Tricks to Breeding Great Danes

You must have seen the majestic, friendly, strong yet graceful Irish wolfhound with a mix of old English Mastiff. You guessed it right. We are talking about the Great Dane. Often known as the "King of Dogs", this large breed was originally used to hunt boars in Germany. These days the breed is kept as a family pet or guard dog. It comes in several colors, such as brindle, fawn, blue, black, harlequin and mantle. If you are interested in breeding Great Danes, it is not so hard as long as you keep a few points in mind.

  1. Medical Checkup

    • Breed pairs that have desirable physical and mental attributes, such as good personality and temperament, and are in good health and the proper age. Both the bitch and the stud must be healthy and vaccinated for various transmittable diseases. Get them checked for brucellosis, as this might cause sterility, or the pups may die within a few days of birth. Brucellosis can be transmitted between dogs during mating and also to humans through feces and urine of an infected dog.

    Temperament

    • Select a dog with no temperament issues. A happy, confident and well-behaved dog is ideal. You can approach the American Kennel Club, Therapy Dogs International or reputed breeding clubs that can conduct several temperament tests. Refrain from breeding Great Danes that are ferocious, ill-tempered or biters.

    Pedigree Research

    • The dog's pedigree plays a vital role during breeding. It is good to be selective while finding the right mate for your dog. Consult a knowledgeable person or breeder to evaluate both the dogs, check the breed standards and health conditions, and figure out if the strengths offset the weaknesses of the prospective mate. Above all, ensure that both the dogs are compatible and complement each other. If your dog is a carrier of a hereditary disease, do not mate it, and the same is true for its potential mate.

    Breeding

    • Wait till the bitch turns two if you want a healthy pregnancy. This will allow her to complete her physical growth and also prepare her mentally for pregnancy. Let the bitch breed once every other year, so that she gets sufficient time to regain her strength. This will ensure healthy pregnancy and pups. A stud can be bred many times, but some have a low sperm count if they are bred continuously for a few days. Do not force a pair to breed. It has to occur naturally. Keep the bitch and stud together in a closed and relatively private enclosure. Once both are ready, they will mate or tie on their own. During the tie, the male Great Dane's penis expands in the bitch's vagina and the dogs stay locked together for up to half an hour. This is when the male Great Dane ejaculates sperm and prostatic fluid. Do not disturb the dogs during the tie. Leave them undisturbed and they will eventually separate on their own. After a couple of mating sessions, wait for a few days before taking the bitch to the vet to confirm pregnancy.