Great Danes are low maintenance on the grooming front because they boast short and close coats. However, a weekly brush is essential to keep things tidy and to remove any dead or shed hair. Like other breeds, they tend to shed more during the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent brushing may be necessary to keep on top of things.
Great Danes boast having a ton of energy which they need to expend and this means they have to be given a minimum of 2 hours exercise every day. They also need to have lots of space to move around due to their very large size and ideally, they should be allowed to run around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam, but only if the garden has very secure fencing.
With this said, puppies only need to be given a small amount of daily exercise because their joints and bones are still developing. Putting too much pressure on their joints could see dogs developing painful joint problems later on in their lives.
If you get a Great Dane puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
Because Great Danes are prone to suffering from bloat, it's really important not to feed them just before they go out for walk or when they just get back from one. Feeding a dog before any strenuous exercise or when they have just come back from a walk, puts them at great risk of suffering from bloat which can prove fatal. It’s also a good idea to invest in a stand for their feed bowls so they don’t have to lower their heads when they eat which makes it easier for them to reach their food.
