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History 

As early as 3000 BC, carvings of dogs on Egyptian tombs depict the Great Dane. Archeological evidence exists of a Dane-type dog used for hunting and to fight bears and bulls. However, the Great Dane as we know it today was developed in Europe during the 1800s and declared the national breed of Germany in 1876. As a boarhound, the Dane of yesterday was very different, both in structure and temperament from the Dane of today. When no longer used for hunting, the breed changed to one of a companion and estate guard dog. 

Care of the Great Dane 

Today, correctly bred Great Danes have a gentle and loving disposition that makes them a wonderful family companion. Although their primary asset in training is their desire to please, it is imperative that your puppy be well socialized from the time you bring it home; puppy kindergarten classes (for puppies three to six months old) are strongly recommended. 

These classes should be in addition to a basic obedience class. Your puppy will grow as much his first year as a child grows in fourteen years. It is vital that you provide it with the basic structure and consistent training that every puppy needs to make it a happy and well-adjusted member of your family.

 Great Danes should be raised in the house as a family member; they do not do well as yard dogs, although they do need a fenced yard for exercise and playtime. Just as you would not leave older siblings alone with a baby, young children should never be left unattended with your puppy or dog. Because a puppy is not a toy, children must be taught the correct way to interact with a puppy; fair play and respect are a must. 

Puppies often think of toddlers as other puppies since they are close to the same size and make similar sounds. As the parent, you must teach and monitor correct behavior on the part of the child and the puppy. 

Puppies chew on each other, wrestle, and growl to determine their pack structure. With correct and consistent training, your puppy will learn that your children are not puppies, but small humans. 

Quick movements and high-pitched squealing will excite a puppy or dog, while loud, harsh corrections will confuse and intimidate it. 

Dogs learn through consistency and repetition with love and positive reinforcement. The adults in your household must assume the role of pack leader in order for your puppy to grow up secure and confident. 

We also recommend crate training your puppy. The crate, when placed in the living area of your home, will become your puppy’s “den.” Keep soft, washable bedding and toys in the crate; newspapers just inside the crate door can help with the baby accidents. The crate door should be left open while you are at home with the puppy so that it can go to the den at will. 

The puppy should also sleep in its crate until it is old enough to sleep through the night without accidents. If you do not have room for a crate in your bedroom, be sure to leave soft music and a large stuffed toy for it at night so it does not feel completely alone. You should also use a crate or seat belt harness in your vehicle for the same reasons that your child rides in a car seat. 

As you have probably come to realize, prior to approximately four months of age, puppies eat, sleep and potty a lot! The initial three to four meals each day can be reduced to two meals per day by six to nine months of age. The last meal and water should be approximately two hours before bedtime with one last play period and potty break just before going to bed. While still a puppy, it will need to potty immediately after a nap, upon coming out of its crate after eating, and after (if not during) a good round of play. Accidents in the house are not the fault of the puppy. If you take the puppy out often, stay with it, and give soft praise or even a small treat, he will soon be housebroken. 

Your Dane should continue to eat twice each day its entire life. Follow your breeder’s advice on feeding and nutritional supplements. 

Health 

Great Danes are predisposed to a number of health problems. An ethical private breeder will screen his breeding stock for specific diseases and make clearance certificates available to prospective puppy parents. The GDCA Code of Ethics addresses the specific problems that we feel should be considered in evaluating breeding stock. 

Helping Dogs Live Longer 

Healthier Lives Many GDCA members support health research for the Great Dane through the AKC Canine Health Foundation and the GDCA Charitable Trust. Supporting these non-profit organizations will help ensure a healthy future for all dogs. For more information about ongoing health research to help your Great Dane, see www.akcchf.org 

Breed or Spay/Neuter 

The primary purpose of dog shows is to evaluate potential breeding stock. Along with this evaluation goes many years of education in order to make qualified decisions about breeding. For these reasons the ethical private breeder will usually require that any puppy going to a companion home be spayed or neutered; this is the only way we have of protecting the future of our breed. 

Spaying and neutering is not recommended prior to the age of 12 months because it interferes with the closing of the growth plates. Studies have shown that dogs sterilized before puberty have an increased risk of cancer, hip dysplasia, cruciate injury, and several other health issues. By making the responsible decision to spay or neuter after 12 months old, you will make your pet much easier to train and protect it from mammary or prostate cancer.

Identification 

Because collars and tags can fall off or be removed, a microchip should be considered. A microchip is a more permanent identification for your Great Dane and helps to get it back to you if it is lost or stolen. A microchip is placed between your dog’s shoulder blades under a veterinarian’s supervision. Implantation is quick, easy and virtually painless, similar to a vaccine injection, and can be performed during a regular clinic visit. Please consider registering your Great Dane’s microchip with the AKC Reunite program. There is a 100% re-homing rate with enrolled animals. Call 800-252-7894 or go to www.akcreunite.org for more information.