Reputable Breeder
To Find
To find a reputable Dane breeder in your area go to the web sites of GDCA and AKC. See my links. Also you may attend dog shows and speak with breeders.
Reputable breeders are usually members of the GDCA or its affiliate clubs. They are usually involved in showing or competition events. Beware of the breeder who only breeds and does not do any of these activities with their dogs.
Traits of a Breeder
A reputable breeder does not breed for profit and has a great love of the breed and is trying to better it. they will not let puppies go to their new homes until they are 8 weeks old or older. They will give you references of previous puppy buyers. Most have strict contracts and some sell on a limited registration and insist that the puppies by spayed/neutered. They will encourage you to come and visit and meet their dogs. They will give you a health guarantee and take any dog back or help you find a good home no matter what age the dog is.
Always make sure that the parents have had all their health checks. GDCA encourages its members to check heart, hip, thyroid and eyes. Some breeders also check elbows and for von willebrans disease.
Ouestions a breeder may ask
A good breeder will check you out. They care very much about the forever home that their puppies go to. They might want references from you and your vet. Some of them may want to go to your home or see pictures of your place. Almost all of them will have a contract that you will have to sign.
What dogs have you owned?
Why do you want a Great Dane?
Is your yard fenced?
Where will your puppy live?
How long will the puppy be alone?
Are you willing to spay/neuter a pet puppy?
Can you afford not only the initial cost but any maintanence costs?
Is the decision to purchase a GD puppy unanimous in your family?
Who is your vet?
Questions for you to ask
How long have you been breeding Great Danes?
What registry are your Danes registered under?
There are new registries that will register anything. Beware of the breeder who does not regi.ster to the AKC or the UKC. If they do not than there is a problem somewhere probably in their breeding.
Do you belong to the GDCA or an affiliate GD club? Membership in these clubs involves working within a code of ethics.
What type of activities do you do with your Danes?
Conformation showing implies that their Danes are probably good representatives of the Breed. Those who also do competition
events usually indicates that their dogs are structuraly sound.
What types of heath problems do you see in your GD?
Beware of the breeder who says that she has never seen any problems.
When do you plan your next litter? You may have to wait for a puppy from a reputable breeder.
What kind of warranty do you offer? Guarantees vary and sometimes connected to your agreement to raise the puppy according to their contract.
What is the price of the puppy? Many breeders feel that they have put equal love,effort,time and money into all puppies and will have the same price for show and pet puppies. For most good breeders what separates a show dog from a companion my only be trivial. Do not expect to get a cheap puppy from a good breeder.
What type of paperwork do you provide?
Good breeders will provide a bill of sale, a contract, pedigree, AKC papers. Most will give you information in writing to help you raise your puppy. You should get records of any shots and wormings the puppy has had.
The breeder should answer any questions you have.They should go over any feeding protocols and anything else that is pertinent.
Puppy mills
Never buy a puppy from a pet store, on line broker or auction or from an add in the newspaper. These are always puppies from puppy mills with no health guarantee and usually poor representatives of the breed. These puppies are separated from their mothers too early and the health of these puppies are generally at risk.
No matter how impatient you or your family is to get a Great Dane puppy, it is always better to wait, even months and get a puppy from a good breeder.
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