Great Dane owners- some questions about Dane health?

1) spay and neuter should be held off until at least a year and possibly 18 months ( if the females in the line are known to go into heat around a year then go for the year). It will not harm the dane if they are altered earlier, but it can cause them to be smaller and leaner looking. This doesn't happen to every dane though.

2) This is controversial so it is best to look into the line you are adopting from and see if they are prone to bloating and make your decision from there. Some say a raw diet helps prevent it as well as raising or lowering the dishes. It is best to wait until around 18 months of age. It can be done at the same time as the alter to help keep them from having to be put to sleep twice.

3) I recommend hips, elbows, and heart. There is no guarantee for preventing wobblers, but just research the lines to see if it is a problem. Make sure the testing are all done after age 2 on the parents, anything before that is rather useless.

4) Any exercise as a puppy shouldn't be forced, meaning let the puppy do what he can on his own and don't make him do anymore. (Playing in the yard off leash is plenty or a walk around the block.) No jumping or long runs until after age 2.

5) The Colossal Crate is the dane sized crate. Petsmart carries a version for under $100.

I also recommend you go to danesonline.com to learn all you can from others that have danes. They welcome others whether you have a dane or just planning on owning one. :)

1) there is so much misconception surrounding the s/n of a Giant breed. I wouldn't s/n under 9 months, but definitely get a female spayed before a first heat..Neutering a male 9-12 month will not make them smaller or spindly looking.....The growth of a Dane is more hinged on bloodlines then s/n.

2) I have never had a pexy done on any Dane I've owned while it could buy time to get your dog to a vet if it was bloating it will not prevent bloat and it will not prevent torsioning of the spleen

3) all Danes used in a breeding program should have a CHIC #... they should have OFA on hips, thyroid & heart and CERF on eyes. There is no test for wobblers. Wobblers can be genetic in Origin but it can also be caused by injury. Males are no more apt to have wobblers then a female.Wobblers that is genetic can show up by the age of 1 or not until later in life. Even if genetic it doesn't mean that either parent has it....it could be farther back in the pedigree.

4) Exercise is fine for a Dane puppy.The only exercise they should not get is forced exercise or exercise on hard surfaces. Normal puppy play and short walks are perfectly acceptable.

5) The Midwest Colossal crate is the perfect size for a Dane.

I suggest taht you go to the GDCA site http://www.gdca.org/ and also join a Dane forum http://dolforum.com/

1) For females, I usually put it off until after the first heat cycle. Just be sure to watch her very closely until then. For males, give them a year or so. Without the testosterone, you'll end up with a weak bodied male.

2) I don't gastropexy unless a dog gets recurrent bloating. The esitmate I got for a 3.5 year old female at my local vet was approximately $2100. As I said, unless a dog gets bloat like problems often, there's no need.

3) Wobbler's is apparent in any adult male with the gene. Females rarely display Wobbler's. If it's in the line, it's safe to say that the father will have it. It's usually displayed by the age of 1. Besides OFA and CERF, nothing else is incredibly important to me unless it's prominent in the line.

4) Low exercise is good. Maybe a 20-30 minute walk once a week or so, until the age of 18 months.

5) I have a 3 foot tall, 3.5 foot wide, 5 foot deep kennel. You may have to go to a specialty crate store or order one online. The dog needn't be in there often, unless nobody's home or he isn't fully potty trained, etc.

The temperment of Great Danes varies alot Ive had 5 great danes at different times over the years. Most Danes are great with other animals, some however dont tolerate smaller animals but if u get them as puppies u should be ok. the danes i had that didnt like smaller animals were rescue dogs. but they loved people,I think they r great pets , couch potatoes and lap dogs. enjoy

1) 12-18 months would be the earliest to s/n

2) it does decently. its usually done during a spay, but you can have it done otherwise, bloat is generally really easy to prevent

3) never buy from a breeder that DOESNT do those health tests, talk to the breeder about wobblers, and do not use a headcollar with a dane

4) minimal jumping and running until about a year

5) get the biggest life-style's crate you can get, it has a divider and you can use its whole life

http://cgi.ebay.com/54-XL-GIANT-GREAT-DANE-Dog-Cra...

make sure to get the divider panel