Cont'
Danes are very easy to groom and keep clean. A few minutes each day will keep your dog's coat and skin healthy and keep shedding to a minimum.
On a daily basis, a brisk brushing using a rubber curry comb, followed with a bristle brush, will remove dead hair and dirt. Complete the daily grooming by wiping the dog down with a damp rag. Visually check for any problems or skin lesions while doing your daily grooming.
Weekly, your Dane should have his nails trimmed, ears cleaned, and teeth brushed. All Dane owners can learn how to clip the nails on their dog. The nails are an important part of grooming your Dane; if you let them become too long they can actually damage the dog's foot! Ask your breeder, vet, or Dane club member how to clip nails if you are unsure on the procedure. Ears need to be cleaned, using a preparation such as Oti-Clens or something similar. Follow the directions. Diligent ear cleaning will help prevent chronic ear infections-very difficult to treat. Teeth cleaning is important-they should be attended to weekly using a canine tooth paste. Failure to properly care for the teeth can result in costly cleaning later on--and also serious mouth problems that could jeopardize the health of your dog.
When needed, bathe your Dane. Teach them early in life how to get into a tub to make the chore easier for you. Be sure to use a canine shampoo. Human shampoo has the wrong pH for dogs. There are many excellent types on the market. For "everyday" bathing this author prefers Lambert Kay "Fresh N' Clean Flea and Tick" shampoo. Dogs with excessively dry coats may need a hot oil treatment.
If you are having problems with fleas, discuss the proper control procedure with your vet. He can recommend shampoos, dips, bombs, and yard sprays. Generally, to control fleas you need to shampoo and dip the dog, bomb the house and car, and spray the yard-all on the same day! You should also discuss putting your Dane on "Program", an oral flea preventative.
Any skin sores, cuts, or lesions should be checked out and treated immediately. Hot spots and staph infections can quickly get out of control and be difficult and expensive to treat.
EXERCISE
An adult Dane does not require as much exercise as many people believe. In fact, some older Danes are quite content to become first-class couch potatoes, and must be encouraged to go out for a daily walk or romp.
How much exercise your Dane needs depends on his age, temperament, and your lifestyle. Although Danes are considered in the "moderate" exercise category, it must be remembered that a puppy or young Dane who does not get enough exercise to burn off excess energy may be prone to destruction, boredom barking, and a variety of other unpleasant habits.
Puppies have periods of great activity followed by long periods of sleeping or rest. The best rule of thumb with a puppy is to let him get as much free exercise as he wants. A word of warning-romping is for outdoors only! If you let the puppy tear around the house as a youngster (often called "air on the brain") you are asking for havoc! Puppies can also go for walks, but keep an eye out so they don't become over-tired. Another suggestion-make sure your puppy has had a chance for a good romp before bedtime as it will help him sleep through the night. Puppies and adolescents should never be roadworked-this includes jogging or trotting along side a bicycle-until their growth plates have closed! Jogging can cause problems in fast growing puppies by causing undue stress on developing bones. Basically puppies get along just fine with several sessions of free play during the day. Of course this should be in a fenced yard or under direct supervision.
Adults can pretty much follow the same plan. Most adults, if left in their yard for a period of time, will get enough exercise on their own. Many Danes are very good at keeping themselves amused if the owner has supplied plenty of toys and items for them to play with. Be warned-if you don't, the Dane will find something-maybe your prized rose bush-to play with.
If the owner likes to jog, the adult Dane can be taken with him. Be sure the dog is totally leash trained and under control. As with any exercise program, build up duration gradually.
If the dog is going to be shown and needs more conditioning, a program of controlled roadwork might be needed. Most people will roadwork their adult Danes while on a bicycle, as it is very important the dog work at the proper speed. Make sure your Dane is well trained before you attempt this as it can be dangerous. Never wrap the leash around your handlebars. Before you start a structured exercise program for your Dane you should consult your breeder for suggestions, and your vet to be sure the dog is sound and has no problems that might be aggravated by such exercise.
Dog who are exhibiting any sign of lameness should never be exercised heavily or roadworked. The feet and legs should be examined after exercise to make sure the paws are free of cuts, stone bruises, and thorns. .
