Keep Your Dog On A Leash

Too often when I take my dogs out for a walk there are far too many dogs that we encounter that are off leash. Having a Great Dane and a Jug (Jack Russell/Pug) there is a bit of a size difference between the two. When we encounter dogs off leash and they want to come meet my dogs who are on leashes it makes for a very tangled encounter. My Great Dane has also been attacked by many off leash dogs while walking on our very beautiful town trails that are just a minute away from our home. I have since had to stop walking Him on those trails. We have been forced to the busy city side walks. But even there we are not even safe there from "at large dogs." I have to say that I completely understand where some people are coming from when they let their dogs off leash because the are well behaved and stay with them. Growing up on a farm in the country I remember myself taking family walks and our big muts that we had would walk leash free by our sides. I have to point out the huge difference between doing that in a country environment and the busy city. In the country there is less commotion and less chance of encountering others when walking. How ever in the city you encounter others every few feet it seems. When walking your dog you should always have them leashed for two main reasons, to protect others and to protect your dog.


There is a time and a place for your dog to be off leash. At a dog park, and in the safety of your back yard. When you take your dog off leash while walking on the sidewalks or even other heavily populated trails you are putting your dog at the most risk of danger. When your dog is off leash you have very little control of what your dog will/can do and what can get to them. The main reason I use a leash is to protect my dog. I know my dog is very friendly with others, however I NEVER know what someone's dog is capable of. Too many times I have been walking my dog and a dog off leash will rush away from the control of their owner and approach my dog. Several times they have come right to attack and I can only control my dog. I walk my Great Dane with a halti, so He has been rendered helpless through many attacks. The owners are "dumb stricken" when they finally are able to catch up that their dog reacted that way. I have heard it MANY times. They will immediately leash their dog, however a day later we will encounter the same dog and owner walking without being leashed. People need to understand that dogs are, at the end of the day capable of many things you would never imagine your dog doing. Many people put their dog on a leash because they are not friendly and will have off leash dogs approach them, putting that owner in a horrible position. And that owner was doing the right thing and keeping their dog leashed.


Often many times a dog will see a critter across the street or another dog and could very well run across the street and get hit by a car or cause an accident. No one wants the death of someone's beloved dog on their conscience. No other dog owner wants their dog to hurt another dog. But when you do not leash your dog you are putting so many others at risk of being hurt. It doesnt matter the size or breed of your dog, you should always have them leashed when not in the safety of your home/backyard.  


When you bring a dog into your family it is your responsibility to care for them and make sure nothing bad happens to them. Keeping them leashed while away from the security of your home will ensure a safer environment for your dog. If you want to take them out and have a leash free experience, try the dog park. But always remember that even at a dog park where there are many other off leash dogs, there can be problems. By knowing how to read the environment that the current dogs that are there are portraying you can safely make the decision if that pack is a good match for your dog. Keep your dog leashed so that you can keep your dog and every other dog safe.

The Best Toy Ever!

A few weeks ago I took my Great Dane to our local Pet Smart to get His nails cute. We usually get them done at the vets but it was a Sunday and I missed the vet. We had gone once before and they were really great with Hugo so I happily went back. Every time Hugo gets His nails done, He always gets to pick out a new treat, bone or toy after. This visit to pet smart He got to pick out a new toy. He loves squeaky toys and loves to fetch. He spotted the "Squeezz Stick" I instantly knew He wanted that toy. Its made of a thick rubber and has two layers. It squeaks when you squeeze it as well. The rubber is very slippery when it gets wet from the drool so when Hugo tries to chew it, His teeth slip right off it without puncturing the rubber.  My parents have an old Jack Russell named Pepper. He is at an age now where he suffers from arthritis, but has always loved to fetch. We always told people once you throw the ball for Pepper once, you would have to do it all day. He Loved it. The past 3 months Pepper has lost a lot of his spunk especially. My Dad loves this dog with all His heart and I can see the pain in Him when He talks of Pepper not fetching like He used to. Our recent visit to my parents house we brought Hugo (My Mom has Hugo's Mom so they get to see a lot of each other.) We brought Hugo's new favorite toy with us. Pepper ended up loving this toy. My Dad would throw it and Pepper would fetch it every time and squeak it the whole way back, happy as could be. My Dad told me He hadnt been so excited about a toy in a while. Soo I ended up leaving it there for Pepper to enjoy. I figure if that toy can bring Pepper soo much joy in the last of playful days, He should have it. Pepper has always ripped apart every toy we got Him and my parents warned me He would make quick work of it. As we sat there in the yard Pepper lay down to chew it up and to their surprise He couldnt. I am so happy that Hugo found that toy. I know that toy will bring Pepper more happy days :)


Thank You Kong


Oakville Great Danes


To See More On The Kong "Squeezz Stick"        Click Here 

Bringing Home Puppy

When bringing home your new puppy you will want to make sure that you prepare a few things in advance to ensure a relaxing transition to your home. For the past 6-8 weeks of your pups life there probably has not been too much change that your puppy will have experienced environment wise.  Your puppy is used to the sames smells everyday, a familiar bed and their siblings and mother. When you bring your puppy home there will be many different smells, objects, other pets and people. This can all be very overwhelming and if not properly introduced, can have long lasting bad habits and behavioral problems.

One thing that you will want to think about is asking your breeder in advance what type of food they are feeding your puppy. You will want to get some for when you bring your puppy home. While house training your puppy, they will likely have accidents a few times before being completely house trained. Having said that you will not want to change your puppies food until you are confident that your puppy will not have any more accidents. When you change your puppies food, your puppies stomach will take some time to adjust to the new food. Your puppy will have the runs for about 2-3 days after switching over to a new food. By switching their food properly you can make a comfortable switch for your puppy. When changing your puppies food, you want to gradually add in small portions of your new choice of food into your puppies regular/familiar food. By doing that, the impact on your puppies stomach will be easier for your puppy meaning less "runs" for your pup. So knowing what your breeder is currently feeding your pup to prepare for a comfortable transition to your home is best.

Your puppy will be very familiar to the smells that they grew up with. Try and remember to bring a blanket and a toy with you when you pick up your puppy. Let your puppy play with their new toy with his/her siblings. This will allow you to bring familiar smells home with you. By bringing a new blanket with you, you can also hold your puppies siblings, so you can take familiar smells home to your puppies new bed. This makes the first night of crate training more comfortable for your puppy. Your puppy will be able to smell their siblings making them more relaxed. If you do plan on crate training your puppy from night one and you cant take a blanket with you, simply take the blanket you will provide your puppy and rub it on your clothes. Giving your puppy the sent of their new pack leader will also make them more comfortable their first night away from mom. Your puppy will also more than likely have been kept in a crate or a whelping box up until coming to their new forever home. By having a crate ready it allows your puppy to feel safe and secure. It will allow your puppy to establish that this new crate is their new bed and where their relaxing area will be.

You may also want to consider puppy proofing your home. Before you leave to pick up your puppy, stop and take a look around your home. Try even getting on your hands and knees and taking a look at every room from that angle, your puppy will be seeing everything at that height. Look for anything that would entice a new puppy to play or chew. By removing cords from the floor and making sure nothing is hanging over anything that your puppy may want to pull will help prevent any accidents and chewing. Try and think of the most puppy safe room in your home. If you do not plan on crate training your puppy while you are gone out of the house, you may want to limit your puppy to one room. Finding the room with the least puppy hazards will ensure a good safe training area for your puppy. You may want to restrict them to a room with little carpeting, most people use the laundry room or the kitchen. Make sure your cupboards are securely closed and can not be opened by your puppy, they are very curious and will get into them if not properly secured. By making sure anything that your puppy can chew is off the floor and out of reach will be key to keeping your possessions and your puppy safe. There are many stories of puppies eating blankets, coins, garbage, sewing needles, toys etc. causing the puppy a trip to the vet. To avoid unnecessary trips to the vet, make sure there is nothing lying around that your puppy could ingest and harm them.

There are many things that you need to think about and prepare for when bringing home your puppy. You want to ensure that the home you are bringing your puppy home to is safe. You will want to make sure you have a crate set up or a sleeping area made for the first night. Crates are ideal because it gives your puppy a sense of security and a space of their own. You will also want to have some of your breeders puppy food on hand for when your puppy comes home. If you plan on feeding him\her something different, get a small bag of your puppies current food and slowly mix in your puppies new food. Most breeders will give you a small bag of the food to hold you over a day or so. Do not be afraid to ask. Having some objects on hand when picking up your puppy, such as a blanket or toys to hold some familiar smells for their new home. Puppies are very delicate to change, so making it as comfortable for your puppy as possible will help set the pace for a well balanced dog.

Bringing Home Hugo (Night One)

You will notice the blue blanket. This is the blanket that we brought with us when we picked him up. The Jug in the photos is our other dog Bella. We got Hugo for Bella. She had no one to play with and thought they would be great together. Well from the moment we brought him home they have been best friends and play amazingly together.

To see more of Hugo and more blogs on helpful tips and advice    Click Here

The Importance Of Being An Assertive Pack Leader

Dogs are pack animals, they need to have an established Pack Leader. By being an assertive leader role to your puppy from day one you will ensure a healthy relationship with your dog. There are many dogs out there with behavior problems that affect the relationship that many have with their dogs. Many people will too often get tired or angered by their dogs behavior and "opt out" of the relationship. The responsibility of bringing a dog into your family should never be taken lightly. Anyone who is thinking about bringing a dog into their home should always think very responsibly about the leader they are/can be and apply that to a dog that will suit that aspect of your personality. Too often people will bring a dog home purely on how the dog looks or experiences they have had with other people's dogs. With every breed brings a different level of intensity and leadership needed to maintain a well balanced dog. 


You hear many horror stories in the news of "good dogs" gone "bad". You may even know a few dogs that are misbehaved, over excited and out of control. To achieve a well balanced and respectful dog you must be the leader in the relationship. If you do not portray that, it will be easy for your dog to quickly become "out of control." Right from day one you need to let your puppy know who is the boss. You must be consistent and always remember, even though they are cute as a button they are a dog. You must remember to treat them as such. This does not go to say that they are not a part of the family, because they are. However, dogs do the best when they are given boundaries and limitations. My Great Dane does very well at home with me. But when I take him to my Mom's house (She has His Mom, Asia and raised Hugo until he was 3 months) He quickly turns into a slightly different dog. My Mom does not give any boundaries, He is aloud on the furniture (not at home here though), treats when ever He pleases, and just in general acts like an idiotic child. At 140 pounds, (to me) its unacceptable. He will listen to what ever I tell Him, but ignores any corrections from my Mom. She watches Him on a semi-regular basis and He always acts up when I go to pick Him up, but remembers quick who is boss when I get there. And becomes my well behaved Hugo once more. 


Many people will get a breed they know little about. Some will choose that breed because they saw it on TV, thinks its a really cute dog, or has known someone with that dog and has had great experiences with that dog. Most people do not realize the work that goes into maintaining a well behaved well rounded dog. Too many people will not research the breed itself before making the decision. For some, being a leader comes easily. For others, they are more of the "nurturing, nondisciplinary" type of leader. There is a breed for each type. But when someone who is very "soft," getting a "stronger willed" dog can prove disastrous. In those cases, many animals are put down or re-homed. Re-homing (in my opinion) is one of the worst types of stress you can put on an animal. Getting the breed that suits your personality is the first step to success in finding a truly enjoyable and meaningful relationship with your dog. 


Some dogs will develop behavior problems when they feel that their owner is not the pack leader. Aggression problems and nervous tendencies and can prove very dangerous in the hands of an inexperienced/submissive owner. Most dogs who feel that their owner are not the "protector/leader" will take it upon themselves to fill that role. They will become very protective of you and aggressive to other people or animals. Once your dog has established that leader role, it can be very difficult to revert that role back to the owner. Letting your dog know that you are in charge and will protect THEM will allow them to submit to you fully as their leader. They look to their pack leader in every situation they encounter. They pick up on your anxiety levels and will react on them. If you truly do not feel in control, your dog will pick up on that and in a moment take charge themselves. Most times people will get a small dog and catch themselves in a false feeling that they are fragile little creatures that should not be disciplined. Those are the "yippy" little dogs we all know at least one. Even those dogs need structure and an assertive leader. 


Consider the characteristics of the breed you want. Some breeds being more intense and strong-willed then others will need an experienced assertive leader to achieve balance. In any case, every dog big or small needs a respectable leader figure to become a well rounded well behaved member of the family.  

The Perfect Season To Bring Home Puppy

Choosing when the perfect time to bring your new puppy home can also be very crucial to your puppies training development. Choosing the right season to bring a new puppy home can help many new dog owners to train your puppy. House training and walk training are very important things to actively enforce right from the night you bring them home. By bringing home your puppy in the colder months, house and walk training your puppy can occur much faster and with little training knowledge. 


Training your puppy that the house is no place to go to the bathroom is the first thing you should focus on. Starting a routine from the first night is crucial. Starting on an every half hour schedule is best. Your home will be very unfamiliar to your new puppy, and at 6-8 weeks their bladder is small and fills quickly. Taking your puppy out every half hour to 45 minutes for the first day will help your new puppy make the difference between outside (bathroom) and inside. In the colder months your puppy at 6-8 weeks will not like the cold very much and may still be getting used to low temperatures. When your puppy is exposed to the cold, they will naturally have to pee. The more times in a day you can take your new puppy out the easier it will be for your puppy to understand that he/she is to go to the bathroom outside and will be more willing to hold their bladder until they can get outside. Training your puppy to last through the night is also very important. By taking water away an hour before bedtime and taking your puppy out right before heading to bed, and crate training all take part in training your puppy to sleep through the night. Your puppy will wake up early in the morning, taking them out and going right back to bed if you like to sleep in will let them drain their bladders and learn they do not decide the time to wake up for the day.   


Training your puppy how to walk and stay with you (basic obedience) will help prevent accidents, unwanted interactions and uncomfortable tense walks with your (soon to be full grown) dog. When it is cold outside your puppy will naturally want to stay with you by your side. I grew up breeding dogs, and the one thing I noticed was the difference in time it took to train the puppies to come when called and walk training. In the warmer months when we had puppies, taking 6-8 puppies 4-9 weeks old outside to play by yourself can be very difficult. The puppies are quick to want to explore and check everything out. They often took twice as long to poop and pee as the puppies who were born in the cooler months. Taking 6-8 puppies 4-9 weeks old outside in the colder months seemed to be a breeze. They would all poop and pee right away and follow me around the property where ever I went sticking right with me. They have the instinct to stay with the pack leader when in threatening situations, and the cold to a 4-9 week old puppy can feel very threatening. By training your puppy proper walking in the cooler months will prove to be a benefit when the warmer months come and your puppy has already learned proper obedience. 


In conclusion, getting your puppy in late winter/early spring or mid fall/ early winter will help you to properly train your new puppy good obedience for the warmer months to follow. Your puppy will still be very much in the puppy stage when the warmer weather comes, and a puppy with established routines and obedience will make for a more balanced puppy. Do not wait to start establishing good obedience and proper bathroom routines, your puppy will be looking for a pack leader from the time they leave their mother (their pack leader their entire life.) By taking advantage of that opportunity and not mistaking it as a sad sorry puppy will help your puppy to establish that connection with you. 

**The photos added are of Hugo from 2 weeks to 20 Months***






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72a1HjKUI-k
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Is A Dane Right For You?

When thinking of adding a Great Dane to your family, there are some things to consider. The first and most obvious thing that comes to mind is size. The next thing that comes to mind is how much food will this dog eat? How much will I have to exercise my Dane? And how do they do as a family pet? There are many more things that would come to mind when thinking about bringing a Dane into your home, but these are just to mention a few. I have experience with raising two Dane puppies. One female (Asia) and one male (Hugo.) Asia  is the mother of Hugo. I have experience in breeding, our family have bred Jack Russells most of my life growing up, and Asia was our first time breeding Danes. After moving out of my parents home after finishing school, Asia had her first litter and I decided to bring one home. At that time I already had two Pugs (Jack Russell/Pugs.) One was almost twelve years old and the other was my newest pup, She was almost two years old. I really wanted a new pup for my youngest pug Bella. My oldest did not like to play, and Bella needed a play mate. There would be a great size difference, but I did not think the difference would be a problem. When I brought him home that night, I knew right away they would soon be the best of friends and the size would never matter.

There is no telling exactly how big your Dane will turn out to be. Some may be much taller, having very long thin legs. While some will have shorter legs, while being very thick and muscular. By being able to see both the mother and the father will allow you to better accurately judge the size/body shape your Dane may end up to be. Both of Hugo's parents were of a shorter leg and thick body stature. Now at two years old He is of average height and getting thicker. If both of your Dane's parents had a more longed legged stature, there is a good chance your Dane may have longer legs making them taller. Even at eight weeks, you can still get a good idea at what your Dane may turn out to be. When you go to look at a littler you may notice some that are taller or stockier then others. That will also give you a good idea of which ones will be taller/smaller at full grown. What I have noticed, is that your Dane will "grow into" their features. There feet, joints, ears and nose. You will notice that those features will appear very large in comparison their body. Danes tend to be very "easy going" in the home, so no matter their size they are usually very conscious of their space. They don't need big sleeping areas as they love to curl up in themselves to sleep. They love to cuddle and feel they are lap dogs. So if you plan on having them sleep with you, it will be as if having a full grown person sleeping in your bed with you. So being a dog that craves human interaction, cuddling can get quite heavy. 


The food you choose to feed your Dane is very important. What you feed your Dane will have a huge part in how your Dane grows. Remember to grow them slow, constant growth is the key to proper growth development. Your Dane will grow rapidly in the first nine months, and continue to grow steadily through to eighteen months. Your Dane should be lite and lean until they hit about two years old. Your Dane will start to hold more weight after the initial "puppy stage" when their metabolism slows down. Feeding your Dane a premium dog food with protein levels no higher than 24%, and fat levels 12% to 14%, is key to proper  growth development. You should never feed your Dane puppy food. The protein and fat levels are far too high for your Dane puppy. Feeding your Dane a Raw Diet. 


Great Danes are known to be "big lazy couch potatoes." Danes are known to be very laid back and easy going. That is not to say that they do not need to be walked and exercised on a daily basis. When you bring your puppy Dane home, it is important to build somewhat a steady walking schedule. It is great for helping in house training your Dane as well. You will need to exercise your Dane daily. They will more then likely have a fast run around the park three times or so, then be very tired, very quickly. Our Pug goes for about twenty minutes after Hugo has had enough. There energy goes in spurts more then a constant need for it like other breeds. However due to the size of your Dane, having a dog with pent up energy can become a problem. So in conclusion, daily walks between twenty to thirty minutes each will allow you to have a happy balanced Dane. 


Great Danes are well known for being a great family dog. They are very attached to their family. Socializing your Dane with people is key. Old people, young people, children, babies, men, woman and other animals. Due to their size, not having a well socialized Dane can be dangerous. Great Danes who are shy or weary of strangers can become very protective of their families. We have taken Hugo everywhere we can to get him out and used to being around new people and animals. We like most people have frequent guests come to our home, so having a dog that is not shy or weary of people makes all the difference. Danes are very personable dogs. They CRAVE human affection. They love to lean, cuddle or stand beside you all time to be close to you. They make awesome cuddle buddies for children. Our Dane Hugo loves children. We live across the road from a school and have a two year old nephew. We introduced Hugo to our nephew when he was four months old. I watched my nephew often so I needed to make sure I could trust Hugo with the baby in the house. From the moment I introduced them, they have been very close. My nephew has always found great comfort in Hugo, and Hugo has always wanted to nothing but watch over him when he is here. Even now that my nephew is running around, they still play very well together. Danes are very conscious of their size and do well in general with small children. 


There are many things to consider when bringing home puppy Dane. Make sure you do your research before making that commitment. They are not cheap to feed, and vet visits are not any cheaper. Because of their size, even yearly vaccinations can be quite costly. They are prone to health problems, so researching your potential Dane's bloodlines can give you an idea if any may arise. Socializing your Dane is a must for a well balanced dog. They are very soft dogs and need lots of affection and attention. They do not need extensive exercise, but consistent daily walks are a must. They are easy to train, but start early. For more information or advise please visit Hugo at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hugo/180521955297664

Choosing The Perfect Vehicle For Your Dane

Thinking of getting a Great Dane can be very intimidating. But the thought of what vehicle you will need to take your Dane to the vet, can be just as intimidating. When we made the decision to get a Dane we had a 1999 four door, Honda Civic. We did not put too much thought into the vehicle we would soon need to transport our rapidly growing Great Dane, Hugo. When we brought Him home, Hugo was already 4 months old and 45 pounds. He fit in our Civic very comfortably, until He hit 6 months. We were not expecting it to happen as fast as it had, but we needed to start looking quickly. We are avid believers in a well socialized dog, because of his size an un-socialized Hugo would not be an easy/pleasant walk.  Having said that, we take him to parks, camping, the beach and stores on a regular basis. If you are thinking of bringing your Dane with you on a day to day basis, the vehicle you choose will be very important.

We looked at many different types of vehicles. Always remember to bring your Dane with you when looking to accurately judge the space. Living in a town home with a shared driveway, we also had to think about our precious driveway space. Having a Honda Civic, we thought about the Honda CRV (keeping it in the Honda family) and being an SUV having lots of space for Hugo. Our neighbor had recently purchased a 2009 CRV and we asked if they would mind us taking a look at the space. When they folded all the seats down, we were shocked to see the lack of space it offered. Our next possibilities were in the Ford family. Growing up on a farm, we had many trucks/vans which were all Fords and we found reliable. We looked at the biggest Ford SUV's, the Expedition and the Explorer. Though both of them would fit Hugo at the biggest he would ever get, they were not great on gas and were both far too big to fit comfortably in our driveway. We thought next of the Ford Escape. You see them all over the roads everywhere you go (reliable) and is much better on gas. We looked at older models, but they were just a little bit too snug. Then found a 2010 Ford Escape with low kilometers, at a very reasonable price. When we went to look at it, I fell in love. The seats folded down effortlessly, and the roof was possibly 3 inches higher then the older models we looked at. He stood in the back with ample room around and above him. The back windows are child safe and only go down half way and He stands or sits comfortably with his head out the window. We have frequent back seat passengers so the folding seats make it a breeze to switch back and forth. I love the ride. Its comfortable, smooth and peppy.

     

Im sure there are many other vehicles that would fit a Dane comfortably. But I highly recommend taking a look at them if you are in the market. Its great on gas (for being a V6-SUV) in the city, highway driving or old country roads. Just remember when you are thinking of bringing a Great Dane into your lives, think of how you are going to have to transport them. They grow VERY fast. And remember to bring your Dane with you when you go looking. When looking at an SUV with all seats down, its easy to underestimate the room your Dane will have, especially if your Dane is not full grown. If you or anyone you know have looked or purchased a vehicle that you think is perfect for a Dane, I would love to know. We are now thinking of a new car/wagon, any ideas??