Hello Danes

Tag: Puppies

  • Great Dane Puppy Care 101

    Great Dane Puppy Care 101

    Welcoming a Great Dane puppy into your life is an exciting and heartwarming experience!

    These gentle giants are known for their immense size, affectionate nature, and unwavering loyalty. However, as with any new addition to your family, caring for a Great Dane puppy requires knowledge, patience, and dedication. In this comprehensive guide, “Great Dane Puppy Care 101,” we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to ensure your Great Dane puppy grows into a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted adult.

    From nutrition and socialization to training tips and healthcare essentials, this article will equip you with the knowledge and tools to provide the best possible start in life for your furry companion. So, let’s embark on this incredible journey of puppy parenthood together and make sure your Great Dane puppy thrives every step of the way.

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    Great Dane Puppy Care 101

    Taking care of a Great Dane puppy involves five key elements for their well-being and happiness.

    • Nutrition
    • Socialization
    • Training
    • Exercise
    • Veterinary Care

    Providing a balanced and high-quality diet tailored to their specific needs is crucial to support their rapid growth. Equally important is socialization, as early exposure to different people, animals, and environments helps them develop into well-adjusted and confident adults. Adequate exercise is another vital component, as Great Danes are active dogs that require daily physical activity to maintain their health and prevent boredom-related issues.

    Training plays a pivotal role in shaping their behavior and obedience. Consistent and positive reinforcement-based training methods help ensure that your Great Dane puppy grows into a well-behaved and respectful companion. Lastly, regular veterinary care is imperative for their overall health. Routine check-ups, vaccinations, and preventive measures are essential to catch and address any health concerns early on, ensuring a long and happy life for your Great Dane puppy.

    Let’s dig into each of these topics below!

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    What to Feed a Great Dane Puppy

    Choosing the right puppy food for your Great Dane is a crucial decision that can significantly impact their health and development.

    When it comes to large or giant breed puppies like Great Danes, it’s important to focus on nutrition tailored to their specific needs. Look for puppy food formulas designed explicitly for large and giant breeds.

    Yes, I said puppy food! You may have heard from other puppy owners or even your breeder that you should feed your new Great Dane puppy adult food. This is an outdated practice and no longer considered the gold standard of care!

    A properly formulated large or giant breed puppy food will typically have controlled levels of calcium and phosphorus to support slow and steady bone growth, reducing the risk of skeletal issues that can be common in rapidly growing puppies.

    Additionally, ensure the food contains high-quality protein sources to aid in muscle development. Consult with your veterinarian to select a brand and formula that meets your Great Dane puppy’s unique dietary requirements.

    Our opinion mirrors that of board-certified veterinary nutritionists, who say that the following formulas are ideal for all Dane puppies under the age of two:

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

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    How to Train a Great Dane Puppy

    Training a Great Dane puppy is a rewarding journey that requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. It’s also really, really important! The last thing you want is a giant breed dog taking YOU for a walk.

    Begin with basic obedience commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” in a controlled, distraction-free environment. Use treats and praise as rewards to reinforce desired behaviors. Practice these behaviors several times a day, especially at first, in a variety of locations. Puppies thrive on repetition!

    For leash training, start with short walks to get your puppy used to the leash and gradually increase the distance. Encourage loose leash walking by stopping and changing direction when they pull, rewarding them when they walk calmly by your side.

    Off-leash training can be challenging for large breeds like Great Danes, but it’s essential for their safety and well-being. Start in a secure, fenced area (or use a long leash, like this one) and practice recall commands like “come.”

    Gradually increase the distance and practice in different environments with varying levels of distractions. Never scold your puppy for failing to come to you, and always make coming to you a positive experience.

    Remember that Great Dane Puppies BITE! This is a normal, playful behavior that usually results from excitement. When your puppy gets too amped up, cross your arms, SIGH, and walk away. This teaches your puppy that you will disengage if they become rude with their teeth; they will learn (with repetition), to chill out.

    To take your training to the next level and ensure your Great Dane is a well-behaved canine citizen, consider pursuing the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title. This program evaluates a dog’s obedience and temperament, including behaviors like sitting politely for petting and walking calmly on a leash. Earning a CGC title not only showcases your Great Dane’s training and good manners but also demonstrates your commitment to responsible dog ownership. Remember that consistency, positive reinforcement, and patience are the keys to successfully training your Great Dane puppy.

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    How Much Exercise Should a Great Dane Puppy Get?

    Exercising a Great Dane puppy requires a delicate balance due to their rapid growth and susceptibility to bone and joint issues.

    While they are a large breed known for their energy, it’s crucial to avoid excessive forced exercise during their puppyhood. Examples of something to avoid include long leashed walks on hard pavement, or super long hikes that result in pure exhaustion.

    Generally, Great Dane puppies should have short, controlled play sessions and moderate walks. Most of their movement should actually come from free play on soft, varied terrain!

    A rule of thumb is 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, up to a maximum of 20-30 minutes for young puppies (for leashed walks and hikes). Focus instead on low-impact activities to protect their developing joints, like interactive play and exploration of various textures (which doubles as socialization).

    Swimming is an excellent option as it provides exercise without putting stress on their limbs. Consulting with a veterinarian or canine specialist can help you tailor an appropriate exercise regimen for your Great Dane puppy based on their individual needs and growth rate. Remember, the goal is to ensure their physical development is gradual and healthy.

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    Veterinary Care for Great Dane Puppies

    Veterinary care for Great Dane puppies is a critical component of their overall well-being. We believe in and trust science and veterinarians!

    These large breed puppies are more susceptible to certain health issues, making regular check-ups and vaccinations crucial. Start with a comprehensive wellness exam shortly after bringing your Great Dane puppy home, and follow a recommended vaccination schedule to protect them from diseases like parvovirus and distemper.

    Given their size, it’s important to monitor their growth and development, ensuring they’re growing at an appropriate rate to avoid skeletal issues. Great Dane puppies should be grown slowly!

    Regular check-ups also allow the vet to address any concerns early on. Discuss a proper nutrition plan with your veterinarian to support your puppy’s unique dietary needs during their rapid growth phase. Additionally, consider discussing preventive measures such as flea and tick control and heartworm prevention.

    Veterinary care is not only about treating illness but also about proactive health management to ensure a long, healthy, and happy life for your Great Dane puppy.

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    Great Dane Puppies are Easy to Care For

    Caring for Great Dane puppies is both a rewarding and responsible undertaking.

    These gentle giants require specialized attention to ensure their health, happiness, and well-being. From choosing the right nutrition and providing early socialization to maintaining a balanced exercise routine, proper training, and regular veterinary care, each aspect of their care is essential in fostering a thriving companion.

    Great Dane puppies may be large, but they’re also known for their boundless love and loyalty, making the effort to raise them well truly worthwhile. By dedicating time and effort to their upbringing, you not only nurture a strong bond but also help them grow into the well-behaved and content adults that this remarkable breed is known to be. Enjoy your puppy and have fun!

  • Is Victor Dog Food Good for Great Danes?

    Is Victor Dog Food Good for Great Danes?

    You may have seen that the Great Dane community often recommends Victor Dog Food. Is Victor Dog food good for Great Danes? Why is Victor so popular among Dane owners? Can Great Dane puppies eat Victor food?

    We’re bringing you the science, stats, and facts today on choosing Victor dog food and yeah, what I have to say about this may be controversial.

    If you are looking for the best food to feed your Dane, this post is for you. I’ve done the research for you!

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    Is Victor Dog Food Good for Great Danes?

    I’m going to come out and say this, but please make sure to continue reading into the post because I’m backing my stance up with actual science. Here it is:

    Most Victor Formulas are incorrect for Great Danes.

    Many popular Victor dog foods have the WRONG balance of calcium to phosphorus, and contain excessively high levels of calcium to begin with.

    As a matter of fact, here is a list of things that can be caused by incorrectly balanced food and excessive calcium, especially when fed to Great Dane puppies under the age of 2:

    • HOD & Panosteitis
    • Retained cartilaginous cores
    • Disturbed endochondral ossification
    • Delayed skeletal maturation & growth of bone length
    • Abnormal bone remodeling
    • Skeletal disorders such as incorrect hip or elbow development
    • Conformational faults including flat feet (affects dogs of all ages)
    • Heart Disease (affects dogs of all ages)
    • Poor breeding outcomes (including small litter sizes)

    Calcium and skeletal disorders in Great Danes go hand in hand, especially for puppies who are exposed to a high amount of calcium in their diet.

    Are you feeding a Victor dog food that is not correctly balanced for your Great Dane?

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    Calcium, Phosphorus, & Great Dane Puppies

    To understand why many Victor dog food that are commonly recommended in the Dane community are incorrect to feed, we have to first understand what appropriate calcium and phosphorus levels are.

    Great Dane Puppies should be fed a diet with the following ratios:

    • Calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1.2 – 1 or 1:1
    • Calcium guaranteed analysis below 1.3%, and ideally around 1.1%
    • Balanced vitamin D levels
    • Calcium amount below 4.5g per 1000kCAL, and ideally below 3.5g per 1000kCal

    Why does this matter?

    Because study after study shows that excessive intake of calcium, and calcium that isn’t balanced correctly with phosphorus (and vitamin D), leads to skeletal problems and bone growth disorders.

    Too low of calcium is also bad, however, that’s a problem seen primarily in raw and home cooked diets, not in commercially prepared diets that meet AAFCO guidelines.

    Dane Puppies will utilize nearly all of the calcium fed to them, and it is believed that adult giant breed dogs in general are less able to deal with excessive minerals (including calcium) as well. Basically put, if a Great Danes’ food has too much or too little calcium, it can be disastrous for their bone health.

    To further complicate things, nutrients such as vitamin D play a role in the bioavailability of the calcium and phosphorus provided in the diet, and zinc may as well.

    You can read more about calcium & orthopedic growth disorders in large & giant breed dogs HERE.

    Many people believe that knuckling is the only growth disorder that Great Dane puppies face. Knuckling is the most obvious, but not the most dangerous.

    Knuckling results from other nutritional factors, not necessarily just calcium, as knuckling is related to laxity in the tendons and excess weight on underdeveloped joints.

    Just because a puppy doesn’t knuckle and seems to ‘grow fine’ on a particular food, doesn’t mean that food is the best choice.

    Many growth disorders related to nutrition or even genetics are not apparent until the dog is slightly older, in pain, becomes lame, or presents with poor bone health and structural problems.

    Correct structure and build of the Great Dane is part genetics, part nutrition, and part environmental factors.

    Screen Shot 2023 01 18 at 10.34.43 AM
    From the Great Dane Club of America.

    Victor Foods for Great Danes

    While we don’t love any Victor formula (we will cover this more below), there are a few popular foods that, based on calcium content and the CA/PH ratio alone we would not feed.

    This data below is based on the GENERAL analysis, not the Guaranteed Analysis (which Victor gives us very little data on, unfortunately).

    The actual calcium levels may be even higher or lower than listed in the general analysis. It seems that Victor doesn’t do a lot of testing on the actual nutrient levels in their foods, which is also problematic.

    When I inquired with Victor via email to clarify their general analysis information, they directed me to their 800 number instead. The fact that I have to run around in circles to obtain relevant nutrition information in writing is a red flag.

    NameCalciumCA/PH RatioAAFCO Large Breed?
    Victor Professional (Purple Bag)1.76%1.3 to 1Yes
    Victor Multi-Pro (Yellow Bag) 1.71%1.4 to 1Yes
    Victor High Energy (Red Bag)1.69%1.2 to 1Yes
    Victor Hi-Pro Plus (Teal Bag)2.39%1.5 to 1 No
    Victor Beef & Rice1.77%1.4 to 1Yes
    Victor Chicken Meal & Rice1.371.3 to 1Yes
    Victor Grain Free (ANY type)VariesVariesVaries

    Some of the foods listed above DO have the AAFCO statement indicating that they meet the nutritional levels for large breed growth. Essentially this means that their calcium content is less than 1.8% on a dry matter basis.

    In our opinion, 1.8% is MUCH to high for a Great Dane, we like to see 1.2% or less.

    All formulas on that list above, regardless of their AAFCO statement, have unbalanced calcium to phosphorus ratios for Great Danes, with one exception (the Victor Hi-Energy red bag), and even that still has a high calcium content (1.67%).

    It’s important to note that a Hi-Energy formula is meant to provide extra nutrition (in this formulation, they use a lot of fat). Excess nutrition is ALSO linked to orthopedic growth disorders, so that food is another example of one that should not be fed to Great Danes under the age of 2.

    Read more about calcium and phosphorus, and how it affects growth, HERE.

    The two most popular foods also have high calcium levels as a whole, which exceed the recommended safe upper limit of 4.5g per 1000kCal.

    • Victor Professional at 4.7g per 1000kCal
    • Victor Beef & Rice at 5.4g per 1000kCal

    Both of those formulas are popular among Dane owners who feed them to puppies, and we’re not sure why. The analysis alone goes against every reasonable guideline on the topic.

    There is one food that I found among Victor foods that has a small label on it indicating that it’s for ‘big dogs’. That is the Elite Canine, green bag. It has a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1.3 to 1 or 1.2 to 1 (depending on the analysis), approximately 3.4g per 1000kCal, and is an “all life stages” formula (essentially, this is puppy food).

    Do not go running to get that formula without finishing this blog post, though, as Elite may also be problematic!

    Victor 5lb ELITE CANINE NEW51 1

    Is Victor Dog Food Good?

    We don’t like to food bash around here.

    One of my biggest pet peeves in the dog focused social communities are statements such as:

    • The food is full of fillers and trash
    • Never feed ‘grocery story’ or ‘cheap food’
    • I would never feed my dog corn and slaughterhouse waste
    • Danes are expensive, you MUST feed a ‘premium’ food
    • That’s like feeding your dog McDonald’s!
    • Veterinarians have no training and receive kickbacks
    • There have been “no recalls” so it must be good
    • The FDA said the DCM grain free link was debunked!

    Truth time: all of those statements above are based on misinformation and classism. The misinformation that leads to these statements is often dangerous and frustrating, too. (I’ll be covering each in different blog posts).

    We have no tolerance for bashing foods that are correctly balanced and at a price point that dog owners can afford. A lot of marketing goes into ‘premium’ pet foods to make us feel like they are healthier or better for our pets, but it’s all marketing.

    Of course, you want to choose the best option for your budget, and that is where science and information comes into play. Many people choose Victor because it’s marketed as “Super Premium” and comes at a reasonable price point.


    You will notice that we don’t food bash, but we DO point out legitimate factors to consider when choosing nutrition for your pet. We look past marketing and past a lot of the needless, inflammatory, and misguided statements listed above.

    See the most recent recall on Victor food here

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    Should I Feed Victor Dog Food to a Great Dane?

    Here are some other legitimate factors to consider when choosing a food like Victor to feed your Great Dane.

    Victor Foods does not staff a qualified nutrition professional.

    At least one of these people should be on staff for the brand itself:

    To put this simply, the “head chef” at Victor Pet foods has an animal science degree buffered by a simple, inexpensive online certificate in companion animals, from an organization focused primarily on livestock. He does not have even basic nutrition credentials, let alone a veterinary background.

    While Victor does collaborate with consultants, they aren’t clear about the scope of that relationship or the qualifications of the consultants.

    It’s important to understand that most times, what this really means is that a recipe in written form was signed-off by a 3rd party, or tested in an off-site lab for verification of nutrient content.

    Just because a food meets AAFCO minimums, does not mean it was thoughtfully and professionally designed to provide optimum nutrition. For giant breed dogs, this is an important consideration as they have very particular nutritional requirements.

    One of the greatest faults of many dog food brands is that they don’t have formulas which were designed and tested specifically to properly support large and giant breed growth.

    Of course, some dog foods have the correct ratios, but were they designed for that purpose? Or do they just happen to meet the AAFCO minimum guidelines on paper?

    We prefer foods that were developed, by qualified nutritionists, specifically to support the slow, even growth and healthy bone development of large and giant breed puppies.

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    Calcium Levels & Great Dane Puppy Growth

    The science of calcium and the calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D link to bone growth issues and poor bone modeling becomes more and more clear as research is done.

    Here is a study that found puppies under 6 months of age were most susceptible to inconsistent calcium levels: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12118666/


    Here is another resource, a well-cited paper regarding nutrient levels and feeding large or giant breed puppies.

    When we look at food brands that have qualified nutrition staff, who do feeding trials, and who do a lot of research, we see MUCH different analysis from their large and giant breed formulas than we see from most, if not all Victor formulas.

    Science-backed companies have cutting-edge nutritional profiles and their formulas should be the baseline upon which other true large and giant breed puppy formulas are built.

    When I’m choosing food for a Great Dane puppy, I want food that most closely matches the brands who have qualified nutritionists, do feeding trials, and publish actual research on this topic. (Or better yet, feed the brands backed by actual science and research).

    Unfortunately, Victor foods does not meet any of these basic requirements and most (if not all) of their formulas end up missing the mark. Notice how the Victor formula is lower in protein, much higher in fat, and higher in calcium, too.

    A note about protein: many people choose food for their Great Dane based off the protein level. This is an outdated practice with many studies showing that the protein level is not a factor in the development of growth disorders.

    Too low of protein can actually be detrimental to proper growth, and may result in excessive intake of calcium.

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    Do Great Danes Do Well on Victor Food?

    Anecdotally, many people cite that their Great Dane does well on Victor foods. Fixing an issue with chronic loose stools seems to be a common positive comment that we see from Dane owners who switched to Victor.

    Many Victor dog food formulas contain inulin (a prebiotic) and probiotics, so this isn’t a surprise.

    Good stools happen on many other brands as well. While good gut health is super important, it’s not the only sign of good health, however.

    Many dogs with shiny coats and perfect stools die in their sleep from unchecked heart disease that presented with very few symptoms. When evaluating the health of the dog, we’re not just looking for good stools.

    Additionally, most Great Dane owners are unable to properly evaluate their dogs movement and structure. As a result may not see an issue with poor angulation, wonky movement, swollen knuckles, turned out limbs, or flat and splayed feet. These are all things where genetics, environment, and nutrition play a role.

    For perspective, check out this young Great Dane. In the first image, she’s being fed Victor foods. Notice her feet after being switched to a more appropriate food. She no longer has swollen ankles, and her feet are providing a much better, stronger platform to support her weight.

    This was a positive and notable change for multiple dogs in this same breeding program, not just the one in this photo. I know this dog personally and her feet improved in a matter of 2 weeks on the food switch.

    IMG 0950
    IMG 0949

    Does Victor Dog Food Cause Breeding Issues?

    We prefer to rely on science rather than anecdotes, but we should note that MANY reproductive veterinarians advise clients to stay away from Victor foods and recommend using well-researched, specially designed formulas from Pro Plan and Royal Canin instead.

    Anecdotally, there is a huge volume of reports from breeders whose dogs were struggling on Victor. Low birth weights, stillbirth, and small litter sizes are just some of the suspicious volume of noted complaints.

    This problem could be related to certain ingredients, bioavailability, or the nutritional balance of protein, fat & carbs.

    We will never know, however, because Victor does NOT do any research and does not perform any feeding trials.

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    Does Victor Dog Food Cause DCM?

    Many studies have shown, on repeat, that there are two main factors contributing to dogs developing heart disease (DCM) from dog food.

    1. An abundance of peas, potatoes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, or similar legumes used in the first 10 ingredients.
    2. Foods that do not have a board certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DACVN) or PhD in Animal Nutrition on staff to formulate the foods (incorrect formulation).

    It’s not about being ‘grain free’. There are confirmed cases of DCM on all kinds of foods, with or without grains.

    There is a lot of misinformation about grain-free dog foods and DCM.

    For a comprehensive look at DCM and dog food, check out this non-biased (contains no ads, sales pitches, affiliate links, or food shaming) timeline of events.

    Think the FDA debunked the grain-free DCM food link? Think again.

    We do not believe that all Victor dog foods will cause heart disease, but, we encourage all Dane owners to stay away from Grain Free foods of all types. Here is an ingredients list from Victor Grain-Free.

    Notice how peas and sweet potato make up a huge portion of this diet. Peas in particular have been shown to be problematic when used in large amounts. For more information on nutritional DCM, READ HERE.

    Screen Shot 2023 02 14 at 8.49.31 PM 1

    Does Hello Danes Recommend Victor Dog Food?

    We do not.

    The lack of qualified formulation staff and unbalanced calcium levels should give dog owners pause about considering this food for their Great Dane.

    Of course, if it works for you and you love it, we’re not going to bash you for feeding it. We do however, want to make sure you are well-equipped with legitimate information.

    If you wish to use Victor foods, keep in mind that the green bag, Elite Canine, is the only grain-inclusive formula by Victor that is actually balanced correctly for giant breed dogs. It does list peas in the first 4 ingredients, however, which is a risk factor for nutritional DCM. We do not recommend this food.

    For our list of professionally formulated foods that fully meet guidelines and recommendations, go HERE.

  • Great Dane Frenchie Mix Puppies

    Great Dane Frenchie Mix Puppies

    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.

    https://www.facebook.com/neetgreatdanes/posts/1913767848975397

    Great Dane Frenchie Pups Accident Timeline

    Neet Danes is a show breeder with multiple AKC champion dogs in their pedigree. This is a highly ethical breeder with gorgeous, healthy dogs.

    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.

    Here is what happened: A few years ago Neet Danes contracted the “Canine Semen Center” to store semen from one of their highly awarded Grand Champion studs, ISOH GCH Neet’s Baby Face AOM CAX BCAT CGCA CGCU TKN RATI.

    Screen Shot 2023 01 18 at 1.06.37 PM
    (Image source HERE) Image shared only for educational purposes.

    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:

    https://www.facebook.com/neetgreatdanes/posts/1913036169048565

    What do Great Dane Frenchie Pups Look Like?

    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.

    https://www.facebook.com/neetgreatdanes/posts/1913767848975397

    What is Next for Neet Danes?

    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.

    https://www.facebook.com/neetgreatdanes/posts/1831936893825160

    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!

    https://www.tiktok.com/@thegreatdanescientist/video/7189876721846570286
  • Male Versus Female Great Dane Puppy, 5 Things to Consider

    Male Versus Female Great Dane Puppy, 5 Things to Consider

    If you are ready to bring a new Great Dane into your home, you may be trying to sort out if buying a boy or a girl will be the better choice for you. I’m going to deep dive into this topic, and help you make the ultimate decision: Male versus Female Great Dane puppy.

    Which one is right for you?

    male versus female great dane puppy

    Male Versus Female Great Dane Puppy Size

    We’re going to over a few key differences between male and female Danes, including size, temperament, and what to expect.

    As a general rule, male Great Danes are actually significantly bigger, beefier, and taller than the girls are with huge feet, broad chests, and giant heads.

    When you are considering a Great Dane puppy, you have to take this into account. Some people prefer a bigger dog, others would like a pet that isn’t going to take up so much room in the car!

    It’s important to note, however, that although females are generally more petite, they are still very strong giant breed dogs.

    Diligent training, proper nutrition, joint care, and the higher costs associated with big dogs (including grooming, bedding, and veterinary care) will still be at play.

    Male Great Danes can be up to 36″ at the shoulder and 180 lbs, while female Great Danes can be up to 34″ at the shoulder and up to 140 lbs. Some petite Great Danes can be as small as 100 lbs and 32″ at the shoulder.

    Before you purchase or adopt ANY giant breed dog, do your research. One of the biggest reasons that people surrender Great Danes to rescue is that they are surprised how big their cute puppy got.

    Screen Shot 2023 01 18 at 10.34.43 AM

    Male vs. Female Great Dane Personalities

    The written standard for Great Danes calls for a courageous and friendly dog.

    They should never be timid, fearful, or aggressive as these traits make them unstable and a danger to themselves and others.

    A well-bred Great Dane will make a great family dog, no matter if it’s male or female!

    Female Great Danes tend to be more independent, while male Great Danes tend to be more clingy.

    While there are exceptions to every rule, there is a general trend here. Female Great Danes are more likely to have a mature, independent attitude while males tend to be giant babies who worship the ground you walk on.

    Both will be affectionate and loving, but it’s well known in the Great Dane community that males will be more likely to suffocate you with affection.

    If that’s your jam, get a male! If you like a good balance, get a female. Then keep your fingers crossed because every Dane is different and you don’t know what you’re going to get until they are fully mature.

    Both dogs should be family and people oriented, either way. Great Danes can also be great with kids!

    Make sure you choose an ethical breeder with a long history of stable, well-built dogs.

    instagram.com/deardanes
    www.instagram.com/deardanes

    Reproductive Hormones, Spay & Neuter

    Some of the biggest differences between male and female Great Danes are related to their sexual hormones and reproductive system. When you are bringing a giant breed dog into your home, everything about this is exaggerated.

    If you don’t like the nitty gritty, skip this section, but I believe it’s one of the most important.

    Keep in mind that the current recommendation is that giant breed dogs should not be spayed or neutered until 18-24 months of age.

    Let’s jump in.

    Male Great Danes have large balls. This is alarming to people, and some people are even grossed out by it (especially as they love to scoot back and sit on your lap!).

    They also tend to release smegma (a cheesy substance) and random drips, which show up on the hard floors of your home after a few days of not mopping.

    If a female dog of any type or size is nearby and in heat, your intact male may absolutely lose his mind trying to get to her. This requires diligence, strict management, and patience. He may even lose weight, shred walls, mark in your home, and jump fences.

    Lastly, intact males don’t always get along well with other intact males. Poor breeding can lead to dogs who don’t handle their testosterone well and develop bad behaviors such as marking and aggression. Talk to your veterinarian and a highly qualified dog trainer.

    Don’t let these things scare you, though! A well-trained male Great Dane with a good temperament will be friendly and social whether they are intact or not. Don’t believe me? Just attend a dog show and see tons of intact male Danes in the same place, all well-behaved and calm.

    male vs. female great dane

    Female Great Danes will experience a heat cycle every 6-12 months on average, starting around 8 months of age. This cycle lasts and 2-3 weeks, and when she ovulates during this cycle she is HIGHLY susceptible to becoming pregnant.

    It’s important to note that while ovulation is the time when a dog is most susceptible to pregnancy, sperm can live for up to a week in the reproductive tract and thus, diligent steps must be taken to prevent mating during the entirety of the heat cycle.

    A heat cycle can be messy as the dog will bleed for the entirety of this time. All of their reproductive organs will swell, and in some cases, the female may even experience a false pregnancy.

    Some females may also become cranky, whiny, and will even mark in the house.

    It is highly unethical to breed a dog without full OFA health testing and proof that the dog has good structure and a stable temperament. Accidental pregnancies are avoidable but all to common.

    Having an intact giant breed dog is a huge responsibility. Literally.

    To handle a female Great Dane while in heat, we recommend size XL reusable dog diapers, lined with period pads or disposable dog diapers.

    PRO TIP: It is smart to introduce a Great Dane puppy to these items before they experience their first heat cycle! Consider putting them on your puppy as early as 2-3 months of age, just to practice.

    This way they are used to it and not bothered by the diaper when the time comes!

    Great Danes

    Male vs. Female Great Dane Lifespan

    In general, because male Great Danes are larger, they are also more susceptible to problems with their joints and their heart that can lead to a shorter lifespan. Statistically speaking, males are also more likely to experience bloat.

    Aggression, stress, and fear in both males and females can shorten their lifespan, making it that much more important to choose a diligent and dedicated breeder.

    No matter which you choose, it’s important to focus on up to date training, nutrition, socialization, and health practices. We share a lot of this information on our blog and in our online community!

    www.hellodanes.com 2 1

    Should I Get Two Great Dane Puppies at the Same Time?

    Many people can’t decide between a male and female puppy, or fall in love with two pups from the same litter, however, this practice is not recommended.

    Littermate syndrome is when two dogs who were raised together become co-dependent on each other. This relationship can cause major training issues, as well as aggression that can only be cured by fully separating the dogs from each other for life.

    This is not to say that you can’t ever successfully raise two puppies together at the same time, but for the vast majority of owners it’s not the most ideal choice. It’s important to note that ethical and responsible breeders will only sell multiple puppies at once to experienced homes that participate in training, dog shows, and dog sports.

    The practice of upselling new owners to purchase a second puppy is a backyard breeding practice, no matter how ‘nice’ the breeder seems.

    If you choose to bring home two puppies at the same time, here are some tips:

    • If you choose one male and one female, plan to send the male to another home each time the female is in heat, no exceptions. Accidental pregnancies are not cool, especially between siblings! Plus, this is very stressful to the male and he will be happier and safer elsewhere.
    • If you choose two males or two females, talk to a dog trainer about same-sex aggression and learn how to prevent it
    • Talk to a dog trainer for tips to prevent littermate syndrome, including taking the puppies to separate training classes, socializing and training them independently, feeding them in different places, and developing a personal relationship with each individually.

  • Homemade Dog Food for Great Danes

    Homemade Dog Food for Great Danes

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

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

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

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

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

    The Benefits of Fresh Food for Dogs

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

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

    They might even tell you that fresh foods can:

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

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

    Be smart about it.

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

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

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

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

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    Home Cooked Diets for Dogs Study

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    16 1

    How to Balance Home-Cooked Dog Food

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

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

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

    VIEW THE BALANCE IT WEBSITE HERE

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

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

    BalanceIT.com 3

    Nutrient Deficiencies in Homemade Dog Food

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

    These health problems include:


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

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

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

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    How to Create a Dog Food Recipe From Scratch

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

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

    Here are a few additional tips:

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

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

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

    19

    Homemade Food For a Great Dane 101

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

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

    For Great Dane puppy food advice, read HERE.

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

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

    This is where making your own dog food will shine.

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

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

    5

    Kibble vs. Fresh Food for Great Danes

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

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

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

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

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

    90% complete and balanced kibble

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

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

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

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    Homemade Food for Great Dane Puppies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Should Great Dane Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food?

    We’ve all heard it.

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

    “Never feed puppy food!”

    “Feed low protein adult food ONLY”

    “Puppy food causes knuckling”

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

    they….

    are…

    wrong…

    Large Breed Puppies and Science Development

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

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

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

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

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

    But…..

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

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

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

    So……

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

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

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    Great Dane Breeders

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Here are our favorites:

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

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

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

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

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

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

    What to Look For in a Great Dane Puppy Food

    AAFCO

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

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

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

    Feed a Great Dane Quality Proteins

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

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

    Fats

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

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

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

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

    Home Cooking

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

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

    Finding a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist

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

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

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

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

    Red Flags to Look for When Feeding Your Great Dane Puppy

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

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

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

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

    Companies That Tell You “Meat Meals are Evil”

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

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

    MEAT MEAL + MEAT BY-PRODUCT MEAL TO REDUCE BLOAT

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Ingredient Splitting

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

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

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

    Read more here.

    The Food is Not Formulated by a Professional

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

    Grain Free Dog Food

    Should you feed your dog grain free dog food?

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

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

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

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

    Grain Free and DCM (Heart Disease)

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

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

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

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

    What to Avoid

    Pulse ingredients may include:

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

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

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

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

    Recalls

    Most people wither and fear the dreaded recall.

    But are recalls really that bad?

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

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

    An Ethical Brand Will Recall Their Food

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

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

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

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

    Darwins Refuses to Recall Their Pet Food After Salmonella Outbreak

    Victor Foods Unprecedented Recall

    FEEDING A GREAT DANE PUPPY

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

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

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

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

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

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

    READ MORE:

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

  • Should Great Danes Have Puppy Food

    Should Great Danes Have Puppy Food

    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!

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    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!

    Great Dane Potty Training

    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.

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    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.

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    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.

    5

    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:

    https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2017/02/confused-about-what-to-feed-your-large-breed-puppy-new-rules-may-help/

    https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2021/11/whats-the-best-food-for-your-new-puppy/

    https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2022/01/growth-guide-keeping-your-puppy-on-the-right-track/

    https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/04/when-your-baby-isnt-such-a-baby-anymore-when-to-switch-to-adult-foods/

    1

    How Much Should I Feed a Great Dane Puppy?

    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!

  • New Great Dane Puppy? This Guide is For You!

    New Great Dane Puppy? This Guide is For You!

    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
    11 2

    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:

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

    Interested in digging into why some foods made our list and some foods (including popular ones) did not? Here are a few articles to deep-dive into!

    Puppy vs. Adult food for Great Dane Puppies

    DCM: Dietary Heart Disease Update 2022

    How to Choose the Best Dry Food for Great Danes

    6 3

    How to Potty Train a Great Dane Puppy

    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.

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    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!

    (Need help choosing a crate? We’ve compiled a list of the BEST crates for Great Dane Puppies HERE).

    To crate train your Great Dane puppy, follow this list:

    • Make sure your crate is in a safe, quiet spot
    • The crate should also be a cozy space with a quality orthopedic mattress
    • Feed all meals in the crate
    • 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).

    An x-pen can be a great alternative for super young puppies!

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    How to Socialize a Great Dane Puppy

    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
    • Wood chips, puddles, sand, gravel, grass, sidewalks, bridges
    • Things that wobble, bounce, or roll
    • 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!

    Need more socialization ideas? Check out our popular Great Dane puppy socialization guide.

    1 2

    New Great Dane Puppy 101

    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.
    • Learn about bloat, one of the top killers of Great Danes (read here for more information)
    • Learn about DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy), a common genetic heart disease in Great Danes that may also be caused, or worsened, by bad nutrition
    • Trim nails weekly and brush teeth daily
    • 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)

    At Hello Danes we support and believe in: gastropexy, balanced dog training, ethical breeding practices, reputable Great Dane rescues, and the concept that Great Danes should be confident, friendly, and built for longevity.

    Need more? Join our popular Great Dane group on Facebook (Hello Danes Group) where we share modern, science-backed nutrition and training advice.

  • Puppy Knuckling Quick-Start Guide

    Puppy Knuckling Quick-Start Guide

    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.

    1 2

    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.

    Puppy Knuckling Photos

    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:

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    Step Two – Change Your Dog’s Food

    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.

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    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.

  • Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?

    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?

    Why is my puppy being aggressive? If you feel like you’ve stumbled upon something more than puppy play, you should trust your gut.

    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?
    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?

    Helping a puppy overcome dog aggression is much easier with young puppies, so the quicker you address the behavior, the sooner you can prevent and stop puppy aggression!

    First, it is important to identify if the puppy growling and puppy nipping you are seeing is, in fact, normal puppy play or dog aggression.

    WHY IS MY PUPPY BEING AGGRESSIVE?

    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?
    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?
    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?

    Well, ARE YOU SURE your puppy is ACTUALLY showing signs of aggression? Dog owners usually know their dogs very well, but take a step back for just a moment and evaluate if your puppy is being an aggressive dog or just demonstrating what could be normal behavior for very young puppies.

    WHAT DOES A NORMAL PUPPY’S BEHAVIOR LOOK LIKE

    Puppy play is ROUGH! Puppy nipping, puppy bites, and puppy growling is all apart of growing up.

    Normal puppy behavior sometimes LOOKS like aggressive behavior, so it is crucial to know the difference between what aggressive puppies do vs. what rough play may look like.

    HOW TO STOP MY DOGS FROM FIGHTING
    Is My Great Dane Being Aggressive or Playing?

    MY NEW PUPPY IS BARKING

    Barking does NOT equal puppy aggression!

    Puppies are experiencing the world in an entire new lens. A puppy’s behavior might be due to excitement, fear, boredom, or a warning sign that something isn’t right.

    5 Dog Boredom Busters: Keep Your Pup Cool!
    Your Great Dane is Bored: Here’s 11 Fun Ways to Entertain Them.

    Puppy aggression is characterized by more than just puppy barking. Aggressive barking is an issue and should be treated seriously, especially in a young family dog.

    image 33

    Great Dane Barking: What to Do When Your Dog Won’t Stop Making Noise

    MY NEW PUPPY IS GROWLING

    Many puppy parents do not realize that growling, in and of itself, is actually a VERY healthy way for a puppy to act.

    There should be a difference in your dog’s behavior from a playful growl during rough play vs. aggressive puppy growling which may come across as more threatening.

    Signs of an aggressive puppy growl may be if the growling is paired with a stiff body, hackles raised, ears flattened against the head, and/or a direct stare.

    91QGzbeY25L. AC SL1500

    Shop for the best crate for Great Danes on Amazon

    MY PUPPY REACTS WHEN I TAKE ITS FOOD OR TREATS AWAY

    You finally brought home your cute puppy anticipating a well behaved dog, brought out their brand new food bowl and dinner, only to have your puppy lunge because they were upset that you were touching it!

    It can be defeating to pet owners to see their puppy’s body language stiffen up when they get out the dog treats, fun toy, or food bowl.

    Food aggression is a very common issue. Do NOT take away the dog food or punish your dog when they show signs of aggression nearby food or resources!

    Canine aggression only gets worse when the owner threatens to remove the item that was causing the bad behavior in the first place. This habit can make the dog feel like they need to protect their resources from you, the family, or other dogs.

    Puppy aggression can be a normal part of development OR it can be a sign of something more serious.

    Identifying dog aggression is essential for helping your puppy overcome this behavior.

    image 20

    MY PUPPY BITES EVERYTHING IN ITS SIGHT

    Puppy biting is NORMAL! Puppy teeth are very sharp and if you are a puppy owner you will have to help your pup learn to use those new puppy teeth for productive things.

    Puppy biting does not equate to puppy aggression. However, if your puppy was not raised with a litter/mom to teach them bite inhibition, their puppy biting habit will likely be much worse.

    Bite inhibition is when a puppy, or dog, learns that their teeth should not be used with the same force on humans as they would on other dogs during play.

    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?

    How to Stop Great Dane Puppy Biting

    Remember that puppy teething can be a painful process. Chew toys and bones can help the puppy teething process go a lot smoother as well as help your puppy act within the boundaries of a well behaved dog.

    If you are having troubles with your puppy biting, there are many ways to help them overcome this undesirable behavior.

    WHAT ARE AGGRESSIVE PUPPY SIGNS?

    An aggressive dog will show signs of aggression that their owners should not take lightly as if they are not dealt with when they are young they will continue into them being aggressive adult dogs.

    Are Great Danes Aggressive?

    SIGNS OF AN AGGRESSIVE PUPPY:

    1. Growling when someone approaches their food bowl, toys, or bone
    2. Snapping at people or other animals
    3. Biting people or other animals
    4. Chasing people or other animals
    5. Showing teeth
    6. Hackles raised
    7. Ears flattened against their head
    8. Aggressive barking
    9. Aggressive puppy biting

    Signs of Stress in Dogs: How to Help An Anxious Dog

    Remember, not all of these signs lead to aggressive puppy behavior, which is why it is so important to examine your specific dog as an individual. For example, many puppies will go through a biting phase during teething and this does not necessarily mean they are an aggressive puppy.

    It is only when you see multiple signs of aggression in your puppy that you should start to worry and take steps to correct the behavior.

    ARE GREAT DANES AGGRESSIVE?
    DOG BITE PREVENTION
    FEAR AGGRESSION AND DOG FIGHTS
    HOW TO GET A DOG FIGHT TO END
    PLAY OR AGGRESSION?

    HOW DO YOU STOP A PUPPY BEING AGGRESSIVE?

    If you think that your puppy is demonstrating aggressive puppy signs, you should have your puppy examined by a dog behaviorist.

    20

    Great Dane Trainer Guidelines: How to Choose a Trainer

    A professional dog trainer can identify a puppy’s inappropriate behavior and determine what behavior modification might be necessary.

    Should your puppy exhibit aggressive behavior around other puppies, other dogs, or children, you should work on strong obedience training and socialization skills that will both protect them AND the other dogs/kids.

    How to Find and Choose the Best Dog Trainer for Your Great Dane

    CAN YOU FIX AN AGGRESSIVE PUPPY?

    Correcting a puppy’s inappropriate behavior is absolutely possible.

    If you notice your puppy aggressively behave, begin by using positive reinforcement to build confidence in their obedience training.

    Many times, aggressive behavior (especially in an aggressive puppy) is linked to a lack of obedience training and confidence which can lead to fear aggression.

    Puppy Fear Periods: What They Are, When to Expect Them, and How to Help Your Puppy
    Fear Aggression in Dogs: The Scary Reality That 1 Bite Can Cause

    WHAT IS FEAR AGGRESSION?

    Fear aggression is when a dog is rooted in fear of people, loud noises, other dogs or something else that causes them to show aggressive behaviors.

    Dog owners might view their dog’s aggression as mean or vicious, but the dog is simply trying to protect themselves from what they perceive as a threat.

    SCARED OF THE VET
    FEAR AGGRESSION
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    Identifying and correcting fear aggression in puppies is essential for helping your puppy feel safe and secure. If you are concerned about your puppy’s safety or the safety of others, seek professional help from a certified dog behaviorist or professional trainer.

    Using positive reinforcement is crucial with any dog that is showing aggressive behavior. Take immediate and appropriate action if you think your pup is afraid of something to the point of demonstrating aggressive behavior. Most dogs will respond hugely to positive reinforcement training. When needed, seek the help of a dog trainer to help with your dog’s aggressive behavior.

    WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A PUPPY GROWLS AT ITS OWNER?

    Dogs growl for a variety of reasons and it does not always mean they are aggressive dogs.

    A dog may growl when other dogs other puppies steal their food or toys. They may also growl when people or other animals come too close to their personal space.

    Growling can also be a sign of fear or anxiety in dogs. If your puppy is growling at you, it is important to take note of the circumstances and what may have led up to the growling.

    ANXIETY IN THE CAR
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    WALKING A GREAT DANE STRESS FREE

    A dog can also growl when they are in pain. Maybe someone touches them in the wrong spot and it hurts them. Dogs have no other way of communicating but using their voice, so a growl could be a sign that your dog is in discomfort.

    If you are concerned about your puppy’s growling, it is best to seek professional help from a certified dog behaviorist or professional dog trainer. They can help you identify the root cause of the growling and work on a training plan to correct the behavior.

    Dog Bite Prevention: How to Avoid a Dog Attack

    DOGS NORMALLY ESCALATE IN BEHAVIOR

    Normally, a dog does not just wake up one day and growl/snap/bite the other dog or child/human.

    What typically happens is that there are progressive signs that they show to other dogs or humans. These are somewhat like warning signs.

    Aggressive dogs do not just ‘turn aggressive’ one morning.

    Instead, there are certain behaviors that they show that indicate that they are uncomfortable with the current situation.

    Some of these warning signs may include:

    1. Drooling
    2. Panting
    3. Cowering over
    4. Hiding
    5. Licking lips
    6. Baring their teeth
    7. Growling
    8. Snapping
    9. Lunging
    10. Barking aggressively

    These are all warning signs that a dog is feeling uncomfortable and if the situation is not corrected, they may escalate to biting.

    If you see any of these warning signs in your dog, it is important to take note and correct the behavior immediately.

    Allowing your dog to continue showing these behaviors can lead to more serious aggression problems down the road.

    AGGRESSIVE PUPPY BITING AND DOG BITES

    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?
    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?

    Dog bites are a very serious issue.

    Typically, by the time a dog bites other dogs or humans, their anxiety, discomfort, or aggression has escalated quite high.

    Dog bites are also extremely dangerous to both the dog itself as well as others involved.

    Seeking professional help and dog training is the best way to go about navigating dog bites.

    GREAT DANE TEMPERAMENT

    Why Is My Puppy Being Aggressive?

    Great Dane aggression happens when there is a severe lack of dog training, backyard breeding and socialization.

    WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GREAT DANE BREEDER

    Great Danes are huge dogs and grow very fast. Therefore, puppies turn quickly into adult dogs. An untrained Great Dane can quickly uproot the dynamics of the family/household.

    Dog training and socialization are crucial for even the most temperamental dog or Great Dane.

    NEXT STEPS

    If you have a puppy who is struggling behaviorally, know that you are not alone. Puppies are a lot of work and a lifetime commitment.

    Starting the work while your puppy is young will make all the difference in the world.

    Get professional help from a certified dog behaviorist or trainer if you are struggling to correct your puppy’s behavior on your own.

    Remember, puppies grow up fast and it is important to nip any bad behaviors in the bud as soon as possible!

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