Top 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

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

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.

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.

For everyone who is looking for a bed, I don't have a link for this specific one but my girl uses the "jumbo" size of this one and it's held up pretty well! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JAY0P1K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This Blue West Paw Design- Zogoflex has lasted nearly a year in our house with a grumpy Great Dane learning to play fetch.

It happens. I woke up one morning, woke him up, got out of bed and turned around to watch him start peeing. He knew better. Only thing I've found is my Dane needs consistent reinforcement of training. They are smart enough to try and do whatever they want.

Also this cover kept my memory foam mattress 100% dry. Doesn't make any noise either.

I hear lots of good about coconut oil but haven't personally tried it.

my kiddo is also 140lb gets 2 zyrtec every morning and 2 of these:
allerg-3 caps which I get from my vet and which are formulated for dogs. they also come in a pump version. I can definitely tell a change in his coat if he's off of them for a few days.
(chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine all did little/nothing for him but I have not tried loratadine. he does ok on the cetirizine.)

also, bathing helps so much! invest in some medicated or hypoallergenic shampoo from your vet, and resicort if they have it.

my kiddo is prone to staph dermatitis secondary to his allergies. he gets malaseb baths once to twice weekly and I use resicort diluted 1:1 with water 2 to 3 times a week when he gets really bad.

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

Costco has been selling some large sized dog beds for ~$25. They're not quite large enough for my dog to stretch out on, but he normally curls up anyway, so it works fine. Otherwise, PetSmart sells some XL foam beds for about $100.

EDIT: I once got this bed: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G2V9GK and it worked pretty well, too. Unfortunately, the dog peed on it... :-(

I used large stainless steel mixing bowls because the shape was much more open and the rounded sides keeps the food in the center.https://www.amazon.com/Update-International-MB-1300-Stainless-Mixing/dp/B004UNE7CA

Danes are quirk-o-matic and learning about them is a treat. But a lot of times they are just trying to cope with a world that doesn't always fit their stature.

I think I have that same bed bookmarked right now! Is this it? I'm willing to drop up to $100 on a good bed for him, and this one looks right up his alley, but I thought I'd ask about mattresses first since I always hear about them.

just check amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Go-Pet-Club-Crate-42-Inch/dp/B001COTL3K/ref=sr_1_9?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1404612512&sr=1-9&keywords=dog+crate

http://www.amazon.com/Fuji-Industries-DFJ29150-Animal-42-Inch/dp/B008A160R8/ref=sr_1_16?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1404612512&sr=1-16&keywords=dog+crate

those two have the same dimensions as the expensive ones

this ones a 48" but its really expensive and still not very tall
http://www.amazon.com/GoGo-X-Large-Soft-Crate-32-25/dp/B001D14Q1E/ref=sr_1_26?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1404612538&sr=1-26&keywords=dog+crate

What I have found is getting a body harness and a seat belt strap (for example.)

Just make sure that it is a very heavy duty strap. You might have to buy two harnesses for your dane, but just one seat belt strap.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JAY0P1K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have a shoe tray for this

Mibao Boot & Shoe Tray, 15 x 30 x 1.25 inches Multi-Purpose All Weather Water Resistant Plastic Boot Tray, Utility Shoe Mat for Indoor and Outdoor, Pack of 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PTPNGP5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GoXxDb4KH0GSJ