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FEEDING YOUR DANE  written by Georgia Hymmen..

edited by Renee Broden

Ask ten different breeders about what to feed your Dane-and you will get ten different answers! Feeding Danes, especially puppies, seems to be a highly individual matter. What works for one breeder may not work for another. However, you will find that breeders and vets familiar with the breed will agree on certain items.

Young puppies need to be fed about three to four times a day. As they become older, the number of meals can gradually be dropped to two times a day. Continue feeding twice a day for the rest of the Dane's life. Meal time should be at a set schedule, especially for puppies during the critical housebreaking stage. Danes should never be free fed (leaving food out at all times). Give the dog about 20 minutes to finish eating his meal. If he hasn't completed it by that time, remove it and do not offer any food (not even treats!) until the next meal. Young puppies, like kids, need to be taught proper eating habits. Danes can become very picky if you let them.

Danes should be fed "up" about chin or chest level, whichever works best for your dog. A specially built stand can be used, or even a chair. Some people use a dish holder set in eye bolts attached to the wall. For a puppy, a cardboard box can be used with a hole cut for the dish. Be sure to block the box with something solid so it doesn't move around when the puppy eats.

Feed dishes should be made of stainless steel. Durable and easy to clean, these dishes are not prone to developing small scratches like their plastic counterparts can. These scratches in the bottom of the dish can irritate the dog's chin and aggravate or cause a staph infection.

Never allow your Dane to exercise heavily before or after a meal. Do not allow him to consume large quantities of water with a meal, either. A quiet time of one hour before and at least one hour after a meal is a "must" for Danes. Allowing a dog to exercise after a meal, or gulp large amounts of water, may contribute to causing bloat.

Always use a quality brand of dry dog food. Stay away from in-house or generic brands of food. They are not a proper diet for any Dane.

(edited by Renee Broden)
Some brands to consider would be

There are many other good brands available on the market today. The addition of canned food (adults and puppies) or raw ground meat is helpful to maintain a good coat and condition. (No Lamb & Rice foods). For some good articles, check out  Diet Issues.

You may consider feeding BARF  

The addition of wheat germ oil or a vegetable oil to the food will also help to maintain a nice hair coat. Dry dog food does not contain enough fat for the coat and usually supplementation is needed.

Dane puppies have special feeding requirements. A diet too high in protein and/or calories can cause or contribute to certain bone and growing problems. Many long- term breeders and vets feel that a protein level of between 21% to 23% is optimum for a Dane puppy. Many puppies cannot tolerate a diet of 100% puppy food, and can get into trouble if allowed to continue eating such a diet. Additionally, puppies should never be given supplements of calcium, which can cause an imbalance which can lead to problems. If you purchased your puppy from an established breeder, you should have received a diet sheet with the puppy. Follow those directions and do not change the diet unless under the direction of a knowledgeable person. Do not allow puppies to become too fat. A word of warning-quite often a pet store employee or a vet not familiar with Danes will suggest a high protein puppy food or vitamin and/or mineral supplements. These people will say that this supplementation is needed because of the excessive growth a Dane goes through. Wrong! This type of feeding forces too much growth too soon, and that's were the puppy can run into problems. Feeding a lower protein food will assure your puppy simply grows at a slower rate. Don't worry-as long as you are feeding a quality brand of food he will reach his genetic potential. Any question on diet should be directed to a vet who is very familiar with Danes and their specific needs.

The amount your Dane will eat will vary greatly, depending on age, life style, activity level and health. A Dane should never be rib-skinny. The back, ribs, and hip bones should be covered. Puppies and young adults should not carry too much weight, as it can cause undo stress on growing bones. A good way to determine if your Dane is in the proper weight is to see just the shiloutte of the last rib. As a general rule, Dane bitches will eat about six to eight cups per day and males about eight to twelve cups. Food should always be moistened with warm (not hot!) water before feeding.

Many Dane breeders feel that dry foods made with corn or high amounts of soy can contribute to bloat. Also, many dogs are allergic to corn-based foods. For more detail on feeding your Dane, please consult one of the GDRNC Rescue representatives..