Today’s post is going to be quick and simple. The anti-ear cropping argument is misleading, and I think we need to talk about it.
This morning somebody started a post in a Facebook group. It was one of THOSE posts. The “this is a hot topic and the initial take on it is controversial” type of conversation that results in a lot of participation, quickly.
They started the thread with a rant about how ear cropping in dogs is painful, torture, abusive, and wrong. Let’s be honest here though, it’s not that simple.
The Anti-Ear Cropping Argument is Misleading
Ear cropping is a simple surgical procedure that is done under anesthesia, and ideally only by veterinarians who are very experienced with the process. The puppies are up playing within hours as if nothing happened. They don’t care about their missing ear flaps.
Ear cropping is less invasive than a spay or stomach tack.
If you walk around a dog show in the U.S., you’ll see hundreds of cropped dogs. The solid majority of them are among some of the most well-kept and cared for dogs in the Country. They are fed an appropriate diet and kept lean and muscular. Their nails are short. They receive a lot of training and enrichment.
Those dogs who were cropped as puppies for their breed standard are far from abused and as adults, they still don’t care about their ears.
Things That Are More Abusive Than Ear Cropping
This is why the anti-crop argument is misleading. There are many, many things happening in the world of dogs that are infinitely more harmful, abusive, and damaging than ear cropping (which is none of those things to begin with). These are the things affecting dogs and the short lives they share with us.
Let’s list them out.
Pet Obesity
Obesity is an epidemic in pets. They are overfed and under-exercised and left to rot on our couches in the name of ‘love’. Many dog owners celebrate this problem by engaging in the idea that overweight pets are cute or ‘all muscle’.
A dog that is allowed to become sedentary and obese is more likely to suffer from boredom, bladder stones, diabetes, cancer, heart problems, joint pain, joint damage, and complications associated with anesthesia.
But let’s keep talking about ear cropping…
Poor Grooming Habits
From pelted Doodles to eagle talons for nails, poor husbandry is epidemic in pets.
The solid majority of pet owners are neglecting at least one of these things. If we want to cry ‘abuse and torture’, let’s please start with basic care items. Not ear cropping.
They chew up the couch to satisfy these missing needs, and when the owners find the mess the dog is often met with the harsh, abusive training tactics listed above. People pull out their phones and take “funny” videos of their “guilty” dog, who is literally just terrified that their owner has turned into an intimidating monster.
So many others are also shocked when at 9 months of age, their sweet 80 pound puppy is pulling them all over the place and lunging at dogs. How could this happen, their dog had “graduated” puppy class and spent time at the dog park for socialization!?
Dogs are living their lives in our homes, often offered little more than a 15 minute walk each day where they are expected to move by our side on pavement and not sniff, explore, run, dig, or climb.
But let’s keep talking about how ear cropping is “abuse”.
Holistic Woo & Anti-Veterinarian Belief Systems
There is nothing wrong with taking a holistic approach to pet care, if you honor the original intent of the world (to address the whole body, and that means utilizing every tool available for health including science).
However, pet owners who walk down the path of disregarding science, modern medicine, and veterinarians in the name of being ‘holistic’ as it’s been defined by a few predatory influencers, are treading in dangerous, neglectful, and often abusive territory.
It is not ok to let a dog suffer in the name of ‘holistic’ treatments. Essential oils don’t cure everything and may be toxic. Broken bones cannot be healed with mud baths and Reiki. Pumpkin seeds are not going to prevent or cure heartworms.
Veterinarians are not money-hungry shills for “big food & big pharma”. These conspiracies are wild and extremely harmful to our pets.
Unethical Breeders & Unethical Rescues
Among the most harmful practices in the world of dogs, far worst than a simple ear-crop procedure, are the poor ethics of so many breeders and rescues.
Skipping health testing, breeding dogs with poor temperaments and structure, telling owners that the dog will be hypoallergenic and family-friendly because it’s a ‘doodle’, and giving puppy buyers unscientific advice about vaccines and nutrition are abhorrent.
What about the rescues that adopt known-aggressive dogs out to unsuspecting and underprepared owners? Or the ones who buy entire litters of cute puppies at auctions and sell them as ‘rescue dogs’ or ‘meat trade dogs’?
But ear-cropping is torture and abuse, got it.
You Don’t Have to Like Ear Cropping
My Great Danes have intact ears. I’ll probably never choose to crop a puppy. I can respect pro-crop dog owners’ choices and have dogs with intact ears at the same time.
Most Great Danes keep their natural ears. Some don’t, and that’s ok as long as the procedure was done in an informed manner by a highly skilled and experienced veterinarian.
I think it’s important when throwing around words such as “abuse” and “torture” that we are being realistic. If ear cropping is defined by those terms, it is implied that spaying/neutering or any other simple, common surgical procedure is also abuse and torture.
We have SO many other things in the world of dogs to concern ourselves with; I’ll never understand why so much time and effort is wasted on inflammatory, misleading, and incorrect remarks about a procedure most dog owners know little to nothing about.
Have we got a story for you! Accidental breedings are never ethical, and it’s never right to intentionally breed a Great Dane and a Frenchie together. However, these Great Dane Frenchie mix puppies are a special case, and you’re not going to believe how this happened!
This story involves a grand champion Great Dane and a French Bulldog. The puppies look like miniature Scooby Doo dogs!
It’s important to share this story but we need to make it clear that these are NOT images that we took. You can view the originals from Neet Great Danes HERE.
As a matter of fact, because of their involvement in dog shows, dog sports, OFA health testing, the GDCA, the AKC, and Great Dane rescue (they have helped rescue over 500 dogs), Neet Danes is a perfect example of an exceptional breeder who should be celebrated.
Imagine their surprise when a highly anticipated litter of potential Champion puppies didn’t grow the same way that normal Great Dane puppies do…
How does something like this happen? This story is shocking and actually devastating, but Neet Danes has truly made lemonade out of lemons.
Cool Bred Canine, Frozen in Time, & the Canine Semen Center
The Canine Semen Center has been known by a few names over the years, and as of this writing they are still in business. The company is owned and operated by Sherian Evans & Linda Peterson.
It is not unusual for breeders to collect and store semen from dogs. This is a common practice that aids in diversifying the gene pool.
Neet Danes learned after the fact that the owners of this company store the semen in their own personal garage. I’m not sure what the common practice is here, but this feels like a red flag. ?
Unfortunately, somewhere along the way there was a major, major mixup.
Instead of being inseminated with Neet’s Baby Face semen, the breeders dam was inseminated with, you guessed it, the semen collected from a French Bulldog.
This mixup resulted in Great Dane Frenchie mix puppies, and over $30K in veterinary bills. Not to mention, this mistake could have been devastating for all of the dogs involved.
Neet Danes shares the story and all of the information on their Facebook page, embedded below:
Fortunately the champion lineage of these puppies showed up in a big way, and they look very much like miniature Great Danes.
Note, do not breed or purposefully seek out this mix. The puppies may be cute, but to do this intentionally would be incredibly unethical.
The breeder became extra suspicious when the puppies began to develop a crooked bite. However, even at the time that the puppies ears were cropped, they still looked like Great Danes!
Two weeks after having their ears cropped, the puppies started to fall behind on the growth chart, and show other signs that they were not, in fact, purebred Great Danes.
This could have turned out much, much worse. French Bulldogs are subject to numerous health problems that could have caused the puppies, and the families who own them, absolute heartbreak.
Neet Danes, being the ethical breeder that they are, placed a heavy focus on finding exceptional families for the Great Dane Frenchie pups that were accidentally bred.
Of course, as cute as these puppies are, this is absolutely tragic.
Not only was it a wasted breeding that contributed nothing to the health of their breeding program, the Dam was put through a pregnancy and whelping situation that should have never happened.
The worst part is that as of this writing, the Canine Semen Center has done absolutely nothing to help Neet Danes out.
The storage facility claims to be frantically DNA testing their stock to sort out the mistake and find Neet’s Baby Face’s semen (which is still missing, by the way).
They have done absolutely nothing to compensate Neet Danes.
Not only did Neet Danes end up with the wrong puppies, the semen collected from their Grand Champion stud is gone. That may seem like a small thing, but when you dedicate years of your life to curating an exceptional pedigree of dogs with outstanding health, structure, and temperaments, this is a huge loss.
Please support Neet Danes by liking and following their content! At this point, the only thing they can do, potentially, is sue for damages.
Spreading the word can help ensure that other breeders do not use the Canine Semen Center (or whatever other name they rebrand to) in the future.
At Hello Danes we support Neet Danes in any capacity here, and are happy to use our platform to make sure this never happens to another dog or breeder again…
If you want more amazing content on this topic, please follow one of our favorite creators on Tik Tok, @TheGreatDaneScientist and see her recent post on this topic below. Remember to like, follow, and comment!
I got to go to a Great Dane dog show. Not only that, I got to step into the show ring for the first time with a beautiful Harlequin Dane puppy by my side.
If you’d asked me 2 weeks ago, I would have told you that I was completely intimidated by dog shows. They have a reputation for being elitist, snobby, and comprised of cliques who talk behind each other’s backs.
The Great Dane community is pretty amazing, though. Everybody at the dog show was helpful, friendly, and welcoming.
Glacier Danes with one of their stunning Mantle dogs.
I’m New to the Show Ring
I had never shown a dog before, let alone attended a dog show.
The breeder of one of my Danes wanted to show two of her puppies. She asked me if I’d be interested in learning the ropes. I jumped on the opportunity!
After just two lessons with an experienced Great Dane show handler (Carol from Rocwind K-9), I was tasked with taking a very wiggly and inexperienced puppy into the ring.
I didn’t know what to wear, didn’t know what to expect, and knew that I’d be rubbing elbows with some BIG names in the Great Dane community.
What we attended was a Great Dane specialty. That means that the show was exclusively for Great Danes.
People who want to show their dogs and obtain titles will travel to these events, even if it means crossing multiple States to do so.
The show area was an outdoor covered pavilion. Our local Great Dane club set up a raffle table and even bought everybody lunch on the first day of the show!
(I got something from the raffle, read to the end to see what!)
The people who came with their dogs had all kinds of gear, including crates and fences to help them contain their dogs. It was clear that the dogs comfort was of utmost importance: the dogs all had food, water, nice bedding, and opportunities to relax or play.
There were beautiful Great Danes everywhere!
All of them were intact, well kept, and incredibly well-behaved.
One by one, numbers are called and Great Danes enter the show ring based on their class.
What Happens in a Dog Show Ring?
The judge directs each dog and handler to a place in the ring and then begins their assessment. This assessment is all about conformation, which in Great Danes means that they adhere to this standard.
The dogs want to be there! They prance, perk their ears, wag their tails, and engage happily with their handlers.
One at a time, the judge gives the handler a moment to stack their dog. Good handlers are ready and waiting before the judge walks up.
A stack is a stance that a show dog takes to show off their structure. For Great Danes, this means that their rear hocks are perpendicular to the ground, and the front legs are stacked directly under the shoulders.
Teaching a dog to stack on command takes practice, however, dogs that are built correctly with excellent structure will stack easily and naturally!
Here is an image from the Great Dane Standard (U.S.) showing the male and female dogs in a stacked position.
Once stacked, the judge will evaluate adherence to breed type and the way that the dog is built. They may also ask to look at the teeth.
This is not a beauty contest! Great Danes are giant breed dogs and having the correct structure means they are more likely to live long, pain-free lives.
After the judge has evaluated the dog, they will ask the handler to run “out and back”, which means to take the dog out to the corner of the ring and then turn and come back. After that, the dog is once again stacked for evaluation before the judge asks the handler to run around the ring and go to the end of the line.
Doing this requires a bit of skill. If you go too fast, the dog will enter a run. If you go too slow, the dog will become bored and start wandering. If you are sloppy with your own leash skills and steps, the dog will be sloppy, too.
When the dog is moving, the judge is evaluating reach, drive, and overall movement.
A properly built Great Dane will almost look like they are floating! They are graceful and powerful, not clumsy, slow, or lumbering.
The extension of the front limbs and placement of the feet in the gait pattern are just some of the things the judge is looking for.
Sometimes the judge will single out a few dogs and ask them to run or stack again.
Eventually, the judge will be satisfied and will calmly and quietly indicate the winners with a hand signal that can be easy to miss. Watch for it!
The winners will line up for their ribbons and the rest of the dogs’ exit the ring, ready to try again another time.
A Brindle Great Dane at the 2020 National Dog Show. SOURCE
How Dog Show Judging Works
This is an age-old question that is best answered by attending dog shows.
Did you know that dog shows are a family-friendly spectator sport, and most of the time there are no entry fees?
There are actually several awards that a single dog might earn during a dog show. Here are a just a few:
These awards count for points and over time, some dogs are able to earn their CH (Champion) and GCH (Grand Champion) titles. This is a major badge of honor for a breeder!
A Black Great Dane being Judged in the Show Ring. SOURCE: AKC
Showing a Great Dane Puppy
I stepped into the ring with a beautiful little Harlequin puppy named Clementine. At 4 months of age she was just excited for life and pretty clueless about the process! Both of us were, actually. Remember, neither of us had done this before.
The great news is that the beginner puppy class gives breeders a chance to practice in their ring with young dogs, without the stress of actual competition.
I did my best to stack her (a process that she’d not yet spent enough time practicing) and she did a beautiful gait out and back in the show ring. She had FUN and that was the most important thing.
I had fun too! When the judge flashed two fingers at me, I couldn’t believe it. Clementine was awarded the “Puppy Class Best of Opposite”.
Dog Show Myths, Busted
Many people think dog shows are snobby beauty contests. My experience was anything but that, and I cannot wait to go back!
The people were friendly, welcoming and complimentary.
The dogs are all so well kept. Not only did they have excellent body condition (healthy weight covered in muscle), but their nails were short, their teeth were clean, and they were robust and shiny. Show dogs are very well cared for.
Most of them have already obtained their CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title. They are friendly, confident, and obedient. Not timid, fearful, protective, or anxious as we see all too often in Great Danes.
Dog shows were created to help breeders and breed clubs sort out the best candidates for breeding.
Do not be afraid to approach a show breeder for your next Great Dane puppy! You can meet them at dog shows, and most of them love to answer questions. The dogs they breed will likely be excellent examples of the breed and will have stability in structure, temperament and health.
After our win in the beginner puppy class, we got to take a photo. Clementine has a lot to learn, and so do I! When we took this photo she was bouncing off the walls, as puppies do, and uninterested in stacking or standing still. The photographer was amazing and grabbed her in a split second when she was at least “sort of” in a decent position.
All we can do is laugh.
Our goal in the next 2 months is to make stacking the most valuable thing she can do. Treats for days. Praise, love, and attention.
I’m officially hooked and cannot wait to someday have my own stud to show in the ring.
Remember how I said there was a raffle? I fell in love with a piece of handmade art that looked just like my Mantle Great Dane.
Winning this became the cherry on top of an already amazing experience.
Great Danes are SO lovable, caring and smart- but what were Great Danes bred for?
If you’ve ever been around a Great Dane, you know that, like many giant breed dogs, they are some of the most gentle giants around. But their size can be quite intimidating, so you might be wondering- what were they bred for?
Contrary to popular belief, Great Danes were not bred for hunting or as guard dogs. In fact, they were originally bred as boar hounds in Germany!
But how did German breeders come to find this gentle giant suitable to hunt wild boar?
Out of all dog breeds- why did they choose Great Danes, and how did these hunting dogs transform into the Great Dane puppy snoozing legs up on your couch?
WHAT WERE GREAT DANES BRED FOR?
The Great Dane breed was originally bred as boar hunting dogs.
Not exactly what pet parents have in mind when they bring their puppy home.
To hunt wild boar, a dog has to be brave, athletic and have a high prey drive.
But, nonetheless the Great Dane breed was originally bred in Germany, where they were used as boar hunting dogs. These dogs had to be brave and athletic with a high prey drive in order to do their job well.
GREAT DANE HISTORY
You may be surprised that Great Danes were once some of the most powerful, strong and fast dog breeds that there were.
Developed in the 14th Century in Germany and England, Great Danes were bred as ancestors to Greyhounds and English Mastiff / German Mastiff – a lethal combination of strength and speed that was then called the Grand Danois, and now called Great Dane.
At the time, Europe had an extreme need for a dog breed that was able to take down their boar hound. Boars were some of the strongest, most dangerous animals in Europe and were wreaking havoc on crops, livestock and humans.
Greyhounds were fast enough, but not strong enough. German Mastiffs / English Mastiffs were strong enough, but not fast enough.
So the Grand Danois was born – a German dog, full of German nobility, that was big enough to take down a full grown wild boar, but also fast enough to keep up with the hunt, something that not any Great Danish dog could do at this time.
The Great dane quickly became one of the most popular hunters in all of Europe, and were even used by the royalty. It is said that King Louis XVI of France owned several Grand Danois, as did Marie Antoinette.
The breed was then brought to America in the late 1800s where they became popular as family pets and also working dogs on farms.
EAR CROPPING IN THE GREAT DANE
When giant dogs fight against wild boars, the boards began to rip and tear their ears.
Owners began searching for a way to protect their large dogs, keep them safe and away from as many health issues as possible while they hunted.
Thus, cropped ears began coming the ‘normal’ for Great Danes.
Ear cropping was spread throughout the dog breed as a humane way to prevent the wild boars from nipping, shredding, and tearing the Great Danes ears off, which created a health hazard for the dogs.
Now, if you see a Great Dane with cropped ears- that’s why!
While many people believe that cropped ears are cruel, it is actually done in a way to protect the dog while they are hunting and working.
And today, many Great Danes are no longer used for hunting, but some owners still like a cropped appearance to their modern Great Dane.
Some dogs who participate in dog sports may get their ears cropped to help protect them against ear issues.
Some larger breeds get ear infections, and generally speaking some people suggest that the crop can help to prevent infection.
Others prefer their Great Dane to have a ‘regal’ and ‘breed standard’ look to them, especially if they are being shown and apart of the Great Dane Club of America.
No matter what, if an owner is cropping their dogs ears, it is not ‘abusive’, as long as they provide their dog with an excellent surgeon and get their ears cropped at a suitable age.
HOW DID GREAT DANES CHANGE OVER TIME?
Over time, more and more people were not using Great Dane dogs to hunt wild boars.
With breeding and industrialization, most dogs were being transformed from a working dog to a family pet.
Great Danes job is not the only thing that changed.
Their appearance also changed as time morphed them from hunting down a wild boar to lounging on the sofa being hand fed ice cubes.
GREAT DANES ARE TALLER NOW
A Great Dane’s body is much taller now than it was in the 14th Century.
When hunting, dogs needed to be muscular and strong. But now, as breeding takes place, the breed standard for Great Danes is to be taller and longer, with a slimmer build.
This is why some people think that the Great Dane might not be as strong as it used to be – but this isn’t the case!
They are still just as muscular, it’s just hidden under their extra tall and lanky frame.
Great Danes have been bred to be one of the tallest dog breeds in the world.
The average height for a male Great Dane is 30 inches (76 cm) at the shoulder, and 28 inches (71 cm) for females.
While this may not seem that tall – remember they are standing on all fours!
This would be like a human being around seven and a half to eight feet tall.
The tallest Great Dane on record was Zeus, who stood an impressive 44 inches (112 cm) at the shoulder!
Zeus lived in Michigan with his owner Denise Doorlag and weighed in at 245 pounds (111 kg).
While Zeus may have been the tallest Great Dane, it is important to keep in mind that breed characteristics are there for a reason and you should seek veterinary advice on what a Great Dane is SUPPOSED to look like BEFORE bringing a Great Dane home.
Great Danes may still be chamber dogs, but more so just ones that consume our beds and eat all of our food.
Great Danes are large breeds who are most definitely not spending their time hunting wild animals.
GREAT DANE DOGS TEMPERAMENT
A Great Dane and their temperament, like most dog breeds, highly depends on a few things:
Breeder/breeding
How they are raised in the litter
Socialization
Training
Exposure to new things as a puppy
Vaccine schedule/health issues
Diet
All of these things play a vital role in how a dog will turn out when they are fully grown.
BREEDING
A Great Dane that is raised by a responsible and reputable breeder, who gives them the proper socialization and training is going to be an excellent dog.
On the other hand, if a Great Dane is raised in a neglectful or abusive home, chances are they will not be the best dog.
A ‘backyard breeder’ is not always someone who abuses dogs, neglects dogs, or hurts dogs. A backyard breeder can be someone who does not health test their dogs, produces many litters of unhealthy Great Danes, and does not care to produce the best natured dogs that they can, which ultimately impacts the owners of that Great Dane for the entirety of the Great Danes life. Backyard breeders might even have their litter registered with the American Kennel Club.
SOCIALIZATION
A Great Dane that is properly socialized will be outgoing, friendly and love people.
They should also be good with other animals – including dogs, cats and small mammals.
Great Danes who have not been socialized may be skiddish, anxious or experience separation anxiety.
Great Danes are great family pets, but owners often find themselves in terrible situations when their dog is very young as they have neglected to provide them with the right amount of training while they are growing up.
EXPOSURE TO NEW THINGS AS PUPPIES
Great Dane owners should be mindful of their dog’s age and begin proper training and exposure ASAP!
These dogs grow up faster and quicker than others, and exposure to new experiences is a must while they are impressionable.
Puppies should be taken on car rides, to the park, on walks around different neighborhoods and to as many places as possible.
This will help them become well-rounded dogs who are not afraid of new experiences.
FAILURE TO DO THIS can result in a Great Dane that is anxious or fearful of new environments and situations – which can be very dangerous for both the dog and their owner.
VACCINE SCHEDULE/HEALTH ISSUES
Another important factor in a Great Dane’s temperament is their health.
Great Dane puppies or dogs should NOT be given all of their vaccines at the same time.
These big dogs have a tendency to not tolerate vaccines as well as small dogs and it can be dangerous to provide multiple vaccines at the same time.
Some dogs will have reactions and long term illness or issues when given multiple vaccines at once. Some dogs can have temperament issues that lag on and on.
When giving vaccines to your puppy or dog, speak to your Veterinarian and request veterinary guidance on creating a vaccine schedule for your dog that allows you to give 1 vaccine at a time.
DIET
It is common sense to think that a diet can have an impact on all dogs and other animals, too.
Humans will admit that diet plays a huge role in the health of people, but it is very little talked about how diet impacts their dog.
Diet plays a huge role in the temperament of any Great Dane.
An obese dog is not a happy dog, and often their temperament will reflect that.
Poor diet can also lead to health problems down the road, which in turn can impact a Great Dane’s temperament and personality. Since Hip Dysplasia, Arthritis, Bloat, Cancer, etc, all have an impact on the Great Dane breed, diet is something that should NOT be ignored.
Great Dane puppies face issues such as knuckling or Panosteitis when they are growing, so helping them to grow VERY slow and steady is CRUCIAL. Every Great Dane who is less than 24 months old should be on a Buffered Esther Vitamin C supplement
Full-grown Great Danes can range in size from 100 to 200 pounds and stand anywhere from 28 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder.
Their large size means that they require a lot of food and their appetites can be larger.
A full-grown Great Dane will eat anywhere from four to eight cups of food per day, so be prepared to spend a pretty penny on their food bill each month!
Honestly, Great Danes truly do not need a whole ton of space. However, having said that, there are some things that they require that other dogs just do not.
The size of the Great Dane can also be more intimidating to some people than other dogs, which is why it is important that they are socialized and trained.
No animal can go without a bed, and Great Danes need BIG ones.
Our favorite is the Big Barker, which has a 10 year guarantee and provides benefits to large puppers by keeping their hips and joints off of the hard surface, which can help to prevent joint disease like Arthritis and Hip Dysplasia.
Sometimes people do not think about the fact that if you plan to drive your dog around, and you are getting a Great Dane, you’ll need a lot of room for them.
Invest in an SUV bed from Big Barker, or get a nice car hammock. Plan on your Great Dane taking up the entire backseat.
Great Danes make wonderful family dogs because of their gentle and loving nature.
They are patient with children and have the ability to bond with multiple people.
While they may be large, they are extremely gentle and typically can understand the difference in situations from running around with their peer-sized friends to interacting with a small child.
From their humble beginnings as a hunting dog, to their popularity as a family pet – the Great Dane has truly come a long way.
While they are no longer used for hunting, Great Danes have found a new purpose as gentle giants and loving companions.
Do you have a Great Dane? We would love to hear your stories about your furry friend in the comments below!
We hear this one a lot. As a matter of fact, you may feel this way yourself.
“I need a pet, not a show dog”
If you aren’t showing your dog, of course you don’t need a show dog. But that isn’t actually the point here.
Show dogs are loved family pets. Through the process of obtaining points in the show ring, they prove in some way that they are quality examples of the breed standard. By being good examples of the breed, they are more likely to pass on quality genetic traits.
You may not need a show dog, but you DO need a healthy, well-tempered Great Dane.
A thoughtfully bred Great Dane puppy from a breeder that does full health testing, obtains titles for their dogs (either in show, obedience or work) and offers lifetime support is most likely to become a well-loved, calm, easily trained, robustly healthy and loved family pet.
Many people believe that show dogs are inbred, abused, not allowed to be dogs or have fun, and are being forced to ‘parade around’ in a beauty contest for the enjoyment of humans.
Have you met a Champion show dog? They are some of the most well-cared for, well trained and beautifully tempered dogs out there.
Show dogs that do well in the ring typically have star power. They want to be there and thrive on the attention and environment.
Because they are excellent examples of the breed standard, they can move comfortably and are free of anxiety, aggression and fear.
Show dogs are most often well-loved family pets above all. They are allowed to play, to get dirty, to run with other dogs and to sleep on the bed.
A thoughtful show handler will know how to work with the dog to make showing a positive and fun experience, and will recognize when doing so isn’t a great activity for that particular dog.
Show dogs that want to be there are very proud of themselves and love to show off!
We believe that competing in shows, obedience or trick competitions is WAY more enriching, interesting and fun for a dog than sitting on a couch all day. There is absolutely nothing abusive or wrong about working with dogs and competing with them in shows of all kinds.
Breeders that show or title their dogs breed with quality in mind. They want their puppies to be healthy, robust and have outstanding temperaments, because promoting the breed and contributing to the health of the breed is important to them.
Each litter will have several puppies, and only some are ‘show’ quality. The rest will still be very well-bred dogs and they all need amazing pet homes.
Don’t be afraid to consider purchasing your next Great Dane puppy from a show breeder or a breeder that truly cares about their puppies genetic lineage, health and trainability.
Backyard breeders and careless breeding practices are literally ruining Great Danes.
Giant Breed dogs have no room for error when it comes to structure, yet many breeders that don’t show their dogs to prove their conformation completely disregard hip, foot, elbow and spinal health.
When you seek out a cheap breeder so that you can buy a ‘pet, not a show dog’, you are more likely choosing a breeder that in contributing to the following genetic problems in Great Danes:
Aggression and fear Bloat (has a strong genetic link) Cancer (genetic links are believed to be a contributing factor) Heart Disease and thyroid disorders Allergies and other nutrition, gut health and environmental sensitivities Anxiety, over-excitement, reactivity Eye disorders Poor overall breed type (lacking the robust, healthy and graceful Apollo ‘look’ of the breed) Structural disorders that lead to pain and early arthritis Wobblers and other degenerative muscular and bone disorders Lower overall average life expectancy for the breed as a whole
Backyard breeders and puppy mills are almost solely responsible for the reason why so many dogs are in rescue.
Ethical breeders care very much about the overall health, longevity and personalities of the dogs that they produce & study their pedigrees.
They support the dog and buyers for life, and never want to see one of their dogs in rescue.
They fully health test (Hips, elbows, heart, eyes, thyroid and genetic disorders) their dogs.
Cheap ‘pet’ breeders on the other hand are often operating in volume, sell puppies based on merits unrelated to the actual health and structure of Great Danes (‘designer color’ or a specific % of ‘Euro’), rarely health test their dogs beyond a ‘vet check’, will sell puppies to anybody with money to buy one, and are less likely to offer support or a lifetime return guarantee that keeps dogs out of rescue.
Basic idea here, you are correct. You don’t likely need a show dog unless you plan to show, title and breed Great Danes.
However, if you are choosing to purchase a dog from a breeder instead of a rescue, you have a responsibility to make sure that you are supporting only breeders that are contributing positively to the health, temperament and longevity of Great Danes as a whole.
