Best products from r/greatdanes

One of my girls is a Daniff! She is my comedian.

A couple things:

• get ready for a really, really, stubborn dog during training. Sometimes you get lucky- our other dane LOVES to please. But our Daniff just sits and stares at you when you give her a command sometimes. (unless the command is sit... then she will definitely stand.) But it's sometimes funny, and as long as you are consistent it becomes not a problem. We used little bits of hot dogs or boiled chicken for high value treats for our stubborn girl on days when she didn't want to train.
  
  
• start leash walking EARLY. the earlier you start, the easier it will be when they are huge and trying to pull you into the street to gently correct them. I also would recommend a Gentle Leader- it gives you so much control! It's been a life changer for us.
  
  
• for teething- I recommend Orka toys. They are the only thing for us that lasts more than a couple of weeks (Although, our Daniff is really, really gentle with her toys! Our other Dane can rip apart a toy in record time!) The best part about the Orka toys, is you can pop it in the freezer which is great for teething too.
  https://www.amazon.com/Orka-Tire-Rubber-Fetch-Petstages/dp/B003V734IO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518441514&sr=8-3&keywords=orka+dog+toys
  The $5 piggies from Walmart don't last as long, but they are the FAVORITES for both of our girls.
  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Latex-Pigglesworth-Dog-Toy-Large-Assorted-Colors-1-Count/20711972
  
  
• Find a vet you like and trust. Talk about the Gastropexy and a spay/neuter and when they recommend getting them done. Everyone seems to have a different opinion, and I'm not a vet- so, do your own research and talk to your vet on what they think.
  
  
• Danes are expensive.
  
  
• get ready to have zero personal space whatsoever.
  
  
• Dane farts are the WORST.
  
  Welcome to the Dane Club. It's the best- you are going to have the best time with your new baby. They are expressive, and funny, and sweet, and the best dog I've ever had.
  
  Here is a pic of our daniff- Mitzi- in her natural habitat https://imgur.com/a/1SbbG

Hey Metamorphosis348, I heard many conflicting things about puppy food when I got my little Great Dane named Crowley.

He is our first puppy, so i did a lot of extensive research. The amount of conflicting points is crazy.

There are certain nutrients you need as a puppy, but most puppy mixes have a high protein(35-50%) and/or Fat(20-25%) content, which can be bad for Great Dane Growth.

The Best Compromise I could find was this type from Blue Buffalo. 26% Protein and 15% Fat.

When I went to Petco to find some chow for Crowley, I had a little notebook with 2 pages filled with ingredients that should be avoided. This one fit the bill the best, and Crowley seems to love it!

And no, Crowley doesnt have mange, he was the runt of the litter(of 3) and his brother and sister played hard with him. It is clearing up nicely.

And Yes I copied and pasted this from another post of mine

Awhile ago my husband and I were interested in getting a soft crate, and we were actually going to get this one but it was on back order and we needed a crate sooner than later. This soft crate would most likely work for you, I'm actually still interested in getting it out of convenience. Dimensions are 48"L x 32" W x 38.5" H and I'd recommend taking a look at the reviews, some people bought the crate for their great dane or irish wolfhound.

Also, just came across this one. It is slightly shorter and a lot more expensive, but better reviews on average.

Anyway, good luck finding the right soft crate!

This does not sound like a training book based on recent scientific evidence. If you learn well from reading, Don't Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor would be a good place to start. As others mentioned, it sounds like you need to teach a reliable "drop it" (drop something already in their mouth) and "leave it" (stop giving attention to the object, e.g. a person or dog across the street or something they're about to pick up).

If you learn better visually/hands on, it might be a good idea to sign up for a puppy class somewhere. This will provide your pup with good socialization with other people and dogs too. I would recommend someplace that teaches using positive reinforcement, whether that be a local place or a chain like PetSmart.

Here are some videos for "leave it" [1] and [2]. The first is very short, while the second is a little more in depth. They are both basically the same concept. Both of these channels would be good resources for teaching other behaviors as well.

I was unable to find videos that I liked as much for "drop it," but these still might be helpful [1] and [2]. I'm not sure I'm personally as big of a fan of the method in the second video here, but you may find it to your liking.

I bought a Midwest (~54x45x35) on Amazon for $160 with free shipping. That was the best deal new I could find at the time, and I believe the price has gone down since. I think that size would probably fit most full grown great danes. I wouldn't go smaller if you don't want to buy another one down the line. Do they even make bigger ones? Haha I don't know.

If you are in a populated area, it's worth hunting on craigslist for.

Edit: This is the one I have, and am very happy with it. It's sturdy enough for normal use (and is kindof a pain to assemble) but I just wouldn't expect it to stand up to a great dane with separation anxiety trying to escape the crate. Then again, I've never seen any crates that are really strong enough for that...

highly recommend the 54” Midwest kennel! If you need a bed that fits also they are pretty hard to find the right size for good price but i found this one on amazon and the 52x34 fits PERFECTLY and it’s super comfy

We have a 110lb Anatolian and it does her just fine. However, you can purchase one on Amazon that is extra large that we also have as well! Here is that link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076VSDH8Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tKNRCbM0DMKXB

This bed is HUGE. I could lay on it and sleep comfortably. I hope this one is a little more of what you’re looking for! 😊

Our vet told us to do a big name food because they’re proven instead of doing the “higher end” boutique type foods. She also told us not to do grain free because it can cause heart problems in dogs that aren’t even prone to heart problems.

We use Purina Smart Blend with great success.

I've tried many different dog foods and found Taste of the Wild to work best for our Dane. It's helped him put on weight at a steady pace without bulking up too quickly. As far as puppy food goes, yes, most puppy food is really high in protein but it's also very rich food. Our Dane has a very sensitive stomach and rich foods didn't do well for his digestive system. Once we switched him to the grain-free lamb based TOTW, everything cleared right up. Have you been experiencing any similar issues? Is your puppy's stool soft, has he been throwing up occasionally?

I have a 2 year old, 150lb Great Dane and I've had this bed for a year now -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FVNTH4

It's plenty big enough for her to spread out or lay on her side.

She likes to sleep on the bed without the cover when it's hot outside because it's slick and cool. The denim cover is great too.

Oh, yeah, we have always used a back seat hammock. I like the Krunco brand (looks like it's now NAC&ZAK brand):

http://www.amazon.com/NAC-ZAC-Waterproof-Washable-Lifetime/dp/B014CK6LRY?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Super durable. I'd only buy the X-Large size if you have a VERY BIG double cab truck. Otherwise the Large fits pretty much everything.

I use something similar for my pups baths and it works great. For every day brushing I use a really soft Wahl horse brush.

Here's the glove I use

2-in-1 Pet Glove: Grooming Tool + Furniture Pet Hair Remover Mitt - For Cat & Dog - Long & Short Fur - Gentle Deshedding Brush - Rubber Tips for Massage - Soft Groomer Mitt - Your Pet Will Love It https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015UE70PI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_cJkszbV2YKMQN

Personally I would recommend getting this one, it's the same one I have and it's something you will use for the lifetime of your puppy and can use it for every subsequent dog. It's very sturdy and easy to assemble and a great investment. Make sure you get the plastic pan for the base.

Halti brand head collars are just like gentle leads but they also clip to the collar. I had one for my boy and it was amazing and I never had to worry about him getting out of it and running off because it was attached to his collar as a back up. They come in large sizes. Halti Just in case you are looking for something with that option.

We’re using a brindle bed. The largest one. Our 5mo loves it! Brindle Shredded Memory Foam