Blue Creek Danes

What's not to love....

We didn't plan to fall in love with Great Danes. It just happened. Three years after the loss of our beloved Golden Retriever/Newfoundland mix Shadow, we decided we were ready to add another member to our family. Since owning a dog is such a huge responsibility, we spent a lot of time researching breeds. Everything kept pointing to Great Danes. We were a little leery of the breed just because of their sheer size, but we weren't exactly put off by it since Shadow had weighed around 105 lbs. We visited several breeders across Ohio over a couple months, and finally found one that was a good fit for us. That's the day we met Daisy. It was love at first sight. It was so surreal the way that we bonded to her and she to us so quickly. What amazed me is that she only had 3 or 4 accidents in the house, and within a couple days she was housetrained. No stress! She also learned basic commands like sit, down, and stay very quickly. I think it helped that she is obsessed with treats. :) We learned a lot that first year with Daisy. Since we'd never owned a Great Dane, we had a lot to learn. Like the fact that they don't realize their size. There is no such thing as personal space, and they have no idea that when they step on your toes it hurts, or that there isn't any room to sit on your lap. All they know is that you are their human and they love you with all that they have. Since we learned that if a Great Dane leans on you, it means they like you, we figure Daisy must really love us. She leans so hard sometimes I think she might push me over! They are also involved in anything...and I mean anything that is going on around the house. Daisy lays with her nose right in the middle of our son Cole's art projects for school, or she'll stand right over Mike when he's working on the sink, or out in the garage. She's extremely curious, and is very insulted if told to go lay down if she's in the way. She'll walk over to her bed (yes, she has her own Twin XL bed), and she'll throw herself against the wall with a loud huff to show her displeasure. And just because she was totally ok with getting her nails clipped last week, doesn't mean she's not going to run circles around the couch trying to get away from me this week. Great Danes definitely have a different personality than any other dog I've ever been around...but in a good way. If you're looking for an outside dog to guard your house, go get another breed because the Great Dane isn't going to fit the bill. Oh, their sheer size will scare anyone off on site, and they can be fiercely protective when warranted, but they are not outside dogs. They HAVE to be a part of your family or they will either become aggressive or slowly wither away with nothing remaining of their true spirit. If you're looking for a loyal, funny, sometimes quirky and always loving pet to add to your family, then you've landed on just the right breed.

What to look for in a Great Dane

AKC Standard Size, Proportion, Substance - The male should appear more massive throughout than the bitch, with larger frame and heavier bone. In the ratio between length and height, the Great Dane should be square. In bitches, a somewhat longer body is permissible, providing she is well proportioned to her height. Coarseness or lack of substance are equally undesirable. The male shall not be less than 30 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that he be 32 inches or more, providing he is well proportioned to his height. The female shall not be less than 28 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that she be 30 inches or more, providing she is well proportioned to her height. Danes under minimum height must be disqualified.

Is a Great Dane right for me?

Is a Great Dane the right pet for your household? Only you know the answer to that question. There are a few things to consider when thinking about owning a giant breed. Do you have an adequate means of transportation? If all you have is a two seater sports car, you might want to reconsider. How will you get your Dane to and from the vet, dog park, etc. once he/she is full grown? Are you prepared for your Dane to go through a 40lb bag of dog food or more every couple of weeks? Are you aware that there could be a tug of war about your Dane constantly wanting to sleep on any available bed they can get access to? Yes, they can be trained not to get on the bed or couches, but it will be a challenge for some Danes. They are creatures of comfort. Do you have adequate space outside for your Dane to toilet and play? Remember: bigger dog means bigger cleanup duty. Although Danes are a giant breed, they do not require a whole lot of exercise. The majority of Danes are actually pretty content to lay around a lot of the time. Only a couple of times per day do they get the "zoomies" which is when they get great bursts of energy and run around crazy for about 5 minutes, then have to take a nap. If you've thought of all these scenarios and none of them make you pause, then Congratulations! You know what you're getting into and you will make a wonderful Dane owner.

What to look for in a breeder

There are so many breeders out there and it may seem hard to find one that meets all of your needs. This is a short blurb on what to look for when choosing a breeder. Make sure your breeder is breeding to either preserve or better yet, improve on the quality of the breed. This means that they breed responsibly and only breed correct colors. See color chart.