Before Buying
The decision to add a Great Dane to your family should be a very well thought out and researched plan. Danes are not a large breed dog, they are a giant breed that can be a giant problem if they are not trained, and maintained properly. You also need to make sure that you are purchasing your Dane from a reputable ethical breeder or rescue.
Training
I am going to start with the importance of training, because frankly if you do not have time to train your potential new family member you need to look into a different breed or a different pet all together. Most of the Danes that end up in rescues are there because their owner didn't train them properly, and then couldn't handle the 100+ lbs. 6 month old monster that they created. Is it the puppy's fault? ABSOLUTELY NOT. They only know what they have been taught, and since Danes grow very quickly it is extremely important that they are taught properly as soon as you bring them home. Let's face it, nobody wants grandma to fall down and break a hip because your dog tackled her as soon as she walked in your door.
Oh and picture this. Here you are walking your dane baby down the street when out of no where appears a cat that runs across your path. Your puppy's prey drive just kicked into over drive. There's nothing worse than your dane taking you for a drag down the road, provided you have the strength to hang on to the lead.
In order to make sure that your Dane baby is a well mannered member of your family you need to make sure they have been trained and socialized properly. The best way to do this is to take your puppy to Puppy Kindergarten and Obedience classes. Click here to find AKC obedience classes in your area. We require all of our puppies to attend these classes until they receive their Canine Good Citizen award. Click here for more information on the Canine Good Citizen Award.
 
Purchasing a Great Dane
 
The most important thing to do when you are looking for a Great Dane to add to your family is to find a reputable ethical breeder or rescue to purchase your new family member from. An ethical breeder or rescue will want to know as much about you, and the environment that their puppy will be living in, as you will want to know about them. A good breeder will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this breed with total honesty. They should also give you at least a 2 yr written health guarantee against genetic diseases. If they don't, WALK AWAY! I have listed a few tips below to help you in your search, but if you need help please feel free to contact me.
1. Do your research into this breed. They are not for everyone.
2. Visit the website for the Great Dane Club of America , explore the site and absorb the information there.
3. Join a Great Dane list such as Danes Online and ask questions about the breed, this site is full of knowledge and helpful people.
4. Go to some Dog Shows, watch the Great Danes in the ring, then once they are finished talk to some of the exhibitors. Please don't approach them before they go into the ring, as they are concentrating on watching for their turn, and will not have time to chat at that moment. Click here to find the dates and places of AKC dog shows in your area.
5. Attend the meetings of your local Great Dane Club. This is an excellent way to meet other fanciers/breeders and learn about the breed. Click Here for a list of GDCA affiliate clubs.
6. Find a breeder who shows their dogs in AKC events, and that you are completely comfortable with. This person will be invaluable to you through out the life of your Great Dane. If you are not completely comfortable with this person then move on to another. Remember, your breeder is going to be very interested in the life of his/her puppy so finding the right breeder is a must.
7. Remember that a reputable breeder is going to give you a health guarantee of at least 2 yrs. They will require you to meet certain criteria before placing a puppy in your home. They will require that their puppy be returned to them at any age if for some reason you could no longer keep the puppy/dog. If they do not do these things walk away and find another breeder.
8. Most importantly, keep in mind. That finding the right breeder is more important than finding a puppy that you can bring home tomorrow. If they do not have a puppy available at that time, be patient. If they are not planning any litters for awhile, they will usually point you to another reputable breeder.