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So, You Think You Want to Breed Great Danes?
by Tammy Kinkade

Breeding is NEVER something to be entered into lightly. Nor is it common for most reputable breeders to simply breed their own two dogs together.

Is "Duke" a good match, in type, in conformation, in temperament? Will this breeding bring out good things in the puppies - good qualities that both "Duke" and "Annie" can pass on to the puppies? Things such as exceptional structure as compared to the standard; exceptional temperament - both with NO temperamental issues.
Will the outcome produce puppies of BETTER quality than the two dogs who are bred together? Do you know their lines? Are there genetic anomalies or diseases within those lines that might cause health problems in the offspring? Are there temperamental predispositions that might cause puppies to be aggressive, fearful - giving them a death sentence before they ever even grow up?

There are reasons to breed... to produce BETTER quality dogs. Just because you happen to own two Great Danes of the opposite sex is NOT one of the right reasons.

Do you have homes lined up for 10 or more puppies? Dane litters tend to be quite large. Do you have enough potential puppy buyers to be able to place all of the puppies that "Annie" might produce?
What if she has 15 puppies and you can't find homes for all of them? Are you prepared to feed, vet and otherwise housebreak and care for 10 puppies until they have homes? Can you afford to feed 10 growing puppies until they're 6 months? 8 months? 10 months old?

What if something happens during "Annie's" pregnancy? What if she has to have them C-section? Do you have a vet competent in reproductive care? Can you afford the expense of this type of surgery on a giant breed dog - you'll be looking at $1,500 minimum and probably closer to $3,000? And will you then be prepared to nurse those puppies that survive, BY HAND, every 2 hours round the clock, while mom tries to recover from the surgery?

Breeding is MUCH more than just throwing two dogs together to see what happens. You are bringing living, breathing beings into the world. You are responsible for their care and their well being... and a reputable breeder will take on that responsibility for the pups' entire lives.
Do you have a contract for puppy buyers? How will you screen potential puppy buyers to KNOW that your puppies are going to GOOD homes? Sending puppies home with anyone who has cash in hand is how many, many young dogs end up in shelters, only to die there because large dogs are more difficult to adopt out.
Will you give any health guarantees? A reputable and responsible breeder will stand behind the puppies they produce, offering a health guarantee based on the health screenings they've done on the dogs that were bred.
Will you give discounts to puppy buyers who train their dogs in obedience? Many breeders do. Obedience training is a safeguard for making your dogs compatible in all situations. It builds trust between owner and dog, and teaches them the manners they need to survive in the home.
Will you mentor your puppy buyers and be willing to answer questions, day or night, throughout the lifetime of those puppies? If you have placed your puppies in good homes, with thoughtful owners who care about the well-being of their dogs, then you can and will keep in contact with puppy buyers throughout the lifetime of each and every puppy you produce. New owners will send you updated puppy pictures, and you can be there to answer health and behavior questions, offer congratulations on little accomplishments, and otherwise keep track of how your puppies are doing. This is also important for those wishing to start a breeding program - you can track health issues, longevity, and much more, so that you can make more informed decisions for the future.
Will you take a puppy back if an owner decides they don't want it/can't keep it/can't afford it? Even if it's 2 years (or 10 years) down the line? A reputable breeder would, and does. And is expected to.

What if...

What if you breed this litter and manage to find homes for all of the puppies. A year from now, one of them develops some sort of genetically inherited disease such as hip displaysia. You've put in your contract that you will replace a puppy who contracts a genetic disease - (were you smart enough to have your own bitch and dog OFA'd to see if they have signs of HD?) but the owners have had the pup for a year now and are deeply attached
and don't want to return it.
What if they ask you for help in paying for the thousands of dollars of surgery it will take to help this dog? They might. Do you risk losing the relationship with the owners over money? Or do you do the right thing and help them care for the dog that you produced?

Do you know that there are thousands of Great Danes in rescue at this very moment? Dogs who were bred and sold with no thought as to who they went to, what happened to them after they left their breeder's home. And then are dumped at their owners' whims for reasons that just make you sick. Dumped
alongside country roads where they've been hit by cars and are extremely injured and need thousands of $$ of medical care just to save the badly broken leg that they've been dragging for weeks while they've been out along that country road foraging for food on 3 legs... (yes, this actually happened)

Do you know that of the Danes in rescue, a vast majority of them come from families who decide to breed a litter just to be able to? I have 2 dogs in my own home who came from that type of situation. One was destined for the animal shelter if we didn't take him. The other actually came from the shelter. Both were just 8 weeks old when their "families" decided their time was up. It certainly was through no fault of their own. But at 8 weeks, they certainly couldn't care for themselves.

We humans, as a race, domesticated dogs. We are responsible for their care and well being. Period. It's just like having a child... if you bring it into the world, that life is your responsibility, no matter WHO you sell that puppy to.

Can you accept that responsibility?

If not, then you've learned a valuable lesson early. It means you won't be one of the "backyard breeders" who contribute to the many dogs who end up in shelters - all forgotten and swept aside because someone thought it would be cute to have a litter of puppies.