FAQs

Some people love this look and it dates back to Germany. It has been stated that the reason for cropping the ear was to prevent wild boars from ripping them off. Then it was to prevent ear infections. With a floppy ear, the dog will need to have their ears cleaned regularly. There is a certain amount of effort that is involved in ear cropping with cleaning the bandaged area and using what is called a "dunce cap". Make sure that if you pursue ear cropping that you find an experienced Dane Vet that understands how to crop a Dane ear. Over the years, I have seen Danes that look like bull dogs or dobermans, because the ear was not shaped for a Dane. Checking with a local Great Dane Club and asking for local vet references is a great place to start.

Great Danes do shed, just like any other animal. Their hair usually accumulates where they sleep. If you have someone who is allergic to animal hair, you can get them tested for Dane hair, and you might be surprised. For some reason I have had several families that have allergies, be okay with Dane hair - dander and were able to actually have a pet that everyone could enjoy.
Grooming for a Dane is important to start as a puppy, you don't want to wrestle your dog when they are 150lbs. That would not be enjoyable for either one of you. They need their toenails trimmed, every other week. Brush their teeth, weekly. This is so easy with the flavored toothpastes that are out there. And you can give them a bath every month or so, depending on the cleanliness of your dog. Some like to roll in the grass, some will just lay around the house. They are not a high maintenance dogs in that you don't need to brush them like a long haired dog everyday. They enjoy being brushed, because I think that it is like getting a massage for them.

These are not the long distance runners people may think they should be because of their size. Most Danes will look at you funny when you want to run more than five minutes. These big dogs like napping most of the day! Plus, running a Dane right after it eats, can promote a problem with their stomach called bloat. So, it should be avoided.

Hip dysplasia is the best known and talked about problem for all large breed dogs. Luckily, we as breeders can test our adult dogs for any concerns prior to breeding. These tests are expensive, but can give all of us reassurance that the puppies will have a better chance to avoid this disease. It has also been talked about that this trait is worsened when breeders, in-bred their bloodline. So, that is partly why it is so important to know where your puppy is coming from. If you want a puppy from a pet shop and they can't tell you who the parents are or if they have certified hips, then your chances of getting a puppy that could have hips problems increases.
There are a few other issues for big dogs; like heart problems and eye problems. It is best for you to know the health and condition of the parents of any puppy that you are interested in acquiring.

NO. We will not ship these precious puppies. We get extremely attached to these puppies and really need to meet the people that they will call family. We encourage people to take a vacation to Chicago and enjoy our city and then take your puppy home. There are arrangements and different restrictions from different airlines that you can travel with a puppy in the cabin. There are weight restrictions, and size limits, but that is a better option for you and the animal. Or just the scenic drive through the states and getting your puppy home with a road trip. We have placed puppies in homes all across the country. Blue great Danes are RARE and I believe we have some awesome puppies and they are well worth the trip!

Have a question for us? Please contact us at dieseldanes@me.com or 630-272-4447