I am very concerned about the health problems (bloat/torsion, bone cancer, thyroid dysfunction, heart issues) and resulting short life span of the modern Great Dane. As a breeder, I am doing my best to fight these health issues in the following ways:

• Selective breeding. Breed only the healthiest Danes together, avoid breeding dogs with known genetic health problems.
• Health Screening. Screen for all known genetic disorders. This includes at a minimum: hips, eyes, thyroid function, and heart.
• Genetic Diversity. Avoiding breeding closely related Danes together whenever possible and actively use fresh genes from outside the U.S.
• Support Research. I donate time and money to Dane health research. I have volunteered DNA from my Danes for several studies to help understand the maladies that commonly afflict Danes.

Genetics are pre-determined when a puppy is born. It's the job of the breeder to do everything possible to breed healthy Danes. But when you take that puppy home, YOU control the essential second factor, environment. There are several environmental elements to consider: nutrition, vet care, and proper exercise.

Diet

As pet owners we have been naive enough to believe that commercial dog food is good for dogs. While commercial dog foods are convenient for us, (and HIGHLY profitable for dog food companies) they are not necessarily what a dog truly needs to be healthy. The main ingredients in most dog foods are the top allergens in dogs, wheat, corn, and soy. Dogs are not meant to eat grains. Have you ever heard a farmer complain about the coyotes eating corn from his fields? Canines are scavengers and carnivores which means they eat a combination of meat and whatever they can get. Breeders and owners who have battled allergies and other major health problems in their pets have increasingly looked back to nature for the answers to improving health. Many have turned to a natural diet that their dogs are genetically designed to eat. This diet is known as BARF, Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

The BARF diet mimics what dogs would eat in the wild. Thousands of dog owners literally swear by the effectiveness of this diet, which is essentially exactly what dogs were eating before the advent of bagged dog foods. Then dog food companies came along and told us perfect, balanced nutrition for our dogs came out of a bag. The only problem was, it wasn't true. A growing number of vets, breeders, and pet owners are opting to feed their dogs this whole food diet based on raw meat, uncooked bones, and vegetables. It is truly becoming a phenomenon and many generations of dogs have now been raised on this diet. I feed my adult dogs and raise my puppies on this raw, biologically appropriate diet.

To learn more about raw food diets, click here.

Veterinary Care

Shocking as it may seem, the idea that pets should be vaccinated every year came not from research but from the desire to get pets in the vets office for yearly exams! Recent veterinary studies are indicating that we have been DRASTICALLY over-vaccinating our pets for decades. At a very young age we begin taxing young dog's immune systems, which are not well understood and quite different from our own. These routine "puppy shots" may contribute to a whole slew of immune related problems we now commonly see in companion animals. The current recommendation by the American Medical Veterinary Association is for most vaccinations in dogs to be done once every 3-5 years, not yearly.

I am not suggesting that dogs go without vaccinations all together. There are some very real threats to the health of young puppies, parvo virus ranking first among them. Distemper and rabies are serious diseases that also threaten dogs. I suggest that pet owners inform themselves about vaccines and follow a plan they feel protects their pet from disease without potential damage to the dog's natural immune system. To achieve this, ask your vet about blood titer testing for immunity before giving shots.

Exercise

Exercising a Dane is not as straightforward as one might think. Don't be fooled by their size! Great Danes are physically puppies until two years of age. Serious injury to bones and joints can occur from exercising young Danes too strenuously.  Likewise, not exercising a Dane at all can significantly shorten their lifespan. Regular, appropriate exercise is important in all stages of a Dane's life.

The key here is common sense. The problem with common sense is, it's not all that common.

• Don't let puppies play with older dogs for extended periods and monitor the play to make sure it isn't too rough for the pup.
• Don't play too roughly with the puppy yourself or get it too wound up.
• When puppies get the "zoomies" get them outside on dirt or grass that provides good footing. Racing through the house on slippery floors could result in injury.
• Under no circumstances should a Dane be run or biked on pavement until they are over two years of age.
• Walking is the perfect exercise for your young Dane. However, be aware of the footing. Walking in deep sand puts terrific strain on joints and muscles and should be avoided. Rough gravel or hot pavement could injure your Dane's feet.
• If your Dane puppy is limping for more than 24 hours, take them to a qualified vet immediately.

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