Preparing and Caring for your Mount N Great Dane

If you are ready to own your very own Mount N Great Dane,
please complete a Great Dane Adoptive Family Application to begin the process.

Preparing for the Great Dane Puppy on Mount N
Owning a Great Dane puppy is a tremendous responsibility...for the Mount N Breeding Program and the new Mount N Adoptive Family. Our part in preparing and caring for the puppy begins long before the mommy-to-be is even bred. We believe the way the Mom and Dad have been raised and bred will play a large role in the offspring they propagate. Therefore, before we decide to breed, we determine the viability of the male and female for breeding. This includes looking at their overall health record, intelligence, temperament, conformation, genetic background, trainability, markings, bone substance, muscle tone, agility, female's reaction to other puppies, Great Dane attitude and more. Once a breeding has been decided upon, we begin the process of getting our females into shape and ready for delivery. Throughout the pregnancy, whelping, and nursing period extra care is provided to ensure our mom's get all the nutrition, exercise and attention they need and deserve. The puppies are socialized from the moment of birth and begin taking age appropriate classes at puppy school from the moment they arrive. You can visit the Mount N Puppy School to read more about this excellent program all Mount N puppies experience. In addition, they are vet-checked, dew claws are removed and great attention is
paid to their nutritional needs.

When Can Great Dane Puppies Go To Their New Home
We have what may seem an unusual policy at Mount N Danes. Our Mom's get to decide when the puppies are ready to go to their
new homes. Thus, we do not have a set age for puppy deliveries. All of our puppies remain with their Mom's until nine weeks of age. From there, it is up to the new Mom. We have observed through the years that even the most diligent and well meaning human surrogate Mom cannot train Great Dane behavior into a puppy like its Great Dane Mom. We have great Moms on Mount N and they know instinctively what to teach and how to teach the new pup. Since it is our desire to deliver the best possible puppy to their new families, we have a "Mom decides when the puppy is ready" practice. When, and only when, the Mom releases her puppies, it becomes your turn to prepare and care for your new Mount N Great Dane.

Size Considerations
Remember, the cute little Great Dane pup we deliver to you will not remain that size for long, at all. The massive size of the
Great Dane requires certain accommodations be made as a Dane moves in as a family member. Great Danes are large, very large. This must be taken into account when considering a puppy and where to create their spaces in the home and yard. They need a
space that is just for them where they can retreat and be left alone. Extra large portable kennels work very well and can be purchased from numerous pet stores and farm and ranch supply stores. Determining what the rules of the house will be prior to your puppy
arriving will greatly simplify the training of your puppy. Consider making decisions such as whether or not the Great Dane puppy will
be allowed to get on the furniture or certain furniture or not on furniture at all. Are there rooms in the house you want to be off limits? What are the kitchen rules? Where will the puppy sleep? We suggest you think through a day with your new family member at his
full grown size and set your boundaries. By establishing these rules from day one, you will eliminate conflict later in having to re-train your Great Dane.

Grooming
Great Danes require minimal grooming of their short-haired coat. Most towns have many excellent professional groomers to
select from. Your puppies have already been groomed several times prior to being delivered. Many of you may choose to handle
the grooming of your puppy yourself, or at least the touch up appointments. If so, simply comb, brush, and bathe with a dog
shampoo when necessary. Take extra care not to get shampoo in the puppy's eyes and to make sure you rinse the puppy very
well. A sprayer that hooks onto your tub or shower faucet will greatly simplify bath time. It can be purchased for approximately
$10 in a local discount store. Routinely brushing your Great Dane will greatly reduce the frequency of needed baths. Keeping nails trimmed is a critical part of grooming, especially for a Great Dane. Their ability to stand correctly on their pads is paramount to their correct bone growth and development. Dremmel tools work great for this task. If using dog nail clippers, be very careful not to clip the nails too short. It is better to make several clips than to clip the nails too short. Keeping teeth cleaned and ears washed is necessary for the proper health of your new puppy. Check with your large breed veterinarian for a recommended cleaning program and schedule.

Exercise
Great Danes need plenty of exercise. The minimum is a long daily walk. Avoid excess exercise during the growth period. Moderate exercise in a safe environment is the best exercise program for your new puppy. Puppies should be taken out for a potty break once
an hour if possible during training time. This is a great time to take them on a little walk.

Emotional Needs
Danes are very sensitive, displaying many human-like emotional needs and behaviors. Consequently, the more time and effort you
put into developing a relationship with them, the more dividends you will reap over the lifetime of your new pet. Whether purchasing a puppy, adolescent or mature Dane, you need to be committed and disciplined to set aside time to spend with them and to include them as a member of the family. Your new pet's desire to please you will directly correlate to the relationship you build with them.
You will find our Danes exhibit a high level of trainability if consistently taught with love and patience.

Diet
The diet of a growing puppy is extremely important. Great Danes need to eat a diet formulated especially for large breed animals. These feeds provide specific nutrients, minerals and vitamins needed for a dog of their stature and weight. They are specially
formulated to help the Great Dane grow to their genetic potential, physically and mentally. Part of adopting a Great Dane puppy
is a commitment to feed your Great Dane puppy in such a way that your new puppy can develop to his or her full potential. The
amount of food needed will be determined by the weight and size of your puppy, the type of feed you are using, and the number of times a day you are feeding. We feed our puppies three to four times daily until approximately two years of age. The
large breed puppy food should indicate on the bag approximately how much your puppy will require. Adjust according to your specific puppies needs as exercise and temperament can greatly affect the diet needs of a particular puppy. We recommend you consult
your large breed veterinarian with specific diet questions and recommendations. Above all, be consistent in your feeding program. Puppies are a lot like human infants. Their digestion and emotional systems work most efficiently with a schedule!

If you are ready to own your very own Mount N Great Dane,
please complete a Great Dane Adoptive Family Application to begin the process.