Have you ever wondered why over 30% of dogs in shelters are purebreds? Most animal behavior specialists and animal advocates blame puppy bills and commercialized breeders for this negligence. In order to become a responsible Great Dane breeder, there are certain responsibilities that you must accept. These responsibilities will protect your Great Danes and his/her puppies, as well as identify you as a reputable breeder.
Excellent Great Dane Dog Breeders DO :
- Carefully screen each person and their household who wish to purchase a puppy.
- Advise and suggest different methods of caring for the Great Dane puppy in every aspect, including: diet, exercise, documentation of lineage, health, knowledge of genetics, any history of illness (genetic or non-genetic).
- Not sell their Great Dane puppies in a pet shop or pet-auction
- Do not sell multiple breeds of dogs. If you are a Great Dane breeder, stick to Great Danes.
- Involve themselves in the showing of purebred Great Danes and are very knowledgeable about the breed.
- Keep the puppies as house pets until they are ready for their homes. This ensures that your Great Dane's offspring will make wonderful pets too.
- Test dogs for all diseases and proper examination prior to breeding, such as: Brucellosis, CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation), OFA (Hip X-Ray Certification), PENN-HIP (hip-joint laxity).
- Provide full, lifetime guarantees covering genetic disease and temperament problems. This should be a written contract.
- Agree to take the
Great Dane
back at any point of his life for whatever reason, should the new owner not wish to keep it.
- Place the Great Dane with the new family ONLY if the new owners agree to spay/neuter.
- Only breed Great Danes over the age of two years old.
- Hold the value of your dog's (and its puppies) health to highest esteem.
- De-worm and vaccinate your Great Dane puppies prior to placing them.
Excellent Great Dane Dog Breeders NEVER:
- Take a great Dane pup from it's mother prior to eight weeks of age.
- Breed puppies in a puppy-mill atmosphere.
- Sell their Great Dane puppies to the local pet shop.
- Hide or withdraw information on genetic diseases or the Great Dane's lineage.
- Keep their puppies in inhumane conditions, such as an outdoor shed or a room covered in feces.
- Put unnecessary stress on their puppies, such as transporting them to different locations outside of their home.
- Pick a Great Dane at random to breed their bitch with
- Allow their bitches to breed every year
- Decline on accepting their puppies back, should the new owner not be able to care for them
- Breed their Great Dane prior to two years of age
- Let their Great Dane run the neighborhood
- Sell faux purebred Great Danes (which are crossed with God knows what)
Find More Breeding Great Danes Articles
