Is a Great Dane right for you and your family?
(From the GDCA Website)

Before making the decision to purchase a Great Dane, ask yourself the following questions:

  ·         The Great Dane is a giant breed that takes up more room in the house, needs an appropriate sized car to ride in safely and will

           cost considerably more to maintain than a small breed. Have you taken all this into consideration?

 ·         A Great Dane, especially a rambunctious puppy, can knock down a small child in play.A Great Dane must never be left unsupervised

          with small children.

 ·        A Great Dane can be very destructive to your furniture, woodwork, garden, and personal belongings. Are you prepared to deal 

         with this?

 ·         Big dogs have big medical expenses and require the same amount of medicine as an adult person. Are you prepared to purchase 

         canine health insurance or face huge bills in the event of a health emergency?

 ·         A Great Dane MUST be obedience trained to obtain control. Are you willing to put in the time and effort to train your dog 

          properly?

 ·       The Great Dane is a sociable, friendly breed. Great Danes needs to have human contact, affection, regular socialization with other

          people and animals, and firm, consistent training. Are you ready to provide this?

·         Great Danes require exercise appropriate to their age. Many do not “self-exercise.” Are you committed to providing proper 

        exercise in all  types of weather?

 ·     Great Danes have good noses and many have a “stubborn streak.” When not on a leash, they need a fenced yard or they may “follow 

       their noses.” Can you commit to putting up a sturdy, appropriate fence?

 ·      Great Danes can be excellent companions for almost any activity you wish to pursue including jogging, but you *must* wait until

       after your pup is two years old to avoid damage to growing joints. If you are looking for a puppy, are you willing to wait for it to

       grow up? Unless you can answer yes to ALL the above questions, then a Great Dane is not the dog for you.



Questions a Breeder May Ask

 1.    Have you ever owned dogs before and specifically a Great Dane   

       Familiarity with dogs insures a higher success rate in placing a puppy in a new home. It is a particular “plus” if a prospective buyer 

       has had the experience of owning a unique breed like the Great Dane.

 2.    Why do you want a Great Dane?

       It is important to determine if a giant dog like the Great Dane will be the right choice for a new buyer. This is a breed that 

       matures slowly, but will be very large at maturity. It’s important for the buyer to be fully aware of this, since “he got too big” 

       is one of the reasons Great Danes end up in rescue.

 3.    How long will the puppy be alone?

      Breeders are reluctant to place a Great Dane puppy in a home where it will be alone for excessively long periods. Even the

      companionship of another dog or cat will go a long way in providing companionship for a new dog. The affectionate Great Dane does 

      not do well by itself for extended periods.

 4.    Are you willing to spay or neuter a pet Great Dane?


Spaying or neutering is usually required by responsible breeders who do not want their valuable bloodlines be used by novice and 

      backyard breeders.

 5.  Can you afford not only the purchase price of this pet but also the maintenance? New owners need to be aware of how much it 

       costs to keep their pet well cared for and healthy.

 6.    Is the decision to purchase a Great Dane a unanimous one in your family?

        Danes who go into a family situation where not everyone wants this unique breed may start out with a couple of strikes against 

        them.

 7.    Who is your vet?

        The breeder will want to know that you have a reliable source of veterinary care for your Dane. You will need to find a 

        veterinarian who has experience with large breed dogs.


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