related to knuckling, HOD, panosteitis, and other orthopedic physical health and growth disorders.
By limiting the nutrition, breeders were able to effectively limit their run-ins with painful growth problems.
The choice to feed adult food was heavily promoted despite the fact that adult foods don’t have the complete nutrition that large breeds (including Great Danes) need to support muscle development, skin, and coat health.
A sacrifice had to be made to ensure that their bones didn’t grow too quickly.
Many teenager Danes (5-24 months) on ‘adult’ foods will overeat to try and get enough protein, fat, and calories.
This often results in chronic loose stools and a lanky body condition with very little muscle tone. I believe that most adult foods starve them of the nutrition they need to thrive.
The great news here is that it’s 2022 (or beyond!) and established dog food manufacturers have used science to graciously solve this problem for us. Dane puppies can now have research-backed puppy food AND still grow slowly so their joints develop properly.
As a matter of fact, board-certified Veterinary Nutritionists believe that Great Dane dogs should be on puppy food until 18-24 months of age.
Let’s put these large breed food myths to rest.
If you planon choosing a food that is not formulated by a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist (common examples include Fromm, Diamond, Victor, Costco, and 4Health), it may be safer to choose the adult formula for your puppy.
These foods are not backed by dedicated growth and development research or qualified formulation professionals and aren’t ideal, to begin with.
Fromm – formulated by a chemical engineer
Victor – formulated by a guy with an online certificate in dairy cattle nutrition
Diamond / 4Health / Taste of the Wild / Costco / Nutranuggets – co-packed brands under the same parent company with canned recipes that may or may not have been looked over by an off-site consultant who has marginal credentials.
Purina – multiple board-certified veterinary nutritionists, M.S. and Ph.D. professionals with advanced degrees in animal nutrition, food science, and quality control are on staff to formulate and research the foods.
Royal Canin – over 400 professionals with top degrees in nutrition, veterinary nutrition, and nutrition science
Hill’s Science Diet – same as Purina & Royal Canin (see a pattern, yet?)
If you are interested in modern health and nutrition science and want high-quality food that was formulated by qualified professionals and then proven in feeding trials for the growth of big dogs, we recommend the following brands and formulas from Purina, Hill’s, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, and Iam’s.
Notice, all of these are large or giant formula puppy foods:
Keep the puppies until at least 8 weeks of age, no matter what
Support you as the buyer for life
A good breeder will not breed aggressive or timid dogs or dogs that carry common genetic linked disorders such as bloat, DCM, wobblers, Addison’s, blood clotting, seizures, megaesophagus, IMGD, or otherwise.
The biggest step you can take towards ensuring your puppy is healthy for life is to be very choosy about your breeder.
Knuckling, HOD, and Panosteitis
As above, these painful orthopedic growth disorders are often a direct result of unbalanced, poorly formulated nutrition, overfeeding, and incorrect exercise (see ‘how to care for puppy joints’ below).
Knuckling in Great Dane puppies is when the ankles appear to “knuckle over” the foot. It is easily corrected with proper nutrition. Left untreated, it can lead to deformity and arthritis.
HOD is short for Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy, which is a disease that affects growing Dane puppies between the ages of four and eight months. It is characterized by fever, loss of appetite, stiffness, and pain. X-rays will often show a thickening of the long bones in the legs.
Panosteitis (AKA “Growing Pains”) is a condition that causes inflammation in the long bones of Dane puppies. It usually affects dogs between five and fourteen months old and manifests as lameness and pain that comes and goes.
All three of these orthopedic growth disorders are largely preventable with good breeding, feeding, and exercise practices. Additionally, they are treatable if caught in time.
Flat feet, downed pasterns, and cow hocks are other symptoms of growth, genetics, improper nutrition, or a lack of correct exercise. Make sure your pup gets plenty of off-leash play on soft, varied terrain and steer clear of breeders whose adult dogs don’t have exceptional structure.
The bottom line is that if you are feeding your puppy correctly formulated food, and exercising them properly (see below), they should not be as susceptible to these problems.
If you notice knuckling, stiffness, pain, or lethargy, talk to your veterinarian!
IS YOUR GREAT DANE PUPPY KNUCKLING?
Check out our science-based and constantly always growing knuckling resource page.
Puppy joints are very soft and susceptible to injury.
It is very important to avoid hard and slick surfaces whenever possible. Put runners down in your home, and avoid long walks on the hard pavement.
Better alternatives include free movement on grass, sand, gravel, hills, and other soft varied terrains. These things will strengthen joints, toes, and balance as well as encourage confidence.
Angular Limb Deformity is a common and painful disorder that happens when the large knobby growth plates are damaged by running, jumping, or injury. For many dogs, amputation or invasive and painful surgeries are the only way to move forward.
We know you are excited to have your new puppy as a running partner, but hold your horses!
Proper nutrition and exercise are key for taking care of your puppy’s delicate joints. Patience will pay off in the long run when your big puppy is more mature (around 18-24 months).
Great Dane grooming including nails and teeth are a few things that pet owners tend to neglect.
Teeth should be brushed daily
Nails should be trimmed weekly
Take advantage of your puppy’s enthusiasm and take the time now to make both of these things a matter of routine in your house.
Daily hair brushing can also help reduce dander, itching, and shedding in your Great Dane’s coat. We recommend using a SLEEK EZ tool. Do not use a “Furminator” as those tools cut the hair.
Practice handling your puppy all over, brushing your puppy, picking up each paw, and inspecting your puppy’s teeth. An adult Great Dane that wants to fight these things can and will, so make this a positive experience now while you can.
If you have a little bitey Great Dane gremlin on your hands, restrain the urge to use your hands to tap, shove, choke, or pinch your puppy’s mouth! These outdated training techniques are the fast track to making sure that your 140 lb adult Great Dane is resistant to handling.
For your Great Dane’s nails, use a Dremel! Tap each toe and offer a treat. Make this a fun, positive experience now while your puppy is still at a young age.
Regularly inspect your dog’s ears for signs of irritation or infection, too.
Socialization does not just mean going to the dog park or pet store or letting people squeal, hover, and handle your puppy.
As a matter of fact, these common ‘socialization’ exercises can be detrimental to their well-being and temperament!
Good socialization will be the foundation for all of your training exercises for years to come, so this is important. The single best piece of advice I can give you is this:
Make sure every experience is a good one.
That means that if you are going to introduce your puppy to new people, make sure those people know how to properly greet a puppy.
Set your pup up for success by making sure they can’t get into trouble or hurt themselves, but also have plenty of new experiences, smells, noises, and textures to explore.
Our favorite socialization exercise is the puppy playground! Grab a variety of interesting objects such as cushions, large balls, a kiddie pool, noisy toys, and household items and gather them in a large area.
Encourage your puppy to explore and play with all of the new things, and make sure to give lots of praise and treats!
This is a great way to get your pup used to different textures, smells, noises, and objects in a safe and controlled environment.
Positive reinforcement training is the best way to install new behaviors.
All puppies should be taught:
Acceptance of handling by veterinarians and groomers
Sit, down, stand
Wait
Leave it
Come
Place
Stay
Loose-leash walking/heel
We recommend finding a highly qualified trainer who uses positive + balanced training methods. Start attending classes now and continue through intermediate and advanced obedience!
The STAR Puppy and AKC Canine Good Citizen programs are fantastic ways to set goals for yourself. Consistent training will pay off in the form of calm, indifferent, friendly, and safe adult dogs in your home.
Large dogs require obedience training and lots of mental enrichment. Putting the time in beyond puppy class is a hallmark trait of responsible dog owners.
By nature, leashes and collars rely on physical restraint. This restraint can become impossible or dangerous with large adult Great Danes.
It is much safer and better for their mental and orthopedic health that they have good off-leash obedience.
Start training your large breed dog to be off-leash now!
In your living room, reward your puppy for looking at you, engaging with you, and walking next to you around obstacles in the house.
Outside, we recommend using a long Biothane leash and practicing recall in low-distraction areas such as empty lots and baseball fields.
Never scold your puppy for not coming when called. This creates superstitious dogs that do not come back.
Instead, make coming to you the most fun thing in the world!
Use praise, treats, and play to make coming back a positive experience.
A positive training program will produce positive results!
When your puppy can reliably come when called from 20 feet away in moderately distracting areas, it’s time to layer in a modern, positive e-collar so you can ditch the physical restraint.
Getting regular veterinary care for your puppy is an important part of responsible dog ownership.
In the first year, your puppy will need to see the veterinarian several times for a well-check, growth-check, vaccinations, and deworming.
After that, yearly well-visits are all that is needed!
Puppy Vaccines
It is extremely important that your puppy is vaccinated against common and often deadly dog illnesses such as Distemper, Parvo, and Rabies.
Your veterinarian will provide you with a vaccine schedule. Additionally, your breeder should have already begun the vaccination process.
Keep in mind that Rabies vaccination is legally required in many places.
Some breeders may encourage you to hold off on Rabies or Leptospirosis vaccinations until your puppy is more mature, especially if your puppy has had problems with orthopedic growth disorders. Only HEALTHY puppies should be vaccinated.
It is also very important that until your puppy is fully vaccinated, they not be exposed to places where diseases tend to be common. Positive socialization is VERY important, so we encourage you to take your puppy with you whenever you can.
However, it is smart to avoid pet stores, dog parks, and the floor of the veterinarian’s office as much as possible while your puppy is young.
Parvo, for example, is extremely contagious and deadly.
However, poor socialization can set a puppy up for a lifetime of stress, frustration, and anxiety. It’s important to find a safe, healthy balance.
Flea & Tick Prevention
Flea, tick, parasite, and heartworm prevention are important for all dogs.
Bugs and parasites bring with them diseases that can cause permanent damage to your dog.
You may have seen alarming blogs and media about dogs becoming sick and suffering seizures from flea and tick medications. While side effects are possible, it’s important to note that they are rare and often associated with other health problems. This kind of alarmist media is emotional and drives clicks and revenue, skewing our perception of the problem.
The reported side effects of veterinary flea and tick preventatives are minimal compared to the side effects associated with leaving your dog unprotected.
Parasites, including fleas and ticks, can cause devastating health problems such as Lyme’s disease, malnutrition, anemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, deadly heartworms, and more. Thousands if not millions of dogs suffer from these things every year, at an astronomically higher rate than the rare dog who has a severe reaction to preventatives.
There are many products on the market that can help you keep your puppy safe from these pests. Do not be afraid of preventatives, and beware of pseudoscience and clickbait media that teaches you otherwise.
Talk to your veterinarian about deworming, as well as which flea and tick products are right for your puppy and your area.
I personally use Bravecto and Sentinal, on the recommendation of our veterinarian. My dogs have had no side effects and I like knowing that I don’t have to shelter them from fun, enriching outdoor activities.
Finding a Veterinarian
It’s important to find a veterinarian whose opinion you value and trust.
Ideally, they have experience with giant dogs and understand their unique orthopedic, nutritional, and growth needs.
I like to find veterinarians who:
Are up to date on the current research and will support delayed spay and neuter for well-tempered giant breed dogs with responsible owners
A Great Dane’s life may be short, but there are things you can do to make it as long and wonderful as possible. Enjoy your puppy!
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
Do you like modern positive+balanced off-leash dog training, science-based information, life with Danes, educated ownership and chatting with other like-minded people?
Ensuring the optimal nutrition for a puppy is fundamental for their overall well-being. Puppies are so cute, and it’s easy to want to feed them lots of food and treats! However, an overfed puppy can experience health problems that can devastate their experience in life.
Feeding too much, over-supplementation, and filling up the food bowl with toppers and treats to entice eating are on the chopping block today! Curious about why? Here is a list of common problems associated with giving puppies too much nutrition:
Carpal Laxity (flat feet or “knuckling over”)
Growing pains (panosteitis)
HOD, OCD, and other bone growth problems
Obesity (which shortens lifespans by 2 years, on average)
Chronic loose stools (often blamed on “allergies”)
This article digs into the repercussions of overfeeding, shedding light on growth disorders, the risks of over-supplementation, and the potential pitfalls of excessive toppers and treats.
Understanding Growth Disorders in Large and Giant Breeds
Large and giant breed puppies require specialized nutrition due to their rapid growth and susceptibility to developmental issues. Overfeeding can contribute to growth disorders like hip dysplasia and hypertrophic osteodystrophy. These conditions result from overly swift bone growth, leading to improper joint formation and structural abnormalities.
Owners of giant breed puppies (such as Great Danes, which we talk a lot about here) are often alarmed if they see a few ribs. However, a lean body condition is desirable!
The Role of Caloric Intake
Overfeeding is essentially providing more calories than a puppy’s body needs. Proper portion control is crucial to prevent this. Consult your veterinarian to determine the appropriate food amount based on factors such as age, weight, and breed. Adjustments may be necessary as your puppy grows.
The Dangers of Over-Supplementation
Puppies, akin to humans, require specific nutrients for healthy development. However, excessive supplementation can lead to imbalances and potential health issues. For instance, over-supplying calcium to large breed puppies may disrupt the delicate balance needed for proper bone development, contributing to skeletal problems.
Ensuring Nutritional Balance
Choose a high-quality puppy food that meets the nutritional standards set by reputable organizations. Before introducing any supplements to your puppy’s diet, consult your vet to ensure they are necessary and safe.
Toppers, Treats, and the Challenge of Picky Eating
While treats and toppers play a role in training and bonding, moderation is key. Overindulgence in these extras may lead to picky eating habits and an unbalanced diet. Puppies may prefer the tasty treats over their regular meals, resulting in nutritional deficiencies.
Maintaining Balance
To maintain a well-balanced diet, limit treats and toppers to no more than 10% of your puppy’s daily caloric intake. Opt for healthy, puppy-friendly options, and use them sparingly to avoid disrupting the nutritional balance of their main meals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, overfeeding, especially in large and giant breed puppies, can have serious consequences for their health and development. Emphasize proper portion control, opt for high-quality nutrition, and be cautious with treat and topper intake. By providing a balanced diet and consulting with your veterinarian, you’ll set your puppy on the path to a healthy and happy life.
Learning how to teach a puppy to sit could be one of the most important things you can practice during the puppyhood season.
Sit is one of the most basic, yet essential commands that your puppy needs to learn. Not only is this a cue that will come in handy on a daily basis, but it’s also a great way to start building a foundation of obedience training.
Additionally, teaching your puppy to sit is a relatively simple task that can be accomplished in just a few short sessions. However, as with any new behavior, you’ll need to be patient and consistent when working with your pup. But before you get started, there are a few things you should know.
If you are struggling to teach your new puppy or dog to sit, you’re in good company. Although teaching a puppy ‘sit’ is one of the first things they usually learn, some dogs can have a hard time with the sit position and other basic commands.
However, every well behaved and good dog must know how to follow the sit command. Even if they do fine in a standing position, a dog should know a down position in the event that they ever need to practice the sit behavior.
Therefore, training your puppy and helping your puppy learn the sitting position is very valuable. Let’s dive in to some mechanisms of how you can teach your pup this important training skill.
CHOOSING A CUE WORD
When teaching your puppy to sit, you’ll need to choose a cue word or phrase that you’ll use to tell them it’s time to plop their butt down on the ground. Common cue words include “sit,” “sits,” and “sitting.” However, you can really use any word or phrase you like, as long as you’re consistent with its use while your puppy learns a good sit.
If you plan on using multiple cue words (for example, “sit” and “sitting”), make sure you only use one at a time during training sessions. Teaching your puppy two different behaviors with two different cue words can be confusing for them, and will likely only prolong the learning process.
USING A TREAT
One of the easiest ways to teach your puppy to sit is by using treats as positive reinforcement. When they perform the desired behavior, they’ll get a tasty little reward for their efforts. Start by holding a treat close to your pup’s nose so that they can smell it—but don’t let them have it quite yet!
Have the treats ready before beginning training. Hold a treat in your hand so that when they follow the sit command and plop their butt down, you can reward this as a good sit and begin to associate positivity with the word sit.
Begin by holding the treat upward so that the dog’s head leans backwards and upwards. Once they’re focused on the treat, slowly move it upwards above their head while simultaneously giving the cue word or phrase you’ve chosen (for example, “sit”). As they look up at the treat, their back end should naturally lower into a sitting position. As soon as their bottom hits the ground, give them the treat and lots of verbal praise!
LURING VS. REWARDING A YOUNG PUPPY
Luring is when you use a treat (or another type of motivator) to guide your puppy into performing the desired behavior. In contrast, reward-based training means rewarding your pup after they’ve performed the desired behavior—not before or during. So which method is better?
For puppies (and dogs in general), reward-based training is usually more effective than luring because it allows them to make the connection between performing the desired behavior and getting rewarded for it. Additionally, reward-based training tends to result in faster learning and fewer behavioral issues down the road.
However, when teaching a dog to sit, especially as a puppy sits for some of the first few times, you will most likely be using luring to teach them.
As you hold the treat above the puppy, their head automatically goes backwards, and their rear hits the ground. However, after they begin to associate the treat and the training with the sit position, they will no longer need the food lure.
SLICK SURFACES
During dog training, you will want to avoid surfaces that your dog or puppy can slip on. Achieving a sit position, let alone holding it, can be a challenge for a puppy or an older dog when the floor is too slick.
You may need to experiment with a few different types of surfaces before finding one that works best for your pup. A textured mat, carpet, or grassy area may work well for some dogs, while others will do better on hardwood floors or concrete with a grippy rug overtop.
If you’re unsure of what type of surface your dog would do best on, try a few out! If your dog is having a hard time keeping their bum in a down position without their feet sliding forward, it may be time to switch to a more suitable surface. Always remember that a slick surface bears negative repercussions to your dog’s joints, and adding runners and rugs can help many dogs regardless of their age.
When first teaching your puppy to sit, its best to keep training sessions short—just a minute or two at most. This will help them stay focused and prevent them from getting too frustrated or tired.
As your puppy begins to grow good manners and more endurance, you can practice training sessions for a bit longer.
Start with just a few repetitions, with treats as a reward. Many dogs will pick up on a verbal cue, enthusiastic tone of voice and receiving treats in just a few training sessions, while other dogs may need more time for the light bulb moment to take place.
USING A HAND SIGNAL
Some dogs learn best to sit with a hand signal. Young puppies can learn quickly with a sit command and a basic movement of your hand. Some owners choose to hold their hand in a fist, while others use an open palm.
To signal “sit” to your puppy, simply hold your hand up in the air and then lower it towards the ground while saying “sit.” As your hand lowers, move it towards their back end so that they understand that you want them to sit down.
For dogs who are already familiar with the sit command, you can add a hand signal to reinforce the behavior. Hold your hand up in the air and then move it towards the ground as you give the verbal command “sit.”
If you begin incorporating sit teaching with a hand signal into a training session while your puppy is young, you will be able to use this strong skill all throughout your puppy’s life.
TEACHING AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS
You’re never too old to learn and no age is too old to teach a dog to sit! Dogs of any age can be taught to sit. You can train a dog of any age, you just may need to set more boundaries to teach your dog if they are older and not a puppy who is ready to soak up information like a sponge.
With an older dog, you may not only be teaching the dog to sit, but you may also be correcting unwanted behaviors at the same time.
For example, maybe your dog will sit when you ask them to, but then stands up after just a few seconds. Your desire is to teach them to hold the word sit when you ask your dog to sit, instead of breaking that command.
RELEASE CUE
One boundary you may need to set is not letting your dog move from the sitting position until you give him or her a release cue. This verbal cue could be a word like “OK” or “free.” If your dog stands up before you give the release cue, guide them back into the sit position and try again.
When first teaching this boundary, it is best to not use treats as a reward. Once your dog has the hang of sitting and waiting for the release cue, you can start rewarding them with treats again.
If you find that your dog is still having trouble following the command to sit, try asking a friend or family member to help you out. Having another person there to help can be very helpful, especially if your dog is easily distracted.
With patience and consistency, you will be able to teach your dog to sit on command!
HOW OLD CAN YOU START TRAINING A PUPPY TO SIT?
Teaching a dog to sit is one of the first tricks that a puppy usually learns when they come home.
A puppy can learn the word sit as early as 8-9 weeks old, when they are first brought into their new house. The word sit can be a fun and exciting way for their new family to begin to train them and teach them. Give your new puppy a tasty treat when you begin to teach them how to sit.
Usually, a puppy who is having a hard time learning to sit is not food motivated.
If you have a dog or puppy who is not interested in following the training treat and learning to sit, you can switch things up. The important thing is finding out what your dog values and then using that to teach your dog to sit!
USING TOYS DURING DOG TRAINING
Try to find a toy that your dog or puppy is very excited about. Make sure the toy is loud, squeaky, smells good, or is one that your dog absolutely loves.
Take the toy and slowly bring it above the head of your dog. As you bring the toy towards their head, give the verbal command “sit.” Most likely, your dog’s natural reaction will be to follow the toy with their nose, which will cause their body to sit in order to keep an eye on the toy. If the dog’s nose doesn’t follow the toy exactly- that’s okay!
As soon as your dog sits, give them a second to process that they did what you asked and then immediately reward them with the toy.
TEACHING YOUR DOG TO LAY: THE NEXT STEP AFTER SIT
Teaching your dog to lay down is very natural after the puppy understands how to sit. If the dog’s nose is following either a treat or a toy, once they sit it makes it very easy to teach them the lay down command.
Just simply take the treat or toy and lower it towards the ground. The dog’s natural reaction will be to follow the item with their nose, which will cause their body to lay down in order to keep an eye on the treat or toy. This default behavior to lay down will help your dog understand exactly what you are asking them when you use the ‘down’ or ‘lay’ command.
As soon as your dog lays down, give them a second to process that they did what you asked and then immediately reward them with the treat or toy.
And that’s it!
ADDING DISTRACTIONS
Following commands during dog training is a whole different story when there are distractions around.
In order to prepare your young dog to grow into an adult dog who can follow commands in public and with distractions around, you should practice!
The first step is to practice in different rooms. You can start to ask your dog to follow a sit command in a busier room, like the kitchen. With their eyes on the sausage that is cooking for breakfast, it will be a much different test than in a quiet room with no distractions.
You can also ask a family member or friend to help you out by being the distraction while you practice. Have them stand a few feet away from you and your dog and make sure they are not looking at the two of you. This will add another element of surprise for your young pet.
As you practice, remember to keep the commands short and sweet. You can say “sit” or “lay down”, but avoid saying “would you please sit down so we can eat breakfast?” The longer the command, the more likely your pup is going to get distracted and forget what they are supposed to do!
GOING OUTSIDE
Heading outside to practice commands with your dog may feel overwhelming, but it is so much fun! Take your dog on a safe, strong leash.
Now, head to your usual walking spot. If you live in the city, this may be around the block. If you are lucky enough to live in the country, this could be down a long driveway or even through a field!
Find an area with no other dogs in order to practice a few commands. Keep your dog on leash at all times while you are practicing basic skills.
Remember that a dog that is new to a skill will most likely only be able to practice this skill for a few minutes. Using a treat, lure your dog into a sit and then give them the treat as soon as they are sitting.
If you have been practicing inside, it is likely that your dog will be very excited to be outside. Be patient with them and try not to get frustrated if they don’t sit perfectly the first time.
If you have been consistent with your commands and rewards, your dog should be able to follow commands even with exciting things happening around them.
LONG LEAD
Most dogs can master the sit command fairly consistently. Once your pet is reliable with the command, you can add in a challenge of putting them on a long lead and asking them to sit. A long leash serves as a great tool to keep your dog on leash, while still giving them freedom.
This adds a challenge for your pet and requires them to have a strong relationship with you because they are not as close to you for you to ensure that they follow the command.
The release command is an important one for your dog to know because it tells them when they can get up from a down or sit position.
This command can be used in a number of different situations, such as getting up from their bed or getting in and out of the car.
To teach your dog the release command, start by having them in a sit or down position. Place a treat close to their nose so that they can smell it but cannot eat it.
Now, say the release command (such as “free” or “okay”) and move the treat away from their nose so that they have to get up to eat it. As soon as they start to get up, give them the treat!
Repeat this a few times so that they understand what the release command means. Once they are consistently getting up when you say the release command, you can start to phase out the treat.
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
Choose one cue word or phrase and stick with it throughout training sessions.
Sit should mean the same thing every time you say it.Use treats or praise to reward your dog for following commands.
Start with short training sessions and gradually increase the length of time as your dog gets better at following commands.
Be patient with your dog and don’t get frustrated if they don’t understand a command right away.
Most dogs will need to be reminded of commands from time to time. This is normal! Just be consistent with your commands and rewards, and your dog will eventually catch on.
Conclusion
Puppies are capable of learning all sorts of new behaviors, but it takes time, patience, and consistency on your part. By following these simple tips , you’ll be well on your way to teaching your pup how to sit like a pro in no time!
