Great Danes

Gastric Dilation Volvulus: Does This Disease Threaten Your Great Dane?

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Gastric Dilation Volvulus, also referred to as GDV, is a serious disease that can dramatically affect a great dane’s life. In this article, we will focus on the causes and treatment of this frightening disease which can cause your Great Dane much pain and discomfort.

GDV occurs when air compresses the stomach of the dog and during dilation the stomach twists on itself. This leads to the stoppage of blood flowing to the stomach and other body organs. The drastic effect of increasing blood pressure makes it impossible for the dog to stay calm. This discomfort is usually accompanied by sharp screeches from the animal, who may display a warranted ‘panicky’ state. Unfortunately, most of these symptoms are shrugged off. The results may be fatal, as most great danes die in a few hours if GDV isn’t treated.

Not every breed of dog is susceptible to the risk of experiencing GDV. Usually, large and deep-chested breed dogs like great danes are vulnerable to such a disease as GDV. The most important factors increasing the risk of GDV are overeating, single and rapid daily eating, stress and abnormal water consumption.

According to the foundations of scientists specialized in dog diseases, almost one third of untreated dogs experiencing GDV die. Despite this information, it’s important for people to listen to their pet when he/she is in pain, as GDV is treatable if caught in time. A dog treated for GDV can continue to live a long healthy life.

Two major techniques are used in the treatment of GDV. First, the stomach tube is used to extract the gas from the stomach. Secondly, the stomach is returned to its normal shape through the practice of a surgical procedure. In order to prevent the recurrence of GDV, veterinarian should assess the extent of damage by careful observation. Damage differs from great dane to great dane. Factors that may contribute to excessive damage are: the amount of time the dog suffered, your great dane’s overall health condition, and the age of your great dane.

There are preventive steps that you can take to ensure your great dane maintains a healthy GDV-free life. Be certain to feed your great dane 2-3 times daily. Leave a sufficient amount of water out for your dog(s) while you’re away or at work. Daylight and ‘play time’ is very beneficial for your great dane. Your great dane should follow a strict routine, as you and the members of your family do.

Jen Carter is team member of Dynamite Danes, a great dane breeder owned and operated by Gale Renz. You may publish this article only if you do modify it in any way.

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Outdoor Safety Tips for Your Great Dane

Sunday, November 27th, 2011

Outdoor Safety Tips for Your Great Dane

Spring is here, which means the warm weather months will be upon us. For most Great Dane owners, we’re relieved. Our Great Danes can run loose in the yard while we air-out our homes from the long winter months. Hibernation is over and we can take our furry friends to the park, the beach, and on trips. But we want to have a safe summer! In order to do that, we should glance over a few tips and rules for the safety of our Great Danes. For most of you, these are just reminders. For new pet owners, these should be used as a guideline:

Traveling by Car

On very hot days in particular, try not to take long car rides with your Great Dane. While you’re behind the wheel, consider your Great Dane’s feelings. YOU may not be warm enough to have the air conditioning on. What if you were wearing a down jacket? Your Great Dane’s coat is just like a down jacket. Consider his comfort. Always provide plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

Stopping at the Store ‘real quick’

Forget it. It doesn’t matter how quick it is. Do not leave your dog in the car while you’re shopping in the summer. It’s cruel. It’s inhumane. If someone wants to report you-they can, they will, and they should. You decided to take your Great Dane with you. If you plan to go shopping or window-browsing, leave your dog at home. While this may sound harsh, we’re very aware of the repercussions of leaving your dog in a locked car: death. On a hot summer day-your dog can succumb to fatality in less than five minutes in a hot car. Pease be responsible.

Poisonous Foliage

If you see mushrooms growing in your yard, remove them immediately. Your Great Dane can become seriously ill from eating them. Some plants and berries are hazardous to your Great Dane’s health as well. If you’re not sure which plants pose a threat, research the shrubs and plant-life in your yard to see if they’re pet-friendly.

Mowing Your Lawn

Some Great Danes may be petrified of your lawn mower, others may think of it as a game or a noisy thing they wish to attack. Regardless of how ‘funny’ it is, accidents easily happen this way each summer. Your Great Dane should not be in the vicinity when you’re cutting grass. Most vital veins are located in your pet’s limbs. Should they get cut by your mower, they may die from their injury.

Jen Carter is staff writer for Dynamite Great Danes – owned by professional qualified Great Dane Breeder Gale Renz. You may publish this article only if you do modify it in any way.

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Adopting a Great Dane

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Adopting a Great Dane

People who want a Great Dane usually search to buy a puppy – this is a common and accepted pattern of thought. The owner will establish a great bonding with the dog that is bought as a puppy, brought home and seen through its growing stages, trained, loved, corrected, cared for. You also learn to understand what it likes and what it does not like – it becomes an integral part of your family.

Can A Great Dane Rescue or Adoption Be A Better Option

There are some things to consider before choosing between buying a puppy and rescuing a Great Dane adult dog. Statistics show that for each Great Dane puppy for sale there are 5-10 adults waiting to be rescued in animal shelters. These giant dogs in their body buildings are in fact just some overgrown puppies in their temperament, and the confinement of the animal shelter will produce them a lot of sufferance, while they will pine for the company of humans. Would you not consider saving one of these unlucky Great Danes instead of buying a puppy from a breeder?

People who decide to adopt an adult dog want also to avoid all the problems and headaches that accompany the growth of a puppy in their house. You should also consider all the uncertainties that accompany the purchase of a puppy. You will wonder whether the puppy’s temperament will be good when it grows up, whether it will be trained properly, whether all the efforts involved is really worth it, when there is a simple alternative – to get an already grown up Great Dane from a rescue home.

Adoption can be considered a readymade alternative of getting a Great Dane dog: you will surely obtain what you have chosen and you will be also able to enjoy all the happiness and pleasure of having a Great Dane without having to go through the trouble of raising a puppy. This could be an excellent solution for people who have limited time on their hands to spend on such a huge task.

Additional Reason to Adopt a Great Dane

- a Great Dane rescue/adoption would make you feel wonderful everytime you look at the giant that curls quietly at your feet; you saved this huge animal’s life and it feels great to know that.

- As a great addition, you should know that this breed of dogs is very sensitive and it will know you have saved its life; this will lead to a special bond between you two and few people have the chance to experience such a relationship.

- the adult dog will almost always be excellently trained and have a very balanced temperament – life can be pretty simple with a Great Dane rescue/adoption.

- you could often get a purebred adult Great Dane from the a Great Dane rescue /adoption centre at one fraction of the cost that would be involved in buying and bringing up a purebred puppy.

These are the most important reasons why you should consider if it is better to buy a Great Dane or to adopt it from an animal rescue shelter. Before you decide to adopt a dog, you need to find out about the top ten Great Dane rescue mistakes that most of the people usually do.

Resource Box

The Great Dane is very gentle with its owner. The Great Dane rescue will cost less than buying a puppy from a breeder. You need to find out about the top ten Great Dane rescue mistakes.

Great Dane Training – Good and Bad Side

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

If you are thinking of the typical gentle giant, mild mannered and easygoing dogs, then you probably have to opt for the Great Dane.

They need simple exercise and they are the sociable breed in the need of companionship. They don’t need huge space and shouldn’t be restricted in the studio apartments or the stamp yards. They will not do well when they are alone without any company.

There may be difference in the guarding technique and territorial instincts among this breed of dog but they will not fail to announce the visitors with their deep and resounding bark. Even the same breed dog may vary in the character, some of them are friendly with everyone, some are protective and some are aloof or unfriendly.

The proper Great Dane training is crucial for boosting up their confidence and to promote their stable temperament. The young great Danes must be taken out for the walk frequently than any other kind of breed. You can find some of them are very peaceful with other pets while some may be pushy and dominant.

Indiscipline will result for the bossy nature in this dog as they have so large body. So the obedience training is necessary. They are also very much sensitive and must be taught with cheerful and fun way. They will get confused and make them distrustful if harshness is implemented on them.

These dogs used to drool, spill saliva and move heavily or clumsily around in the self important or arrogant manner. They will not be the perfect choice for care giving or fastidious housekeeper, or also for those who have no sense of humor.

You must concern on the following points:

1. Proper exercises should be given because of their huge body and to keep them lean and healthy.
2. Socialization for the better protection and to withstand the fear against the strangers.
3. Strong temperament should be controlled as they try to be more independent and obstinate.
4. Slobbering is the main problem with these breed of dog as they drool a lot especially after eating and drinking.
5. Serious health problems may occur as they aren’t a healthy dog breed.

So the proper knowledge about the Great Dane training is necessary, if you wish to have one of them as your pet in the home. They are the dogs with the strong temperament but can suffer from serious health problem as well as have short lifespan.

Learn how to make your dog happy, healthy and obedient. For the further information about above article and other information about dog training, visit our site: greatdanesavvy.com

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All About Great Danes

Monday, November 7th, 2011

All About Great Danes

One of the giant breed of dogs, the Great Danes, is going to be fully discussed in this article. Among the major topics, there are the general descriptions of the great dane. First, we must examine the size of this dog, as well as its attitude towards people.

Great danes are tall dogs even though they are not very heavy. Their popularity and beautiful physique have gained them the title of the “Apollo of Dogs.” Danes are loving, friendly, and affectionate when treated accordingly.

According to AKC standards, male danes are not less than 32 inches and are usually 34 inches tall. The average Dane is close to three feet tall in height. Duration of development of your great dane’s body largely depends on his or her gender. To illustrate, a male can complete his development in three full years where females can be adults in a year or less. Puppyhood usually lasts for 18 months and over the course of these first 18-28 months, an owner will witness their great dane mature mentally and physically.

Diet and proper exercise are very important to your great dane’s health. Your great dane’s daily diet should be consistent, and the amount of food should be measured according to their age and weight. It’s important for your great dane to maintain a healthy weight. An underweight great dane can be vulnerable to sickness and disease, whereas an overweight dane increases its chance of bloating and heart disease.

Because great danes are such large dogs, they need plenty of room to run and play. Throughout puppy hood, this breed of dog needs exercise and mental stimulation. Taking walks, playing fetch, and rewarding a dane’s positive behavior are all essential tasks to developing a strong healthy bond with your pet.

The relationship between great danes and children is one of the most powerful connections that can occur between any type of human and animal. Like children, great danes are very trusting and curious. It’s important to teach children how to handle your great dane. Fortunately, these dogs have a wonderful temperament and do not become feisty unless provoked.

With proper care, a healthy great dane’s lifespan is approximately eight years of age. Nevertheless, many great danes continue to life a full life of ten to twelve years. These loving companions become additional members of our families and we should cherish every day they share with us.

Jen Carter is staff writer for Dynamite Danes – a professional qualified Great Dane Breeder. You may publish this article only if you do modify it in any way.

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Essential Tips You Need to Know About Feeding a Great Dane

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

You can’t feed a Great Dane just any dog food. If you do, chances are you’re headed for trouble. As a giant breed dog, Great Danes have unique needs and if you don’t provide the correct diet and the correct portions, your vet bills are likely to be a good deal more than the money you might save by feeding supermarket brand garbage.

Great Dane dog food has to be quality stuff. Don’t get a Dane if you’re not willing to provide that quality. Here are a couple of pointers to make sure you’re feeding your Dane properly.

Don’t ever feed puppy food – even when your Dane is a puppy. Great Dane puppy food has to be an adult formula. Puppy formulas are much higher in protein and support rapid growth. You don’t want that – you want your Dane to grow slow and stay slim. This is so important – too many Dane lovers allow their animals to grow quickly which can cause all kinds of medical problems later on. Humans get 18 years to reach 150 pounds. Your Great Dane gets a little over 2!

Use an adult formula right from the get go and make sure it’s never more than 23% protein. There are several quality brands of processed dog food that will do the trick but you need to be able to identify those that will keep your Dane healthy from those that won’t.

You won’t find a suitable brand of processed food in a supermarket. They just don’t carry acceptable brands – only garbage. You need a formula that isn’t grain based, has no soy and has good protein. Packing regulations require companies to list the ingredients in the order of quantity. If you see by products as one of the first ingredients, it has no nutritional value at all. A good dog food will contain real meat and this will be one of the first ingredients listed.

Again, there are numerous brands available that your giant will thrive on – but you need to get to a specialty pet store and choose. Remember, good ingredients, less than 23% protein and a fat content between 10 and 14%.

We would recommend using a quality processed food at least for the first year to ensure the right ratio of ingredients (which is so essential during this rapid growth stage) but a raw food diet is another choice available to feed a Great Dane. A raw food diet isn’t that hard to provide once you get the hang of it and it isn’t any more expensive than a premium processed food. Many Great Dane owners swear by it.

There are all kinds of raw food recipes you can follow as long as the ratio of major ingredients is followed over time. The ratio between bone and meat is of particular importance and the easiest way to make sure you get this right is to use raw meaty chicken bones as a base for all meals. Necks, backs, breasts are the best. A Great Dane diet should also include vegetables and offal in appropriate amounts to ensure overall nutrition.

We feed 75% ground meaty chicken bones, 10% offal and 15% vegetables. In addition, we sprinkle a bit of kelp into the mix (the most single beneficial supplement) and once a week, fish is on the menu. Sometimes ground beef is also served.

The amount of food you serve depends on your dog, how active she might be, and of course, her age. If you’re using a processed food diet, follow the recommended quantities on the packaging for the weight of your dog until you get a feel for what is right. You should be able to see the outline of your Danes ribs. If you can’t, you’re feeding too much.

If you’re using a raw diet, the recommended quantity is 2% to 3% of your Dane’s weight. But again, every dog is different so you need to watch your Dane to ensure she’s getting enough, but not too much. If you can just see the ribs, you’re maintaining your dog properly.

Feeding a Great Dane isn’t as simple as feeding other breeds. A giant dog has unique needs. Great Dane dog food has to be quality stuff. But as long as you provide quality ingredients, keep the protein levels below 23% and the fat content between 10 and 14%, you’re doing everything you can to support a healthy life for your Dane.

Kavar Peters has been feeding Great Danes for over ten years. He writes about Great Danes and great dane dog food at http://www.about-great-danes.com

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Great Danes – the Largest Dogs

Friday, October 7th, 2011

Great Danes the largest dogs, are lovable creatures, which adore human companionship. These giant breeds are most happy when they are spending time with their owner and family. They are also known as one of the largest breeds in the world standing at up to 7ft when on their back legs and can weight around 170 lbs. These dogs are pretty laid back and don’t mind the company of young children if they are socialised appropriately from a young age. These gentle giants can grow up extremely fast as a puppy, while their maturity lags behind until they are about three years old.

Their most favourite activity is when they are spending time with you. Being a part of the family action is what excites them and they are more than happy to help you with whatever you may be doing, from washing and gardening to whatever the activity or job they want to be there.

If you’re thinking about purchasing there are some backyard requirements to consider. Make sure you have strong fencing as they do tend to stand up against them. They require plenty of shade and protection from the sun, wind and rain. Access to fresh water at all times, plus appropriate toys or things for them to do, as like all dogs they have a tendency to become bored, so be aware if your dog digs a hole, it’s going to be a large one.

These breeds suit someone who is laid back and can handle extremely large dogs and deal with their drool and slobber from time to time. Someone who has the time to spend with their dog is ideal, as they don’t like to be left without attention for long periods of time. Unfortunately someone who has an active lifestyle may not be suited to a Great Dane as their sheer size creates some limitations due to their large limbs and joints. Overexercising these dogs can cause serious health problems, so minimal exercise is recommended at a casual pace.

Excellent watchdogs, their size alone wards off any intruders. Their deep bark is enough to startle any strangers and make them think twice before entering.

Training is very important for Danes as with most dog breeds they require some form of basic obedience training, especially the larger breeds of dogs. Nothing is more confronting than one of these large dogs coming to greet you by jumping up when you return home. They can easily knock a young child accidentally as well as adults. So it is highly recommended that some form of training is undertaken to keep these large breeds under control.

Low maintenance when it comes to grooming. Their coats are short and easy to manage and may only need a brush once a week to stimulate blood flow to the surface of their skin to keep their coat in tip top condition. While monthly maintenance to nails and ears is ample.

So if you are considering a Dane as a pet for your family, it may pay to see a reputable breeder and spend some time with this breed before you purchase one. By this experience, you’ll then know if a Dane is right for you.

Lea Mullins gives tips on owning Great Danes, the largest dogs. Visit TrainPetDog.com to find out about more than 200 Dog breeds.

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Preventing Great Danes From Dog Food Allergies

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Great Danes, like most giant dogs, have fairly slow metabolism. Bloat is a common health problem of this breed and occasionally, some develop yeast infection. Great Danes and other breeds of dog may also suffer from various kinds of allergies. Though less common compared to flea bite allergy and atopy, food allergy can occur in dogs as well as in cats. Food allergy can affect both male and female dog, neutered/spayed or intact and puppy or grown dog, but is more common in dogs between two to six years of age.

Like flea bite allergy and atopy, food allergy causes excessive itching and scratching in dogs. Other symptoms may also include chronic ear infections, hair loss, hot spots and skin infections. Increased incidence of bowel movements can also be seen in dogs with food allergies. Though common symptoms of various kinds of allergy seem similar, the treatment approach to each is different. That is why it is a great idea to distinguish food allergy from the other kinds of allergy. Check you dog’s coat and skin for the presence of fleas. If he is free of fleas or if your pet has been treated against fleas but without any positive change, then flea allergy is out of the story. Another clue that points toward food allergy is that the itchiness is not and has never been a seasonal problem.

If the correct diagnosis has been determined, talk to your vet and ask for advice as to what diet is best for your pet. The owner can choose homemade diet or special commercially prepared diet. If the owner chooses homemade diet, he can start feeding the dog with bland diet then new ingredients can be later introduced gradually. This is a great way to determine which ingredients cause food allergy. Bland diet is not healthy for your dog when given for a long time. It is still important that the food should be balanced with correct amount of ingredients, vitamins and minerals Great Danes need. This is something owners must remember.

There is no such thing as miracle remedy that will solve your dog’s food allergy problems overnight. It is alright to experiment with different food ingredients. Once you have determined and avoided the ingredients that cause allergy, your dog will definitely have a happy, itch-free life. In addition, you as the owner will never have to worry and go nuts of your dog’s excessive itching.

Richard Cussons is a dog enthusiast. His site about Great Danes is filled with information about this breed as well as effective tips in Great Dane training.

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The Largest Dog in the World Is a Great Dane

Monday, September 26th, 2011

It’s official, the largest dog in the world ever, is a Great Dane called George.

Now standing 43″ at the shoulder and weighing 18 stone, George the Great Dane started life in November 2005 in Oregon and now lives in Arizona, by the time he reached 1 year of age he was already topping the scales at a whopping 14 stone!

A male Great Dane usually weighs somewhere between 9 to 11 stone when fully grown and stands between 32″ and 36″ at the shoulder, they are fully grown by the age of 2.

Great Danes make great family pets and George is no exception, he is a softy with children and afraid of other dogs, including Chihuahuas! His owners say that George spends most of his days eating, he gets through about 100 pounds of dry food per month,sleeping and playing with toys,his favorite one being a doll that plays a nursery rhyme when he presses his nose against it.

Great Danes are very sociable animals and the largest dog in the world is as sociable as they come, he even has his own Queen size bed in his owners bedroom! He made such a fuss whenever he was left alone at night that his owners relented and let him in their bedroom, where he promptly took over the bed until his owners got him one of his own.

All was well until their first baby arrived which put George into a giant sulk as he did not like being so rudely woken in the middle of the night. It took George 3 months to accept the new arrival, and he did so on Christmas morning when he finally acknowledged the youngest member of the pack by giving her a giant lick on the hand.

It was February 2010 that the adjudicators from the Guinness World Records measured George in a vets presence and not only declared him the tallest dog in the world but the tallest dog in the world, ever!

Now George has a giant fan club on Facebook with more than 70,000 fans and has traveled by plane to Chicago to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

When George was a young puppy he was chosen from a litter of 14 because he appeared to be the outsider, the runt of the litter, not joining in with the rough and tumble that the other puppies were enthusiastically throwing themselves into.

After they got him home his owners quite quickly noticed how big his feet were compared to the rest of him. Little did they know what was in store! So the largest dog in the world is quite oblivious to his star status and merrily goes about his daily routine like any other giant breed dog, that’s why we all love them so much, even if they are the largest dog in the world, isn’t it?

John Morrod is the proud owner of 2 Great Danes, you can find lots of interesting videos, articles and training tips here http://greatdanepuppy.net

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Extra Large Dog Houses for Great Danes

Saturday, September 24th, 2011

As the best known for being an extra large breed dog, the Great Dane as a domestic dog needs some room to roam. While they are best known for their great size, these dogs are also quite docile, friendly and gentle as well. Not only calm and good-natured around people, but other dogs and other types of pets as well. These characteristics make them very good family pets however their size can create some obstacles when they are trying to ‘fit in’ to a home.

The males can reach 34 inches to the shoulder and up to approximately 120 pounds. The females are not far behind at 32 inches and 100 pounds on average. The bigger they get the more valued they are. As is the case with a number of the extra large breed dogs, the Great Danes have a relatively slow rate of metabolism. Compared to other breeds they may even seem lazy and lethargic. Because of their more inactive lifestyle they actually consume less food per pound that a more energetic mid-size or small dog. They do require daily walks and some exercise to keep them healthy but it’s important not o over do their fitness routine.

To enable the dogs to understand the pecking order, you need to establish a line where they know their place. The human needs to ensure they do not jump up on people and giving them their own space would be ideal. Too often the giant size affectionate companions misunderstand their limitations with their size. A well build extra large dog house for them to relax outdoors would be a great investment. Allowing them to be in the fresh air, sunshine, around people however a relaxing space so they don’t feel compelled to run and chase and risk creating problems with hips and joints.

Breeders suggest a large yard and long walks but limit running or jogging especially as puppies while they are still growing. Instead of expecting this giant size pooch to squeeze into your home, allow them the space they need to get exercise and have an area to relax in without having to curl up around furniture, kid’s toys or household appliances. The extra large breed dog house would be a good asset to a home with a Great Dane. The orthopedic mats would help reduce pressure on their joints as well. We will do anything to keep our pets safe and healthy and keeping them comfortable is part of this process.

Do you own an extra large breed dog and need an extra large dog house?

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