Torture Breeding - A Serious Issue in Great Danes

Health? Who even asks about that?

People rarely question whether dogs should get pregnant with each other when they're in love... or whether they're healthy without any doubt, for generations. OK, that's an unashamed statement. Let's talk about it!

What is Torture Breeding (Qualzucht)?

Torture breeding, known in German as "Qualzucht," refers to breeding practices that prioritize extreme physical characteristics over the health and welfare of the animal. In Great Danes, this can manifest in several concerning ways:

Common Issues in Great Danes:

Extreme Size: While Great Danes are naturally large dogs, breeding for excessive height and weight can lead to:

• Shortened lifespans (often only 6-8 years)
• Severe joint problems and arthritis
• Heart issues, particularly dilated cardiomyopathy
• Increased risk of bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)

Color-Related Health Problems:

• Harlequin and Merle breeding: The merle gene, when bred irresponsibly, can cause deafness, blindness, and other sensory issues
• Double merle (white Danes): Often suffer from severe hearing and vision impairments
• Blue Danes: May experience Color Dilution Alopecia, causing hair loss and skin problems

Structural Problems:

• Excessively long backs leading to spinal issues
• Poor angulation causing movement problems
• Weak pasterns and poor feet structure

Responsible Breeding Matters

Ethical Great Dane breeders prioritize:

• Health testing: Hip and elbow x-rays, cardiac evaluations, thyroid testing
• Temperament: Breeding dogs with stable, confident personalities
• Genetic diversity: Avoiding excessive inbreeding
• Quality of life: Choosing breeding pairs that will produce healthy puppies who can live active, comfortable lives

What You Can Do

If you're considering a Great Dane:

1. Ask breeders about health testing - responsible breeders will be happy to share results
2. Meet the parents - see their temperament and physical condition
3. Avoid extremes - extremely large, extremely small, or unusually colored dogs may have hidden health issues
4. Consider adoption - many wonderful Great Danes need homes

The Bottom Line

Loving Great Danes means wanting them to live long, healthy, happy lives. When we prioritize appearance over health, we're not doing these gentle giants any favors. Every puppy deserves to be bred with their wellbeing as the top priority.

Let's talk openly about responsible breeding and make choices that put the dogs first.