Info · What to Expect
When Your Puppy Comes Home
Everything we wish we had known when getting our first Dane.
NEVER feed your Great Dane puppy any kind of puppy food!
Day-One Rule
NEVER feed puppy food of ANY kind.
Best Food for Great Danes
Kirkland Lamb and Rice Adult from Costco is my recommended food for both puppies and adults.
My Danes do free feed, which you will read is “forbidden” however, all my Danes have always been free fed and never had issues. I asked a vet about it and he said that all my Danes look very healthy and so free feeding them is not an issue. But of course, please do what your Vet advises you to do. If your vet recommends elevated bowls, I have found the cheapest way to do that is by purchasing plant stands. I used to use just Dollar Store plastic bowls but they are so light that the dogs knock everything down. I know there is controversy on feeding on an elevated platform so please do as your vet recommends.
So go to some resale store and get really heavy cooking pots.
In addition to following best practices in feeding, there is also a stomach tacking procedure that can be done. Please talk to your Vet about it.
One other note on feeding. Danes have sensitive stomachs. As puppies I have them at a 20-22% protein to control growth. If you give them anymore than 25%, they will get what is called Wobbler Syndrome.
Your puppy is going to cry
It’s going to be hard. Your puppy just went through a big change — no more brothers and sisters, lots of new sights and sounds. When you kennel them, they will be upset and cry.