Whenever you choose a breed it is a good idea to study the racial related diseases that are common within the different breeds. There is no breed that doesn't have a “typical” disease and it is thus important that you, as a buyer, know what to be cautious about and prepared for.

 

The Great Dane isn't a breed with typical issues concerning hip dysplasia (Luxatio Coxae Congenita), however, since it is quite a big and heavy dog it can be beneficial to know the status of its parents and other family. It is equally pleasant to know the status for your dog even if you decide not to breed them. If you wish to be active with your dog, either through agility or bicycling, it is a sound idea to know your dog's condition, to make sure whether or not it's up for the task in the long run.

If the dog is photographed when it's 18 to 24 months of age, you'll have a chance of knowing about a  potential loose hip for example, and avoid using this particular dog for breeding, if you had planned to do so.

 

Research conducted in recent years indicates that there are more observations of elbow dysplasia than hip dysplasia. It is important to note that nutrition, exercise and climbing the stairs are important factors. An otherwise healthy dog can develop elbow and hip dysplasia due inexpedient exercise.

 

Dog stomach contortion is a problem when it comes to Great Danes, or rather, is it something you ought to consider and gather information about from your breeder, when you pick up your puppy. It is most often the case with male dogs, especially the younger ones. It is usually seen in stressful situations, situations where there isn't quite enough focus on nutrition and exercise and sometimes it just occurs without warning. It isn't a matter of inheritance; however, it cannot be denied that there is a connection in some cases. It is always important to ensure that the dog remains calm before and after it is fed. Make sure it is fed quietly, preferably alone, thus avoiding an “eating contest” with the neighbors. The dog should be fed over the course of the entire day, making sure that the amounts are not too big. It has been advised for many years that dogs should be fed using a stand in order to avoid the dog lowering the head to the floor. However, later research concluded that feeding the dog using a stand, results in a higher tempo in which the food is consumed. In that way, more air is forced down the stomach and the probability of a stomach contortion becomes higher. Therefore, it is now recommended that the fodder is placed on the floor and should you have an eager dog when it comes to food, the fodder can be spread over the kitchen floor or the lawn.

 

Wobbler is a disease which is seen in relatively few races. Great Danes are one of them but it should be noted that cases of this disease are extremely rare. The condition can rarely be treated with a happy ending and thus surgery is rarely used. You can read more about the disease here.

 

The most notorious problem with the breed is enlarged heart and vein constriction. For many years, there has been suspicion of certain lines in the breed carrying the disease. Despite this, the dogs are rarely tested for this disease since there is still a considerable cost involved with such a procedure. One thing you can do as a buyer, is to take a look at the pedigree; if there are a lot of dogs that haven't reached a high age (the average of the breed is approx. 7 years) it is advised that you are cautious about this and ask the right questions regarding this particular issue. If you are out searching for a puppy, an ideal question would be how old the puppy's grandparents are, or were, depending on the situation.

 

The mental health is equally important. A Great Dane is a sensitive dog in a large body. Granted, this is not a breed for everyone. It doesn't always have static nerves and is often sensitive to sounds. At the moment, the breeders club are working on a "wish-profile". This will be a usefull tool for Great Dane-owners, who would like to know more about their dogs mental health. A wish-profile is a description of how you wish your dog to react in certain situations. The wish-profile is different from breed to breed and there is no desire to train all breeds to react like a Labrador. It is, however, a tool to assess if the individual dog it suited for breeding and determine if it requires attention in a certain situations, ensuring that both dog and owner will have an easier and more harmonic day to day life.

 

When in pursuit of the right puppy it is advised to consider the color. The temper can vary from the black/harlekin variant to the fawn/brindle. Generally, it is said that the fawn/brindle is calmer than the black/harlekin.

 

A Great Dane is not a utility dog that lives to serve its master. It is a social dog. This doesn't mean, however, that is unable to be trained, the progress just takes a bit longer. It is developed at a slower pace, both physically and mentally and therefore patience is of great importance in ensuring a good relationship. I usually say, that if you just ask your Great Dane kindly, it will obey... sooner or later.