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If you are looking for an intelligent and gentle dog
that will be good with family members, young and
old, large and small, the Great Dane may be for you.
However, this giant animal brings with it some
unique problems, many of which are related to its
great size. Standing three feet tall at the shoulder
and weighing as much as 175 pounds, the Great Dane
does not make a great apartment breed. Instead, this
breed needs outside room to roam, play, and train.
With these restrictions in mind, you will find the
Great Dane to be an excellent companion, loyal, and
protective but not as aggressive as its large size
might indicate. In fact, many owners have found the
Great Dane to be very gentle, even delicate in some
ways. Indiscriminate breeding has caused some
problems for families that purchased dogs from less
than reputable breeders, but with careful shopping,
you may certainly find that the Great Dane makes a
fine family pet.
Of course, the best place to start is by reading as
much as you can about the breed. Prepare yourself
with plenty of questions about the care and health
of the Great Dane, so that when you visit breeders
you can clear up any doubts you may have about these
subjects. We recommend visiting at least three
breeders to get a good idea of how they handle their
dogs, to look at the dogs’ living conditions and to
ask about the parents of the puppies you are
considering. A good breeder will be able to answer
most, if not all, of your questions and should be
able to provide documentation that should go along
with a well-bred puppy.
A good breeder should spend a lot of time, and
effort, with the puppies in their first eight weeks
of life, to make sure that they are comfortable with
people and other dogs. A well-socialized young dog
goes a long way to making the pet experience an
enjoyable one. The breeder should be able to provide
you with details about the proper diet for the young
dog and will have the puppy ready with the proper
vaccinations and health tests.
You should only purchase a Great Dane OFA certified,
meaning it is free from hip dysplasia, which is a
joint disease that afflicts many larger breeds. Be
very observant of the living conditions at the
breeder’s facility. For instance, look to see if the
dogs get the right amounts of fresh food and water,
and that the puppies are alert, playful, and
energetic. If possible, ask to see both parents of
the litter you are looking at, giving you a better
idea of the temperament and general health of the
bloodlines.
You could buy from a retail store or backyard
breeder, but this might leave you without the
information you need about the dog’s background and
general health. Sometimes the store personnel and
less-experienced breeder cannot answer your
questions about care and feeding. You should always
be satisfied with the answers you get in these
areas.
In addition, you should ask about guarantees. For
instance, if the dog becomes seriously ill as a
puppy, could you get a replacement or get your money
back? If the dog dies in a specified amount of time,
would you get a new dog or get your money back? You
should always ask for a written contract with the
breeder to cover these situations. If you ask more
questions and get more information than you feel you
need, your experience with your Great Dane can be an
enjoyable one.
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