Table of Contents
Understanding the Great Dane 5
Meet the Great Dane 5
History of the Breed 7
The Great Dane Standard 8
The Great Ear Controversy 9
The Nature of the Breed 10
Living with a Great Dane 15
"Great" Means Bigger than Big 15
Great Danes and Children 16
Great Danes with Other Dogs 16
Great Danes with Other Pets 17
Great Danes and Strangers 17
Caring for Your Great Dane 19
Housing a Giant Dog 19
Exercise 21
Grooming 22
Boarding Your Great Dane 23
Considerations Before Obtaining a Great Dane 25
Illusion and Reality 25
Searching for the Right Dog 26
A Puppy or an Older Dog? 31
A Male or Female? 32
Pet Quality or Show Quality? 32
Choosing a Great Dane Puppy 33
Bringing Home Your Great Dane Puppy 35
The Initial Phases 35
Adjustment Time 36
Helping Your Puppy Settle In 37
The Adoption Option 41
Adult Great Dane Availability 41
Adoption Locations 41
Adult Adoption Advantages 42
Administrative Aspects 42
Achieving an Adoption Attitude 43
Training Your Great Dane 45
An Untrained Dane 45
Using Pack Behavior 45
When to Begin Training 47
Housetraining 48
Crate Training 49
Puppy Physiology 49
Checklist: Crate Training Suggestions 51
Obedience Training 53
Feeding Your Great Dane 61
The Importance of a Good Diet 61
The Elements of Good Canine Nutrition 61
Commercial Dog Foods 64
Homemade Diets and Leftovers 66
Feeding Guidelines 67
Changing Dog Foods 69
Medical Care 71
Special Health Needs 71
Keeping Your Great Dane Healthy 71
Diseases and Immunizations 71
Other Medical Conditions, Illnesses, and Concerns 75
Emergency Care 83
The Life Span of the Great Dane 86
Old Age 86
Areas Needing Your Ongoing Attention 87
When The End Approaches 89
HOW-TO: Preventive Care for Your Dane 90
Information 92
Index 94
