(According to Elly and Ivy their essential Great Dane supplies, as pictured from top left are: large stainless steel food bowl, extra large stainless steel water bowl, rope toy, Holee Molle Extreme ball, Kong Zoom Groom, Pet Zone Dental Diamond Ball (or similar brand), EzyDog collar, double-ended or reversible dog lead with check chain)

Are you thinking about bringing a majestic Great Dane into your family? Fantastic choice!  In that case, what do you need to purchase or obtain to ensure your new dog is completely welcomed to the world of Great Dane ownership!  As a devoted enthusiast and experienced Great Dane owner, I’m here to guide you through the 10 essential items every owner needs to ensure your new furry friend feels right at home. Having two Danes now and two previously, I understand the excitement and responsibilities that come with bringing these lovely dogs into your life. Ensuring you have the right Great Dane supplies is crucial for your dog’s comfort and well-being.

These supplies aren’t just items; they are the building blocks of comfort, safety, and well-being for your gentle giant. Here are some recommendations to ensure you purchase before your Great Dane puppy comes home and you realise you’ve forgotten an important item. As your puppy integrates into life within your family, you will get used to your own Dane and their particular needs.

Great Dane Supplies:  Essential Items for your new pet dog

Quality Food and Water Bowls

Finding the right-sized food and water bowls is key to your Great Dane’s comfort during mealtimes. Opt for sturdy, good quality steel or ceramic, that are safe and easy to clean but most importantly are big enough for them to get their mouth into easily. You may also wish to investigate elevated bowls to ease the strain on their necks.

Choosing the right food and water bowls for your Great Dane is more than a matter of aesthetics. Given their size and eating habits, opting for large, sturdy bowls is essential as it makes for a less messy experience (although not eliminated). Elevated bowls are preferable, as they reduce strain on their necks and promote better digestion. Stainless steel, or ceramic are excellent choices, as they are durable, easy to clean, and less likely to retain bacteria compared to plastic bowls, which also tend to deteriorate after a few months.

Appropriate Bedding

Investing in a sizable, supportive bed is important for your Great Dane and you will probably find that you will go through a number of beds throughout their life. These gentle giants need ample space and proper support for their joints while resting.

Great Danes may be massive, but they’re gentle giants that cherish their comfort. A well-sized bed with adequate support is a necessity. Look for orthopedic or memory foam beds designed for large breeds to provide proper cushioning and support for their joints. Ensuring your Dane has a designated and comfortable space to rest is key to their overall health and well-being.

Grooming Tools

Regular brushing and bathing are essential for maintaining your Dane’s coat health. Choose grooming tools suited for their short coat.  Rubber brushes such as the Kong Zoom Groom can be a really good piece of equipment for your grooming kit.

Grooming Essentials

Great Danes are pretty low maintenance, however grooming will help to maintain a healthy coat and will be necessary if they decide to get messy in mud or something more revolting which can sometimes be particularly attractive to many dogs. Invest in quality brushes and shampoos to keep your Great Dane clean and healthy.

Despite their short coat, Great Danes still require regular grooming to keep their skin and coat healthy. Quality brushes suitable for their coat type will help to remove loose hair and skin, and prevent matting. Bathing should be done occasionally using mild, dog-specific shampoos to maintain their skin’s natural oils. Additionally, regular nail trimming, occasional ear cleaning, and dental care should be part of your grooming routine.

Quality Nutritious Dog Food

Great Danes have unique dietary needs, especially during their rapid growth phase. Great Dane dietary needs differ a little from many other breeds, so select high-quality, large or giant-breed-specific food to support their growth and overall health.

Choosing high-quality, large-breed-specific food is vital for both the puppy stage and then once old enough move onto adult giant food. Ensure a balanced diet to support their needs. Read the dog food bag for guidance on whether the food will suit your size and age of dog. These companies have put years and money into researching the needs of giant breeds so will be a great first choice for your dog.

You may also decide to go down the path of raw feeding. A diet with controlled protein and fat levels, is ideal for maintaining their muscular build without putting excessive strain on their joints and growing them too fast.

Collar and Leash

Given their size, a strong, well-fitted collar and leash or lead are necessary for control and safety during walks.

While your puppy is growing you may find that you go through collars very quickly – you may not feel you want to spend a lot of money of a collar that your Great Dane puppy will grow out of very soon. However, allow a bit of room for growth and don’t go for thin collars more suitable for small dogs as it may become a choking hazard if your pup catches it while running. It certainly doesn’t need the most expensive collar especially during these fast-growth months. Look for wider collars made of durable materials that distribute pressure evenly and avoid strain on their necks. A leash with a strong grip and secure attachments ensures you can manage your Dane comfortably during outdoor activities.

We have long used a double ended or reversible dog lead with a large sized dog check chain – however I must emphasise that a check chain (not ‘choke’ chain) must be used for dogs that have good lead manners.  Teach your dog to walk well on the lead and you will not have a dog that pulls and ‘chokes’ itself but walks on a loose lead.  This should be your first aim when lead training and for such large dogs proper lead training is imperative for an easy time walking your dog.

Safe and Secure Crate

Crate training is not for everyone, however my own experience is that I wish we had crate trained our first two Danes as our current two are happily trained and it allows us, and them, the security they need at certain times. A secure crate serves as a safe haven and aids in housebreaking and providing a comfortable space for your Great Dane. It can also be a space where they are restricted for example just after invasive surgery such as desexing or with leg injuries where your dog must not be overly energetic during early recovery. Keeping a young dog from over exercising or generally being crazy at this point can be very easy if they are crate trained.

Crate training when done properly allows your Great Dane to have its own den – and I will emphasize that it is not about using it as a punishment pad. It’s about having a space that is theirs when you can send them happily if necessary without them feeling in trouble.  My own two Danes love their crates and I hasten to add that they are infrequently locked in but go in of their own accord to sleep.  We do use the crate as a space for feeding so that neither dog gets into the others space and tries any dominance “games”, which encourages better manners from both of them.

Soft versus Chew Toys

Your Dane will probably have its own preferences which can be amusing in themselves and may dictate your toy choices to some extent. You may not consider these to be essential Great Dane supplies, however your Dane will probably have their own opinion on that.

Safe Soft Toys

Particularly as a puppy, your Great Dane may really like soft toys.  They can be great comfort especially if your puppy was one of several puppies in a litter.   My first Dane was very careful with all her soft toys, but chewed and destroyed any chew toy often within half an hour. In fact, she was buried with her first soft toy which was not at all chewed.

There are soft toys made specifically for dogs which will have fabric or sewn eyes as opposed to glass or plastic eyes which can become a swallowing or choking hazard.

Durable Chew Toys

Great Danes, like many dogs, can have a penchant for chewing, so invest in durable toys to keep them entertained and prevent destructive behavior. Some dog toys can be dangerous if they start breaking down into components and my personal preference for “non squeaker” toys both eliminates annoying squeaking but also removes the possibility of your dog swallowing the squeaker mechanism should it chew through the toy. For this reason mini-balls are not allowed in my household as they are so easy to swallow and will become a dangerous potential blockage that may kill your Great Dane or at least require very expensive surgery to remove the item.

Our current younger Dane has a penchant for tennis ball sized balls (nothing larger!) and will collect any that she finds out on her walks. She has a sizable collection now despite her chewing and destroying most of them. She has an amazing ability to detect a tennis ball from a great distance and will insist on grabbing it to take home.

Healthcare Supplies

Flea and tick prevention, supplements, and regular vet check-ups are important for your Great Dane’s well-being. Do your research on which flea and tick medication you will use and there many on the market. Frustratingly you will have to calculate how many tablets are required over what timeframe and what the costs associated with each brand. Rarely do different brands overlap so take your time and work out which brand will work best for you and your dog.

You should have at least annual veterinary check ups and they are quite often who will also give your Great Dane vaccinations. Discuss with them what is required by law and what is desirable or required for your region. Don’t forget too that if you need to board your dog, many boarding kennels will only allow fully vaccinated dogs to stay..

Training Treats

Positive reinforcement is important during training. Find healthy treats to motivate and reward your Great Dane during training sessions. Treats are not supposed to be large – remember you are not giving them a meal and although Great Danes are the biggest dog in the world they will still enjoy the reward of a small treat. We are not talking about a mouthful each treat as you are not feeding them you are rewarding good behaviour with a tasty tidbit. You don’t want them to fill up on treats – they are training aids, not a meal replacement as they are usually high protein (if dried organs or meat) and not nutritionally balanced.. When choosing treats for my dogs I like to go for natural treats, preferably dried and free from additives such as preservatives or colouring. That bright red treat is no more attractive to your dog but you have been “bought” by the manufacturer. You may even wish to make your own to ensure you know what goes into them and you may be able to reduce the costs.

Identification (ID) Tags and Microchip

Accidents happen.  Just because you think your dog is kept behind a strong fence, doesn’t mean that there will never be an occasion when a visitor leaves the gate open, or your clever Great Dane doesn’t escape the enclosure just by being inquisitive and pushing its way through an “impenetrable” fence. This is a once only purchase however one of the most important Great Dane supplies.

Ensure your Dane is easily identifiable with an ID tag and microchip for added security. Many breeders will only sell their pups with chips already installed (these microchips are tiny “rice-sized” and cause no harm when injected under the skin) but you should check and they will have to transfer ownership and contact details once the Great Dane puppy is yours.
Another important consideration is to ensure you update your details should you move house.

Considerations Before Purchasing Great Dane supplies

Lifestyle Evaluation and Assessing Your Living Space

You may be surprised how your particular environment influences your choices of Great Dane supplies. Assessing your space and ability to fulfill their exercise needs is necessary before committing to a Great Dane. Consider the space requirements for this giant breed. They need ample room to turn and move around comfortably, although as long as they can do this you don’t need that largest apartment or house.

Use your common sense and consider the size that your puppy will grow into, not it’s current adorable and cuddly puppy size. As long as you have space for the largest dog bed and/or an extra-large crate, then you might consider getting a Great Dane.

Financial Considerations

Prepare for the financial commitment that comes with caring for a pet but particularly large dog breeds, including food, grooming, and medical expenses.

Plan for regular expenses related to food, healthcare, and grooming but also irregular costs such as desexing, supplements while they recover from an illness, vaccinations which may not be frequent but are necessary Great Dane supplies. Consider too that whenever your dog goes to the vet or needs medication the costs relate to their size and dosing. For example general anaesthetic for desexing your Great Dane will be far more than for a Pomeranian, or Maltese just due to size differences. Worm tablets or flea and tick medications are dosed by size and your dog is many times larger than that small white fluffy sitting next to you at the vets.

Time Commitment

Great Danes thrive on companionship and need dedicated time for care, training, exercise, and affection. Be prepared to invest your time in their well-being. These are not dogs to be left in the backyard all day with little interaction with the family. While they are large and discouraging for intruders, they are not the best dogs to be left with guard duties and no interaction with people. Other breeds may be more suitable if that is your intention. However they do have great bark to deter burglars, although many Dane owners will joke that their dog would lick the intruders to death or go and hide on the couch if a person did enter the house uninvited.

Family and Pet Compatibility

Consider how a Great Dane fits into your family dynamics and their compatibility with children and other pets.

Very tiny children will often have been brought up with large dogs as their mum and dad have “always had big dogs” even before the child was born. Perhaps it is more important to consider if you are not as familiar with large and giant dogs, and you have a small child or children. How will your new dynamic affect the family. Over and over again I’ve seen lovely Great Danes, pushed out to being outside dogs upon the arrival of a newborn baby. This is really not fair on the dog who has always been an indoor dog and part of the family. They can be restricted to certain areas of the house and will very quickly learn rules about how to interact with young children. However never, ever leave a child unsupervised with a dog.

Your lovely gentle Great Dane will always be firstly a dog and behave as such. The sudden unexpected movements or actions of a child say falling over, make cause your dog to react in surprise and bite. Don’t allow this to happen by never letting them alone while small. Remember you do have the tallest dog breed in the world and they do not have the same sense of logic or rational thinking as people.

Cats don’t necessarily become a problem but you need to know about YOUR cat and how it gets on with dogs and especially massive dogs. A cat that runs away from a young prey driven teenager Dane will not last long. Having said that we taught both our two cats and two current Danes that they were part of the same family and not to prey chase. We took a long time to do this with our younger Brindle girl as she has a very strong prey drive and will go after any cat outside her garden.

Conclusion

Welcoming a Great Dane into your life is a rewarding journey. Equipping yourself with these essentials and considering crucial aspects beforehand will ensure a harmonious companionship and sets the foundation for a happy and healthy Dane. Your choices of Great Dane supplies and equipment will likely change as your dog ages, and you get to know their personality. These listed above are an excellent list to start with. Embrace the joy and responsibility that comes with being a Great Dane owner!