Points
to consider before buying a Great Dane Puppy
Always
be sure to see at least the dam of the litter (and the sire if possible).
Puppy temperament is influenced by both hereditary (from sire, dam and
other ancestors), and by environment (influenced by the dam and the
breeder's rearing practices).
Ensure
that the dam, the Sire and other relatives, have the temperament that
conforms to the breed standard, and that the breeder is raising the
puppies properly (preferably in the house as part of the family), and is
providing adequate socialisation and early training.
Because
a 25-30 pound eight-week-old puppy will generally grow to about six times
that weight, special consideration needs to be given before acquiring a
puppy. (1,000's of Dogs are abandoned and/or put into rescue every day
because their owners didn't realize that their cute little puppy would
grow up to be a very large dog with real needs).
A
growing Dane puppy can cost more to rear than an adult dog and in turn you
could quite easily end up feeding an adult dog very large quantities of
expensive food that may be totally unsuitable for his/her digestion.
There
are many types of dog food on the market that are totally unsuitable for a
Great Dane.
Be
aware than an adult male can easily devour 4-6 LB of meat and/or meal per
day and bitches 3-5 lb., depending on age, activity etc.
The
food need not be expensive. Based on the ingredients that we use and by
feeding at the ratio of 2 parts meat to 1 part meal -
each pound of prepared food should cost no more than .50p - by
shopping around and/or buying in bulk, a fully-grown adult bitch can be
maintained for less than £2.00 per day.
Anyone
considering taking a Dane into their home. (Regardless of whether a puppy
or adult), should first spend time with the breed, talk to experienced
breeders, find out about and take in as much information relating to the
breed as possible. Then answer the following questions:
-
Will
you be willing &. able to provide enough of the CORRECT
food for a giant breed of dog?
-
Can
you afford the other expenses involved with owning a dog of this size?
- Medication, bedding, equipment, toys and a suitable vehicle, cost
more for a giant breed.
-
Are
you prepared to provide a Dane with the companionship and exercise he
requires?
-
Are
you able and willing to provide positive and consistent training,
beginning as soon as the Dane enters your home?
-
Do
you live in a house, or a flat?
-
Does
your lease allow you to keep a dog? .
-
Do
you have a separated (i.e. not communal) fenced garden?
-
Do
you get on well with your neighbours and are they tolerant of dogs? -
(Farmers with livestock &.many people with young children are not)
-
Are
you prepared to be interviewed and possibly have your home vetted
-
How
many permanent members of your household are there?
-
Is
there anyone reluctant to take part in this purchase?
-
Is
the puppy to be a surprise?
-
Will
there be someone at home for the greater part of each day?
-
How
long is your puppy expected to regularly be left on his own?
-
Have
you thought about provision for the dog when you are away? e.g.
holiday, business, illness?
-
Is
there a secure, safe area where the puppy can be left for short
periods?
-
Is
this an area where the puppy would not get into trouble and end up
being hurt or perhaps punished for chewing, scratching, digging,
accidentally soiling etc?
-
Is
any member of the family very house or garden proud?
-
Are
you prepared for some accidental soiling or damage until the puppy has
learned to be clean and behave?
-
Is
everyone prepared tolerate slobber &. dog hairs for the rest of
the puppy's life?
-
How
does everyone visualize the long-term life-style and environment for
their puppy (e.g. living in a kennel or boiler room)?
-
Will
the puppy be left with 'staff for any length of time? The Nanny,
Gardener, Baby-sitter etc may resent having to look after the puppy
and may not treat it well.
-
Is
there a swimming pool, garden pond or other hazard to the puppy? - If
so, have you considered what do you intend to do about it
-
Does
everyone fully appreciate the running costs of a Great Dane?
e.g..vaccinations,
vets fees, Insurance, accessories, Boarding. Transport.
-
Is
there an elderly or infirm person, living within or frequently
visiting the household, who may be knocked-over or injured?
-
Is
everyone prepared to make the time and effort to bath, groom, clean
his teeth &. trim his nails regularly? - Train him
properly and ensure that he is a pleasure to live with and never a
source of irritation to others? - Give him regular
exercise, if necessary transporting him to a place where he can run
free? - Clean up after him in public places and not cause
a nuisance in anyway? - Is everyone fully committed and
prepared to love and care for your Dane for all of his life and not
just while he is a cuddly puppy? - Do they appreciate that
dogs, like people, grow old and infirm and may need special care and
attention?
-
Do
you own a dog/bitch at present?
-
Would
he or she be compatible with another dog or bitch?
-
Have
you thought about how you would deal with a bitch in season or
un-neutered male?
-
Has
anyone in the household had a Dane or other large breed?
-
If
so did they experience any problems?
-
Are
you willing to listen to the advice given to you be the breeder and
stick to those guidelines regardless of advice given to you from any
other source.
-
Are
you willing to consult the breeder in the first instance should any
changes in your dogs circumstances become necessary
-
Is
the family relationship secure ? - Break-up of households is the
reason for over 50 per cent of rejected dogs. Often a puppy is bought
as a last-ditch consolation present.
-
Are
there any plans for children in the near future? - Many animals are
cast aside when new babies come along.
If,
after considering all of these questions, you are still determined to add
a Great Dane to your family, then do consider adopting a homeless dog from
the Breed Rescue Organisations. Danes of both sexes and all colors and
ages are often available.
Please
Please Please! do not even think of owning a Great Dane just to sit
and look impressive in his run while you are out at work all day. Danes
are sensitive creatures needing love and companionship. To leave him
regularly for long periods would be like sentencing him to solitary
confinement. Also he would never be properly socialised, difficult to
house train and would have no-one around to provide fresh food & water
or to help should he fall ill or injure himself. He may suffer from
extreme cold in winter or heatstroke in the summer and there is always the
fear of Bloat.
An
unhappy Dane is obvious to see, they lack weight & condition and have
a haunted look in their eyes, DON'T LET IT BE YOUR DANE
If
you must have a puppy, then screen breeders very carefully before buying.
Make sure the puppies have been bred by someone with the interest &
welfare of the breed at heart and not purely for profit and
that the parents have the correct temperament. Do not be afraid to ask
questions and be prepared to be interviewed yourselves and possibly have
your home vetted
As
with any dedicated and responsible breeder, It is my policy to breed
strictly to the Kennel Club Breed Standard and to abide be the Code of
Ethics set out by the Kennel Club and the Breed Clubs. I have continued to
adhere to a breeding program established fundamentally for the betterment
of the breed, aimed not only at improving my own show/breeding stock but
also producing sound, healthy animals that are magnificent to look at and
a pleasure to live with. I have made a very long-term, wholehearted
commitment to the breed and a sincere undertaking to research and monitor
my breeding lines so as to keep them as free as possible from hereditary
defects.
It
must be understood however, that each mating produces a completely new and
unique formula of genes, and that in dealing with the laws of nature
&. genetics, I nor any other breeder can not expect to be continually
exempt from any problems. Even the most carefully planned mating, between
a top-quality female and the best stud dog imaginable, can produce more
pet-quality puppies than puppies with genuine show or breeding potential.
Deliberately selling out to produce pet pups by breeding a pet-quality
Dane to someone else's pet-quality Dane is both unwise and irresponsible.
An aggressive Great Dane can be a very dangerous dog and a crippled or
chronically sick Dane can be more of a burden than a pleasure
To
avoid abuse of the breed, and in particular my own established breeding
program, it must understood and agreed that our puppies are NOT sold for
the purpose of breeding. - unless by separate written agreement.
initially, the Kennel Club Registration Document will be endorsed as
follows: -
Progeny
Not Eligible For Registration
Progeny
Not Eligible For the Issue Of An Export Pedigree
(It
is possible to renegotiate and for these to be lifted at a later date if
circumstances allow).
These
endorsements can only be lifted by official written request by the breeder
to the Kennel Club.No matter how promising he or she appears, I can not
guarantee a very young puppy to be of "Show Quality' or suitable as a
Brood Bitch" or "Stud Dog". However, if correct rearing
&. feeding regimes are adhered to and the puppy fulfils his promise
and is maintained in Show Condition, there is no reason, after further
assessment, why he could not be shown. In which instance, if he or she is
successful, no hereditary defects become evident and you
agree to adhere to the codes of practice set out by the breeder, Kennel
Club &. Breed Clubs, there is no reason why he could not be bred from.
Otherwise it must understood that your puppy has been sold to you as a
"Companion only".
It
showing is your intention at the outset it is advisable to discuss and
consider the pros &. cons in depth and possibly attend a few shows
first. If you still feel that you can commit yourself, both time-wise
&. financially, to what can be a very rewarding albeit expensive
hobby, then-it may be better to wait-for an older puppy that has been
selected and run-on for this purpose.
Copies or sales contract & terms and
conditions are available on request to genuine enquiries only and will be
discussed at time of visit.
FOOTNOTE
Any domestic
animal is wholly at the mercy of the person who keeps it. It is he who
determines the course of its destiny during which time he is responsible
for it, even to the point of deciding to have it put down. Except for any
natural defences that the animal may have recourse to in order to protect
itself - and even these may be fully misunderstood - the creature is
helpless.
If we wish to face up to the enormity of this statement, then we have to
make it clear to ourselves that in owning an animal, we load ourselves
with a moral obligation towards it. |