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  • Potty Training Great Dane Puppies

    Potty Training Great Dane Puppies

    Potty training Great Dane puppies comes with a BIG responsibility. A Great Dane puppy gets big fast, and a big puppy means big pee!

    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane

    Great Dane puppies are the BEST! That is, until they drop a squat and let loose on your carpet.

    Again.

    and again.

    If you are searching for tips on the potty training process for your Great Dane puppy, you may be struggling. So here you have it: the ULTIMATE guide to housebreaking your Great Dane puppy!

    Potty Training for Great Danes

    POTTY TRAINING GREAT DANE PUPPIES

    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane

    New puppies have very little bladder control, and no clue they need to pee until the pee is actually coming out.

    The BIGGEST secret you need to know for potty training you Great Dane puppy is this nearly impossible task: don’t let your puppy make a mistake.

    Consider this a fun game where the loser has to clean up poop: you want to avoid your puppy peeing or pooping in the house and practicing that behavior at all costs.

    HOW TO HELP YOUR GREAT DANE PUPPY MAKE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEE ACCIDENTS POSSIBLE

    You can manage this situation and lower the chance of a mistake happening by being diligent.

    Here are some ideas:

    1. Make sure your puppy is always being supervised. If you have to keep your puppy on a leash near you, that is ok! The puppy should not have much freedom until they demonstrate maturity. If your puppy walks off and is snooping around somewhere, QUICK! Take her out.
    2. If your puppy cannot be supervised, they need to be ready for a nap and sent to spend time in a crate or x-pen. Dogs naturally don’t want to pee on their bed! Keep crate time no longer than the recommended age between potty breaks mentioned above.

    POTTY TRAINING GREAT DANES USING PEE PADS

    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane

    Skip the expensive and wasteful pee pads. Those literally teach a puppy that peeing indoors is ok, and make potty training take longer. No thanks!

    Avoid accidents by skipping the potty pads and instead train your Great Dane to go to the bathroom in a designated area outside the house.

    IN ORDER TO POTTY TRAIN GREAT DANES YOU NEED A TRAINING PROCESS

    At first, you need to take your puppy out to pee every 20 minutes. Set a timer if you have to. These short spans between potty breaks will quickly grow longer as you learn how long your new puppy can ‘hold it’.

    Get ahead of the curve and take your puppy out BEFORE they show signs that they need to pee! By then it’s probably too late.

    POTTY TRAIN A GREAT DANE BY TAKING A POTTY BREAK OFTEN

    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane

    It’s also helpful to automatically take the puppy out to pee after:

    1. a nap
    2. a meal
    3. a play session
    4. a training session
    5. crate time

    There are fun and silly ways to make this a good time for everybody. For example, pick a phrase somebody in the house tends to say a lot, or a common word such as ‘TV’ or ‘dog’. Every time they say it, they HAVE to take the puppy out to pee!

    USING TREATS

    Pet owners of baby Great Danes should begin using treats often to provide positive feedback and good behavior.

    1. Fill your pocket up with treats. Go outside with your puppy. No being lazy here! Get out there, especially if it’s snowing or raining (your puppy will appreciate your confidence!).
    2. Praise when they start to pee and then throw a treat party when they are finished.
    3. Stay outside for a few minutes; chances are your new puppy has to pee again. This too is a quick phase and the puppy will quickly learn to fully empty his bladder. Until then, be patient.
    4. Treat and praise some more.

    USING POTTY BELLS

    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane

    During potty training you can use bells to teach your dog to go to the bathroom outside from a young age.

    Potty bells are an amazing tool. This inexpensive item from Amazon can be hung from a doorknob.

    1. Every time you take your puppy out to pee, first ring the bell. Teach the puppy to touch the bell with a nose in exchange for a treat.
    2. Then open the door and go out for the fun pee outside time.
    3. The puppy will learn to use this as a signal to you that they want to go outside.
    4. Gradually add time between required potty breaks. Continue to treat and praise.

    Be consistent. One day, your puppy is literally going to go to the door, ring a bell and ask to be let out. Make a HUGE happy fuss about this and let your puppy out!

    SHOP BELOW:

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    USING DOMINANCE

    People used to advise puppy parents to take their puppy’s nose to their mess and rub their nose it whenever their pup or dog relieves himself in the house.

    This kind of ‘training’ makes the trainer feel powerful and the dog feel powerless, which is a terrible reason for using it as a training method.

    Shouting, scolding, correcting and scaring a puppy like this will not only erode trust, but may actually backfire on you when your dog is fully grown.

    A puppy that has been taught to associate pee smell with punishment is a puppy who may hide pee behind furniture or in laundry. Ooops.

    Puppies have NO idea that pee or poop is ‘gross’, and they have no clue why you’d want them to do that outside. Cut your puppy some slack here and instead train your Great Dane the desired behavior and other basic commands with positive training and patience.

    CLEANING UP ACCIDENTS

    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane

    It’s super important to thoroughly clean any accidents that do happen.

    One way to make sure that the pee smell sticks around is to try and bury it with heavily scented carpet cleaners and ‘pet stain’ removers. Those rarely work well and don’t destroy the proteins.

    1. First, clean out as MUCH of the mess as you can. If the area is extra bad, rent a carpet shampooer and rinse the area several times with hot water first.
    2. Once you’ve removed most of the soil, apply a generous amount of Skout’s Honor and allow the flooring to air dry. Re-treat if needed.

    It’s nearly impossible to potty train without some hiccups. Every dog is different! Some require MUCH more supervision and time than others. It may be helpful to temporarily put away expensive area rugs. Pro tip there!

    TEACHING THE RIGHT PLACE FROM THE WRONG PLACE TO POTTY

    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane
    Potty Training Great Dane

    This is actually the second piece of the potty training puzzle. A puppy needs to first learn to pee outdoors for reward. With consistency and praise, they also develop bladder control and learn what it feels like just before they have to pee.

    Once they learn that they will begin to alert you. It’s not something you can teach, it comes with maturity, time, and finally understanding that all pee and poop needs to be outdoors.

    We highly recommend using potty bells! This gives the dog a very clear way to say ‘let me out’. An independent dog is a happier dog, so learning where to go potty and having less accidents will help your pup feel better about their life.

    MY PUPPY PEES A LOT. LIKE REALLY, A LOT

    Young puppies dribble more than they pee and will usually have to pee multiple times each time they are taken outside. However, excessive peeing and not being able to hold it are signs of UTI.

    Chat with your vet! UTI’s are surprisingly common and need to be treated.

    Puppies also poop a lot. Sorry, that’s just a fact. They will regulate themselves more as their digestive system matures.

    Potty training a Great Dane requires MANY potty breaks outside, and will likely have many accidents inside as well. Training a pup or dog with any skill requires patience and time.

    CRATE TRAINING DURING POTTY TRAINING A DOG OR PUP

    You can use crate training to minimize the dog from having an accident inside, help your dog feel safe and secure, and to speed up the house training process.

    Crate training is an essential part of having a dog, and it can be used in helping raise a successful Great Dane puppy. If you are about to start potty training, you should invest in a large crate as well as an X PEN for play time and baby gates for safety and training for your new dog.

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    Shop for the best crate for Great Danes on Amazon

    MY PUPPY IS PEEING or POOPING IN THE CRATE

    This can be common with puppies that were raised in a puppy mill or with a breeder that didn’t keep the whelping space clean.

    Or, you just have a puppy that doesn’t really care! That can happen too, just as some humans don’t mind mess.

    In general, dogs do NOT like to soil their bedding or near where they eat, so try the following to troubleshoot.

    Make sure the crate is small enough. If the puppy has too much space, they will find room to pee. They should be confined enough that pee would get on the bedding, which they don’t want.

    Make sure your puppy has had plenty of opportunity to pee before being put in the crate. It may really just be that your puppy had to go. Reference the rule about about appropriate time between potty breaks based on age.

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    How to crate train a Great Dane: click here

    Thoroughly clean bedding and around the crate. If it smells like pee, the puppy will resoil it.

    Feed in the crate. The puppy will not like to pee near his or her foo

    Address medical reasons such as UTI, loose stools and parasites. Chat with your vet and add a quality probiotic for gut health.

    I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT

    This is definitely more of a hassle if you don’t have a fenced yard, but there is literally no other problem here.

    The same exact rules apply. When potty training puppies, they need to be strictly supervised anyways so the fenced yard is a moot point.

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    READ MORE ABOUT POTTY TRAINING IN AN APARTMENT

    IT’S RAINING AND SNOWING AND MY PUPPY WON’T GO OUT

    It’s not uncommon for puppies to dislike cold and wet weather at first. Be positive and KEEP trying. Bundle up. Put puppy in a jacket. Hold an umbrella. Anything to show the puppy that potty training is NOT NEGOTIABLE.

    Plan ahead if you are going to potty train a Great Dane puppy in an apartment. House training in ANY home requires that you get your dogs outside with ENOUGH time that they do not need to panic. Give yourself lots of time in those early days to walk all the way out of the house or apartment so that you avoid pee in the hallways or on you walk downstairs.

    WORKING LONG SHIFTS

    If you are away from home 8+ hours/day, a puppy may be a difficult choice to have made.

    This is the time when it’s worth the expense to hire a dog walker to stop in often, or have your puppy stay with a friend who is home during the day.

    Potty training your Great Dane will take much longer if you are away from the house all day and your dog is required to hold it all day long.

    Most puppies will resort to peeing in their crate and ultimately will take an enormously longer time getting potty trained.

    GREAT DANE POTTY TRAINING
    HOW TO CRATE TRAIN A GREAT DANE
    POTTY TRAINING A GREAT DANE PUP
    HOW TO POTTY TRAIN IN AN APARTMENT
    THE BEST CRATES FOR GREAT DANES
    THE HARDEST PARTS ABOUT POTTY TRAINING

    MY PUPPY HATES THE CRATE

    In order to train a Great Dane to love their kennel, you should not force them to use their crate.

    Use food and treats as well as toys while training them. Play with your pup or dog inside and outside the crate.

    Throw food or toys inside the kennel and let your dog watch and run inside and walk back out.

    Keep the crate in the same spot so that your pup can begin to associate it with it being their safe spot.

    Visit our blog post How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy here.

    SUPPLIES NEEDED

    In order to potty train a Great Dane, there are items that you need to be successful.

    Potty training a Great Dane requires:

    1. Cleaning supplies
    2. Crate
    3. Treats
    4. Leash / Collar
    5. Waste Bags
    Great Dane Puppy Treats
    rabbit product shot 0e868327e6c3f164e800cbe07820bc8d
    heart product shot 543df925a61364badd8ba752e763561c
    Code HELLODANES10 for 10% off all Dr. Harveys products
    71ag2dwtVfL. AC SX466

    Poop Bags

    LIMITING WATER INTAKE

    Some people may recommend that you limit water intake to make potty training easier. After all, a puppy won’t have to pee as much if they don’t drink so much! To that, we say YIKES.

    Here are reasons you should NOT limit water when potty training. 

    1. The puppy may learn to hoard, gulp, or guard water in the future. Keep in mind that guarding and hoarding is a dangerous behavior, and gulping may contribute to bloat risk.
    2. It’s bad for their kidneys and overall gut function and health to not have access to fresh water at all times.
    3. Puppies need to be well hydrated to be able to concentrate and learn.
    4. A dehydrated puppy is a constipated puppy, which will make housetraining that much more difficult.
    5. A dehydrated puppy is a sick puppy.

    Overall, just don’t do it.

    LEASH TRAINING A NEW PET IN RELATION TO GETTING THEM POTTY TRAINED

    Believe it or not, getting a Great Dane comfortable with their leash is important in regards to training a Great Dane the right and wrong spot to pee.

    A good dog will know that they should pee outside and not inside. And, logically, in order to go outside and be successful, Great Danes need to be able to walk on a leash without being too scared, destructive, or anxious.

    Here are some tips to get your Great Dane used to their leash:

    1. Start off training your Great Dane with a short leash in your backyard. Let them get used to the feel of the leash around their neck and you walking behind them.
    2. Use treats to get their attention and make sure they are walking by your side and not in front of you. Practice going on short walks around your neighborhood.Make sure to praise them and give them treats when they are doing a good job.
    3. If they start to pull, ask your Great Dane to sit and wait.
    4. Make sure that time spent on leash with your Great Dane is not play time.
    5. Next, train your Great Dane to wait at the door. This is an important step in leash training and will make sure that your Great Dane doesn’t bolt out the door every time it opens.

    Leash training any dog is not an overnight task. For more tips on how to train a Great Dane on leash, be sure to check out this blog: LEASH TRAINING

    TRAIN YOUR GREAT DANE ON LEASH
    5 LEASH TIPS
    DOG TRAINING REVIEW
    RECALL FOR GREAT DANES
    OFF LEASH FAILURES
    HOW TO TEACH A GREAT DANE TO WALK ON A LEASH
    OUR FAVORITE LEASHES
    WHAT IS THE BEST LEASH?
    LEASH TRAINING IS HARD

    GETTING GREAT DANES TO POTTY TRAIN

    If you have a Great Dane, you know that they are unlike other dogs. They are fascinating dogs who steal everybody’s heart!

    Great Danes are fascinating creatures, but like any other dogs, accidents happen and learning something new takes time and consistency.

    Use a lot of positive reinforcement, love and time and watch as your dog gets better at the little things, right before your eyes!

    Seriously. Potty training takes time, patience and consistency. There is NO easy way out, but the more consistent you are the faster your puppy will learn! Hang in there and have fun with your puppy!

    Great Dane Farts: The Funniest Collection of Photos and Videos on the Internet
    Great Dane Not Eating – What to Do
    How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy
    The Best Collars for Great Danes

  • Bad Breeder Hall of Shame

    Bad Breeder Hall of Shame

    This popped up recently from the Itawamba County Sheriff Department in Fulton, MS.
    This post contains disturbing images of animal neglect. 

    PUBLIC RECORD:

    Jayla Mckale Rogers with ‘Moonshine Danes’ learned that she could make a ton of cash selling Great Dane puppies, and turned her home into a puppy mill.

    Think you want a cheap Great Dane, one that will be ‘just a pet, not a show dog’? Are you shopping for your Dane on Facebook or craigslist and excited to find a breeder with a litter of puppies ready to go?

    Tread cautiously. We have a dirty truth to share with you. It’s important to note that WE SUPPORT breeders and rescues. What we don’t support is abuse, neglect, and profit-focused breeding programs.

    ‘Breeders’ like the one we are sharing below are unfortunately EVERYWHERE. While they may have ‘cheap’, available puppies and seem ‘nice’, they have one goal. To get your money.

    How do they get by with neglect and abuse? Read on: 

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    RED FLAGS

    These breeders may meet you in the parking lot with only the puppy you’ve bought so that you never see how sketchy their breeding operation is.

    They won’t let you meet the parents and may say that you cannot come to their kennel for any reason. They likely have multiple litters each year.

    They won’t likely have an application, a contract or any kind of legitimate breeder support.

    They may say the dogs are ‘vet checked’ or ‘health tested’, but you won’t find any results in the public database at www.ofa.org

    You’re most likely to find a breeder like this on Facebook or on a listing service such as craigslist; or the breeder will reach out to you when you say you are looking for a puppy.

    We HATE the breeder scam going around right now, but we hate this so much more.

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    Having ‘AKC papers’ does not mean that a breeder is operating with the health and well-being of dogs in mind. Even AKC breeders with a registered lineage may still be operating unethically and can have an awful lot to hide.

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    Great Danes are not cheap, and cheap Great Dane breeders are not great. If you are looking for a cheap puppy, make sure you are not supporting this kind of breeding operation.

    When this breeding operation was exposed by animal control, they found 4 adult Great Danes in cages with no food or water. The breeder also had 16 other animals kept in cages in addition to several emaciated puppies. Many of the dogs needed immediate medical attention.

    The owner has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty, but may only be fined as much as $1000. The sale of just one or two puppies would pay for that fine; it’s meaningless.

    She has created and sold several litters.

    This is NOT an isolated situation. Breeders like this are all over the place and continue to operate because people continue to fund their operation by purchasing puppies.

    Read our ‘Bad Great Dane Breeders Page here (updated often).

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    BREEDING DAM CONDITION

    This poor mama has likely been bred many times. More litters = more money. Your cheap puppy is making somebody rich, and it’s not this sweet mama dog who benefits.

    Not only is this girl massively underweight, malnourished, and likely suffering with itchy skin and possibly even parasites, look at her front feet.

    Her weak, low pasterns indicate nutritional deficiency, lack of appropriate free movement and exercise on outdoor terrain, over breeding, poor nail maintenance, and possibly even some bad genetics (that she no doubt passed onto the puppies).

    She’s miserable and nervous, which is also how you create nervous, timid puppies.

    Want a puppy that is timid, fearful, aggressive, and has health problems including a higher risk of bloat, cardiac disease, hip dysplasia, thyroid disease and autoimmune disorders? This is how you make that happen.

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    I DON’T NEED A SHOW DOG, I JUST NEED A PET

    We think there are actually some great breeders out there that don’t show their dogs.

    We also want people to understand that show breeders produce a lot of amazing pets. Not every dog in a litter can be a show dog.

    Ethical breeders are much more likely to be breeding dogs that are healthy, excellent examples of the breed standard. They are more likely to be completing full OFA health testing and genetic screenings to eliminate common disorders in Great Danes. They are more likely to only be breeding dogs that have outstanding temperaments.

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    Ethical breeders care about their dogs, every single one of them and aren’t breeding to make money.

    They have funds set aside for complications. They don’t over-breed their dogs. They don’t breed dogs that aren’t healthy. They spend hours each day with the puppies to care for them and socialize them.

    Chances are that you WILL have to pay more for an ethically bred puppy, because the expenses associated with operating correctly are higher. That’s important, however because we cannot continue to financially reward people who breed dogs any other way.

    Being a dog snob means making it socially unacceptable to breed untested, poorly treated dogs. It’s not a bad thing to be snobby about the welfare of dogs.

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    THESE PUPPIES WILL BE OK

    Thankfully, all of these dogs and puppies were rescued by Save Rocky the Great Dane and are receiving medical treatment and much needed love, food, water and care.

    Great people rescue dogs like this and great people adopt them. Many will likely have wonderful, long lives. Others may need a lot of behavioral and health support, and some simply may not be healthy enough to survive another day.

    It is largely because of bad breeding operations that the rescues have to exist. 

    How many puppies did this breeder produce and sell to people before she was shut down?

    How many of the puppies that this breeder sold in the past are currently waiting in rescue, surrendered by owners who couldn’t handle them? How many are timid, fearful, sick, and suffering needlessly from health conditions such as hip dysplasia?

    Images from the Itawamba County Sheriff Department.

    Everything stated here is a matter of public record. 

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    Educate, advocate, rescue, foster, adopt.

    Advocacy for Great Danes means supporting rescue efforts, fostering, and only choosing truly ethical breeders.

    Anything else is supporting an industry where the health and welfare of the Great Danes we love is not considered.

  • SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES

    SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES

    Supplements for Great Danes matter because we all want our Great Danes to live long, healthy lives.

    We are all here because we know that Great Danes are a SPECIAL breed!

    They also grow astronomically fast and astronomically large. Hence the ‘Great’ part!

    We love their big faces, bracing ourselves for the famous Dane lean, accessorizing our couch with them, and walking these gorgeous animals down the street.

    SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES

    These dogs deserve the best that we can give them. Because they are so large, they tend to be especially prone to painful and debilitating health conditions of their immune system, digestive system and joints. Some may have additional health and structural problems that are an unfortunate result of unethical breeding practices.

    WHY DO OWNERS NEED SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES?

    Great Danes, on average, live only 8 years. The high incidence of bloat and cardiac problems, which are perpetuated primarily by friendly BACKYARD BREEDERS (who appear reputable) greatly contribute to this statistic.

    We believe that a quality diet and supplements can give our Danes the best chance at robust health. Read below for our favorite joint, anxiety relief, digestive and overall wellness supplements for Great Danes.

    Please consult with your giant-breed veterinarian before changing or adding supplements. This is especially important if your Great Dane has a pre-existing health condition or is taking medications.

    SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES

    1. PROBIOTICS, PREBIOTICS & DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

    Current research indicates that bloat may be notably related to gut health & genetics. If your dog is suffering from allergies, gas, itchy skin, or loose stools a probiotic supplement is highly recommended.

    Prebiotics and digestive enzymes can provide even more benefit! Add this kind of supplement even if your kibble contains probiotics.

    We like the powder form because most dogs will eat it right up when sprinkled onto their food.

    Many people believe that farting and gas are just part of owning a Great Dane. We believe that is a sign that your dog needs digestive support and an adjustment to their diet. This is especially important in light of the current research that suggests  a gut health and genetics link to bloat.

    SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES

    2. JOINT SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES

    Glucosamine supports joint health and can be found in chicken feet, trachea, bone broth and other tasty whole food raw treats. “By-Products” in pet food are a good thing, as they are made from bone, cartilage (and organs) which contain a natural source of glucosamine.

    Royal Canin Giant Breed Dog Food – Are By Products Good or Bad?

    We like Green Lipped Mussel for joint health as well because it comes in powder form, is incredibly simple and is based on a whole food source.

    You can also choose one of these veterinary-backed formulas for joint support:

    Glcoflex III
    Dasaquin

    Be careful about using multiple commercial glucosamine chondroitin tablets and supplements! Too much can lead to toxicity.

    SUPPLEMENTS FOR GREAT DANES

    VITAMIN C FOR GREAT DANES

    A vitamin C supplement is one of those standard Great Dane things that a lot of people do.

    It can help the dog process stressful and anxiety-inducing situations (ear cropping, spay/neuter, board and train, vet exams, etc.).

    Unlike humans who must obtain vitamin C from their diet, dogs synthesize their own vitamin C. Low vitamin C levels can cause problems with bone growth in human babies. This explains how some people drew a connection between vitamin C and knuckling in dogs.

    Supplementation itself has never been proven in research to prevent, treat, or cure developmental disorders in growing Great Danes.

    If you choose to give your puppy Vitamin C, split the dose up over the course of the day. 1000-1500mg is standard. Too much will cause loose stool, so start slowly and work up to a full dose over the course of 2 weeks.

    -Some foods contain added vitamin C in some form already, and a supplement may be excessive

    Is My Great Dane Puppy Knuckling?
    How to Prevent Knuckling in Great Dane Puppies
    Is My Great Dane Puppy Too Small?
    Great Dane Puppy Growth Chart

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    Fish oil comes in many forms and it’s not hard to find good ones. Even human grade fish oil capsules work! Just pop them with a pin and squirt the oil onto the food. 

    4. FISH OIL FOR DOGS

    Fish oil is an amazing and simple way to help your dog receive the benefits of Omega 3’s. It’s good for skin, coat and teeth as well as cardiovascular health and brain development.

    omega 7105acfb0b8053ecf181cfcb58ca10a5
    health and shine pump
    salmon 35a247dc9508e2792c4e216150c7e17e
    Our favorite Fish Oil for Great Danes: Health and Shine Salmon and Krill and Omega-3 Fish Oil. Use code HELLODANES10 for 10% off.

    Health Risks in Great Danes
    Fish Oil for Great Danes

    Fish oil gives dogs a clean, shiny coat and healthy skin, which will keep your Great Dane looking amazing.

    The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. We do our best to present the most up-to-date research, however it is up to the reader to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their dog. We make no claims here to prevent or treat bloat, cancer, arthritis or any other condition related to Great Danes. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them.

    Some of the products we list on our website contain affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, we may receive a small commission for referring you. We only recommend products that we truly believe in. This commission does not affect the price of the product and is used to fund our content and expenses related to operating this website. 

  • What is Backyard Breeding?

    What is Backyard Breeding?

    Is there a difference between backyard breeding and front yard breeding?

    Don’t most breeders raise puppies in their backyard?

    What could possibly be wrong with breeding dogs in a home environment?

    Is it backyard breeding if the breeder seems friendly and the puppies are clean?

    What if a dog chooses to have her puppies in the backyard instead of inside? Is that the problem? 

    Isn’t backyard breeding BETTER than a puppy mill? I’d rather know my puppy came from a home and yard than a kennel!
    Great Dane Health

    SO MANY QUESTIONS!

    The good news is that none of those things have anything to do with breeding dogs in a backyard.

    There is nothing wrong with a breeder raising puppies in their home environment, or for you as a Great Dane owner to want a ‘pet’, not a ‘show dog’.

    Backyard Breeding is really just the term dog people have made up to describe people who are breeding random, low quality dogs ‘in their backyard’ to make cash.

    These breeders aren’t necessarily interested in the health, structure, or temperament of the puppies they are creating, but they sure know how to get you to spend your money with them!

    WHY IS BACKYARD BREEDING BAD?

    Backyard breeders are often pairing two dogs for breeding that really should not be bred. They may have websites, ‘nice’ photos and even a nice home and clean puppies; however, they may still be unethical.

    A Great Dane is not a Great Dane is not a Great Dane. AKC papers, Euro build and ‘neat colors’ are NOT enough to justify breeding two dogs together.

    Backyard breeders, even the ‘nice’ friendly ones, are directly responsible for the number of dogs needing rescue, and for the ongoing health and temperament problems we see in Great Danes.

    SIGNS OF A BACKYARD BREEDER

     

    • They will have no records of proper health testing or only did some of the testing (ask for Full OFA tests with certificate & CHIC# to verify at www.ofa.org, or similar standard in other Countries
    • They may market dogs primarily using buzz words such as ‘papered’, ‘designer colors’, ‘healthy’, or ‘Euro %’.
    • They may  send puppies home to buyers prior to 8 weeks of age.
    • They will not have a lifetime return guarantee.
    • They will not have buyers sign contracts.
    • They will will not care if a buyer chooses to breed their dog.
    • They may encourage buyers to purchase two puppies at the same time.
    • They may advertise on marketplace or Craigslist, post repeated sales in local groups and may have a hard time selling puppies.
    • They won’t be willing to show the parents, or the parents will be unkempt, heavy, untrained, or aggressive.
    • The puppies may be timid, round, hunched, dirty, bug-eyed, and may look sick or weak.
    • The breeders home and/or whelping area will be below standard, dirty, and may lack appropriate enrichment for the dogs and puppies.

    Every time you support a backyard breeder, you support the creation of the exact types of dogs that strain our system of shelters and rescues. The rescues are here because of these dogs, and the unfortunate truth is that the backyard breeders do not care.

    Oh be serious. ANY dog can end up in rescue, even one from an ‘Ethical’ breeder, so don’t blame this on the ‘backyard breeders’… right?

    WRONG.

    Ethical breeders care very much about structure, health and temperament.

    They actively work to produce puppies that are unlikely to suffer from genetically related health problems such as hip dysplasia, bloat and entropion that cost owners heartache and money.

    They aren’t creating white double merle dogs  that end up in rescue when they cannot find somebody who wants a snappy, under-socialized 4 month old deaf puppy with no eyes.

    They closely follow the written standard, and ask for feedback from their peers so that the dogs they breed look and act like healthy, robust, calm, loving Great Danes with strong features and beautiful structure..

    They are picky about buyers and educate them well, because they know that the wrong home could mean a dog ends up being neglected, dumped, or used for backyard breeding.

    They want the puppies they sell to have outstanding temperaments, so they are much less likely to end up in rescue because they became ‘too aggressive’, bit a child, or couldn’t be handled by the average pet owner.

    Most of all, ethical breeders have a LIFETIME return guarantee. They support buyers with education and will take any dog back during its life for any reason.

    Ethical breeders are NOT the reason that so many dogs are in rescue. Backyard breeders are. Still don’t believe us? Look at any rescue. Are any of those adoptable dogs from a breeder that would take the dog back themselves, give it vet care and help it find a home?

    RUFFLED FEATHERS?

    We understand that a post like this may ruffle some feathers.

    Perhaps you have a dog that came from what you now realize was a ‘backyard breeder’, and a post like this can feel like an attack (especially if your backyard bred Great Dane is a loved family pet, as mine is). For that, we apologize.

    We believe all Great Danes deserve love and a fantastic home, including the ‘imperfect’ ones, and especially the ones that need our help.

    You got lucky with one of the special ones; but that’s not the point of this post.

    Perhaps you are a breeder, and don’t like that we are calling you out. We don’t apologize for that. You will not change our minds. We do not respect that you skip OFA health testing, or that you are breeding dogs that barely look like Great Danes, or that the puppies you create have roached backs, entropion, and timid personalities.

    We don’t respect that you throw around terms like ‘papered’ and ‘health tested’ just to make a buck. We also don’t respect your defensiveness towards improving your program and operating ethically. Try us, but be warned. We are pretty fed up with backyard breeders and know all the ‘lines’.

    Our hope is that every owner with a loved family dog from a backyard breeder, every owner whose backyard bred dog died painfully at a young age, and every owner who is interested in purchasing a Great Dane will read this article and help us stop the cycle moving forward.

    These dogs are too big to be given anything other than the chance at incredible health and wellness. Stop funding backyard breeders. Start holding breeders to a HIGHER standard. Our dogs deserve it!

  • GREAT DANE BLOAT AND GUT HEALTH

    GREAT DANE BLOAT AND GUT HEALTH

    Bloat is one of the most terrifying and uncertain things we can face as Great Dane owners. It is painful, distressing, and can happen quickly to dogs that otherwise seem healthy. Great Dane bloat and gut health go hand in hand.

    It’s important to address poor gut health in your Great Dane.

    Bloat is a deadly emergency in large and giant-breed dogs where the stomach fills up with gas, air, food, or fluid.

    It is a life-threatening event that requires immediate medical attention, especially if the stomach flips (‘torsion’).

    GREAT DANE BLOAT AND GUT HEALTH
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    Photo by Stefano Parisi on Pexels.com

    Great Dane Bloat and Gut Health

    While the exact cause of bloat in Great Danes has not been proven, a lot of research indicates that bloat has strong ties to genetics, anxiety, and gut health.

    How genetics affects a dogs risk of bloat

    Ethical breeders will utilize advances in modern genetics testing, plus a thorough study of the pedigree, to verify that the parents are unlikely to pass on the bloat genes. They should not breed dogs where a history of bloat is in the direct lineage.

    Studies show that dogs with a genetic link have a significantly higher risk of bloating in their lifetime.

    Emerging research also indicates that poor gut health may be a contributing factor to bloat, or at the very least does very little to help prevent it.

    Basically, poor genetics + poor gut health create a perfect storm.

    Great Danes that are otherwise low-risk for Bloat can still experience a bloat event, and it’s important to note that Gastropexy doesn’t prevent it.

    Gastropexy/tacking can, however help keep the stomach from flipping (torsion) if a bloat event occurs.

    Gut health can be affected by genetics, diet, medications, vaccines, vitamins and environment.

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    Get a FREE Jolly Ball with the purchase of a Big Barker bed.

    How constant diet changes affect gut health

    Many Great Danes struggle with diet and food changes.

    Soft stools, excess gas, diarrhea, regular puking, tummy upset and allergies (itching, swelling, redness, yeast, buildup/gunk in ears) are all signs that gut health and diet need to be addressed.

    Studies indicate a strong correlation between stomach bacteria, inflammatory bowel disease and bloat, and that a variety of similar risk factors (including genetics) contribute to this.

    Addressing these factors is especially important if you are aware of a genetic link with bloat in the lineage of your dog (please hold breeders accountable!)

    What does Bloat in Dogs Look Like?

    Is Bloat in dogs Genetic?

    Does resting after meals prevent Great Dane Bloat?

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    Photo by Paparazzi Ratzfatzzi on Pexels.com

    How to Address Gut Health Issues in Great Danes

    The Best Probiotics for Great Danes

    Add a probiotic supplement. Even if the food you feed contains ‘added probiotics’, a quality supplement is more likely to contain healthy, live, beneficial bacteria.

    We recommend the following brands on Amazon (links to product):

    Proviable Capsules

    Nature’s Farmacy Dogzymes

    Add these to their meals. Most dogs eat them right up, especially the powders sprinkled on top of a raw egg or scoop of fresh food. As always chat with your vet before starting any new supplement! 

    The Best Foods for Great Danes

    Choosing the right kibble is exceptionally important for Great Danes. Check your labels. Avoid foods that are from companies who do not employ a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist to formulate their foods!

    Boutique food brands are killing and harming our dogs.

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    We do not recommend: 

    1. Kibbles that are grain free, which can increase the risk of heart problems in Great Danes

    2. Kibbles that require the dog to eat a lot to obtain enough calories. For a 125lb dog, we like to see feeding ratios of 4-5 cups/day. 

    3. Kibbles that show signs of ingredient splitting

    4. Boutique food brands that don’t have a full-time board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist on staff. This includes (but is not limited to): Fromm, Victor, Nutrisource, Nulo, Nutro, 4Health, Diamond, TOTW, Life’s Abundance, Gentle Giants

    We do recommend: 

    1. Foods with meat, meat meal, or meat by-product meal in the first 4 ingredients

    2. Foods that have been subjected to food trials and research: brands include Royal Canin, Purina, Hill’s Science Diet and Eukanuba

    3. Fresh food toppers such as balanced raw, raw eggs, water-packed sardines, goat milk (in moderation) and fresh fruits or vegetables, up to 10% of the diet

    4. Probiotics and fish oil

    5. Slow eating and smaller, more frequent meals.

    If your Great Dane is struggling with gas, burping, puking, allergies and/or soft stools and diarrhea, you need to look at parasites, medical reasons, and the food.

    We do not recommend low-quality kibbles. Choose a professionally formulated raw diet or a kibble that was formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. 

    The following brands and formulas are ideal:

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

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    Should I Feed My Great Dane Puppy or Adult Food?

    There is some interesting data regarding a notable increase of bloat events in places where kibble diets are more common, which could indicate an additional link between kibble and bloat. More studies are needed. 

    Encourage slow, stress-free eating. 

    Gut health may be improved through the thoughtful use of diet and probiotics. Chat with your veterinarian. It is extremely important to address gut health issues in Great Danes.

    We can never really prevent bloat, but we can take steps to try and minimize the chance that a bloat event may occur. We owe it to our Great Danes to keep them healthy and address their gut health!

    NOTES: There is no known way to prevent bloat, and the causes are not truly understood. We do our best to present the most up-to-date research, however it is up to the reader to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their dog. We make no claims here to prevent or treat bloat. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them. 

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  • Why Great Dane Puppies Should Stay with the Litter Until 8 Weeks

    Why Great Dane Puppies Should Stay with the Litter Until 8 Weeks

    Puppies should stay with the litter until 8 weeks. No questions about it.

    There is almost no reason for a breeder to send a puppy home prior to 8 weeks of age.

    If your breeder is doing this, they are very unlikely to be a reputable, ethical breeder (no matter what they tell you about ‘why’). In many States, it is also illegal to send a puppy home prior to 8 weeks.

    Puppies Should Stay with the Litter Until 8 Weeks

    BREEDING PRACTICES: Puppies Should Stay with the Litter Until 8 Weeks

    There are a few reasons why a breeder may claim that a puppy needs to go home before 8 weeks.

    Here are some you may have heard:

    • The mom ‘rejected’ the puppies
    • The mom is being ‘mean’ to the puppies
    • The mom ‘weaned’ the puppies and they are eating solid food
    • The puppies are ‘fighting’
    • The puppies will ‘bond’ better if they go home before 8 weeks
    • The breeder has cancer/health issues/etc. and can no longer keep the litter
    • It’s ‘better’ for bonding

    Do these sound familiar?

    Puppies that go home prior to 8 weeks of age may lack bite control, will be immature and may have a harder time with potty training, puppy biting, crate training and socialization. 

    BREEDER CLAIMS THAT MOM IS MEAN TO THE PUPPIES

    The mom may actually appear to have rejected the puppies. She may be nippy or snappy and walk away from them when they try to nurse.

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    Inexperienced breeders see this as a sign that the mom is becoming aggressive and may hurt the puppies, not realizing that this is an incredibly important part of the process. Or they will use it as an excuse to be lazy.

    This is how the mom weans the puppies and begins to teach them manners and appropriate social skills.

    A puppy who has not had a mother snap at them to establish ground rules is a puppy who may grow into a rude, pushy adult.

    Puppies Should Stay with the Litter Until 8 Weeks

    Puppies learn incredibly valuable social skills while with their mom and litter. If they don’t have their mom and litter to correct them, they may never learn how to properly interact with other dogs.

    THE PUPPIES ARE FIGHTING

    Inexperienced breeders may think that their pile of puppies has become aggressive with how noisy, growly and bitey they are.

    The puppies are not fighting. They are teaching each other bite control and social skills!

    They will growl, chase, nip, attack, pin, grab and bite each other. They yelp, bark and make all kinds of racket to tell the other puppy that they bit too hard.

    This time spent learning how to control their jaws and bite pressure = puppies that have a LOT more maturity when it comes to social interaction and puppy biting.

    Puppies need time and lots, and lots of play to teach each other how to interact with dogs. Be cautious about any breeder that is so tired of the puppies that they would skip this time.

    Puppies Should Stay with the Litter Until 8 Weeks

    THE BREEDER IS TIRED OF THE LITTER

    Sometimes a breeder is tired of the litter for any number of reasons. They are expensive, noisy, needy, and aren’t worth much cash until people pick them up.

    So they will say all sorts of things to get you to pick the puppies up, pay them, and take them out of their house as soon as possible.

    They may even claim that the litter was an ‘ooops’ and that they have cancer and cannot deal with the puppies anymore (this is why we have rescues!); we see this a lot with ‘Craigslist’ breeders.

    They want your cash and they do NOT CARE that they are setting a puppy up to fail by encouraging you to take it home at 5, 6, or 7 weeks of age.

    CONSIDER THIS:

    Great Dane puppies that are sent home prior to 8 weeks of age may:

    Bite harder, may not have a ‘soft mouth’
    Be timid & shy
    Be exceptionally immature
    Cry more & have a harder time with separation anxiety
    Struggle with potty training & bladder control
    Be rude or pushy and struggle to have appropriate interactions with other dogs
    Be difficult to socialize

    It is a truly rare situation where a puppy may need to go home prior to 8 weeks of age. Do not let an unethical breeder convince you otherwise!

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    RARELY IS A PUPPY LEAVING THE LITTER EARLY A POSITIVE

    It can happen where a puppy must leave a litter early.

    • Sometimes, the Dam really is just a bad mom, or she is inexperienced. An ethical breeder will work with the Dam and may  hand-raise the puppies until 8 weeks or seek out the help of another breeder with an established Dam to help raise the litter.
    • Occasionally health issues may require that a puppy be separated (including the death of the Dam or severe health problems with the puppy). Ethical breeders will do everything in their power to thoughtfully and humanely resolve this, including placing the puppy in the care of another Dam and litter to learn social skills, or hand-raising it as needed.

    RESOURCES

    For more information on what ethical breeding practices and finding a quality breeder looks like, search our ever-growing collection of helpful topics!

    If you have a young puppy in your home, what is done is done. Recognize first that your puppy will be developmentally behind others that come home at 8 or even 10 weeks, so you’ll need to be extra patient.

    As obnoxious as puppy biting is, for an exceptionally young puppy they NEED to do it to learn how to control their jaw. If you can, meet with other (HEALTHY) same-aged puppies (be conscious of Parvo and other communicable disease!)

    For information on Puppy Biting and how to make it stop, visit our blog post! 

  • What to Expect When You Bring a Great Dane Puppy Home

    What to Expect When You Bring a Great Dane Puppy Home

    Knowing what to expect with a Great Dane puppy is near to impossible!

    There is almost nothing more special (and unpredictable) than a Great Dane puppy! There is this insane time where your new puppy seems to grow right in front of your eyes.

    Bring a Great Dane Puppy Home

    Since we’ve recently been through the crazy new dane puppy phase, we thought it would be a great time to talk about what to expect when you bring a Great Dane puppy home!

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    Bring a Great Dane Puppy Home

    GREAT DANE PUPPIES ARE INFANTS

    When you bring a Great Dane puppy into your home, you are literally bringing an infant to the family!

    They know absolutely nothing.

    What they DO know is that:

    • They are hungry
    • They can squat and pee comes out
    • You are warm
    • Biting is fun
    • The big dog they saw was scary
    • They can squat and more pee comes out
    • They are still hungry
    • Your food smells good
    • Did I mention that they squat and pee comes out?

    What they DO NOT know is that:

    • Shoes are not chew toys
    • Water bowls should not be tipped over
    • Obedience training is not a game
    • The house does not actually belong to them
    • Dog food is not at their disposal whenever they want
    • Eating the couch / wall / blankets / etc. is not allowed
    • Peeing in the living area isn’t fun or funny
    • Their collar won’t hurt them
    • Naughty behavior isn’t their full time job

    As you can see- teeny puppies are FULL of behavioral problems that when you really get to thinking about it– are not actually problems at all.

    More simply, it’s just a puppy dane in a new environment where every single turn down a new hallway is a whole new world.

    Keeping this perspective with your little dane will help you gain empathy, be more prepared, and grow your Great Dane puppy into a strong and confident adult Great Dane.

    THE FIRST NIGHT

    The first night the puppy is either going to sleep well and TRICK you into thinking they are perfect, or they are going to cry and cry and cry.

    Either way, just know that they are likely NOT going to be good sleepers for quite some time.

    If you think bringing home a dane puppy is stressful for you and your family, just try putting yourself in their paws.

    They’ve left their mom, pack, and previous house / life. Their breeder whom raised them said goodbye, and to them, that was their safe place.

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    So, get ready to spend time creating a bond and relationship that begins this first night and transpires over the course of your Great Danes life.

    Also- keep in mind- this phase moves FAST! Before you know it, your pup is going to be HUGE!

    WHO IS THE BIGGEST GREAT DANE?

    What To Do The First Night With Your New Puppy:

    Make sure they have warm bedding, a full tummy, and your comfort. Touch their crate, sleep near them until they learn that this new place isn’t so scary after all. Remember, less than 24 hours ago your puppy was cuddled up with littermates!

    Don’t have a crate yet? You’re going to want one! Crates can help with managing behaviors (peeing, chewing, biting) and give your pup a calm space to lay down and nap.

    We’ve included a link to a helpful article for you, How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy the right way!

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    Shop for the best crate for Great Danes on Amazon

    PEE & POOP EVERYWHERE

    We hope you are aren’t too attached to your carpet, because that puppy is going to find a way to pee on it whether you like it or not.

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    Great Dane Farts: A Compilation of the Best Farts on the Internet

    These little guys have absolutely NO knowledge of their bladder and no control at all. They have to pee and it just happens. Same deal with poop.

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    Poop Bags

    PRO TIP: turn the auto-schedule off on your robot vacuum. Can we say ‘poop painting’?

    Don’t expect consistency and reliability with potty training until at least 4-5 months of age, and that’s only if you have been diligent with training and management.

    And yes, they do pee when they get excited.

    When potty training, be prepared to be VERY consistent with frequent bathroom breaks (and I mean VERY frequent). For the first week, it is significantly better if you do not have to leave your dane alone at the house and are able to let them potty as often as every 20 minutes.

    In the long run, this intensive training upfront will help you set up a solid foundation for your Great Dane.

    Cleaning Supplies

    Remember all of that pee and poop? You’re likely going to need some cleaning supplies on hand to take care of that. Waste bags, odor eliminator, and some toxin free basic cleaning items are nice to keep on hand when bringing home a puppy.

    All dogs are very messy- but a puppy is often outlandishly so.

    Just gear up to spend about 50% of your life cleaning up after your dane puppy- but don’t worry, the bigger they get they tend to get less messy. Just kidding of course, Great Danes are pretty much ALWAYS a mess!

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    Natures Miracle Stain and Odor Remover

    NEEDLES FOR TEETH

    Puppy teeth are SHARP! If you’ve never been around a dane puppy, you might want to plan ahead and buy some bandaids.

    Imagine owning a shark with a mouth full of needles that wants nothing more than to BITE YOU.

    Welcome to the world of having a Great Dane puppy!

    Biting is VERY normal for any puppy of any breed. It is not ‘aggressive’ behavior, it does not mean that your puppy is ‘bad’. Normally, your puppy either has a painful mouth from teething, etc. or they are just simply trying to play.

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    How to Stop Puppy Biting

    To work on stopping the bite, provide plenty of strong toys for your puppy. Giving your dog lots of exercise and mental engagement can also help them to feel fulfilled in other areas and not feel the need to bite everything else in the house- including yourself!

    Tips for Stopping Your Great Dane Puppy from Biting:

    1. Keep as many chew proof dog toys in the house
    2. Exercise your dane puppy often
    3. Get mental brain games and toys for your dane
    4. Feed your dane with a slow feeder or puzzle
    5. Keep baby gates up around children or small kids
    6. Get started with training early and practice obedience skills continually with puppies

    Read our ‘How to stop puppy biting’ article here.

    START SAYING NO

    Pet owners, get ready to SAY NO! But, not to your dane puppy. To the humans!

    Everybody is going to want to love on the puppy and meet him or her. Make sure you don’t overwhelm your new puppy with too many sights, sounds and experiences! They need lots and lots of sleep and lots of time to learn your routine.

    You do NOT need to rush to the dog park for fear that your Great Dane will be scared of other pets or ‘unsocialized’.

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    Should I Take My Great Dane to the Dog Park?

    Try taking your puppy on a walk: INSIDE YOUR HOUSE! Practice using the leash and gearing up for the big day when you take them on leash for a real walk outside (which should be done shortly after bringing your dog home).

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    Tips for Leash Training Great Danes

    However, remember that when you DO bring your puppy outside on a walk, you MUST be prepared to SAY NO! Having a million hands coming in to pet and touch him is not going to make him less afraid of humans, but could lead to stranger fear or reactivity.

    Dogs deserve space, trust and the ability to determine when and how they’d like to greet other dogs or humans.

    Our Great Dane Socialization guide is amazing for learning how to use modern training and socialization methods to create a confident, friendly and resilient family pet!

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    SOCIALIZATION 101

    Have a Great Dane Puppy? Check out our positive socialization guide.

    Friendly – Confident – Resilient

    GET YOUR COPY

    GET TO WORK!

    The work you are willing to put in to your Great Dane puppy is the amount of outcome you will get out of them. It’s usually as simple as that.

    Now is the time to begin training! Make sure your pup has good experiences with you and with the environment.

    Great Danes are not supposed to be fearful, timid, scared or aggressive. If you see those traits in your Great Dane puppy, start with a vet visit to rule out medical reasons.

    Training Starts on Day 1: You are Your Great Dane’s First Dog Trainer

    Basic training begins THE DAY you bring your puppy home. Training can consist of anything from learning how to play in the grass to playing appropriate with chew toys.

    Nonetheless, training should be worked on daily with the use of positive reinforcement, a large crate, and treats – lots and lots of treats. Did we mention that Great Danes LOVE treats?

    CUE THE COMMENTARY

    People will have an opinion. Here are some of our ‘favorites’ that you can expect to hear:

    Being a Dane owner comes with SO many positives, but also comes with regular dane puppy commentary. When walking your pup or spending time with your dane out in public, expect to get comments… and LOTS of them!

    You can reply with useful information or just laugh it off, but either way you should be prepared for lots of comments, conversations, and interest.

    Most people have never seen a dog as big as a Great Dane.

    SO MANY GOOFY PHOTOS

    Great Dane puppies grow alarmingly fast. One day your dog is a puppy and the next they are full grown Great Danes.

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    Great Dane Growth Chart

    Basically, they will take a 2 hour nap and WAKE UP BIGGER.

    You cannot possibly take enough photos, so clear your phone now and get ready.

    Within weeks you will no longer be able to pick your puppy up.

    They are awkward, clumsy, and take forever to grow into graceful, loping, well-muscled adults.

    The Moments Go Fast With Your Great Dane

    Take ALL THE PHOTOS. Prepare to look back and sob!

    If this is your first dane, take double as many photos and videos as you think necessary! You will want them later.

    Looking back, at the end of the first two years with your Great Dane puppy, you might think it flies by, but you’ll realize that teeny moment of actual ‘dane puppy’ lasts only a few short weeks before they outgrow themselves, unlike most pets.

    WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU BRING A GREAT DANE PUPPY HOME

    GREAT DANE PUPPY FOOD

    Your Great Dane puppy is going to eat a LOT of food, and it has to be just the right formula. The wrong food can cause knuckling, panosteitis, HOD, and other orthopedic growth problems. You will want to do immense research into what is the best food to feed your Great Dane puppy.

    The food you choose to feed fuels or does not fuel your dog, gives them energy or wears them down, creates a strong dog or creates musculoskeletal issues, helps to build a strong immune system or perpetuates sickness, etc.

    Look into every dog food you’re considering before making the choice on what food to feed your Great Dane puppy.

    Myth Busting: “My Great Dane should not eat regular puppy food. I was told that I should put them on adult dog food.” This is just not true. Science, research, and increase in the dog food market has transformed giant breed formulas into much more than it was 20 or even 15 years ago. The food that you provide your dane with should be fit for a growing Great Dane puppy. For some companies, that means the bag will say ‘large breed puppy’, and for some that means the bag will say ‘large breed adult’. It’s what is on the inside of the bag that matters, not the outside!

    For information on feeding your puppy, we recommend starting with the Great Dane Feeding Guide! We can work together to make sure your Great Dane puppy is eating the best possible choice for them, their breed, and for your family.

    ULTIMATE GREAT DANE FEEDING GUIDE

    The formulas below are what we recommend for growing Great Dane Puppies and the breed altogether. We’ve linked these photos up for you so that you can easily find them on Chewy.

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    Worried about knuckling? Great Danes are prone to certain health problems, including something called knuckling while they are growing. We’ve got resources for that, too. Because we know (speaking from experience here) that you are GOING TO WORRY!

    That’s ok. Worry is normal and means that you really care about your new Great Dane Puppy!

    IS MY GREAT DANE PUPPY KNUCKLING?

    PUPPY PROOF OR GET DESTROYED

    Get ready to puppy proof your house for your Great Dane.

    If you didn’t want your Great Dane puppy on that couch, it may be too late. (just kidding, sort of!)

    Great Danes LOVE to think that the entire house is actually THEIR house, and that includes your bed, your car, your couch, your food, anything that is on your table, and did I mention your bed?

    Training your Great Dane takes time, so in the meantime, prepare to puppy proof your house with a solid, giant crate as well as some baby gates and safe spaces for them to hang out in.

    Crate Training

    Crate training is a fabulous way to prepare both your Great Dane puppy for having some alone time and help them not develop separation anxiety (something that Great Danes are famous for), as well as keeping them safe if you need to clean, cook, go grab some thing at the store, or simply sit down and watch a movie. (Did you know that Great Danes do not think that any of those exist, because they simply have nothing to do with THEM! 🙂

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    How to crate train a Great Dane: click here

    Preparing to be able to sleep without your Great Dane

    Many Great Dane owners LOVE to sleep with their puppies. Just keep in mind your little Great Dane will soon be consuming your bed.

    We recommend utilizing a crate, but keeping it next to your bed for the comfort and security of having you nearby. Inside your crate, consider an orthopedic mat such as a Big Barker crate pad.

    Joint Disease in Your Great Dane

    Any large breed dog, including a Great Dane puppy, is predisposed to joint disease, and the best way to prepare is to prevent.

    That is why we always recommend the only orthopedic mattress on the market that has been clinically studied by veterinarians to improve the health of your dog’s joints, Big Barker.

    Have a look here:

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    Romp n Roll Red
    Get a FREE Jolly Ball with the purchase of a Big Barker bed.

    ENJOY YOUR PUPPY

    Your Great Dane may be frustrating at times and you may grow tired of the noise, peeing and biting but hang in there. These dogs are worth it! You’re about to fall in love with a Great Dane puppy, and truly there is really nothing better in the world.

    Prepare to never go back!

    Before you know it you’ll have a well-trained, calm adult dog and will be dreaming of the day when you will bring sweet puppy breath and snuggles into your home again.

    READ MORE:
    How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy
    Is My Great Dane Puppy Knuckling?
    Puppy Food for Great Danes
    How Much Do Great Danes Eat?
    Canine Good Citizen Training for Great DanesYour Puppy is Bored
    How to Choose the Best Dog Trainer

  • We Think Your Great Dane is Awesome

    We Think Your Great Dane is Awesome

    We spend an awful lot of time here talking about bad breeders and dogs that have problems with their health and temperament. 

    If you have an ‘imperfect’ Great Dane, an underdog, a dog that is a ‘pet’ not a ‘showdog’ or is a Dane from a backyard breeder this can sometimes feel like an attack. 

    But it’s not about your dog! We LOVE your dog. We actually think your Great Dane is awesome.

    We believe all Great Danes deserve the most loving home possible, even the ones that aren’t ‘perfect show dogs’, and we celebrate the people that love their Danes no matter where they are from.  

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    ADVOCACY

    As lovers of Great Danes and of the breed, we should all be advocates. 

    Advocacy means educating people and making it socially unacceptable to breed untested, poorly structured dogs for profit. 

    We love our imperfect Great Danes, but that doesn’t mean we have to love the places and breeders that they have come from. 

    Rescues are full because so many breeders have a habit of creating anxious, unhealthy dogs and not caring at all where they ever end up. 

    We believe Danes deserve better than this!

    MEET MATILDA

    Matilda is my own personal heart dog. She is actually the reason I became so heavily involved in advocacy for Great Danes! She is an amazing, strong girl with an unfortunate, preventable past. 

    Matilda was born in Oklahoma to a breeder that planned to keep her as a bitch/dam.

    At 3 months of age she was hit by a car and her right leg was shattered. This breeder took her to a veterinarian’s office (yay!), but didn’t officially surrender her and didn’t come back to pay for her care (not yay!). 

    Matilda lived in a cage for 10 days with a shattered leg, all because her backyard breeder didn’t care. 

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    She was finally released to rescue by the city, and the rescue veterinarian amputated her leg and spayed her when she was just 4 months old. How I ended up with this amazing dog is another story, but let’s just say that I think she’s pretty dang perfect. 

    Matilda is the ultimate underdog.

    Her unethical breeder cost the rescue thousands of dollars in veterinary care and boarding, and cost sweet Matilda an easy, normal life on 4 legs. If she had taken care of this the day it happened, Matilda’s leg could have been saved. Instead, she was forced to suffer and wait while her backyard breeder failed to ‘get it together’. 

    This is not ok. Backyard breeding is not ok. Breeding dogs and then dumping them on rescue like this when they will fail to be ‘profitable’ is not ok.

    When we purchase dogs from backyard breeders, we support the exact kind of operations that result in dogs like Matilda having to suffer. She’s lucky, she landed with a good rescue who placed her here with me, and she’s living the best life she possibly can.

    WE ALL JUST WANT A PET

    Not many people actually need or want a show dog. Most of us really do just want a pet! 

    It’s so important that we celebrate every single Great Dane, no matter where they came from or what they look like. 

    But that does not mean we should continue to financially support the kinds of breeders who do not care about this breed the way that we do. 

    Supporting ethical breeders isn’t about all Danes being show-dogs, it’s about all Great Danes being given the best chance possible at health, structure and wellness. 

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    We support Great Dane rescue and ethical breeders.

    There is absolutely room for both. But it’s up to us as advocates for the breed to make sure that breeders aren’t contributing to the rescue problem. 

    Make it socially unacceptable to breed poorly structured, untested dogs for profit. 

    READ MORE:

    Is My Great Dane Being Aggressive or Playing?

  • How to Stop Great Dane Puppy Biting

    How to Stop Great Dane Puppy Biting

    Great Dane puppies are like little gremlins!!!! Even though Great Dane puppy biting is very normal, but can be very hard to handle. If you are ready to learn how to stop Great Dane puppy biting, you’ve come to the right place.

    They bite, gnaw, growl, tug, grab your clothes, and dig their tiny little needle teeth into your arms and hands.

    YOUCH!!! But your Great Dane puppy is so cute and snuggly too. It can be hard to understand how they can flip a switch and go from cute ball of fur to aggressive beast, but it’s actually nothing to be concerned about!

    Many people worry that a biting Great Dane puppy may be trying to ‘be the boss’ or will turn out to be an aggressive dog, but neither of those things is actually true.
    Read on to learn why it is all apart of the puppy biting stage and how to stop biting in your Great Dane puppy.

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    Why Do Great Dane Puppies Bite?

    Great Dane Puppies bite to learn how to control their jaws, to develop appropriate social skills, and because it’s hard to learn the difference between fingers and chew toys.

    Additionally, biting also feels good for their puppy teeth. Puppy owners should rest assured that it is normally not aggressive behavior.

    Watch a pile of Great Dane puppies play! Puppy bites is what they do to each other! One will wrestle and bite each other while the second one makes as many sounds as it can for a few minutes before the little guy bites back!

    When the first Great Dane yelps, they back off for a minute.

    The Great Dane puppy that bit learned that the bite was too hard, and both puppies just learned a valuable and important social interaction. These Great Dane puppies are acting as one another’s pet trainers!

    Exposing puppies to this natural and proper training is a valuable part of their puppy biting development.

    This is an important part of your Great Dane puppy’s development. When a Great Dane puppy isn’t given this time with their litter (until 8 weeks of age) they may have poor bite control.

    When you bring your 8 week old Great Dane puppy home, they don’t WANT to stop biting. Like any breed, Great Danes thrive on play, training, toys, and attention. Positive reinforcement is very helpful when it comes to teaching safe alternatives to puppies biting.

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    Is My Great Dane Puppy Aggressive?

    Great Dane puppy bites are completely harmless and come from a place of just wanting to find relief from their energy. It’s RARELY aggression and it’s never related to dominance.

    Immaturity though? Yeah that’s a big culprit behind puppy biting!

    At first, they don’t know or care about the difference between YOU and the other dogs from their litter. It is completely normal behavior to see a small puppy biting, gravitating to chew toys or having ‘puppy energy’.

    All your Great Dane puppy knows is that biting is FUN. Chances are you are actually encouraging the behavior by mistake!

    A common mistake many puppy owners make is to believe that their bitey, growly, crazy puppy is trying to dominate or “be the boss”. Nothing could be farther from the truth!

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    How to Stop Great Dane Puppy Biting

    Here is our list of ways to minimize and STOP puppy biting.

    You must be consistent and make sure everybody in the family does the same thing.

    As always, be sure to speak with a highly qualified balanced dog trainer if you notice your Great Dane puppy act aggressively, bite people excessively, or if you cannot get your puppy to stop biting.

    Start implementing these tips:

    • Remain calm
    • Be boring and encourage good behavior by demonstrating calmness yourself
    • When biting starts, cross your arms, turn your back and walk away
    • Use crates, gates and leashes to prevent the behavior and teach appropriate play
    • Know the signs: the ‘witching hour’ and being over-tired after long hours of play tends to make puppy biting worse!
    • Redirect calm puppies to an appropriate chew such as toys, a toy rope, a treat, or a game to play.
    • Practice training by keeping your Great Dane away from other dogs who might act aggressively
    • Likewise, encourage your Dane pup to engage with friendly dogs in a safe environment
    • Put your over-tired Great Dane in a crate with a frozen stuffed Kong toy or treat
    • Teach a settle/go to mat behavior in order that they practice the training method of remaining calm and to stop biting
    • Teach your Great Dane the primary skills: sit, down, touch, stand, leave it and wait
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    Bonus Tip: Teach the “Enough” Command

    When your Great Dane puppy is playing with you, calmly say ‘ENOUGH’, then praise and offer a toy or treat.

    Enough will quickly become a cue to use in training that implies you want your dane pup to ‘disengage’!

    This will allow you to play with your Great Dane so they can practice putting teeth on you (which is good for their social and bite pressure development), AND gives your puppy a new skill that is very helpful when they are bigger.

    Always remember that even though Great Danes are incredible dogs, they are still a massive size, even for ‘dane dog lovers’, so it is crucial to begin training at a young age.

    While you are learning how to play with your Great Dane puppy, keep in mind that everything you do is either reinforcing (encouraging) or reducing (discouraging) certain behaviors. Think about what you want your Great Dane puppy to be like as an adult.

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    Common Puppy Biting Training Mistakes

    Yelping DOES work to interrupt the behavior, and for most puppies it’s ok to do.

    For some puppies, yelping can actually encourage biting!
    Yelping makes you sound like a squirrel or fun squeaky toy, which may make the puppy more wound up and interested in the biting game.

    When a puppy in a litter yelps, they tell the other puppy ‘ouch, too hard‘. Not necessarily ‘STOP, don’t do that again!’. Keep that in mind. Yelping works, but don’t expect miracles or a quick stop to puppy biting.

    NOTE: some puppies are frightened by yelping. If your puppy cowers, tucks tail, pin ears or runs away focus on building, no eroding confidence and trust. Sometimes the ‘yelp method’, ‘using loud noise’, ‘or the sharp cry method’ can actually create fear which can create the behavior of puppies biting harder.

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    #1 – Shoving, Tugging, and saying “NO”

    This is a common, natural response to puppy biting!

    When you shout, say ‘NO’, tug your clothes, try to run away, and shove the puppy off you actually REWARD the behavior by making puppy biting super fun. OOPS!

    Dog’s LOVE to play and a dane pup can confuse you running away as a ‘biting people game’, which may make them want to bite more.

    Be calm, boring, indifferent and REMOVE your attention from the dane pup. Walk away. Sigh. Stand still. Turn and walk the other direction. ANYTHING to show the pup that you lose all interest in them when they bite.

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    #2 – Alpha Rolls & Pinning

    Some people will recommend that you pin your Great Dane to the ground until they calm down, and will say that doing so establishes ‘dominance’ with dogs.

    We do NOT recommend this.

    Alpha rolls are an aggressive form of training that can teach Great Danes (and all dogs) to fear you, fear your hands, and respond with increased aggression, frustration and confusion.

    This could result in increased bites, unnecessarily rough play, and VERY frustrated Great Dane owners who are dealing with increased bites or aggressive, fearful and frustrating behavior in their adult dogs.

    This outdated method is considered ‘woo’ by actual behaviorists and well-educated dog trainers.

    At worst, it’s dangerous and at best, informed dog owners and most professionals are frustrated that people and even some ‘trainers’ continue to perpetuate this misguided concept.

    A much safer and more fair alternative is to remain calm, walk away, and provide your Great Dane with a toy or treat.

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    #3 – Pinching, Tapping, Whacking, Kneeing, and Thumbing

    Pinching the puppy, shoving a thumb down his throat, or whacking or tapping him on the nose is the fast track to making sure that your Great Dane is more likely to be resistant to teeth brushing, nail trims, veterinary care and coming when called.

    Seriously, don’t do this. We cannot believe we have to say this. Great Danes are a sensitive breed and will have serious repercussions if handled with a human who demonstrates aggressive tendencies.

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    #4 – Spray Bottles

    This method may work, and it’s a ‘quick fix’, but tread cautiously.

    Dogs trained with spray bottles may become resistant to spray medication, baths/showers and even being outside in the rain. Plus, like many of the other methods above it teaches your dog to avoid you and run away, NOT engage with you.

    If the only way your dog is controlled is if you keep spray bottles around the house as a threat, they aren’t fully trained.

    As above, we believe there are better ways to work with your dog.

    Good News About Puppy Biting

    Puppies outgrow this behavior. Unless you’ve been accidentally rewarding it with a lot of shoving, running, tugging and attention most puppies stop doing it once they are more mature.

    You do not have to live with this behavior until it goes away. As above, use crates, gates and leashes to prevent the behavior and separate yourself from a wound-up, biting puppy.

    Prevent puppies from practicing this behavior, especially on children.

    Spend lots of time teaching and rewarding appropriate behaviors such as touch, sit, down, leave it, and ‘go to your place’.

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    Warning Signs of Aggression in Great Danes

    Some people are concerned that their puppy is actually aggressive because of how rough they bite and play. Playful puppies can bark, growl and be extremely noisy!

    Most puppies are not actually aggressive.

    Puppy biting is not a form of aggression. However, occasionally a puppy is wired wrong or has deep-seated fear aggression. Here are the warning signs that a puppy is aggressive, not playful.

    • Low growl
    • Stiff body, tense
    • Hackles up
    • Snapping or biting when a hand approaches their food, toy, or bone
    • Showing their teeth/grimace
    • Stiff tail wags or tucked tail
    • Ears pinned back
    • Turning the head away before biting
    • Not showing playful body language (bouncing, bows, loose body, loose tail, fun and cute play barks and play growls).

      If you are unsure or are seeing signs that alarm you, seek out the help of a highly qualified trainer.

    Puppy Biting & Ethical Breeders

    Puppies from ethical, diligent quality breeders and robust well-tempered pedigrees are less likely to develop aggression, are easier to train and will be much more confident and mature when they come to your home!

    Puppies that leave their litter prior to 8 or even 10 weeks of age tend to be much more difficult to train. This includes having problems with potty training, puppy biting, overall bite inhibition and confidence.

    Do not let your breeder convince you that a puppy is ready to go prior to that point.

    Here is our article on why puppies should stay with their litter until 8 weeks of age.

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  • Bloat in Dogs: The Awful Truth We Need to Know

    Bloat in Dogs: The Awful Truth We Need to Know

    Bloat in dogs is a life-threatening emergency in Great Danes and other breeds with large chests.

    As a Great Dane owner or owner of any other large chested breed, it is your responsibility to know the signs and to educate pet sitters, dog walkers and family on what to look for should a bloat event happen to your dog.

    The full name of bloat is Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, and it is a life threatening condition that occurs when an affected dog’s stomach fills with air, causing torsion (when the dog’s stomach twists). A twisted stomach is the most dangerous associations with gastric dilatation volvulus, as a dog’s risk of death increases tremendously when their stomach flips / twists.

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    WHAT IS BLOAT?

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    Bloat Myths: What is True and What is Not?

    Bloat is a painful, distressing condition where the stomach fills up with gas, food, fluid and/or air.

    Left untreated, the stomach can ‘flip’ (also known as ‘torsion’). Stomach flipping is especially dangerous.

    Treatment for bloat may involve pressure relief (medications, tubes, incisions and/or needles into the stomach) or surgery, depending on the severity.

    Bloat can quickly kill a healthy Great Dane that was previously running around playing as normal. It is extremely important to know the signs.

    All Great Danes are at risk. The treatment for bloat can start at $2K and may cost thousands more.

    WHAT CAUSES BLOAT?

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    As of this writing, the mechanism behind bloat is still not well understood. All Great Danes are at risk, regardless of their individual risk factor (see more below).

    It’s important to understand that certain dogs are at a much higher risk of experiencing bloat than others. These are the three main risk factors associated with bloat: 

    1. Genetic markers (most often found in dogs with a parent, sibling or other close relative that has experienced bloat)
    2. Poor gut health (chronic gas, loose stools and digestive issues)
    3. Poor temperament (fear, anxiety, aggression, timid personality)

    This speaks, once again to the necessity of ethical breeding in Great Danes. Bloat risk can be greatly reduced by breeders who diligently build their pedigrees to focus on health, temperament and robust and proven lineage. 

    GUT HEALTH

    There are many aspects to gut health; allergies, dry skin, gas, loose stools and lack of energy are all signs that there is a problem, however some dogs may present healthy and have underlying conditions.

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    Bloat and Gut Health: Does it go together?

    BAD BREEDERS

    Choose breeders that only breed healthy, well-tempered dogs. If you have a rescue Dane or purchased Dane that suffers from anxiety, fear or aggression, work with a trainer to lower stress levels. Some common forms of anxiety include fear during thunderstorms, separation anxiety and timid/fearful or aggressive behaviors towards house guests, children or strangers.

    WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GREAT DANES
    HOW MUCH DOES A GREAT DANE EAT
    HOW TO CHOOSE A GREAT DANE BREEDER
    CHOOSING BETWEEN A ‘PET’ OR A ‘SHOW DOG’
    LARGE BREED DOG FOOD
    NO- YOU PROBABLY SHOULD NOT BREED YOUR DOG
    SHOULD I BREED MY GREAT DANE?
    SHOULD YOU ADOPT OR BUY?
    GREAT DANE BREED STANDARD
    WHAT ARE GREAT DANES LIKE?
    WHAT IS A BACKYARD BREEDER?

    ANXIETY AND STRESS

    Avoid training methods that cause or worsen anxiety (‘alpha’ training, harsh punishment), stressful situations with children or adults (chasing, pinching, laying on or yelling at Danes). Socialize and train your Danes well from a young age using positive reinforcement.

    SCARED OF THE VET?
    FEAR AGGRESSION
    PUPPY FEAR STAGES
    SIGNS OF STRESS
    BLOAT TIMELINE
    WALKING A DOG WITH FEAR

    WHAT ARE THE HIGH RISK BREEDS OF DOG BLOAT?

    Large breed dogs have increased risk factors to getting a bloated stomach. Pet owners of large dogs should take precautions and be aware of the clinical signs of a bloated stomach.

    Affected dogs that are at highest risk include:

    1. German Shepherds
    2. Older Dogs
    3. Great Danes
    4. Basset Hounds
    5. Setters
    6. Labrador Retrievers
    7. Dobermans
    8. Poodles
    9. Rottweilers
    10. Giant Schnauzers

    Stomach bloating can also occur in smaller dogs, but this is less common. There are many different reasons why a dog’s stomach might have gastric dilatation. Dog owners with predisposed breeds should study this life threatening condition and know the signs of an aggravated dog.

    SIGNS OF BLOAT

    These are the signs of bloat. If you see any one of these, get to the veterinarian immediately. Bloat can progress quickly and the longer you wait, the more serious the prognosis is.

    • Swollen, painful or distended abdomen/stomach.
    • Acting distressed
    • Pacing and restlessness
    • Drooling and/or panting
    • Looking at the stomach
    • Pale gums
    • Vomiting or retching without anything actually coming up
    • Whining, crying and stiffness, unable to move
    • Collapse, unable to get up
    EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT BLOAT
    CAN PUPPIES BLOAT?
    DOES RESTING BEFORE AND AFTER MEALS PREVENT BLOAT?
    BLOAT + GUT HEALTH
    BLOAT MYTHS
    9 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BLOAT
    BLOAT TIMELINE

    THE EARLY STAGES OF STOMACH BLOAT IN DEEP CHESTED DOGS

    When a dog is in the early stages of gastric dilatation, a dog might give off signs that they are in pain, pant, drool or walk around aimlessly. The dog will be restless and may pace back and forth. He may also drool excessively and/or pant and turn down dry food or wet food.

    READ THE BLOAT TIMELINE HERE

    THE PROGRESSIVE STAGES OF A DOG’S STOMACH BLOATING

    If bloat occurs and is not treated quickly, torsion can happen within just a few minutes.

    Torsion is when a swollen stomach filled with extra gas and air begins to twist, cutting off blood supply to vital organs. Without blood supply, a dog’s life is at risk within just minutes.

    During these later stages of a dog experiencing stomach bloat, one might witness them going into systemic shock, unable to lay down, foaming a white, thick substance from their mouth, and/or their gums will turn white or blue.

    A dog’s stomach may also feel hard to the touch because of the gastric dilatation and/or the torsion. A distended stomach is always indicative of a pet’s condition and should be treated as a veterinary emergency.

    CAN BLOAT BE PREVENTED?

    There is no actual sure-fire way to prevent bloat. All dogs are at risk, but especially Great Danes and other breeds with large chests. As above, Danes with genetic links/markers, poor gut health and unstable temperaments are at an even greater risk! 

    GREAT DANE BLOAT MYTH BUSTING

    MYTHS THAT DOG OWNERS BELIEVE WILL PREVENT BLOAT

    Here are some common things people believe will ‘prevent bloat’:

    ELEVATED FOOD BOWLS

    Raised Bowls – while raised bowls may be easier on your dogs neck, there is no legitimate data on its effect on minimizing or preventing bloat. As a matter of fact, some studies indicate that bloat incidence is 110% higher among dogs that regularly eat out of raised bowls. 

    Elevated food bowls do not help to prevent bloat in dogs. While bloat is unpreventable, there are things that can be done to limit the odds that your dog will develop bloat.

    Not using raised food bowls is one of those things.

    Veterinary medicine is always evolving, and in recent studies it has been shown that bloat in dogs is increased tremendously when dogs are fed with a raised food bowl.

    BLOAT IN DOGS

    DOES A RAISED BOWL HURT OR HELP?

    RESTING BEFORE OR AFTER MEALS

    Resting Before/After Meals – the idea behind this one is to prevent the dog from sloshing a full tummy of food around while running, playing and being excited. There may be some merit to this, however it is NOT likely a notable preventative and studies have shown no correlation at all.

    Bloat in dogs

    DOES RESTING HARM OR HELP?

    Many cases of bloat happen in the middle of the night when a dog is resting on an empty stomach, or hours after eating (even if a dog had been rested first!). 

    Some owners are so committed to this that they only allow their dogs to eat on a strict schedule, which may actually increase bloat risk if the dog hoards, gulps and scarfs down large meals at once. Find a healthy balance here if you choose to rest your dog for several hours each day.

    PUZZLE FEEDERS

    Puzzle Feeders – We do believe there is some merit to making sure a dog eats slowly and works for their food. Puzzle feeders can be especially helpful for dogs that tend to gulp down meals without chewing.

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    WAYS TO LIMIT THE CHANCES OF BLOAT IN DOGS

    Although bloat in dogs is not 100% unpreventable, there are a few things that can be done to help limit the chance that your dog will bloat.

    GAS X

    Gas-X – Gas – X (Simethicone) or Bloat Buster is extremely important to have on hand. It may buy you time if you notice your dog start to burp, heave or act uncomfortable. Some owners dose it with every meal, we aren’t convinced that over-medicating is the answer but we DO recommend having Simethicone in. your cabinet, just in case.

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    PURCHASE GAS X HERE

    TACKING A DOG’S STOMACH /GASTROPEXY

    Stomach tacking, also known as ‘Gastropexy’ is a surgical procedure where a veterinarian permanently tacks the stomach to the abdominal wall, making it less likely but not impossible to twist.

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    Should I Get the Gastropexy Surgery?

    This procedure may buy time by helping to keep the stomach from flipping, however it does NOT prevent bloat itself. 

    The best way to treat bloat is to use preventative measures such as gut health, exercise, and helping your dog live a stress free life.

    Gastropexy is an abdominal surgery of the stomach wall, and all surgery involves risk. Risks of stomach tacking may include complications related to blood clotting, infection, rejection and anesthesia. Rarely, during a bloat event the stomach can flip anyways, and the stitched area may open and cause internal bleeding.

    PROS AND CONS OF TACKING YOUR DOGS STOMACH
    UPSET STOMACHS IN DOGS

    If you choose to do this surgery, please work with a highly qualified veterinarian who has a LOT of experience with the procedure, in particular the laparoscopic gastropexy which is much less invasive.

    CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOOD FOR YOUR DOG

    Since gut health in your dog has been shown to have high associations with gastric dilatation volvulus (gdv), it only makes sense that one would put careful thought into the dog food they choose.

    LARGE BREED VS. ADULT DOG FOOD
    GREAT DANE PUPPY FOOD
    INGREDIENT SPLITTING AND WHY IT MATTERS
    IS LARGE BREED PUPPY FOOD NECESSARY
    BEST FOODS FOR GREAT DANES
    ROYAL CANIN DOG FOOD REVIEW
    SHOULD YOU FEED GRAIN FREE

    Some factors to consider:

    1. Feeding dry food without soaking with water or adding raw / canned wet food on top has been known to increase dogs bloat.
    2. Feeding one large meal rather than several small meals to your dog has been known to increase bloat in a dog. Instead, feed in two or more meals.
    3. Dogs who eat super fast are known to have a higher chance of bloat than a dog who eats slow.
    4. Dogs with ongoing gut health issues are more prone to bloating, so working on gut health with a strong probiotic will help a dog be less likely to bloat and increase their gastrointestinal tract health.

    We believe all Great Danes should receive a probiotic supplement, and this is one of the main reasons why. We recommend Nature’s Farmacy Probiotic Max. 

    GENETICS

    Dogs with a genetic background of bloat are, themselves, more likely to bloat.

    If you are considering buying a puppy from a breeder, check with them and their lineage paperwork to see if any dogs within their lines have ever bloated. Checking to see if there is a genetic predisposition could ultimately save your dog from future veterinary intervention and even possibly save their life.

    ETHICAL BREEDERS
    BREEDER RED FLAGS
    BREEDER SCAMS
    FIND A BREEDER NEAR ME
    WHAT IS OFA HEALTH TESTING
    WHAT MAKES A BREEDER GOOD?

    HOW DOES BLOAT GET TREATED?

    Bloat in dogs

    If you think your dog is experiencing bloat, it is crucial to get them to the vet immediately for medical attention.

    First, your veterinarian will run blood tests, provide intravenous fluids, check vitals, and do a full physical exam of your dog.

    X-rays will also be taken to see how much the stomach has distended. If the stomach is twisted, surgery will be required to untwist it and also to tack the stomach down so that it cannot twist further away from the body wall and cut off more blood flow.

    A procedure called gastropexy preventative surgery (GDV Surgery) will be given during the emergency surgical correction in order to keep your dog’s stomach in normal position.

    POST OPERATIVE CARE

    Post operative care is important to treat bloat. Avoid strenuous exercise, provide high quality foods, and allow for lots of rest for the stomach wall to heal. If your dog gets dehydrated, they may need to return to their primary vet for more intravenous fluids, as it can be very hard for the dog to eat after even a simple bloat.

    Pain medications should be administered per your veterinarians instructions.

    BLOAT IN DOGS

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    Bloat in dogs
    Bloat in dogs
    Bloat in dogs
    Bloat in dogs

    Bloat in dogs is something that no pet owner wants to ever deal with. Losing blood flow is a medical crisis and should be treated as so.

    Working to increase the overall health and longevity of our pets lives is important and we can do that by educating ourselves and others on the risks, causes, and treatments of bloat in dogs.

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