The GDCA Great Dane Club of America is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1937.
The club’s mission is to promote and protect the interests of the Great Dane breed, as well as to provide education and resources for its members. The GDCA offers a variety of resources including information on health, genetics, training, and more. They also host events throughout the year, which offer opportunities for Great Dane enthusiasts to come together and celebrate their favorite breed!
GDCA Mission & Standards
The purpose of the GDCA is to unite all those interested in the Great Dane and to work for the betterment of the breed by:
– Maintaining a code of ethics for members
– Cooperating with other canine organizations
– Promoting responsible dog ownership
– Supporting research beneficial to the health and welfare of the Great Dane
– Educating members and the public
– Hosting events and activities for Great Dane fanciers
The Great Dane Breed Standard
Great Danes are gentle giants! They should be friendly and courageous, never timid or aggressive.
Well-built Great Danes move gracefully with a powerful reach and drive. They are muscular, yet elegant dogs that should reflect the ideal proportions set forth in the breed standard.
The GDCA has created an illustrated breed standard for Great Dane dogs that can be read here. At dog shows, the dogs are judged against this standard:
The GDCA does allow for breeders to breed spot to spot. The practice of pairing harlequin (spot) dogs with other harlequin dogs can result in white puppies who may be deaf, blind, or have other health problems.
Some breeders who are exceptionally diligent about health testing, pedigrees, and color testing might breed spot to spot to diversify their genetic pool and produce well-marked puppies.
However, it’s not a practice that we stand behind in general, primarily in regard to the majority of Great Dane breeders (who barely do health testing, let alone care about the breed standard as a whole).
The Great Dane Club of America Events
There are several GDCA events each year throughout the U.S.
The most popular event is the GDCA National Specialty, which is held annually in early summer. Great Dane enthusiasts can attend to show their dogs, learn from others, and participate in other events such as lure coursing and dock diving.
Members of the GDCA are among a select group of exceptional Great Dane breeders who are dedicated to the betterment of the breed.
To become a member of the GDCA, you need to apply.
Your application must be signed by at least two existing GDCA members in good standing, who have recognized your work and are willing to sponsor you. By sponsoring you, they essentially stand behind you as a member and your breeding practices.
A qualified GDCA member candidate will have proven to others in the Great Dane community that they care about the breed and are willing to adhere to certain standards and ethics.
If you are interested in adopting an adult Great Dane, there are many wonderful rescues that have Danes available as well. Sometimes, they even have puppies!
If you’re thinking about getting a Great Dane, we urge you to do your research and make sure that you are prepared for the challenges of owning one of these amazing dogs! They are not for everyone.
The Great Dane Club and the American Kennel Club have some fantastic resources for Great Dane owners to learn more about the breed and its requirements.
Great Dane Health
With diligent pedigree research and proper health testing, Danes should have exceptional health.
But as with any dog breed, there are certain health conditions to be aware of.
The most common health problems among Great Danes are:
Diligent attention to pedigrees, health testing, overall structure, current research, and genetic testing can help reduce or eliminate the incidence of these diseases in dogs.
Great Dane Temperament
Great Danes should have a gentle and loving disposition. They should be fearless, loyal, and friendly toward people.
Timid behavior is unfortunately common, but not acceptable.
The ideal Great Dane is strongly built, yet elegant; well-formed, yet powerful; proud and upstanding. They should have excellent angulation and nice top lines that contribute to good movement, reach, grace, and athleticism.
Danes should not be heavy, lumbering, or clumsy; these are all signs that they are not built correctly and may also be more likely to be suffering from ACL tears, hip dysplasia, and arthritis.
There could be room for other colors to become part of the written standard. People who breed Great Danes have to prove that the color occurs naturally from dogs who were paired first for reasons of health and temperament, and prove that the color doesn’t dilute the gene pool or cause additional health issues.
Both the merle and the mantle coat pattern were added within the last 20 years.
Unfortunately, many people breeding dogs are breeding for fun colors, large size, and droop; those things go against GDCA ethics and the written standard.
We stand behind and believe in the GDCA Great Dane Club of America and encourage all Great Dane owners to check out the event calendar. Attend some upcoming events, meet exceptional Great Dane people, learn about dog sports, and see what ethical, dedicated, and responsible dog owners are doing for this breed we love so much!
The adopt don’t shop campaign is a movement to promote the adoption of homeless animals from shelters instead of buying animals from breeders or pet stores.
The campaign is well-meaning. It discourages the purchase of animals from commercial breeders, which often contributes to animal homelessness and neglect. It also highlights the plight of animals in shelters, who are often euthanized if they are not adopted.
I may receive a fair bit of heat for this post today, but there are things that need to be said.
It’s important for me to preface this with the fact that I have rescue dogs and dogs from reputable breeders. I’ve volunteered for rescue and helped with expenses, transport, and adoption applications.
I’ve adopted dogs that others don’t want.I believe in adoption.
I actively promote exceptional Great Dane breeders, too, though.
In my opinion, the phrase ‘adopt don’t shop’ does more harm than good.
Buying a dog from a responsible breeder is not a bad thing. Adopting a dog from a responsible rescue is not a bad thing, either. Of course, rescue and shelter dogs can make incredible family pets!
The problem actually lies in the fact that there are irresponsible rescues and irresponsible breeders everywhere.
Adopt-don’t-shop campaigns casually omit this fact. They promote to prospective dog owners the idea that all forms of rescue are always good, and that buying pets from breeders for any reason is always bad.
Read on, friends.
Adopt Don’t Shop Supports Backyard Breeding
By shaming people for choosing breeders of any kind, the phrase ‘adopt don’t shop’ pushes prospective pet owners to seek alternatives to pet stores and breeders.
Many of the alternative ‘rescue’ paths towards obtaining dogs (purebred dogs or doodles in particular), are often unethical and actually contribute to the problem of over-run rescues.
Retail rescue, meat trade rescue, bait dog rescue, ‘puppy rescues’, and saving puppies from the pet store or a dirty backyard breeder are just some of the most common ways that people buy new pets.
All of these avenues allow people to claim that they rescued or adopted the dog, and thus, satisfy the cries of the people screaming “adopt don’t shop!”.
However, all of these avenues also contribute to the problem. The shelters have more dogs than they can handle, and this is why.
I’ll put this bluntly.
Adopt don’t shop supports, encourages, and perpetuates puppy mills and unethical backyard breeding.
After all, were it not for those two things, the shelters would actually be nearly empty.
There’s an overwhelming number of pets in shelters across the United States. In fact, according to the ASPCA, approximately 3.3 million dogs enter U.S. shelters every year.
Some statistics show that currently, pet overpopulation isn’t the big problem that it’s been presented as; this is good news! For every adoptable dog in a shelter, there may actually be a home.
“The data shows that every year there are six times more people looking to acquire an animal than there are animals being killed in shelters.”
No Kill Advocacy Center
Many of the dogs that end up in shelters are owner surrenders (oftentimes these are animals with serious health problems or training issues), some are strays that were picked up by animal control, a select few come from hoarding and animal cruelty cases, some are loved pets that have nowhere else to go because of hardship or death, and the rest come from unwanted dogs left behind by unethical breeders and accidental litters.
There are three factors associated with this that nobody likes to talk about.
All pets in rescue come from backyard breeders, puppy mills, and accidental litters. All of them. Reputable breeders who support puppy buyers for life are not contributing to the problem.
Not all dogs are adoptable. Many of them are poorly socialized and may even be fearful and aggressive. Some have expensive and severe medical problems that make them hard to place, too. These dogs with ‘sad stories’ tend to generate revenue and clicks for many rescues, but they also eat up a lot of resources.
Many rescues have stringent adoption requirements. A lot of great pet owners are denied because they have kids, don’t have a fenced yard, or have an intact pet at home (say, a hamster). Those people are still shamed for choosing a breeder.
The people who are shamed by the adopt don’t shop campaign are more likely to make poor snap judgments and choose unethical breeders or shady rescue organizations when ethical rescues turn them down.
Out of frustration trying to find a family-friendly, healthy dog that can live with them in their unfenced yard, they turn to craigslist or a mass adoption event and purchase the first puppy they can find.
Adopt don’t shop literally pushes people to purchase pets from the worst sources, for the wrong reasons.
These organizations parade around as 501c3 rescue groups. They have you fill out adoption paperwork and sign contracts. Their adoption requirements are often more forgiving than breed-specific rescues and shelters.
Many times, what they have to offer are entire litters of desirable puppies or hoards of dogs that came in on a transport van from what they claim to have been fighting rings, hoarding cases, or the ‘meat trade’.
English Bulldogs, Pit Bulls, Labradoodles, Miniature Poodles, Bernadoodles, French Bulldogs, and Golden Retrievers are just some of what is commonly seen in retail rescue.
While there are legitimate cases of dogs having been abused and neglected in fighting rings or hoarding cases, the solid majority of “rescued” purebreds and doodles available in some rescues are coming from, you guessed it, puppy mills!
Retail rescue organizations will attend puppy mill auctions and purchase (yes, purchase) dogs and puppies. Because they come from mills, they are often in poor shape. They will arrange transport and move the dogs that they bought across State lines in vans that are packed to the gills.
The sob story pets in poor health paired with desirable dog status is a winner. Retail rescues can (and often do) charge a premium for these pets.
By attending auctions and paying for puppies, retail rescues are literally paying commercial breeders to stay in business.
Of course, these dogs deserve loving homes. But if we want to save them all (instead of just a handful), this practice of paying puppy mills has to stop, especially if ‘adopt don’t shop’ people actually want to save dogs.
Hot take: ‘adopt don’t shop’ and similar activist and welfare campaigns inadvertently encourage the retail rescue practice. Rescues are able to operate this way because unsuspecting and uneducated pet owners easily fall for the marketing. People want to feel that they are doing the right thing.
But if rescues advocates actually want to put a stop to this, they need to be educating people on what ethical rescue and (yes) ethical breeding actually looks like. Not screaming ‘adopt don’t shop’.
Puppy brokers help distribute dogs that come from mass-breeding facilities. The conditions in these puppy mills are often horrific, with animals being kept in tiny cages and deprived of socialization, exercise, and proper vet care.
Some puppy brokers even go so far as to bring animals from foreign countries. By importing them, they can be marketed as special in some way, misleading puppy buyers into believing they are getting something of higher value.
If our shelters and rescues are supposedly so full, why are brokers and retail rescues importing dogs?
Puppy brokers sell directly to buyers, to pet stores, and to rescues. When selling to consumers, they will use marketing tactics to make the buyer feel that are dealing with a responsible breeder.
The solid majority of dogs imported from the “meat trade” were never actually destined to be eaten.
It’s a story that sells. Puppy mills in the U.S. and overseas have learned that they can get a much higher price for their animals if they say they were saved from being slaughtered and eaten.
The “adopt don’t shop” mantra feeds (excuse my pun) right into this.
A solid majority of “meat-trade” dogs are puppy mill dogs (which brings us back to the retail rescue problem, see above). They were literally bred to be sold to people who will pay big bucks for a sob story.
Think about this the next time you see a plane-load of highly desired “meat” breeds being brought into the U.S. to be ‘adopted’.
While it’s true that some cultures do consume dog meat, it is not as prevalent as many people believe. The practice of eating dog meat has actually been declining in Asia.
Most dogs that are raised for the purpose of consumption are a type of street mutt. They are definitely not Doodles, nor are they purebred Golden Retrievers, Pomeranians, French Bulldogs, or Greyhounds.
The idea that Asians “eat and abuse dogs” is a racist stereotype. It’s time to put this one to rest, once and for all.
The term ‘bait dog’ is often used by animal activists to try and generate empathy and outrage.
The vast majority of ‘bait dogs’ in shelters are actually just fearful or aggressive pets that come from questionable genetics and were poorly socialized by their previous owner(s).
Blaming all of a dog’s fearfulness or aggression on them having been part of a “fighting ring” is lazy and does nothing to help the dog or the breeds that are commonly labeled this way.
Shelters and rescues should be evaluating a dog’s behavior and working on a rehabilitation plan and dog trainers that will make them more adoptable, not coming up with stories about their past that are likely not true.
Puppy mills breed pets primarily for pet stores. They are large-scale commercial dog breeding facilities where dogs are kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions and bred for profit, with little to no regard for their health, genetics, or welfare.
Well-meaning dog owners will visit pet shops and feel bad for the puppies, especially if they appear cute, sick, sad, or lonely. They will purchase them (often at a premium) to save them from the ‘bad breeder’ or ‘bad pet store’ without realizing that they are supporting the very profitable puppy mill and backyard breeding industry.
This practice keeps puppy mills in business and pet overpopulation soaring!
Pet store owners and backyard breeders know this and are able to manipulate emotions to generate sales. They want you to feel bad for the puppy and to buy it (often at outrageous prices).
Many owners bring their new pet shop puppy home, only to be faced with Parvo, Kennel Cough, and painful genetic disorders that require expensive veterinary care.
So what happens to those sweet pet store puppies that don’t sell? They are often returned to the puppy mill, sold to Class B dealers (random source breeders/dealers, including retail rescues), or surrendered to veterinarians or (hopefully ethical) dog rescues.
Puppy mills and commercial breeding facilities are cruel and inhumane operations that should be shut down.
Do not buy a dog from a pet shop! Report poorly kept, sickly companion animals to your local animal control.
I’m a huge believer in adoption from ethical and reputable rescues! As I mentioned before, two of my three pets are from rescues.
My adopted Great Dane is an incredible family dog. She’s gentle with kids, easy on my home, great off-leash, and calm with guests. We could not ask for a better dog. Unfortunately, she also came with baggage and some health problems.
I think she’s absolutely perfect anyways, but her story is not isolated. Adoption can be both heart breaking and rewarding.
Many Great Danes Need Homes
There are some incredible Danes in rescue just waiting for the right home to land their paws in.
Until you reach out and ask, you’ll never know who is out there looking for you! Even if you are considering a breeder for your next dog, it’s worth checking the local reputable and ethical rescues first.
Make Room for the Others
Unfortunately, because of backyard breeders and people perpetuating that problem by buying dogs from them and from pet shops, the rescues are full.
When you adopt a dog, you make room for another one to be saved!
Respect for Imperfections
Adopting a Great Dane means having respect for, and accepting imperfections.
One of my adopted Great Danes is missing a front leg. Giving her the best life possible brings me intense joy.
Some rescue dogs are seniors and need a comfy couch to crash on. These are some of the most rewarding dogs to adopt!
Support Rescues
Good dog rescues need our support. They need funding, fosters, and volunteers, not to mention responsible dog owners. Exceptional breeders know what Great Dane (or other breed-specific) rescues are legitimate and will be able to give you a referral.
Clean up the Mess
A common theme here is that rescues all come from unethical breeders of some kind.
By choosing to adopt a Great Dane, you will be helping to clean up the mess left behind by all of the ‘friendly’ backyard breeders who are breeding purely for droop and profit.
What we do not support is backyard breeding, unethical breeding, and poorly run profit-driven retail rescues.
There are many valid and acceptable reasons to choose a breeder for your next Great Dane puppy. Here are just 5 of them!
Known Health History
Great Danes are known for a series of life-threatening, painful, and expensive health conditions including but not limited to hip and elbow dysplasia, cardiomyopathy, GDV/Bloat, cancer, and more.
When you adopt a Great Dane from a reputable breeder, you will know the health history of the parents and grandparents, which can give you a heads-up on what to watch for down the road.
A good dog breeder will be focused on exceptional health. They will seek to eliminate as many health problems as possible by carefully selecting which parents to breed together. It is not unheard of for well-bred Great Danes who receive regular veterinary care, are kept lean and fit, and are fed a proper diet to live 10 – 12 years or more.
Known Genetics
One of the best parts about choosing an ethical Great Dane breeder is that your puppy will have a known genetic history and lineage.
Because so many health and temperament problems in Great Danes are hereditary, it’s important to know as much about your dog’s parents and grandparents as possible.
Aggressive, fearful dogs tend to produce unstable, aggressive, and fearful puppies. That’s just a fact.
Not only that, but dogs with poor angulation, eye problems, heart problems, and history of bloat, wobblers, seizures, and DCM in the pedigree tend to produce puppies who suffer from those same problems.
Sport and Show
One of the main reasons to choose an ethical Great Dane breeder is that well-bred purebreds can participate in AKC Dog shows and compete for titles.
Dog shows are fun and serve a great purpose in maintaining the breed standard.
While rescue dogs can and do compete in many sporting events, most people who want to truly excel at sports such as agility, dock diving, rally, or even therapy work will look for pets that were purpose-bred.
This means that the breeder focused on structure, movement, drive, and temperament, thus increasing the chances that their puppies will excel in various sports.
Healthy Companions for Life
Dogs from exceptional breeders who bred for health and temperament are much more predictable. This means that they are more likely to be stable, outgoing, friendly, calm, and in robust health.
Animals who have been bred for generations with poor health and temperament tend to produce puppies that suffer from the same problems.
Rescue dogs all come from unproven, poorly considered breeding stock. This doesn’t make them bad, and many of them do great despite it, but it’s a fact that people should be aware of.
Support Breed Conservation
Breed standards serve a purpose.
If a breeder strays too far from the standard, the dogs start to look nothing like the breed they are intended to be. We see this often with droopy, heavy, stocky ‘Euro’ type Great Danes.
Not only is the standard about achieving breed type, but it’s also about structure and health.
Great Danes need to be supported by excellent structure and movement, something that can become uncomfortably compromised when a breeder’s only goal is to produce giant, slobbery Danes in a rainbow of fun colors.
When you buy a dog from an ethical Great Dane breeder who follows the standard, you are supporting breed conservation. This is important not just for Great Danes but for all breeds of dog.
How to Choose an Ethical Great Dane Rescue
We support ethical rescues that have a mission to help place homeless pets in good homes. Breed-specific rescues are best equipped to handle the needs of individual breeds, while the animal shelter is often best equipped to handle the needs of a variety of mixed breeds from different backgrounds.
Temperament Testing & Placement
Reputable dog rescues will be very diligent about placing dogs with families based on their needs. They can even guide potential dog owners towards a specific breed type.
They will know a lot about the dogs they have and will want to make sure that you get the best dog for your family and situation.
A good rescue organization will be honest about any health and temperament problems and should have the resources to put time and money into training and health care before adopting the dog to you.
Lifetime Support
Ethical dog rescues will provide lifetime support. They never want to see a dog they adopted out ending up back in rescue again, and will support those who have adopted for the life of the dog.
These rescues will check references and do an interview prior to approving your application.
They may require that you obtain professional training within 30 days of adoption and will be there for you if you have questions or if the dog isn’t the right fit for your family.
Ethical Rescue Mission
A reputable dog rescue will want to do the right thing for dogs. In some cases, that may mean turning down owner surrenders, deferring to veterinarians and qualified trainers for advice, and in some cases, choosing euthanasia.
They never purchase dogs from puppy mill auctions or brokers, and they truly want to see fewer animals in the rescue system, not more.
Ethical rescues do not blindly promote the ‘adopt don’t shop’ mantra because they understand how damaging and harmful that concept is.
No-Kill Shelters & Rescues
Don’t fall into the myth of the ‘no kill’ shelter or rescue.
These organizations simply turn down or displace un-adoptable dogs, rather than euthanize them.
Many of those pets end up bounced around, abused, or abandoned on the road.
Some are placed in the hands of unethical ‘rescues’, who purposefully withhold important information about the dog’s health or aggression issues, and will send them home with an unsuspecting family.
Oftentimes, they end up euthanized at a County Shelter anyways.
The no-kill concept pushes broken dogs deeper into the rescue system to avoid the inevitable, rather than addressing it when the dog can be let go of in a more loving and humane way.
How to Choose an Ethical Breeder
Choosing an ethical breeder for your next purebred dog is the difference between supporting practices that contribute to the rescue dog population, and supporting practices that increase the health and well-being of pet dogs as a whole.
Pets from good breeders don’t end up in rescue.
Health Testing
Ethical breeders fully health test both parents prior to breeding. In Great Danes, for example, this means that both parents will have the following tests done, with the results logged at WWW.OFA.ORG:
Heart (Echocardiogram)
Hips (X-Rays)
Thyroid
Eye Exam (Full exam with an ophthalmologist)
The breeder should be able to provide you with copies of these health tests, as well as the registration numbers for both parents.
If a breeder cannot provide you with proof that both parents have been health tested with those tests at minimum, move on. Doing only one or two tests is not enough. An Embark genetic screening and a vet check is also not enough.
There are plenty of ethical breeders out there who are doing the right thing. Keep looking.
DNA tests for Degenerative Myelopathy and von Willebrand’s Disease are also recommended, though not required.
The breeder should be able to provide you with copies of the test results or direct you to where you can view them online.
Any breeder that does not do the full and complete recommended health tests is a backyard breeder, no matter how nice and friendly they seem.
Proven Pedigree
Preservation breeders are focused on pairing dogs that improve the pedigree. In doing so, they are able to reduce and eliminate common health and temperament problems in the breed.
The most responsible breeders show their dogs. By having a 3rd party evaluate their dog’s structure, movement, and form they can make sound and responsible breeding decisions as well as ensure that their puppies are given the best chance at exceptional health and well-being.
Puppy Culture
Reputable breeders use Puppy Culture and similar programs to socialize their puppies. This means that the young puppies are exposed to new environments, challenges, people, and experiences on a regular basis.
Puppy Culture is a well-documented protocol that has been shown to produce puppies that are more resilient and better able to cope with stress.
The breeder should be able to provide you with information about this program, and may even ask you to participate while your puppy is still with littermates!
Puppies should never go home prior to 8 weeks of age. That is a practice of irresponsible breeders and can lead to immature, aggressive, and fearful behaviors.
Lifetime Support
Lastly, the most important thing to look for in a reputable breeder is that they offer lifetime support.
Ethical breeders never want to see a dog they bred end up in a rescue, and will take a puppy back in at any time, for any reason.
Most also volunteer for and donate to their breed-specific rescue efforts.
The “adopt don’t shop” campaign fails to recognize this and does not acknowledge how reputable breeders actually play an active role in ending pet overpopulation.
The most important takeaway is this.
“Adopt don’t shop” should be replaced with the more ethical, helpful, inclusive, and thoughtful term: “Adopt or Shop responsibly”.
Education is how we solve this problem, not shaming.
The West Paw Toppl Dog Toy is used for engagement and enrichment for dogs- but is it worth it?
DO WEST PAW TOPPL INTERACTIVE TOYS KEEP DOGS ENTERTAINED?
Do West Paw Toppl interactive toys keep dogs entertained? That’s a puzzle. But we chew on the question and come up with this: it depends on the dog. Some dogs will go for anything that’s new, and others need to be coaxed with a treat. But all pups will eventually get bored with the same old toy, which is why it’s important to have a variety of puzzle, chew and treat toys on hand.
For my dogs, the answer is yes. Let’s dive into why and how.
I started to feel like I was spending all of this time making them Kong’s for my OWN ENGAGEMENT! The engagement activity was digging it all out in the sink just to get the Kong clean. It REALLY stinks to spend time, money and effort to fill up food puzzles for your dogs, just to spend 20 minutes then rinsing it all out– I felt like groundhogs day.
There were times when the food got stuck in the hole of the toy, and they were unable to get it out, leaving the Kong at risk of mold and mildew.
My dogs are bright! But they are NOT prey drive/driven by food/working dog breeds.
Food puzzles had become a big source of frustration for us. They were just maybe too lazy to use a Kong. I decided that the Kong was not for us anymore. It was just TOO MUCH WORK for me and NOT ENOUGH FULFILLMENT for them.
That is when I decided to try the West Paw Toppl, even though I was hesitant.
WHAT SIZES DO THE WEST PAW TOPPL COME IN?
The two sizes of the West Paw Toppl come in small, large and extra large. The three sizes are sold separately.
But, honestly no matter what size dog you have, the price for the two sizes are about the same (give or take a few bucks) and the large can be used for a small dog. Just simply put the Toppl back in the freezer after a few minutes and reuse later.
If you have bigger dogs, definitely go for the Large size. The large toppl toy is not necessarily a ‘big’ dog toy, but its big enough for them to eat out of, which is my FAVORITE part about it
The biggest complaint I have with the Kong is that the hole at the top was too small for my giant breeds to eat from. They’d get bored, the stuff got stuck, they’d stop eating, it would get gross.. You get the point.
Getting the large sizes in the toppl treat allowed my pet to enjoy the toy almost immediately. It did take them some time to understand the toppl treat, but DEFINITELY not as long as it took them with any other food toy (which was nearly never- ha).
WEST PAW TOPPL FOR SMALLER DOGS
If you have a smaller dog, you can get the smaller toy.
The toppl comes in the small and large size. However, I do believe you can use the large toppl for small dogs.
The topple treat toy has a more appropriate shape than other chew toys meant for filling up, in my opinion which allows their tongue to get in easier and allows for zero waste.
Just take the treat toy and fill it with either your dog’s favorite food, snack, some wet kibble, or canned food and then freeze.
They like other treat dispensing toys and similar items, but with the Kong they seemed to get bored and not be able to get the items out. The hole seemed too small and ultimately just created more work for me.
Because of the way the toppl treat toy is made with the wide opening, they are able to more easily interact with both the small and large toppls. It seems more species appropriate than having them stick their tongue in such a small spot.
As an added bonus, the small and large toppls seem MUCH easier to clean. With others, I always worried that mold and grossness was going to start growing on the inside. But with these ones the hole is wide enough that I can clearly make sure that they are thoroughly cleaned aftewards.
CAN YOU USE THE WEST PAW TOPPL FOR FEEDING MEALS?
Absolutely! These are the only toys I use to regularly give my pups their meals.
I use wet food and mix it with water, stick it in the freezer and later let them enjoy!
You may not have a beautiful meal like you see on the internet, but who cares! Mine are never pretty- but they are delicious and healthy.
Something cool that is sold separately than the toppl treat are these adorable little additions for the clever dogs. If your dog is able to figure out how to use the toy immediately, you can make the job harder by adding this to the inner ridges and challenging them.
Typically, I just use the West Paw toppl for mealtimes, but you can also use it for healthy treats.
Just fill up the toy with anything you’d like! Then, add bone broth or water to be able to freeze it all together before you feed (freezing will make it last much longer when you feed it!)
Ideas for things to add in:
Cottage Cheese
Apple Sauce
Slices of Granny smith apple (My dogs LOVE Granny Smith apples for some reason!)
I have also found that using the wet food along with some kibble or dry treats works great too! The toppl treat dispensing toy is great for mental engagement and enrichment, especially if you dog is prone to anxiety or boredom. You can use it as a puzzle toy by filling it with their favorite treats
IS THE WEST PAW TOPPL DISHWASHER SAFE?
I have washed my West Paw toppl nearly 10 times and it is completely dishwasher safe!
The company states that you should use only the top rack dishwasher shelf in order to make sure it does not melt.
After dinner, I typically rinse it out to get any leftover gunk out, then stick it in the dishwasher. So yes, it is definitely dishwasher safe.
The only negative I have with the West Paw toppl treat dispensing toy is that it does not come in many different colors.
I wish there were more color options to choose from because right now it is only available in three colors- tangerine, neon green and aqua blue. I have one of each of these colors, but the primary color that I love is the aqua blue. But- keep in mind our dogs see colors in different ways than we do anyways- so the colors don’t bug them!
ARE THE WEST PAW TOPPL DOG TREAT TOYS CHEW PROOF?
I do not believe that the West Paw Toppl is chew proof.
However, you should consider that this is not a chew toy.
If your dog loves to chew things, you should monitor them while they eat their meal for your dog’s safety.
Moderate chewers could probably get away with it if they are just chewing it while they’re eating but direct chewing on the toy would likely damage it and could even cause an obstruction should they swallow it.
ARE THE WEST PAW TOPPL DOG CHEW TOYS SAFE?
Most animals love to eat but dog owners should monitor their dogs while they do so!
I do believe that the West Paw toppl is a more appropriate shape for animals not to get their tongues stuck inside while they are eating.
The material is also non toxic.
I have had zero concerns with my Great Dane’s safety while they use the items. My two suggestions would be:
Always monitor your animals while they are eating for your dog’s safety
Always read the labels of any items you include in their meals
Just take canned food, stuff it in there, fill the rest with water, mix it together, and then add a few treats on top!
Done…..
Easy right?
Don’t forget to freeze.
DEHYDRATED RAW OR REGULAR RAW WITH TREATS
You get the point… Do the same exact thing as above but with dehydrated raw or standard raw food!
I like to crumple up some dehydrated raw or balanced wet raw (We love Raws Paws) and then pour water over top of it. Sometimes I’ll add some veggies on top, then freeze.
If you feed kibble- do the same exact thing but with kibble!
It really does not get easier than that!
WEST PAW’S PUZZLE TOY IS A GAME CHANGER
The West Paw Topple is one of the only toys that my dogs will successfully be able to eat their meal from.
If you’re looking for dog toys for them to play with, this probably isnt the right one for you.
But if you’re looking for a top rack dishwasher safe treat toy that you can use to keep your pup entertained, they’ll take to the toy immediately, it’ll bust their boredom, and can be used with both a senior dog or puppy, then you should definitely purchase.
Today I’m sharing 5 great reasons to have your dog’s teeth cleaned by a veterinarian!
Dental health is important for both humans and dogs. Just like us, dogs can suffer from oral diseases, tooth decay, and gum disease if their teeth aren’t cleaned on a regular basis.
The American Veterinary Dental College recommends that all dogs have professional teeth cleaning at least once a year.
I’ve also just been through this with 3 dogs (yes, three!) and have some tips and advice to share.
It’s normal to feel nervous about putting your dog under anesthesia, especially when you don’t know what to expect. I’m going to clear that all up for you today!
How Often Should I have my Dog’s Teeth Cleaned by a Veterinarian?
The short answer is: it depends. Factors affecting how often your dog needs a teeth cleaning include their age, breed, and overall oral health.
Your veterinarian can help you determine how often your individual dog should have a professional dental cleaning.
Some dogs require more frequent cleanings than others, even if you are diligent about brushing at home!
Your dog’s teeth may look clean and healthy on the surface, but there could be problems lurking below the gum line.
A big part of a veterinarian’s job is to prevent problems before they start, and one way to do that is by taking dental x-rays.
These are done as part of the dental cleaning, while the dog is sedated.
Dental x-rays allow your veterinarian to clearly picture your dog’s teeth, gums, and the bones that support them. This is important because many dental problems (such as tooth decay or infection) can’t be seen with the naked eye.
If your veterinarian finds anything concerning on the x-ray, they will call you to approve additional treatments (while your dog is still under anesthesia).
In my case, one of my three dogs had decay below the gum line in one tooth. Brushing would never have caught it, and it wasn’t visible to the naked eye.
I approved a tooth extraction over the phone, which added about $75 to my total expense for the procedure.
Dental disease is one of the most common diseases in dogs, affecting over 80% of dogs by the time they’re three years old.
That’s why it’s so important to have your dog’s teeth cleaned on a regular basis – to prevent problems before they start, and to catch any early signs of dental disease.
A professional teeth cleaning will remove tartar and plaque above and below the gum line, which you can’t do.
Diseased teeth in your dog’s mouth can lead to serious health problems, including infection, tooth loss, and even damage to the heart, liver, and kidneys.
That’s why it’s so important to have your dog’s teeth cleaned on a regular basis – not only for their dental health but for their overall health as well.
If your dog has dental disease, they’re likely in a lot of pain. Dogs hide their pain well, and it’s easy to miss the subtle signs.
A professional teeth cleaning will relieve that pain and help your dog feel (and act) normal again.
My dog that had to have his tooth pulled had become growly and noisy when being petted by strangers. This is not like him, he loves people! He wasn’t being aggressive, he was talking a lot, though.
Following his dental procedure, that behavior went away. He’s back to being his sweet, loving self.
Your dog may be in intense pain, but has no way to tell you. It can be easy to miss!
As an added bonus, a veterinary dental cleaning = fresh breath!
No more stinky dog breath caused by slimy, gunky teeth. This is good for you and your dog (who no doubt does not want to live with that nasty bacteria stinking up their mouth every day).
Veterinary Teeth Cleaning vs. Sedation-Free Cleanings
Many boutique pet stores and dog training facilities offer clinics where you can have your dog’s teeth cleaned without sedation.
I have never done this, but I can see how it would be appealing – less expensive and no anesthesia risks.
However, from what I’ve been told by my veterinarian (and many others), these types of cleanings are not as thorough and may even be bad for your dog’s dental health!
Not to mention, they are more stressful for your dog as they are awake and aware of what is happening. This type of cleaning cannot address hidden decay or bacteria below the gum line, either.
Do veterinarians recommend sedation-free teeth cleaning?
Veterinarians do not recommend sedation-free teeth cleaning.
Having your dog’s teeth cleaned under anesthesia will be MUCH less traumatic for your dog, even though ‘sedation-free dentistry’ is marketed as a ‘gentle’ alternative that sounds appealing to nervous dog owners.
Think about this for a moment: many humans require sedation for even basic dental work. We are often nervous about dental work, even though we have much more control over the process and our understanding of it than dogs do!
To put this bluntly, sedation-free dental cleanings for your pet’s teeth are NOT necessarily gentle, humane, or stress-free. Even if they were, they only address the plaque and tartar on the visible part of the tooth, not what is below the gum line. Periodontal disease may very well still be a major problem for your dog.
This is all, of course, assuming that your dog is an ideal candidate (is in good health and does not have a fractured tooth or excessive decay) and doesn’t wiggle, struggle, or stress during the procedure.
Even if your dog is a perfect candidate, after you pay $300 to have your dog’s teeth cleaned without anesthesia, your dog will still have bacteria lurking, ready to grow, and continuing to cause bad breath and decay.
Yikes.
Many dogs require more care to remove tartar build-up and dental plaque than can be provided by anesthesia-free dentistry, costing you more in the long run for proper dental care.
Once you’ve decided to get a dental cleaning for your dog, it’s time to prepare! Knowing what to expect will make the process much smoother and less stressful for both of you.
Dog Dental Surgery Pre-Op
It is very important that your veterinarian do a physical exam and bloodwork prior to dental surgery.
This is necessary to check for any underlying medical conditions that could cause problems during anesthesia. Do not skimp on blood work!
Your veterinarian will also perform a quick, easy dental examination to assess your dog’s overall dental health and to make sure that there are no obvious problems that need to be addressed prior to anesthesia.
Contrary to popular belief, old age does not mean that a dog shouldn’t have anesthesia! Many times, the benefits of regular dental cleanings far outweigh any risks associated with general anesthesia.
Your veterinarian will provide you with information regarding their protocols. Most of the time, they will request that your dog has no food for a period of time prior to the professional cleaning.
This is because anesthesia can cause vomiting, and they want to avoid any risk of your dog aspirating (breathing in) food or water.
Your veterinarian or a technician will also go over the risks and benefits of the procedure with you. You will leave your pet with the veterinarian for the procedure, and depending on how your veterinary clinic operates your pet will likely be with them for most of the day.
When it’s time for your dog to undergo the procedure, the veterinarian will perform a last-minute pre-op exam and review notes about your dog.
Veterinary technicians will monitor your pet’s vital signs and following x-rays, the veterinarian (or a highly trained technician) will perform the dental cleaning. They will review the x-rays, and look for signs of periodontal disease and fractured teeth. They will also remove plaque and tartar and polish the teeth.
If extractions are needed, the veterinarian will perform those as well as look for any other dental issues that might need to be addressed.
Following dental procedures, most dogs need several hours to move the anesthesia out of their system.
They may be nauseous, tired, or unstable when you first get home. While your pet is recovering it is helpful to keep them calm and follow the instructions that your veterinarian gave you for medications, food, water, and rest.
Most pets are up and moving fairly quickly. By the next day, you’d never know they’d had a professional dental cleaning (other than their shiny, clean, beautiful new teeth)!
If your dog had one or more teeth removed, it may have stitches and will have to be on a soft diet for at least 7 days. Your veterinarian may also have prescribed antibiotics and pain medication.
Most veterinarians will recommend a follow-up visit, in this case, to make sure that everything healed up correctly.
They will also discuss best practices for home care, including how to prevent periodontal pockets and the buildup of plaque and tartar, so that your investment in dental cleaning pays off.
It is important to brush your dog’s teeth regularly, just like you brush your own!
Bad breath is just one sign of poor dog dental care, not to mention tartar buildup. Most pet owners, unfortunately, don’t spend enough time on this important aspect of pet health and their dog’s well-being.
So how should you take care of your dog’s teeth?
You can use a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste, or there are even finger brushes that you can slip over your finger to help make the process easier.
Most dogs are receptive to this process, but if your dog isn’t, we’ve included some training tips below.
There are a few things to keep in mind when brushing your dog’s teeth:
-Start slowly and build up to longer brushing sessions.
-Be gentle! There is no need to force or scold your dog.
-Use round, circular motions and try to give attention to each tooth.
-Make it a positive experience by using lots of calm, loving praise.
-Be gentle with your dog’s mouth.
If you’re not sure how to get started or have a resistant dog, your veterinarian and a great dog trainer can show you how to brush your dog’s teeth properly.
PRO TIP: when addressing puppy biting with your young dog, never use harsh handling techniques such as tapping, pinching, hitting, thumbing, or gagging. These dated training methods encourage puppies to resist having hands near their mouths, which you need to be able to do for safety, exams, and good dental health!
For some dogs that are particularly prone to issues with oral health, a veterinary dental diet can go a long way toward keeping their mouth healthy.
These diets are specially formulated to help reduce tartar buildup and keep your dog’s teeth healthy. They typically require a prescription. Here are some great examples of dental diets:
In addition to a good diet, and regular dental cleanings, there are many different types of dental chews available that can help reduce plaque and tartar.
Always supervise your dog when offering dental chews. Do not offer them to dogs that chew quickly and swallow large pieces. Additionally, do not offer chews to dogs that are too small or too large for their size.
Look for dental treats that come with the V.O.H.C. seal of approval! Here are some popular options:
Never use human toothpaste to clean your dog’s teeth. Human toothpaste often contains xylitol, which is toxic and deadly to dogs. Not only that, the mint flavor may be off-putting to your dog.
Dog toothpaste typically comes in pet-friendly flavors such as pork or chicken, and should be approved by the V.O.H.C. (this information should be on the package).
They will typically be formulated with enzymes and cleaners that target the kind of gunk and tartar buildup that dogs are most prone to.
If you have a puppy, practice a gentle oral exam daily so that your puppy gets used to it. As before, never use harsh handling techniques which can build resistance to the process!
Brushing your dog’s teeth should be part of your routine, several times a week. Daily is ideal, but we all know how tricky that can be (especially if you have multiple dogs!).
Chews and an appropriate diet can really help prevent tartar accumulation, however, regular veterinary dental cleanings (with anesthesia) and a thorough oral exam should still be performed yearly.
Do you have any more questions about periodontal disease and the process of dental cleaning using general anesthesia?
Leave a comment below! We also recommend Ask a Veterinarian on Facebook, check them out.
Why is my puppy being aggressive? If you feel like you’ve stumbled upon something more than puppy play, you should trust your gut.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Many pet owners who have experienced fighting dogs wonder how to stop two dogs from hurting one another or if there is a safe way of separating fighting dogs.
Dog fights may arise for a variety of reasons including territorial disputes, resource guarding, or simply because one dog is feeling threatened by another.
However, even to the best dog owner and most well-behaved dog, preventing dog fights can still be near to impossible.
HOW TO STOP MY DOGS FROM FIGHTING
Most dogs will bicker with other dogs at least at some point in their life. One dog communicating with another dog is very different than a full on dog fight.
Dogs communicate by using noises, growls, snarls, and even body language that we might not always understand or be able to see visually.
Not all dogs fully understand how to communicate with other dogs, and sometimes a dog fight can escalate quicker than others.
Fighting dogs can be one of the scariest situations! Two dogs who are fighting don’t have much else on their minds other than the other dog.
It can be dangerous to separate fighting dogs, so it is important to get educated, practice behavior modification and monitor rough play between multiple dogs.
WHY DOGS FIGHT
Dog fights can happen for a variety of reasons, just like you may fight with a coworker, family member or friend for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes, when there are two or more dogs in the same house, living as family dogs with the same family, things can go wrong. But, that does not mean that two dogs or even more than two dogs cannot live in harmony together.
There are several different situations where dogs who live in the same house may start fighting with each other.
Other times, one dog just simply works better as a single family dog, however most dogs tend to enjoy having companions to spend their lives with.
The best way to set up a multiple dog household is to make sure that before you get a new dog, you trust the dogs that currently live in your home. Getting new dogs involved while you have a current outstanding more aggressive dog is never a good idea and can lead to dogs fighting.
MANAGING A YOUNGER DOG WHO IS ANNOYING AN OLDER DOG
If you have an older dog and you want to bring home a puppy- rest assured it can still happen!
Puppies can be extremely annoying to older dogs. Not all dogs like puppy energy, puppy play or want to share their toys and resources with a new puppy.
The best way to manage a younger dog who is annoying an older dog is to provide breaks to each dog individually so that your dog does not begin to resent the puppy.
USING A CRATE
Using a crate for both dogs (or at minimum the young dog) will help keep the dogs separated and provide a break for your current dog to relax and get some much needed puppy-free time.
Many dogs will begin to resent a new dog coming in to their house if they suddenly do not get any alone time with their owner. Household dogs should be treated as individuals and given separate time to walk with you, as their owner.
SEPARATE ROOMS
Providing separate rooms for household dogs can allow both dogs to continue to grow in confidence. Separate the dogs BEFORE they begin showing signs of anxiety. A confident dog is one who can remain separated from the other dog without showing separation anxiety.
Plus, when you separate the dogs you not only provide each of them a break, but can ultimately create a more confident dog.
WHY DO MY DOGS KEEP FIGHTING
If you are continuing to have fighting dogs in your household, you need to be more vigilant to separate the dogs, be proactive in dog training, and work with a veterinary behaviorist.
MEALTIMES
Always separate dogs during mealtimes. Family dogs may get along all the time, but can develop food aggression if they eat their meals, bones, treats or snacks around the other dogs in the house.
Perhaps you should separate the dogs proactively for all of their mealtimes.
FIGHTING DOGS NEED DOG TRAINING
If you are experiencing your dogs fighting often, please seek a certified professional dog trainer. Practice obedience training, keep your dogs leashed and safe!
Avoid the ‘pack leader’ training method, as usually a dog who is already demonstrating the ability to fight has underlying anxiety.
A great place to start is with an animal behaviorist who can help you to determine if your dogs are capable of living in the same household and if you will be able to help your dogs coexist.
CAN MY DOGS LIVE TOGETHER AFTER FIGHTING?
Family dogs who have fought usually can continue to live in the same house- but it will take time, training, and vigilance on your part.
If you have one dog who regularly is the more aggressive dog, consider whether they are happy living in a multi dog home. Dogs fight because they are trying to communicate their feelings.
Aggressive dogs are not the only dogs who get into dog fights.
IS IT NORMAL FOR TWO DOGS TO LIVE TOGETHER TO FIGHT?
Sometimes, dogs fight! Just because dogs fight does not mean you have an aggressive dog.
Inter-dog aggression is different from fighting and occurs when a dog is selectively aggressive to other dogs and not people.
If you have a dog who is growling, snapping, demonstrating aggressive behavior, or biting other dogs- seek professional help from a certified dog trainer or behaviorist.
Dogs who are fighting should not be left unsupervised and should always be monitored or separated.
If you have an older dog or multiple dogs of the same sex, take extra precautions to prevent your dogs from beginning to fight in the first place. It is very difficult to separate fighting dogs and the best way to stop a fight is to prevent your dog from starting one in the first place!
HOW DO I STOP MY DOG ATTACKING OTHER DOGS OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE
Sometimes, a dog can develop aggression to other things outside of the house.
Common reasons that dogs fight outside of the house might include:
SOCIALIZATION SKILLS LACK IN THE DOG
Lack of socialization: Dogs who do not have regular opportunities to meet other dogs and people can be more prone to fighting. Be sure to socialize your dog early and often!
THE DOG IS ANXIOUS
Anxiety: Dogs who are anxious or fearful can be more likely to lash out and fight. Be sure to consult with a certified dog behaviorist to help your dog overcome their anxiety. Demonstrate calm behavior to the dog, avoid stressful places like the dog park, and help build confidence with the dog by doing socializing activities. A stressed dog is not a happy dog!
Territorial aggression: Dogs who are territorial can be more likely to fight with other dogs who they perceive as a threat to their territory. Be sure to keep your dog leashed and under control when outside to prevent them from fighting.
POSSESSIVE AGGRESSION
Possessive aggression: Dogs who are possessive of their food, toys, or people can be more likely to fight with another dog. Be sure to keep your dog’s food and toys away from other dogs and only give them to your dog when they are calm and relaxed.
If your dog is attacking other dogs outside of the house, please seek professional help from a certified dog trainer or
HOW TO BREAK UP A DOG FIGHT
Breaking up a dog fight is dangerous. It really can cause a lot of harm when humans intervene in the midst of one dog attaching another dog. Additionally, often times a dog fight might appear dangerous, but really will not end up in any serious injury.
If you must break up a dog fight, here are some tips:
DO NOT use your hands or feet to break up the fight. You can get seriously injured.
DO use a loud, high-pitched noise to startle the dogs and interrupt the fight.
DO use water (hose, faucet, etc) to break up one dog from attacking the other dog.
DO use a physical object to block the dogs from each other or to separate them.
DO NOT throw things at the dogs, as this can further agitate one dog into further attacking the other dog.
After the fight has been broken up, take the dogs to separate areas to calm down.
If the dogs have any injuries at all, they should be taken to the vet immediately, as a dog bite has major bacteria in them. If you, the human, has a bite / wound mark, you should seek a doctor as well as you can get infected quickly from dog bacteria getting into your open wound.
DOGS ARE COMPLICATED
Dogs are complicated. Female dogs are complicated! Male dogs are complicated! All dogs are complex beings with their own emotions, needs, and wants.
Dogs fight for a variety of reasons. Dog fights can be nerve wracking and scary.
But, dogs learn quickly and with proper guidance from their owner, socialization and training skills, confidence building, and a little bit of time…a dog can overcome their fears, anxieties, and aggressions.
When it comes to choosing the best dry dog food for a Great Dane, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Not all dog foods are created equal, and some will be better for your pet than others! In this post we will discuss:
A list of the best foods for Great Danes, by brand, and handpicked to make your job easy!
How to read a dog food ingredients label
Deceptive marketing tricks to watch out for
What to look for in a Great Dane food
How to choose a dog food that is healthy for your pet
Information about dog food recalls
This post does not cover raw, freeze-dried, or air-dried diets. We support balanced fresh feeding, however, that’s not the purpose of the post today.
Here we will be covering kibble + wet dog food diets, which are the most popular ways to feed a Great Dane!
The best food for any dog will of course be the one that they do best on.
Keep in mind that a shiny coat and good stools are only minor indicators of health. A perfectly ‘healthy’ looking dog can suffer from congestive heart failure or other devastating disorders if the nutrition isn’t correct.
That said, there are some important things to consider when you are on the search to find the best canine nutrition among the thousands of dog food options on the market today. Let’s dig in!
What to Look for in a Great Dane Dog Food
Great Danes are not like other dogs. They are a giant breed with specific nutritional needs. Choosing dog food is even more overwhelming when we throw that aspect into the mix!
In order to grow and develop properly, Great Danes need a diet that has the correct balance of calcium, phosphorus, and amino acids.
Many health problems can arise when Great Danes are not offered the right dog food for their needs, especially when they are puppies and growing rapidly. The food you choose must be formulated for the dog’s life stage, which, for giant puppies means large or giant breed puppy food (more on this below!).
When it comes to choosing the best dry dog food for a Great Dane, look for a food that meets the following criteria:
Professionally Formulated Dog Food
This key factor will help eliminate literally thousands of options, making it much easier to choose good dog food!
Did you know that Fromm, a popular brand, is formulated by a chemical engineer? Victor, another popular brand, is formulated by somebody who has an online certificate in dairy cattle nutrition.
These people are, unfortunately, not qualified to formulate dry dog food.
While on paper these foods (and thousands of others like them) meet AAFCO bare minimums, they may be deficient in important amino acids and nutrients over the long term.
We would never dream of buying baby formula that was created by people who were less than qualified to do so, especially if that food wasn’t also heavily tested and researched before being sold.
This is an unfortunate reality, though, of many expensive pet foods.
Your pet’s health is closely related to the quality and formulation of the ingredients in their food!
This is not an area where you want to cut corners. Keep in mind, however, that a higher price does not necessarily mean higher quality.
For an adult dog or definitely for a puppy, I recommend choosing dry kibble diets that were formulated by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists (DACVN), who are also directly employed by the actual brand itself for that purpose.
Look up your brand and see! If they didn’t answer, refused to answer, or the food brand doesn’t directly employ a DACVN / ACVN or Veterinarian with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition, keep looking.
Pro Tip: Having a ‘team’ does not count. Many times, what a statement like that actually means is that the brand pays an outside firm (consultants) to check boxes. Ask more questions.
The Pet Nutrition Alliance has asked this question of hundreds of pet food manufacturers.
Make sure that you verify that the name brand itself (Merrick, GO, or Earthborn, for example) has a qualified person formulating the brand of food, dedicated specifically to that brand, not the parent company.
For example, Mars employs Veterinary Nutritionists that are dedicated to the Royal Canin brand, but not ones dedicated to the Nutro brand (also owned by Mars Pet care).
Meat Meal + Meat By-Product Meal to Reduce Bloat
Meat meals are a nutrient-dense, high-protein, dehydrated form of organ meats and muscle, skin, and cartilage tissue that has been shown in studies to reduce the risk of bloat. Contrary to popular belief, they are a GOOD thing to see in your pets food!
Bloatis a deadly condition in Great Danes and other large and giant breed dogs.
Because meat meals are more likely to contain valuable nutrition such as liver, bone, skin, and cartilage, it makes sense that this ingredient can help keep your Great Dane healthy!
Don’t be afraid of ‘By-Product Meal’. By-Products, such as liver, kidney, bone, and cartilage are commonly fed as part of a raw diet because they are SO nutritious.
Animal byproducts are exactly what your dog needs in its diet. Not to mention, using the whole slaughtered animal is the ethical, economical, ecological, and responsible thing to do.
Fresh ‘human grade’ meat, on the other hand, is roughly 70% water, so after it’s turned into kibble there may not be much meat or nutrition left. The nutritional value of muscle meat is much less than what is found in organ meats!
Many pet owners have been misled by ‘fresh meat in kibble‘ marketing, and we think it’s time to change the narrative!
It’s important to always choose dry food where meat meal (such as poultry meal) or meat by-product meal makes up the bulk of the nutrition.
Grain-Inclusive vs. Grain-Free Diet
Grain-free diets (kibble) replace grains and often some of the meat protein as well with ingredients such as lentils, peas, garbanzo beans, and potatoes.
A grain-free kibble is NOT free of carbohydrates!
While a ‘grain-free diet’ may sound healthier and may lead us to believe it has more meat, the truth is that it may have less meat, which could be devastating for your dog’s health.
When choosing kibble, Great Danes should only be fed a professionally formulated grain-inclusive meat-based diet. Do not feed a grain-free diet to your dog without professional help from a board-certified veterinary canine nutritionist.
It’s important to note that many common grains used in premium dog food are good for a dog’s digestive system. They provide fiber which is great for reducing bloat risk and firming up stools!
Balanced Calcium + Phosphorus Ratios
This is one of the most important factors to look for on a pet food label for Great Dane adult dogs and puppies, and one that is often overlooked!
If the Calcium and Phosphorus levels are too high or too far apart from each other, it can cause nutrient imbalances that lead to weakness, tremors, heart palpitations, bone growth disorders (including knuckling, HOD, Pano, or Hip Dysplasia), or bone density issues.
Studies show that giant breed puppies should NOT be fed excessive calcium. Many veterinary nutritionists (the experts on this topic) recommend keeping calcium at or below 1.2% and at 3.5g or less calcium per 1000kCal, especially for Danes under the age of two.
This means that VICTOR foods are not safe or healthy to feed, as most formulas (Beef and Rice, Hi Pro, Professional) exceed this recommendation, often dangerously so!
We recommend finding foods where the calcium and phosphorus are as close to a 1:1 or 1.3:1 ratio as possible, as well.
Here is a common and acceptable dry matter analysis:
1.1% calcium
0.8% phosphorus
You can also learn more about giant breed nutrition at The Giant Dog Food Project which displays the nutrient levels of over 600 brands and formulas.
Many people believe that Great Dane Puppies should never be fed puppy food, as it may cause them to grow too quickly.
This is a truly odd practice, given the fact that giant breed dogs experience explosive growth and don’t mature until 2-3 years of age. If any dog should have puppy food, it’s a Great Dane!
Thankfully, science and research have solved an age-old problem, and now Great Dane puppies should be fed a large or giant breed puppy food until age 2!
They often also have chronic loose stools (from overeating to compensate for the missed nutrition) and low muscle mass.
Large or giant breed puppy foods are the way to go. Our dogs deserve to have the status quo changed on this one.
Here are our favorite brands and formulas of food for Great Dane puppies. These have been well researched, properly formulated, and proven in feeding trials for slow, even growth:
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
How to Read a Dog Food Ingredients Label
It may be tempting to choose your dog’s food based on the packaging or on appealing marketing claims, but it’s important to understand how to read the label and the ingredients.
Below we’re sharing information about what you should be looking for on a dog food label!
AAFCO Statement
This statement simply indicates that the food meets the nutritional minimums required to be sold as balanced dog food.
Being ‘AAFCO Approved’ is not a badge of honor, nor is it an indication of quality and health. It’s pretty easy to make a dog food meet minimums for certain nutrients.
That said, the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) statement is important, as it will give you valuable insight on the dog food label into what the food is formulated for.
For example, some dog foods are formulated for growth, puppies, adults, large breeds, small breeds, or seniors. Life stages are important to consider when choosing dog food!
We like to see statements similar to the one below:
“Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of food) proves complete and balanced nutrition for (life stage).”
The guaranteed analysis is where you’ll find the minimum percentage of crude protein and fat, and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture.
You’ll notice that it’s slightly different with every single food.
Contrary to popular belief, Great Danes can actually have food with higher protein levels. Too low protein can actually be detrimental to their muscle development and overall energy levels.
The low-protein myth was debunked in studies, so you don’t have to worry anymore!
The Ingredients List
Of course, you’ll want to look over the ingredients list too, but it’s not as important as some may have led you to believe. There are a lot of tricks companies use to make the ingredients list appealing and marketable, however, that doesn’t mean that the formulation is correct.
Here are some things you want to look for:
A food that contains a meat meal or meat by-product meal will almost always be the more nutritious choice.
Watch out for ingredient splitting (see more below), which allows brands to tactfully, legally, and potentially dangerously reorganize the ingredients list to appeal to you and your wallet.
Fancy additions such as spinach, blueberries, apples, or collard greens (for example) are there for marketing purposes and provide very little nutrition. If anything, they may be displacing meat.
Fresh meat, deboned meat, and ‘raw’ meat in an ingredients list indicate ingredients that are roughly 70% water. Not only that, but once they are extruded (dried) into kibble they are no longer fresh and there isn’t much left, either. Think about this one for a moment.
There is no such thing as fillers in dry dog food. (READ HERE)
Logically, a company isn’t going to waste money on such things as it would increase shipping, manufacturing, sourcing, and formulation costs, not to mention kill dogs from malnutrition.
Corn, for example, has a better nutrient profile than beef. Once it’s ground (for inclusion in kibble), it is 98% digestible and a fantastic source of linoleic acid (Omega 6).
Of course, you want to choose a kibble with high-quality ingredients. This is where sourcing matters. Meat-based proteins from one company may not be held to the same standard as they are from another.
We recommend choosing a well-established dog food brand with solid and reliable quality control and sourcing practices.
Recalls
Recalls are actually a positive thing, indicating that a dog food company is willing to stand by their product and take it off the market if they find something wrong with it.
Recently, Darwin’s pet food has been urged by the FDA to take some of its products off the shelves because of salmonella that was making pets sick. They refused...after all, recalls are bad for the marketing department.
In another story, Victor pet food issued two recalls in 2023. Both of them were triggered by random 3rd party testing of their products, which is alarming. This is an indication that they weren’t testing for these things themselves. This has marred their “no recalls” record from the past, and caused many to realize that “no recalls” often means that the company is simply not looking for problems.
I don’t know about you, but that’s not good.
Just because dog food manufacturers claim “no recalls” doesn’t mean that they have a clean record. Ask more questions.
Not only was Darwin’s caught avoiding recalls, Champion foods (the makers of Acana and Orijen) knowingly left food on the shelves that had been produced with contaminated beef tallow. The tallow tested positive for phenobarbitol (the euthanasia drug), and Champion chose not to recall the foods from that lot.
“No recalls” is a shady marketing tactic. Don’t fall for it.
Deceptive Dog Food Marketing Tricks
I’m going to outline some common deceptive marketing tricks that many dog food brands use to encourage you to make a purchase.
I remember being very surprised by these the first time I’d heard them! After all, isn’t a fresh, holistic diet the better choice?
Maybe not.
The best dog food is not what you think. Read on…
Ingredient Splitting
With ingredient splitting, brands are able to effectively reorganize the ingredients list to be more appealing to you.
The ingredient splitting trick makes it so that many foods can say ‘Real Chicken is the 1st Ingredient‘, even though the finished kibble is comprised mostly of peas.
The most nutritious dog food will be a meat-based diet focused on nutrients and amino acids, not one designed explicitly to sell you dog food at a premium price.
Unregulated Marketing Terms
Many dog food companies are exceptional at marketing but don’t have qualified professionals or research to back up their claims.
Not only that, it’s important to keep in mind that many common pet food marketing terms are unregulated and have no legal definition.
This means that anybody can start a dog food company, have a company manufacture it for them, and then promote the food with any of the following terms:
Holistic
Super-Premium
Family-Owned & Operated
Biologically Appropriate
Species Appropriate
Healthy & Nutritious
Perfectly Balanced
Scientifically Formulated
Vet Approved
Just because a food is labeled as “holistic and super premium” does not mean, in any way, that it’s actually better for your pet.
As a matter of fact, the opposite may be true! Of course, we want to feed our dogs a high-quality diet. However, educated pet owners know how to sort out facts from marketing.
False Claims
Some dog food brands and influencers will use dubious and often false, unverifiable, or inaccurate claims that are designed to be misleading and confusing.
By misleading and alarming you, they can easily generate profits for whatever brand of food, supplements, or education (books, courses, etc.) they are selling.
Here are some common examples:
“Your pet will live longer on this food”
“This food prevents cancer”
“This food will eliminate allergies”
“Dry dog food has no nutrients”
“Kibble causes cancer”
“Corn is bad for dogs”
“Most dogs are allergic to chicken”
“Contains ‘fresh’ or ‘raw’ meat” (not possible after extrusion)
“Grains are bad for dogs and cause allergies and cancer”
“Purina, Royal Canin, Hill’s, Eukanuba, and Iam’s are junk foods full of fillers and diseased animals. They are not high-quality food”
“Recalls are BAD!”
“Kibble is full of fillers”
“Feeding kibble is like feeding your dog french fries or cereal for every meal”
No food company should be making claims that their food will increase lifespan or reduce the risk of cancer, however, such statements are common.
There are 300-400 new dog food brands each year in the United States. It stands to reason that they will say anything they have to in order to get your attention.
It’s time for the dog community to stand up and learn to separate fact (science) from marketing buzzwords.
Unfortunately, the veterinary community is weary. They want to help our pets, not harm them.
The Best Dog Foods by Brand
When choosing food for your dog, I believe the following options are among the best nutrition you can get when choosing a kibble dry food diet.
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
How to Feed a Great Dane
When feeding your dog, we recommend the use of stainless or ceramic bowls which, unlike plastic bowls, will not harbor bacteria that can cause irritation and zits.
I always add canned food to my dog’s diet! Not only do they absolutely love it, but I feel good knowing that they are getting some variety in their diet. Wet dog food tends to be lower in carbohydrates, as well.
Extruded dry food is not bad, but there is some logic to giving dogs wet food containing moisture.
Make sure you feed your dog quality canned food that matches your dog’s dry food. It should be a complete and balanced formula, not one created only for supplemental feeding.
Supplements for Great Danes
Don’t over-supplement your Great Dane!
If you have chosen well-formulated dry food + canned wet food, you don’t need to go nuts with the expensive supplements.
Here are some that you may need or want, depending on your dog’s needs!
Esther C is commonly used for Great Dane puppies to help support their growth and reduce the chance of knuckling, HOD, or Panosteitis. While this is not well-researched, many people swear by it. Get Esther C HERE.
Joint Support is ideal for dogs who are older (age 3+) or that are struggling with orthopedic issues, including poor structure, flat feet, arthritis, missing limbs, or dysplasia. I recommend GLYCOFLEX Stage III, get it HERE.
Fish Oil can be helpful for dogs that struggle with dry or itchy skin and a dull coat.
Tips for Dogs with Allergies
Some dogs have allergies. Most are environmental, but some are caused by a food allergy.
The signs and symptoms of allergies and intolerances of any kind include:
Itching
Redness
Sore spots
Hair loss
Swollen paws
Hives
These things can also be indications of other things, too. Not just allergies. Don’t immediately jump to food being the cause.
All commercial dog food diets are likely to have been contaminated with grains or chicken, even if the ingredients list contains no grains or chicken. If your dog is truly allergic to those things, you need to feed your dog a hydrolyzed prescription diet from your veterinarian.
Chances are, however, that your dog is not actually allergic to those things! Whole grains are very nutritious in dry dog food and don’t need to be avoided.
Blood and saliva allergy tests are NOT accurate and many times are nothing more than a money-grabbing scam. This is especially true of tests you can purchase and complete yourself.
A food trial elimination diet and careful monitoring of symptoms to identify triggers will be key. If blood or saliva tests are taken, repeat them with a different company for secondary results and use them as part of your treatment plan, not as the sole source of information.
Many dogs with allergies actually have environmental intolerances. Constant food switching to ‘find something that works’ and bribery to encourage eating (which can unbalance the diet) will make these things worse.
Instead, try this:
Talk to your veterinarian, have an open discussion
Choose a well-formulated food and stick with it for 4-6 months, minimum
Wipe dirt and dander from the fur and paws nightly using a damp towel
Ask about medicated wipes or shampoo
Talk about medications
We recommend seeking veterinary advice for food allergies or anything related to your pet’s health for all dogs and pet owners.
Do you love Great Danes? If so, you’re going to love this post! We’ve collected a bunch of beautiful photos of Great Danes for your viewing pleasure. These dogs are absolutely stunning, and we hope you enjoy looking at these pictures as much as we enjoyed putting them together.
Photos of Great Danes
The Great Dane is one of the most beautiful of all pups. If you have a Great Dane dog you will know that they are a stunning view. Millions of people have captured their beauty on image and video while they explore off leash outdoors, play outside on a sunny day or just lounge around the house. Here we have a collection of some of the most beautiful photos of Great Dane dogs that we could find.
GREAT DANE IMAGES WHILE THEY EXPLORE
Here is a collection of portrait images of a Great Dane dog out doing what they do best: being in nature!
GREAT DANES STANDING
Great Danes are some of the most regal dogs, especially when they are standing in an image. Great Danes are one of the tallest dog breeds, standing nearly three feet tall at the shoulder. That’s taller than most human toddlers!
BLACK AND WHITE GREAT DANE
Black and white Great Danes are a popular dog choice.
They look great for the camera and the image and view is one you can’t beat!
WHITE GREAT DANE STARING
If you find a white Great Dane as striking as us, you may find these images of a White Great Dane staring and standing as beautiful as we do!
Purebred Great Danes might be the dog for your family. Make sure to research the different types of Great Danes before you make your final decision on what dog is right for you and your family.
Some breeders have mixed different Dane breeds to create a new look or have a dog with different colors.
The GDCA has a breeder registry that is easy to use with high quality, health tested Great Danes.
GREAT DANE PUPPY PICTURES
Puppies are adorable! Who doesn’t love an image of Great Dane puppies! If you don’t find this image absolutely adorable, we don’t know what you will!
GREAT DANES JUST BEING DOGS
A Great Dane is a dog that loves to learn, stay close to their owners and is great with kids. They are fun, goofy and will make you laugh. If you have ever had one of these gentle giants, you know they are some of the most fun and best dogs around.
Here are some images of Great Danes just being dogs and enjoying life!
FAMILY DOG GREAT DANE
A Great Dane can become a part of the family easily as they are known to be gentle, loving and affectionate dogs. If you are looking for a family dog, the Great Dane may be the right pup for your family.
Here is an image of the best dog around enjoying their family.
These dogs are not only beautiful, but they’re also gentle giants that make great family pets. If you’re looking for a new dog, and you want something that’s both beautiful and gentle, then you should definitely consider getting a black Great Dane.
If you aren’t great with your camera but are interested in images of your dog or your Great Dane, you can always search for great stock photos and images that are royalty free on websites such as Unsplash or Pexels. There are more stock photos to search for on these websites. Just choose to sort by ‘dog’ or ‘Great Dane’ and you will be surprised by the amazing videos or content that you can see! Make sure to check it out for more great stock photos and content.
All dogs have some health risks, and Great Danes are no exception. These are just a few of the things you can implement today to take the best precautions for your Great Dane and their health.
Do you have a Great Dane? Send us a photo and we may feature it in our next blog post! Until then, enjoy!
We hope you enjoyed this collection of Great Dane pictures! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help. Thanks for reading!
Have you ever heard of using CBD dog treats for joint pain? It is never fun watching your dog experience joint issues. I know firsthand how sad it is to watch your dog’s mobility decline as I, myself, have a Great Dane with hip / joint problems.
Joint care is important for a better quality of life for any dog and we as pet parents want to relieve pain in our large dogs so that they can live a healthy and happy life.
CAN YOU USE CBD DOG TREATS FOR JOINT PAIN?
When Gigi started having hip issues, I thought she was probably just going to have a joint sprain and that she’d be fine in a few days.
However, she kept having stiff joints and limping despite me being paranoid about her joint health for her entire life.
When I finally got her joint stiffness checked out, I had no idea that she would be diagnosed with a chronic joint function disease called Wobblers Syndrome.
Fast forward almost an entire year and Gigi and I have found what works and doesn’t work and what helps her overall health the best.
Throughout the year as we trial-and-errored different things for hip and joint health, I found out that using CBD joint supplements regularly helps give her the joint support that she needs to run and play like a ‘normal’ dog.
WHAT ARE HIP AND JOINT SUPPLEMENTS?
Hip and joint supplements are crucial for large dogs, but especially those with hip and joint problems like Gigi.
Some dog joint chews have ingredients like Glucosamine HCL, Chondroitin Sulfate, Organic Turmeric, Fish oil, or Green Lipped Mussel. Joint care chews for dogs are targeted to increase your dog’s mobility by supporting their joints and connective tissues.
USING CBD OIL FOR PAIN RELIEF
CBD oil for dogs is a supplement that I’ve only recently started using for Gigi’s hip and joint pain.
Choosing a joint supplement for your dog might depend on a few factors:
Joint care is very important for all dogs, regardless of preexisting hip or joint pain!
Canine Arthritis Management states that 80% of pets will develop Arthritis in their lifetime! This crazy statistic just shows how important it is that pet owners are proactive about their dog’s hip / joint health.
I began to give Gigi these CBD Dog Treats daily to make sure that she is getting the joint support that she needs to live a happy & pain-free life!
Fish oil can be an incredible source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties. This makes fish oil a popular ingredient in many supplements for people and pets alike. Dogs love fish oil and it not only makes a great hip / joint support, but serves as an excellent food topper as well!
When you are looking for CBD hip chews for dogs, you should make the following considerations before feeding them to your pet:
PET FRIENDLY: Are the chews for dogs? Some human CBD hip / joint chews contain products that your pet shouldn’t eat.
MADE IN THE USA: Are the joint chews made in the USA? Quality sourcing should always be a consideration when looking to feed your pets any chews.
HEMP EXTRACT CHEWS: Choose a hip and joint chew that is sourced from hemp extract. Hemp hip and joint cbd soft chews will provide the best painrelief to your pet while not causing any psychoactive effects.
TOXIN FREE CHEWS: Pick a chew that is grain free and has no artificial flavors or colors.
FULL SPECTRUM CBD FOR DOGS: Always look for full spectrum cbd. It is extremely important for your dogs joint health and pain relief that the cbd hip product is full spectrum, not broad spectrum.
LAB TESTING: Never give your dogs any cbd hip and joint product that is not lab tested.
FDA MANUFACTURING AND COMPLIANCE: Find a company that makes CBD soft chews in an FDA manufacturing facility so that you can rest assured that your pets are in safe hands. Not all CBD oil products comply with the FDA.
IS IT SAFE TO GIVE DOGS CBD HIP / JOINT TREATS?
As long as you are following the above guidelines when looking for your hip / joint supplement of choice, it is completely safe to give your pup a soft chew, liquid dropper, or treat that has CBD in it.
As a matter of fact, some dog hip and joint companies make chews for dogs that have been shown to provide relief.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF HEMP TREATS FOR DOGS?
When I started using dog hip and joint treats for Gigi’s chronic hip / joint issues, I realized that the side effects were nonexistent for her, especially in comparison to the benefits.
All dogs will react differently, but when using a safe and tested soft chew, you can rest assured that your pup will not have any adverse side effects.
The most common side effect of CBD, in general, is drowsiness. However, this is not always the case and depends on the individual dog. If your pup does experience drowsiness, it is usually temporary and will wear off within a few hours.
UPSET STOMACH
Another side effect that has been reported is an upset stomach, but this is also not common. I have found with my own dogs that when I give them chews that are from less appropriate sources, not hemp-derived, or have fillers in them, they are more likely to experience an upset stomach.
You can tell that she is in less pain and has more mobility. I highly recommend giving your pup CBD-infused hip and joint soft chews, especially if they are experiencing any hip / joint pain at all.
DO CBD HIP TREATS HELP WITH PAIN?
Choosing the best joint supplement can feel overwhelming. There are so many joint chews, soft chews, hard / biscuit type treats and remedies out there for the health of our dogs.
But, sometimes doing too much is actually not necessary for our dogs.
If you have a pet who struggles with inflammation in their joints and needs to relax, or a high-strung pupper with separation anxiety, getting them started on the right joint chews could really help.
If you have a large breed dog, providing them with a hip and joint supplement is even more important.
This is because large breed dogs are more prone to joint problems like hip dysplasia, arthritis, and ligament tears.
Starting your large breed dog on a joint supplement early can actually help to prevent some of these problems from developing later in life.
WHAT FOODS HELP DOGS HIPS?
Sometimes, even though you give your pet chews for their joints, they may need an extra dietary boost of healthy foods that can increase their mobility.
Some seniors may have a harder time chewing than younger dogs. Joint soft chews are a great place to start for any senior who may have a harder time chewing.
Joint chews for dogs come in smaller pieces that are easy to chew and are packed with nutrients that can help to ease pain and improve mobility.
Gigi loves the gummies! She thinks I am giving her a treat or two, and has no idea that she is actually taking a supplement that is helping to ease her irritation.
The gummies are also great because they are easy to chew and Gigi doesn’t have any trouble digesting them.
I am so happy that I found a product that Gigi loves and that is helping her to feel her best!
It also makes me feel good knowing that just by giving her some delicious soft chews, I am helping to provide so many benefits.
I got to go to a Great Dane dog show. Not only that, I got to step into the show ring for the first time with a beautiful Harlequin Dane puppy by my side.
If you’d asked me 2 weeks ago, I would have told you that I was completely intimidated by dog shows. They have a reputation for being elitist, snobby, and comprised of cliques who talk behind each other’s backs.
The Great Dane community is pretty amazing, though. Everybody at the dog show was helpful, friendly, and welcoming.
Glacier Danes with one of their stunning Mantle dogs.
I’m New to the Show Ring
I had never shown a dog before, let alone attended a dog show.
The breeder of one of my Danes wanted to show two of her puppies. She asked me if I’d be interested in learning the ropes. I jumped on the opportunity!
After just two lessons with an experienced Great Dane show handler (Carol from Rocwind K-9), I was tasked with taking a very wiggly and inexperienced puppy into the ring.
I didn’t know what to wear, didn’t know what to expect, and knew that I’d be rubbing elbows with some BIG names in the Great Dane community.
What we attended was a Great Dane specialty. That means that the show was exclusively for Great Danes.
People who want to show their dogs and obtain titles will travel to these events, even if it means crossing multiple States to do so.
The show area was an outdoor covered pavilion. Our local Great Dane club set up a raffle table and even bought everybody lunch on the first day of the show!
(I got something from the raffle, read to the end to see what!)
The people who came with their dogs had all kinds of gear, including crates and fences to help them contain their dogs. It was clear that the dogs comfort was of utmost importance: the dogs all had food, water, nice bedding, and opportunities to relax or play.
There were beautiful Great Danes everywhere!
All of them were intact, well kept, and incredibly well-behaved.
One by one, numbers are called and Great Danes enter the show ring based on their class.
What Happens in a Dog Show Ring?
The judge directs each dog and handler to a place in the ring and then begins their assessment. This assessment is all about conformation, which in Great Danes means that they adhere to this standard.
The dogs want to be there! They prance, perk their ears, wag their tails, and engage happily with their handlers.
One at a time, the judge gives the handler a moment to stack their dog. Good handlers are ready and waiting before the judge walks up.
A stack is a stance that a show dog takes to show off their structure. For Great Danes, this means that their rear hocks are perpendicular to the ground, and the front legs are stacked directly under the shoulders.
Teaching a dog to stack on command takes practice, however, dogs that are built correctly with excellent structure will stack easily and naturally!
Here is an image from the Great Dane Standard (U.S.) showing the male and female dogs in a stacked position.
Once stacked, the judge will evaluate adherence to breed type and the way that the dog is built. They may also ask to look at the teeth.
This is not a beauty contest! Great Danes are giant breed dogs and having the correct structure means they are more likely to live long, pain-free lives.
After the judge has evaluated the dog, they will ask the handler to run “out and back”, which means to take the dog out to the corner of the ring and then turn and come back. After that, the dog is once again stacked for evaluation before the judge asks the handler to run around the ring and go to the end of the line.
Doing this requires a bit of skill. If you go too fast, the dog will enter a run. If you go too slow, the dog will become bored and start wandering. If you are sloppy with your own leash skills and steps, the dog will be sloppy, too.
When the dog is moving, the judge is evaluating reach, drive, and overall movement.
A properly built Great Dane will almost look like they are floating! They are graceful and powerful, not clumsy, slow, or lumbering.
The extension of the front limbs and placement of the feet in the gait pattern are just some of the things the judge is looking for.
Sometimes the judge will single out a few dogs and ask them to run or stack again.
Eventually, the judge will be satisfied and will calmly and quietly indicate the winners with a hand signal that can be easy to miss. Watch for it!
The winners will line up for their ribbons and the rest of the dogs’ exit the ring, ready to try again another time.
A Brindle Great Dane at the 2020 National Dog Show. SOURCE
How Dog Show Judging Works
This is an age-old question that is best answered by attending dog shows.
Did you know that dog shows are a family-friendly spectator sport, and most of the time there are no entry fees?
There are actually several awards that a single dog might earn during a dog show. Here are a just a few:
These awards count for points and over time, some dogs are able to earn their CH (Champion) and GCH (Grand Champion) titles. This is a major badge of honor for a breeder!
A Black Great Dane being Judged in the Show Ring. SOURCE: AKC
Showing a Great Dane Puppy
I stepped into the ring with a beautiful little Harlequin puppy named Clementine. At 4 months of age she was just excited for life and pretty clueless about the process! Both of us were, actually. Remember, neither of us had done this before.
The great news is that the beginner puppy class gives breeders a chance to practice in their ring with young dogs, without the stress of actual competition.
I did my best to stack her (a process that she’d not yet spent enough time practicing) and she did a beautiful gait out and back in the show ring. She had FUN and that was the most important thing.
I had fun too! When the judge flashed two fingers at me, I couldn’t believe it. Clementine was awarded the “Puppy Class Best of Opposite”.
Dog Show Myths, Busted
Many people think dog shows are snobby beauty contests. My experience was anything but that, and I cannot wait to go back!
The people were friendly, welcoming and complimentary.
The dogs are all so well kept. Not only did they have excellent body condition (healthy weight covered in muscle), but their nails were short, their teeth were clean, and they were robust and shiny. Show dogs are very well cared for.
Most of them have already obtained their CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title. They are friendly, confident, and obedient. Not timid, fearful, protective, or anxious as we see all too often in Great Danes.
Dog shows were created to help breeders and breed clubs sort out the best candidates for breeding.
Do not be afraid to approach a show breeder for your next Great Dane puppy! You can meet them at dog shows, and most of them love to answer questions. The dogs they breed will likely be excellent examples of the breed and will have stability in structure, temperament and health.
After our win in the beginner puppy class, we got to take a photo. Clementine has a lot to learn, and so do I! When we took this photo she was bouncing off the walls, as puppies do, and uninterested in stacking or standing still. The photographer was amazing and grabbed her in a split second when she was at least “sort of” in a decent position.
All we can do is laugh.
Our goal in the next 2 months is to make stacking the most valuable thing she can do. Treats for days. Praise, love, and attention.
I’m officially hooked and cannot wait to someday have my own stud to show in the ring.
Remember how I said there was a raffle? I fell in love with a piece of handmade art that looked just like my Mantle Great Dane.
Winning this became the cherry on top of an already amazing experience.
