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                                                                                                    FAQ

 

 How big will my Great Dane get?

 

BIG! If you are considering one of our Danes, please make sure you are prepared to share your home with a giant. They can easily surf counters, swipe coffee tables clean and drink out of a sink.

Males normally reach anywhere from 32 inches to 37 inches at the withers and weigh up to 200 lbs. Females are generally smaller. On average Females are anywhere from 29 inches to 33 inches, though some taller than that. They normally weigh 80 lbs. to 130 lbs.

 

Do you offer any reduced prices to those who are repeat adopters?

 

Yes! We tremendously appreciate every adopting family that comes our way. If you are someone who has adopted from us before or someone who is adopting more than one puppy at a time than we have a discount just for you. We love for our puppies to stay together as much as possible.

 

I really want a specific kind of Great Dane. What kind of puppies do you normally have?

 

We breed only top quality Great Danes with OFA or Penn-Hip certifications. We have both American and European lines available in our program. Litters vary on European percentage but as a whole all litters have health tested parents and Champion bloodline. We typically have Blue, Blue Harlequin, Harlequin, Blue Merle, Merle, and Black puppies in our litters although we might have different colors on occasion.

 

Will my puppy come with cropped ears?

 

No. We do not automatically crop our puppies ears before they go to their new homes. However, you are more than welcome to get your puppies ears cropped after they go home. If your veterinarian does not offer ear cropping we offer the option to crop through our primary vet here.

 

What all comes with my puppy whenever he/she comes home?

 

Your puppy will come vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, with a 3 year health guarantee, and lifelong breeder support.

 

Does Dynamic DynastyKennels have a contract that I will be required to sign?

 

Yes! All of our adopting families must sign a contract stating that they understand the conditions of the health guarantee, will provide their new family member with proper care and that if rehomed their Dane must be returned to us with no renumeration.

 

I am someone who is wanting to start my own breeding program. Do you sell your puppies with breeding rights?

 

If you are another experienced breeder or someone who is looking into starting their own breeding program I might be open to granting you full registration or offering you a Co-ownership. This all depends on if I feel that your breeding practices are ethical and if I feel that you are educated and responsible enough to be trusted with such an important task. Breeding is a serious responsibiity and I do not give full breeding rights to just anyone.

 

I absolutely love your puppies but I can not afford to drop that much money on a puppy all at once. Do you offer payment options?

 

Yes we do. You must place your $300 deposit whenever you reserve your puppy. You may make payments from before your puppy is born until your puppy is 10 weeks old. You will not be able to take your puppy home until you have paid for your puppy in full. We will hold your puppy until 10 weeks of age after that your puppy must be payed in full or we will have to home your puppy with another family and you will have to wait until our next litter.

 

My puppy hiccups all the time. I am concerned. What is causing this?

 

Go ahead and take a deep breathe. Don't worry, hiccups are perfectly normal in Great Dane puppies. Your puppy is just growing. Great Dane puppies grow at a phenominal rate. Whenever your puppy is growing they get hiccups. Their quick growth causes the vagal nerve to stretch which than causes the diaphram to twitch (hiccups).

 

 

Does DDK like to keep in contact with their pups once they are adopted out?

 

Absolutely! I tell everyone who adopts one of our puppies that we love an open adoption. I cannot tell you how much happiness it brings me when I get to see one of our puppies' pictures/videos. We hold reunion play dates every 6 months for our puppies. This helps us to stay in touch and socialize with others who can relate to you and your pet.

 

 

Will my Great Dane be too big for the house?

 

NO!! I cannot stress enough the importance of your Dane living inside with you. Great Danes are tremendously sensitive. To relegate them to a life outdoors, away from their family, is nothing short of cruelty. Great Danes need to be with their families. Aside from this reason, there are others:

*Not enough fur/fat to protect them from the elements.
Imagine being left outside in the winter with nothing more than a tee shirt on.

*Great Danes are a working breed and often become destructive when bored.
This can lead to behavioral problems such as digging, barking and fence climbing.

*Great Danes are highly susceptible to bloat.
Monitoring your Dane and his food intake, water intake and activity level is vital. It's hard to do this when you're inside and the Dane is not.

*You are not able to protect your dane from harm
If you leave your Dane outside unsupervised, he is subject to many harms. He can be poisoned, injured, escape, etc. and you would not know until it is too late.

These are just some of the reasons danes should not be outside dogs. "They are too big for the house" is just not an acceptable excuse. If you aren't prepared to share your home with a Dane, please do not get one.

 

 

I love the way White danes look. Do you have any for adoption?

 

No. We do not produce White Danes. Whites are typically blind, deaf, or both and some have no eyes or ears at all. Whites are produced by back yard breeders. We at DDD are dedicated to producing the healthiest Danes possible. I can however refer you to a local rescue that may have one available for adoption. 

 

 

I hear that Danes do not live long lives. Is this true?

 

Unfortunately yes. The quality of a Danes life is rich but quantity is lacking. Danes typically live between 7-10 years of age although sometimes they can live to be 14 years old. Ultimately both genetics and care are the main factors that determine how long your Dane will live for. 

 

What health issues do Danes have? What should I look out for?

 

 

All dog breeds  have their own form of health issues, here is some that a Dane owner should be aware of.

 

1. The first and most important health issue that Danes and all large breed dogs have is Gastric Volvulus (Bloat). Bloat refers to two conditions. One is where the stomach distends with gas and fluid. The second is when the stomach flips and blocks proper digestion. Both of these conditions are life threatening. The good news is that with proper care your Dane may never experience this illness. One way that you could avoid bloat is to feed your Dane small amounts all day long to avoid rush feeding. Make sure your Great Dane hasn't had any heavy exercise at least 45 minutes before and after they eat. Please do your research and learn the signs and symptoms of the condition.  We have never had one of our Danes bloat but it is always best to take preventative measures.

 

2. All large breeds including the Dane will develope some sort of arthritis after a certain age. Their large size causes the joints to strain. You can help your Dane avoid this painful issue by making sure he/she always has somewhere soft to lay down. Also, do not incourage jumping or leaping.

 

3. Many Danes develope cancer when they hit old age. The type of cancer that is most often in Danes is bone cancer.

 

4. Other common health issues are heart disease and hip dysplasia. We health test our breeding Danes through OFA/Pennhipp and do not have these issues within our lines. However, it is important for you to be aware.

 

 

Do Great Danes drool everywhere?

 

Typically no. They do not drool constantly like a Mastiff or Saint Bernard but they will have drool when they are excited, feel threatened, and after they drink water.

 

Is a Great Dane a good family dog?

 

Danes are an ideal family dog. They are often called "Gentle Giants" for a reason. They are gentle, patient, loyal, confident, and calm. Danes are usually awesome with children and crave human companionship. I will have to warn you that due to their large size they do sometimes step on peoples feet and accidently knock children over when they turn.

 

My kids really like to ride my dane like a pony. Is this harmful?

 

Yes! Please do not let your children sit or on ride your Dane. This behavior is extremely harmful to your Great Danes joints and back.

 

 

How much will my Great Dane eat?

 

Surprisingly, less than you'd expect. The average Great Dane probably eats a little more than most labs or shepherds would. Feeding a high quality kibble means feeding less.

A growing dane will eat more than an adult dane, due to the incredible growth, but on average, most adults are easily kept at 8-12 cups of high quality kibble a day.

 

What kind of food do you recommend for my Dane?

 

I recommend 4 Health Adult Large Breed Chicken and Rice Formula from Tractor Supply, Diamond Naturals Adult Large Breed Chicken and Rice, or Taste Of The Wild Adult Large Breed Chicken and Rice Formula, as a puppy and as an adult. NO PUPPY FOOD OR GRAIN FREE FOOD!! It is very important to feed the proper kibble that is low in protein. High protein in a Danes diet will likely cause damage as they grow. They can develope serious bone, and joint health problems.

 

I want to have the healthiest Great Dane possible. What can I do to insure optimal health for as long as possible?

 

First, see the section concerning commen health problems in Great Danes. Also, refrain from letting your Dane run, jog, or jump for the first year of life to avoid any joint damage as they grow.

 

Second, I suggest getting a good quality supplement from the start. Our puppies are given NuVet Plus  from day 1. Their mothers are taking the tablet all through their pregnancy and nursing period. From there your puppy gets one tablet a day while in our care. NuVet Plus cold pressed and is made with all human grade ingredients. Some of the benefits includes, boosting the immune system, improving cardiac health, improving eye health, etc. Once your puppy is 1 1/2 it would be wize to switch him/her to the NuVet Joint formula. NuJoint has Glucosamine as one of the main ingredients. Glucosamine prevents joint damage, eases joint pain, and even helps to repair any joint damage.

 

You can order NuVet Plus and NuJoint directly under me at the below Button.

 

 

 

 

I don't live in a big house with a lot of yard... is this ok?

 

As long as you have stable living (such as owning your home)  it is perfectly fine to have a Dane. Great Danes are approved for apartment living through AKC because they are typically low energy. You do however need to make sure to take your dog walking or to the dog park regularly to help get out any energy he/she may have.

 

I want to adopt one of your puppies as a gift for a loved one. Will you be ok with that?

 

Yes and No. If you are gifting a family member that you live with like your child or spouse that is fine. You do need to keep in mind that you have signed our contract, so ultimately the puppy is your responsibilty. If you are gifting your puppy to a friend than I will need to have a phone interview with that person and he/she must sign a contract also.

 

Are Great Danes good guard dogs?

 

Once again the answer to this is both yes and no. The answer strongly depends on what you mean by guard dog. If you want a Dane to train to attack those who may be trespassing than no. Danes are not an aggressive breed and would not be likely to attack a person to protect property. This is also a no because I would never approve of someone training one of my Danes to be aggressive. However, Danes are great watch dogs and family protectors. Your Dane will not hesitate to protect you and will fight to the death if he/she feels that you are in danger. It is perfectly fine to let your Dane scower the yard in search of intruders to alert you on. If there are intruders on your property I assure you that you Dane will tell you about it. Your Dane must be an inside family member and not an intimidating lawn ornimate.

 

 

What happens if an unfortunate event causes me to need to rehome my Dane?

 

 We understand that not every event in life can be foreseen. Sometimes things happen and people can no longer afford to keep their dogs. Our contract states that if rehoming is necessary we have the first right of refusal. Your Dane must be returned to us or we must approve of his/her new home. The new owner will be required to sign the same contract that you signed.

 

I work a lot and have no family to come home to at the end of the day. Should I get a Dane?

 

 

If you are single with a regular 9 to 5 job than owning a dane should be just fine for you. However, If you are someone who works all the time and just needs something to come home to at night than the answer is no. Danes need their people around regularly. If your Dane gets lonely he/she will likely develope seperation anxiety and begin to act out in order to alleviate their feelings. If you can not give your Dane the attention that it needs than please get a cat.

 

 

How do I groom my Dane properly?

 

The Dane is a short-haired breed, and therefore requires little in the way of coat care. Most do well with weekly brushing (more often during periods of heavy shedding), and bathing as needed. The Dane also requires ear cleaning, dental care, and toenail trimming like any other breed.

 

Why should I not adopt from a pet store?

 

1. Bad Health: Because so many pet store puppies come from puppy mills, they are not the result of careful breeding and they are usually not well cared for before coming to the store.

2. No Socialization: Pet stores pups are often pulled away from their litter at far too young an age, often at only four or five weeks. The earliest a puppy should be separated from his pack is eight weeks. This lack of time socializing with his mother and siblings means that puppy will not develop important canine skills. Likewise, a puppy who has not been handled by people from about three weeks will not naturally socialize well with them.

3. Lack of Information: A member of a pet store staff is not an expert on a breed and often not on dogs in general. Purchasing a puppy from a store means you will not get the lowdown on that breed or likely help with any behavioral or other questions.

4. Return at Your Puppy's Peril: Most pet stores do offer a warranty of sorts where you can bring the puppy back if he has problems. They don't tend to tell customers that the puppy's fate, once returned, it is usually euthanization.

5. Housebreaking is a Chore: Pet store puppies have spent all their short lives in cages. They do not have the opportunity to develop the natural canine instinct of going potty away from their food and bed. This causes problems when you try to housebreak them.

6. Poor Value: A puppy from a pet store generally costs between $1000 and $3,000. This is often more than you'd pay at a reputable breeder who can ensure you get a healthy puppy and provide support afterward.

7. Moral reasons: Adopting a puppy from a store means that you will be supporting a puppy mill. Puppy mills have their dogs in cages their entire lives. Most of them are bred every heat until death. Most importantly they never get to experience the love of a family

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