Great Dane puppies
You are looking for a puppy? I have none to offer. And honestly, I have at least a hundred ideas why it should not be a puppy.
Puppies are cute. Yes. From my point of view, that might be the only real argument in their favour – and it does not last very long.
A few uncomfortable truths about Great Dane puppies:
- Puppies need lots of rest, not constant entertainment.
- Puppies must not walk stairs if you care about their joints.
- Puppies cannot walk nicely on a lead yet.
- Puppies are not house‑trained, they need to go out at night as well.
- At first, a puppy cannot be left alone.
- The time investment is huge: 24/7 supervision, hardly any planning, very little spontaneous freedom.
- Many people experience “puppy blues”: doubt, feeling overwhelmed, frustration.
- More dirt, hair, puddles and little piles in your home.
- Holidays and finding someone to look after the dog are much harder, because puppies are demanding.
- It is a long‑term commitment over many years – your life plans need to fit that.* Great Danes grow extremely fast; finding the right balance between movement and protection is stressful.
- Joints and bones are very fragile; mistakes (stairs, sport, over‑exercise) can cause serious damage.
- This is not a beginner’s breed: calm, clear and very consistent guidance is essential.
- The final size is often underestimated: already as adolescents they can be 60 kilos or more.
- Giant dogs need giant space – in your flat, your car and in everyday life (restaurants, visits, holidays).
- Food, equipment and vet bills are far above average due to size and breed‑typical issues.
- Life expectancy is shorter than in many other breeds, which limits your time together.
- Lots of drool and hair, plus a wagging tail exactly at table and shelf height.
- Collectors will regret their collection – unless they collect tractors. No healthy puppy does not chew.
- In small homes the risk of injuries for the dog (tail, joints) and for your furniture is high.* Puppies are sensitive – physically and emotionally.
- Puppies do not have grandparents. They only have you.
- Puppies need their “kindergarten”: education, puppy classes, safe social contacts.* Puppies must not be taken away from their mother too early.
- Their young teeth will test everything: furniture, shoes and sometimes even the car or smartphone.
- Raising a puppy the wrong way is much easier than raising it well.
- Within a few months, the cute baby turns into a very exhausting teenager. And the purchase price is very high – and only the beginning of the costs
Kosten:
A Great Dane puppy quickly becomes too heavy to be handled “on the side” – physically and in terms of organisation. Do not underestimate what it means to have an animal with you 24 hours a day that cannot stay alone, does not know what working hours are and has never heard of holidays.
The puppy phase is very short; the adult giant will stay for many years. You need to really want the dog, not just the baby look. From rescue work I have learned: people who are new to a breed usually make more mistakes with a puppy than with a senior dog. Puppies are cute – until the designer sofa has a hole, the inherited Persian rug has a stain and the new smartphone has been chewed.
If your everyday life, your health or your finances are already at the limit without a dog, a Great Dane puppy will make all of that much harder. Vaccinations are just a small part of the costs – and even they are not cheap. Great Dane puppies must not be overworked, neither physically nor mentally. If “the little one” learns to use his teeth once and it works, you may have many years of trouble with a dog that is physically almost impossible to correct.
Maybe an adult Dane?
If all of this sounds like a lot – you are right. But that does not mean a Great Dane cannot fit into your life.
An adult or older Dane can be a much better match than a puppy: calmer, more predictable, often already house‑trained and past the wild chewing and chaos stage. You still take on responsibility, but you skip the most fragile and demanding months.
If you are open to giving a home to a Great Dane that is no longer wanted by others, you might find exactly the dog you were looking for all along.