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| As cute as Goliath is...he is a merle and can not be shown or bred. |
It is strongly recommended that buyers wishing a purebred puppy purchase ONLY a registered Great Dane. It is only in this way that you will be guaranteed a purebred puppy and it reflects the commitment and sincerity of the breeder.
Purchasing an unregistered Great Dane is unwise on many fronts. Will this 'breeder' stand behind the puppy? What if inherited health issues arise - are they prepared to replace the puppy or refund your money? Have the parents been tested clear of eye, thyroid or hip problems? Can you call them for advice on your puppy or with any problems you may encounter? Likely not.
We recommend that you begin your search with reputable breeders who are members of the Great Dane Club of Canada. Should one not be able to supply you with the type of puppy you are looking for, they can refer you to other known reputable breeders.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Great Dane Puppy
In choosing a purebred puppy you assure yourself of many characteristics, which your adult dog will have. A healthy puppy is round and robust. It should be friendly and outgoing-a bundle of kisses and tail wags. At the puppy stage, they should be playful. The coat should be shiny and the eyes bright. A mentally sound puppy should not be shy or reserved. This may be the sign of an unsteady or nervous temperament.
You should inquire about the health of the Great Danes in the breeder's line and the temperament of the dogs. Although it is not always possible to meet the sire of the puppies it should usually be possible to meet the dam. Her manner will provide you with a good indication of the temperament of the line. A good breeder knows the background of the puppies and should be a good source of information to the to the purchaser. They should be available for support throughout your dog's life. All breeders with years of experience will have encountered some health issues. Any long time breeder who claims to have never had health issues should be avoided.
Registration
Registration of your new Great Dane is the responsibility of the breeder of your dog. The Canadian Kennel Club is the registration body for puppies born in Canada while the American Kennel Club is the registration body in the United States of America. In Canada, the Canadian Kennel Club under the jurisdiction of the Federal Department of Agriculture's Animal Pedigree Act administers the conditions of registration. This Act states that registration papers must be provided for any animal sold as purebred, at no additional cost to the purchaser within six months of the date of sale. The Act provides for stiff penalties for those persons not adhering to these conditions.
Terms of Sale
The terms of sale of your Great Dane puppy should be in writing between you and the breeder. This agreement should contain information about the expectation that the breeder has of the purchaser such as the signing of a non-breeding contract, the diet to be fed, the immunization protocol to be followed. For example, there it may be wise to discuss the matter of ear cropping. Although many breeders !crop the ears on the puppies they sell, they are others who refuse to allow any of their puppies to be cropped. Most breeders tend to be more flexible.
If you are uncertain about any of the terms of sale it is important that they be clarified prior to the sale. If you cannot accept the terms it is best not to proceed with the purchase until both you and the breeder are in agreement over the terms of the sale. Details may become very important if a problem does arise in the future. Even the with most conscientious breeders problems may arise. Some breeders feel that if any part of the agreement is violated that the whole agreement is invalid.
Colours of Great Danes
Danes come in six acceptable colors for showing:
Fawn, Brindle, Black, Blue, Boston (Mantle), and Harlequin.
Fawn: a golden yellow with a black mask on the face.
Brindle: Golden base coat with defined black striped laid over as chevrons..almost tiger striped appearance.
Black: Solid black colored dog..
Blue: a steel gray solid color
Boston/Mantle: this pattern is best described as marked like a penguin, must have a white tail tip or is not considered a true Boston.
Harlequin: A white dane with torn black patches distributed over the body.
For more details please go to the breed standard.
These colors are acceptable to show in conformation for a Canadian championship. Although a mismarked Dane can be born in a litter, they are registrable as they are purebred, from registered parents. A mismark is a colour not acceptable for competition in conformation (ie. merle, harls with too much black, blacks with large white spots on their body, brindles with little or no fawn base color, etc) Aside from the colour, mismarked colored Danes still can preform in functions sanctioned by the Canadian kennel club, just not in conformation. They are as equally wonderful a pet as a conformation-marked Dane.
Don't be fooled - there are no 'rare' coloured Great Danes.
Don't walk, run from any breeder claiming to have a 'rare' coloured dane.
What should I expect from my Breeder?
What is expected of me?
Determining if a breeder is a reputable one can be confusing to a beginner. Ideally you should be able to visit the breeders home and see for your self what kind of environment your puppy comes from. Gut feelings can be very important!
Reputable breeders will:
- be proud to show you their dogs. They will be clean, healthy and happy.
- require you to sign a contract outlining the sale conditions upon which they will sell you a puppy.
- inform you of the health clearances done on the parents
- provide you with a pedigree
-do ALL the necessary health testing on the parents (OFA, Cardiac, etc)
As well, you should expect to be questioned by your breeder! Any reputable breeder will want to know a lot about you, your lifestyle, and your plans for the puppy. If you are interested in a pet puppy (not to show in conformation) you should be required to spay/neuter your puppy. These people invest a lot of time, love and money into improving their lines. They will be concerned about where their puppies go.
Breeders who will not supply you with the information above, or seem uninterested or unwilling to be upfront with you should be avoided. An excellent checklist for anyone questioning the ethics of a breeder can be found here: http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/reputable_breeders.htm
Puppy Growth
Great Danes, as a giant breed grow very quickly, but do not fully mature until they are about two years of age or older. Some breeders do not feel that they are fully mature until 3 or 4 years of age. In this growing process they do pass through some very awkward stages. Growth plates are changing, bones are moving, cartilage is forming. Injuries during a puppy's first year may become permanent problems for the dog. Too much exercise at an early age is detrimental to good development. Forced exercise is not recommended for this breed - puppies should be allowed to play until they are tired.
The following weight chart gives an overview of the growth pattern of Great Danes.
Age Weight Height
Birth weight 1-2 lbs
Week 1 2-3 lbs
Week 2 3-5 lbs
Week 3 4-7 lbs
Week 4 5-8 lbs
Week 6 12-20 lbs
Month 2 18-27 lbs 13-17 inches
Month 3 30-45 lbs 17-22 inches
Month 4 50-65 lbs 21-25 inches
Month 5 65-85 lbs 25-30 inches
Month 6 70-100 lbs 27-33 inches
Month 7 75-110 lbs 27-33 inches
Month 8 80-115 27-34 inches
Month 9 85-120 lbs 28-34 inches
One Year 90-135 lbs 28-36 inches
Full Grown
Males
140-170 lbs 33-36 inches
Females
110-140 lbs 30-33 inches
Puppy Nutrition & Health
Feeding:
There are different schools of thought regarding food. Some breeders use a high quality commercial kibble, while others implement a raw diet (sometimes called B.A.R.F.).
Your best bet is to feed your new Great Dane puppy according to the diet sheet provided by your breeder. Different lines (families) may do better on one type of diet than another. Your breeder has invested alot of time into their dogs - they know what works!
Immunization / Vaccination
Traditionally all dogs received their first immunization at six weeks of age, followed by a 2nd vaccine four weeks later and a 3rd four weeks after that. At six months of age there was to be another dose and a usually a rabies vaccine as well. This was to be followed by yearly vaccines.
Many veterinarians and breeders no longer believe that it is beneficial or wise to subject the immune system of a young puppy to this number of vaccines. The protocol for the reduced numbers of vaccines is still being developed. Most breeders are immunizing their puppies in some form and will be able to share information regarding the vaccines they are recommending with the new owner.
There are breeders who feel that vaccination in any form is detrimental to the health of your puppy and recommend a homeopathic or holistic approach. The experience breeders have had with their dogs will determine the advice they provide.
Much work is still being done by veterinarian research centers to determine what vaccines are beneficial and necessary for the optimum health of your puppy.
Information cited with permission from : http://www.gdcc.ca
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