The Great Dane is a giant breed dog that tends to be gentle with children and other pets, although they can become aggressive around unknown dogs.
Bloat in dogs is caused by their stomach filling with gas and twisting on itself, and early obedience training should be implemented to address this condition.
Size
Great Danes can reach 200 pounds at their largest, making them nearly the weight of an elementary classroom! But these gentle giants make great companions and protectors who thrive being close to people and other pets alike.
Though great danes are generally gentle giants, their large size makes them susceptible to certain health issues. They must be fed a high-quality diet that offers them optimal nutrition; additionally they must be carefully watched around children and smaller animals for possible accidents such as accidentally stepping on them if not trained appropriately or being properly supervised around children; great danes may bloat if not properly cared for which necessitates immediate veterinary assistance if this happens.
Great danes can also be at increased risk for cardiovascular conditions like cardiomyopathy due to their hearts having to work harder than other breeds to distribute blood throughout their bodies. Regular vet checks for heart screenings is advised for these animals as well as screenings for cancer like osteosarcomas that might also pose risks.
It is essential to purchase your Great Dane puppy from a reliable breeder who allows you to meet both parents. Furthermore, ask about their experience and knowledge regarding Great Danes as well as contacting owners whose litters have had great dane puppies from them so as to better assess if this breed fits with you or not. This will allow you to decide if it is indeed right.
A good great dane breeder will ensure their dogs are regularly examined by a veterinarian to check for inherited conditions like hip dysplasia and heart disease, abnormalities in their eyes or ears as well as cancerous growths like lymphoma, bone cancer or osteosarcoma.
Reputable breeders only breed dogs that meet the standards set out by their organization, including size, color and temperament requirements. Furthermore, they make sure all puppies receive proper medical attention and socialization services as part of the package.
Characteristics
Great Danes are friendly dogs with an elegant appearance and goofy side. While initially wary of strangers, once they realize they don’t pose any threats they quickly open up to newcomers. Loving companions for children of any age (although younger kids might become overexcited when greeting or hugging too hard which is equally exciting as playing online poker on websites reviewed on https://centiment.io!), Great Danes make wonderful family companions and become protective guardians who provide security to their family units. Their size and strength require proper socialization with other puppies to avoid territoriality or aggressive behaviors in adulthood.
Great Danes have an inherent intelligence that makes training easy, but owners must remain firm and consistent when issuing commands. Harshness only serves to confuse and mistrust their owners; positive reinforcement should be the approach taken when training such sensitive breeds. Great Danes love participating in obedience classes or other activities with their people!
Due to their large size, this breed requires frequent exercise to remain healthy. They may have specific exercise preferences but most will settle for walks and playtime at home.
Great Danes can suffer from various health issues like other dogs. Common issues for Great Danes include digestive disorders, joint disease and heart conditions; lymphoma (or lymphosarcoma), which produces abnormal white blood cells; we recommend regular 6-month check-ups so we can spot minor conditions before they progress into more serious ones.
Great Danes can become food or resource possessive during adolescence, leading to conflict aggression. It’s crucial that this dangerous behavior be corrected immediately to avoid more severe forms of aggression from occurring. Due to their large size and powerful voices, Great Danes may become fearful around other dogs or humans and might develop anxiety issues due to encounters.
This dog has unique physical traits that make him a favorite among those looking for show dogs, including 6 different coat colors: black, blue, brindle, fawn and harlequin.
Health
Like any dog, Great Danes require healthy nutrition and lots of physical exercise, such as walks, playing games with other dogs, fun training tasks and participating in organized events with other canines. But be careful not to overexert your Dane as their size can quickly lead to injuries like sprained ankles. Always consult your veterinarian as to the amount of exercise appropriate for your Great Dane.
Great Danes’ long tails leave them vulnerable to an injury known as “happy tail.” Repeated trauma from running into solid objects causes traumatised tail tips to puncture skin and form non-healing wounds, necessitating lessons in keeping their tail down in public settings and away from becoming stuck on fences or furniture. For this reason it is vital that Great Dane owners teach their pet not to let its tail down during public interactions as soon as possible to avoid potential “happy tail” incidents.
Though large in size, Great Danes tend to be gentle with children and other pets. Although strangers may cause fear or territorial aggression in them, this behavior usually stems from lack of exposure with new people and dogs they do not know.
Like any breed, Dane personalities vary, making it important to pay close attention to his or her individual strengths and weaknesses when introducing new experiences for them. If your Dane is particularly susceptible to change, consider slowly introducing them to other dogs in a controlled setting so as to ease their transition.
Keep in mind that Great Danes are at high risk for gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat), the number one cause of death among their breed. To help prevent bloat and help your Great Dane stay alive longer, feed him/her small meals throughout the day while limiting strenuous physical exercise around meal times. Also consider having your veterinarian perform gastropexy to affix one side of his stomach to his abdomen so it cannot flip back over.
Other common health conditions to look out for include heart disease, ocular conditions, hypothyroidism and hip dysplasia. Responsible breeders will screen their stock before breeding to detect these issues and other concerns.
Training
As with any pet, your great dane requires basic obedience commands such as sitting, lying down, walking on a leash, sleeping in its crate overnight and using outdoor bathroom facilities.
Great Danes, like other large breed dogs, tend to bark excessively and display aggressive behavior. Puppies and adolescents in particular can become susceptible to dominance aggression which refers to using size, weight and strength to assert dominance over another in a household or family setting. Although dominance aggression often manifests itself during these developmental years, it may occur later on throughout life without intervention from you or another household member.
To prevent dominance issues with your Great Dane, it is imperative that early training and socialization take place. This will prevent them from using their size and power to gain control over you, your family, friends and other pets – which makes early training and socialization so crucial.
Not only can you train a Great Dane to obey basic obedience commands and perform tricks, you can also teach it how to hunt, pull weight and do scent work (which they were historically used for). One way to encourage this behavior is with treats – eventually they will assume a prone position and stretch out towards it!
Keep in mind that Great Danes can easily overexert themselves and are vulnerable to stomach issues, especially bloat, which occurs when their deep chest fills with gas and twists violently. This condition is extremely dangerous and could even prove fatal within an hour if left untreated.
To prevent bloat in a Great Dane, it’s best to allow them to exercise in short bursts for several months after getting them home and avoid running and vigorous activity such as sprinting for several months after. You should also prevent them from chewing bones, sticks or hard toys that could potentially choke or stomach ulcer. Furthermore, overexerting their bodies for too long in a fenced yard could put undue stress and pressure on growing joints and bones that lead to bloat.