Great Danes need daily exercise and should be allowed to roam loose in a securely fenced yard or garden, never tied or chained. However, Great Dane puppies should not be allowed the run of the house until they prove that they are mature enough not to chew the furniture. Great Danes' ears may be cropped or left to fall naturally, I personaly encourage the natural fall of danes ears and not to get them cropped. Great Danes, like most giant dogs, have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in small breeds.

Great Danes thrive as a family member, always up and alert participating in the families day-to-day routine. Their needs are few: love, food, a soft spot to lie, exercise, another soft spot to lie.

Choosing a Name for a great dane can be quite hard as these magnificent creatures have a certain grace about them and just any old dog name wont do...

Here as some of the Male Great dane names I have come across.

Male:

• Duke
• Nelson
• Rocky
• George
• Arthur
• Herne
• Bentley
• Jeves
• Charles
• Troy
• Goliath
• Freddy
• Morris
• Shane
• Luther
• Samson

Here are some of the Female Great Dane Names I have come across.

• Sophie
• Tabatha
• Glory
• Lottie
• Trixabell
• Queenie
• Fidget
• Snoozie
• Katrina
• Daisy May
• Honey

Obviously these name can give you some idea of what to call your dane, as these larger than life dogs deserve a name to stand out for them just like they do.

The one thing I have learned about great danes, is that they think they are about the size of a jack russell... Ever time I would stay around my friends house, to look after duke or nelson they would try to climb on my lap and curl up... just like a jack russell!

And when they weigh about 12-14 Stone that is no joke, as with all the clawing to go with it, But I must say it did have me in stitches.

Watching them go round and round try to get comfy, only then for someone to come to the door and off they would jump, then five mins later start all over again.

One other thing is never go on a beach with a great dane as they have rubbish eyesite, they charge toward you, and just when you think they wont run into you they do,,, smack in the middle.

Even if you are the only thing on the beach, they are like a homing missle, again they are heavy old dogs the dane so expect some bruises for your trouble.

In England there is the Great Dane Rescue, this is where all breeds of Danes are kept, and that have been abandoned or misstreated, the lady I know has had 2 Danes from the rescue, and they have enjoyed a good healthy and loved life.

Danes have this freindly gentleman approach to life, how people can hurt or even abandon one is hard to understand, I think it is to do with when someone has purchased a puppy dane, they get overtaken very quickly when the pup starts to grow.

So the great dane rescue is always busy with new arrivals, and for the likes of my friend whos heart melts when she see's one, it is a good way to get a loyal dog like a dane.