Points to consider before buying a Great Dane Puppy

Always be sure to see at least the dam of the litter (and the sire if possible). Puppy temperament is influenced by both hereditary (from sire, dam and other ancestors), and by environment (influenced by the dam and the breeder's rearing practices).

Ensure that the dam, the Sire and other relatives, have the temperament that conforms to the breed standard, and that the breeder is raising the puppies properly (preferably in the house as part of the family), and is providing adequate socialisation and early training.

Because a 25-30 pound eight-week-old puppy will generally grow to about six times that weight, special consideration needs to be given before acquiring a puppy. (1,000's of Dogs are abandoned and/or put into rescue every day because their owners didn't realize that their cute little puppy would grow up to be a very large dog with real needs).

                A growing Dane puppy can cost more to rear than an adult dog and in turn you could quite easily end up feeding an adult dog very large quantities of expensive food that may be totally unsuitable for his/her digestion.

There are many types of dog food on the market that are totally unsuitable for a Great Dane.

Be aware than an adult male can easily devour 4-6 LB of meat and/or meal per day and bitches 3-5 lb., depending on age, activity etc.

The food need not be expensive. Based on the ingredients that we use and by feeding at the ratio of 2 parts meat to 1 part meal  -   each pound of prepared food should cost no more than .30p  -  by shopping around and/or buying in bulk, a fully-grown adult bitch can be maintained for less than £1.00 per day.

Anyone considering taking a Dane into their home. (Regardless of whether a puppy or adult), should first spend time with the breed, talk to experienced breeders, find out about and take in as much information relating to the breed as possible. Then answer the following questions:

• Will you be willing &. able to provide enough of the CORRECT food for a giant breed of dog?

• Can you afford the other expenses involved with owning a dog of this size? - Medication, bedding, equipment, toys and a suitable vehicle, cost more for a giant breed.

• Are you prepared to provide a Dane with the companionship and exercise he requires?

• Are you able and willing to provide positive and consistent training, beginning as soon as the Dane enters your home?

• Do you live in a house, or a flat?

• Does your lease allow you to keep a dog? .

• Do you have a separated (i.e. not communal) fenced garden?

• Do you get on well with your neighbours and are they tolerant of dogs? - (Farmers with livestock &.many people with young children are not)

• Are you prepared to be interviewed and possibly have your home vetted

• How many permanent members of your household are there?

• Is there anyone reluctant to take part in this purchase?

• Is the puppy to be a surprise?

• Will there be someone at home for the greater part of each day?

• How long is your puppy expected to regularly be left on his own?

• Have you thought about provision for the dog when you are away? e.g. holiday, business, illness?

• Is there a secure, safe area where the puppy can be left for short periods?

• Is this an area where the puppy would not get into trouble and end up being hurt or perhaps punished for chewing, scratching, digging, accidentally soiling etc?

• Is any member of the family very house or garden proud?

• Are you prepared for some accidental soiling or damage until the puppy has learned to be clean and behave?

• Is everyone prepared tolerate slobber &. dog hairs for the rest of the puppy's life?

• How does everyone visualize the long-term life-style and environment for their puppy (e.g. living in a kennel or boiler room)?

• Will the puppy be left with 'staff for any length of time? The Nanny, Gardener, Baby-sitter etc may resent having to look after the puppy and may not treat it well.

• Is there a swimming pool, garden pond or other hazard to the puppy? - If so, have you considered what do you intend to do about it

• Does everyone fully appreciate the running costs of a Great Dane? E.g..vaccinations, vets fees, Insurance, accessories, Boarding. Transport.

• Is there an elderly or infirm person, living within or frequently visiting the household, who may be knocked-over or injured?

• Is everyone prepared to make the time and effort to bath, groom, clean his teeth &. trim his nails regularly?  -  Train him properly and ensure that he is a pleasure to live with and never a source of irritation to others?  -  Give him regular exercise, if necessary transporting him to a place where he can run free?  -  Clean up after him in public places and not cause a nuisance in anyway?  -  Is everyone fully committed and prepared to love and care for your Dane for all of his life and not just while he is a cuddly puppy?  -  Do they appreciate that dogs, like people, grow old and infirm and may need special care and attention?

• Do you own a dog/bitch at present?

• Would he or she be compatible with another dog or bitch?

• Have you thought about how you would deal with a bitch in season or un-neutered male?

• Has anyone in the household had a Dane or other large breed?

• If so did they experience any problems?

• Are you willing to listen to the advice given to you be the breeder and stick to those guidelines regardless of advice given to you from any other source.

• Are you willing to consult the breeder in the first instance should any changes in your dogs circumstances become necessary

• Is the family relationship secure ? - Break-up of households is the reason for over 50 per cent of rejected dogs. Often a puppy is bought as a last-ditch consolation present.

•  Are there any plans for children in the near future? - Many animals are cast aside when new babies come along.

If, after considering all of these questions, you are still determined to add a Great Dane to your family, then do consider adopting a homeless dog from the Breed Rescue Organisations. Danes of both sexes and all colors and ages are often available.

Please Please Please! do not even think of owning  a Great Dane just to sit and look impressive in his run while you are out at work all day. Danes are sensitive creatures needing love and companionship. To leave him regularly for long periods would be like sentencing him to solitary confinement. Also he would never be properly socialised, difficult to house train and would have no-one around to provide fresh food & water or to help should he fall ill or injure himself. He may suffer from extreme cold in winter or heatstroke in the summer and there is always the fear of Bloat.

An unhappy Dane is obvious to see, they lack weight & condition and have a haunted look in their eyes, DON'T LET IT BE YOUR DANE

If you must have a puppy, then screen breeders very carefully before buying. Make sure the puppies have been bred by someone with the interest & welfare of the breed at heart and not purely for profit and that the parents have the correct temperament. Do not be afraid to ask questions and be prepared to be interviewed yourselves and possibly have your home vetted

As with any dedicated and responsible breeder, It is my policy to breed strictly to the Kennel Club Breed Standard and to abide be the Code of Ethics set out by the Kennel Club and the Breed Clubs. I have continued to adhere to a breeding program established fundamentally for the betterment of the breed, aimed not only at improving my own show/breeding stock but also producing sound, healthy animals that are magnificent to look at and a pleasure to live with. I have made a very long-term, wholehearted commitment to the breed and a sincere undertaking to research and monitor my breeding lines so as to keep them as free as possible from hereditary defects.

It must be understood however, that each mating produces a completely new and unique formula of genes, and that in dealing with the laws of nature &. genetics, I nor any other breeder can not expect to be continually exempt from any problems. Even the most carefully planned mating, between a top-quality female and the best stud dog imaginable, can produce more pet-quality puppies than puppies with genuine show or breeding potential. Deliberately selling out to produce pet pups by breeding a pet-quality Dane to someone else's pet-quality Dane is both unwise and irresponsible. An aggressive Great Dane can be a very dangerous dog and a crippled or chronically sick Dane can be more of a burden than a pleasure

To avoid abuse of the breed, and in particular my own established breeding program, it must understood and agreed that our puppies are NOT sold for the purpose of breeding. - unless by separate written agreement. initially, the Kennel Club Registration Document will be endorsed as follows: - 

Progeny Not Eligible For Registration

Progeny Not Eligible For the Issue Of An Export Pedigree

(It is possible to renegotiate and for these to be lifted at a later date if circumstances allow).

These endorsements can only be lifted by official written request by the breeder to the Kennel Club.No matter how promising he or she appears, I can not guarantee a very young puppy to be of "Show Quality' or suitable as a Brood Bitch" or "Stud Dog". However, if correct rearing &. feeding regimes are adhered to and the puppy fulfils his promise and is maintained in Show Condition, there is no reason, after further assessment, why he could not be shown. In which instance, if he or she is successful, no hereditary defects become evident and you agree to adhere to the codes of practice set out by the breeder, Kennel Club &. Breed Clubs, there is no reason why he could not be bred from. Otherwise it must understood that your puppy has been sold to you as a "Companion only".

It showing is your intention at the outset it is advisable to discuss and consider the pros &. cons in depth and possibly attend a few shows first. If you still feel that you can commit yourself, both time-wise &. financially, to what can be a very rewarding albeit expensive hobby, then-it may be better to wait-for an older puppy that has been selected and run-on for this purpose.

FOOTNOTE

Any domestic animal is wholly at the mercy of the person who keeps it. It is he who determines the course of its destiny during which time he is responsible for it, even to the point of deciding to have it put down. Except for any natural defences that the animal may have recourse to in order to protect itself - and even these may be fully misunderstood - the creature is helpless.
If we wish to face up to the enormity of this statement, then we have to make it clear to ourselves that in owning an animal, we load ourselves with a moral obligation towards it.

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