Littlehorse Great Danes
Harlequins, Mantles, Blacks,
and Merles
Johnny & Melody Rainwater
Website Address:
www.littlehorsedanes.com
Email:
greatdanes49@gmail.com
or melody.rainwater@icloud.com
430-444-1003
Littlehorse Guarantee and
Client Information
SPAN OF TEN TO THIRTEEN
YEARS
·
WE GUARANTEE GENERAL HEALTH
·
WE GUARANTEE AGAINST HIP DYSPLASIA FOR LIFE
·
WE GUARANTEE AGAINST ENLARGED HEARTS FOR SEVEN YEARS
·
WE BACK OUR DOGS WITH A PUPPY REPLACEMENT GUARANTEE
General Information about
AKC Registration Papers
Provided With Pet Puppies
We provide A.K.C.’s limited
registration papers with pet
pups upon receipt of proof
of neutering. Although we
do not force you to neuter
your pet, no AKC
registration papers will
be provided until we
receive a letter from
your veterinarian
stating that your pup
has, in fact, been
neutered. This is to be
sent via the postal
system and not by
e-mail. We recommend
spaying at EIGHT or
Ten x months of age and neutering males not before
18 months. Do not
neuter you male sooner than
18 months of age. Upon
receipt of proof of
neutering, we will be happy
to provide you with AKC’s
limited registration papers
for your pup. These
registration papers will
enable you to register your
pup with the American Kennel
Club. You will also be
able to show your pet in AKC
sanctioned Obedience Shows.
You can not register puppies
from a purebred dog who has
AKC’s limited registration
papers. You cannot show
a purebred pup with AKC’s
limited registration papers
in Conformation Shows. This
means that although you do
not have to neuter your pup,
if you do not neuter and
furnish us with proof of
neutering, you will not
receive any AKC registration
papers on your puppy.
However this is on a client
by client bases. If
we have agreed on full
registration the above is
null.
Notification Requirement:
All Potential Puppy Problems
In an attempt to minimize
every type of potential
problem for our puppy
buyers, including stress,
inconvenience and expense,
to insure that our pups are
properly raised, and to
enable us to keep accurate
health records with regard
to our breeding program, we
now require immediate
notification of any
behavior, health, or
temperament problem.
Failure to provide us with
immediate notification of
any potential behavior,
health, or temperament
problem will void any and
all guarantees! The
only problem exempt from
this requirement is a life
threatening medical
emergency. In the case of a
life-threatening emergency,
we would like to be notified
of the problem once the
emergency has been dealt
with. We can frequently
provide you with very
helpful input.
We can evaluate most
problems via a phone
conversation with a
description of the problem.
If you are local, we might
ask you to bring your Dane
by for us to evaluate. If
you are out of town, we
might ask for a video if a
telephone conversation will
not adequately define the
problem. In the long run,
we will save you money and
reduce your stress, and help
keep your Dane happy and
healthy.
We can often provide input
to eliminate the problem
quickly with little to no
expense. We have had
several incidents of owners
reduced to tears by
veterinarians who are
unfamiliar with the
structure and growth
patterns of German Danes.
One poor lady was told that
her Dane needed casts on
both front legs because the
Dane obviously had a
problem. The Dane was not
limping but had large knee
joints. At our request, she
brought the pup over. To
her relief, her pup had
totally normal front legs
for a German Dane. Her vet
was unfamiliar with the
German type of structure. If
you have reason to suspect a
health or development
problem, call us immediately
before you invest in
expensive tests and/or
therapies.
Our Danes, unlike many
American Danes, are quite
intelligent and are also
stubborn. They are also
extremely resourceful. We
do not want them to get out
of control. They are gentle
giants, and, when properly
raised, are wonderful,
loving pets. There are many
people who claim to be
trainers who are not what
they claim to be. Some use
unacceptable methods and can
actually injure your dog
physically or emotionally.
If you are unsuccessful in
getting your Dane to do
something that you want it
to do or to stop a specific
behavior that you do not
like, give us an immediate
call. We will provide tips
and solutions for you at no
charge. We expect you to
take full advantage of our
expertise. We do not
want our pups to be ill
behaved adults! If you
are having a bad day, your
Dane may well out-think
you. It happens to us all
the time.
J
General Information about
the Great Dane
Great Danes are a giant
breed and, therefore, have
potential for health
problems not normally
encountered in an average
dog. Their average life
span is supposed to be seven
to eight years, but has
declined to an average of
about five years. The short
life span is partially due
to their extreme size and
partially due to the fact
that many owners are unaware
of simple steps that can be
taken to reduce the risk of
life-threatening health
problems. The primary
health problems that result
in premature death in Danes
are hip dysplasia, heart
trouble, and, first and
foremost, torsion. Hip
dysplasia is not fatal,
however, a severely
dysplastic dog may require
extensive and expensive
surgery. Many Danes are put
down because their owners
can’t afford the required
surgery, and the Dane is
either in pain or can’t walk
or climb steps without the
surgery. The incidence of
hip dysplasia can be
drastically reduced through
careful breeding. All of
our Danes are X-rayed prior
to breeding. Our
Great Danes are living an
average of 10 to 13 years.
After acquisition of a
puppy, weight and exercise
control, proper diet,
provision of adequate water,
housing, and shade are about
all we can do to avoid heart
problems. We guarantee
against enlarged hearts for
seven years.
We are also strongly
suggesting that you purchase
pet insurance for your
puppy. (You will need to
confer with your vet about
this. ) Many times owners
have called or emailed
looking for financial help
to pay their vet bill.
While we do guarantee the
health of our puppies, these
are live creatures and can
get ill and sometimes
sustain injuries. As much
as we would like to help we
are not in a position to pay
your vet so before you take
on the responsibility of a
new pet make sure that you
are able to shoulder the
burden of unforeseen
expenses. If you can’t then
don’t get a pet of any kind
as it is unfair to them.
Probably the number one
“PREMATURE KILLER” of Danes
is torsion. Bloat is a gas
build up in the stomach. If
not relieved immediately,
bloat can progress and
torsion can result. Torsion
occurs when the stomach
and/or spleen flips, and,
without immediate surgery by
a surgeon experienced in
torsion surgery, it is
usually fatal. Even with
surgery, the mortality rate
is extremely high. Improper
feeding, improper timing of
exercise, a sudden change in
the diet, and stress are
just some of the factors
that can contribute to the
development of bloat and/or
torsion.
The following instructions
are designed to help you
keep your Dane healthy,
happy and safe. Please
follow them. If you have
any questions, NEVER
HESITATE TO CONTACT US BY
EITHER PHONE OR EMAIL. If
you call and our recorder
answers, leave your name,
your area code, your number,
and your state. We will
call you back. If it is an
emergency, so state on the
recorder, and we will return
your call as soon as we get
the message, regardless of
the hour!!!!
INSTRUCTIONS
*BEFORE GOING TO YOUR VET*
Always call your vet before
you go in for any routine or
non-emergency visit. Ask the
receptionist if any parvo or
corona dogs have come in
that day or are in the
clinic receiving treatment.
If the answer is yes, change
your appointment to another
day or utilize another vet.
Carry your puppy into the
office and keep him on your
lap. Do not let him down on
the floor or on the vet’s
furniture. When he is old
enough to walk on a leash,
always keep him on the
sidewalk and do not let him
stray to the grass as sick
animals eliminate on it and
grass cannot be cleaned like
sidewalks.
We have vaccinated your
puppy at 5 weeks and again
at 7 weeks with parvo
vaccine. When your puppy is
10 weeks he will start his
DHLPP vaccinations from your
veterinarian. Do not allow
your vet to give the rabies
shot with the DHLPP. Wait
at least a month and then
give the rabies vaccine.
*ANESTHESIA AND
TRANQUILIZERS WITH X-RAYS OR
SURGERY*
If your Dane ever has to be
anesthetized or tranquilized
for any reason, including an
ear crop, neutering, etc.,
please inform your vet
each and every time that
Great Danes are extremely
sensitive to both and that
one fourth to one third of
the recommended dose for the
Dane’s weight is generally
enough. If they
start with one half or more
of the recommended dose for
the Dane’s weight, your
Dane’s life may be at
risk!!!!!!
*HEARTWORM MEDICATION*
Put you Dane
on heartworm preventative at
three months of age and give
the medication year round,
no matter what climate you
live in! If you prefer not
to give daily medication, a
monthly wormer is available.
Do not miss medication! Do
not discontinue medication
during winter months.
Please let
me stress again, your dog’s
health and well being is
dependent upon receiving
this preventative year round
with no interruptions. If
you do not keep your Dane on
a scheduled heartworm
preventative your guarantee
will not be honored.
*NEVER LEAVE MOISTENED
KIBBLE DOWN FOR VERY LONG*
*DO NOT FEED YOUNG PUPPIES
ANY FOOD WITH MORE THAN 26%
PROTEIN*
Proper feeding is of
critical importance. There
is no readily available dog
food formulated especially
for giant breeds. Many
foods feature puppy,
maintenance, less active,
and high protein formulas,
but are formulated for the
“average” dog. Since most
puppy formulas are high
protein, you should not feed
puppy food. Check the
label, but most are 26% to
32%
.
Your
puppy will be on Iam’s
Adult in the green bag. You
will always feed twice
daily. Once in the morning
and once in the evening.
Start with two cups of
kibble when you get your
puppy home and adjust the
portions from there.
Remember that all of our
puppies eat out of the same
bowls and we have no idea
exactly how much each puppy
eats.
You will be asked if you can
get this food before
purchase of the puppy. It
is available at Pet Smart
and most grocery stores.
Make sure that you can
acquire this food before
your puppy comes home. You
will always for the entire
life of your Great Dane wet
the food and add a couple of
tablespoons of a good canned
food. We use Pedigree
canned to add in with the
chicken and rice we cook
daily in a pressure cooker.
We never free feed. You
give them 15 minutes to eat
and then PICK IT UP!
Always feed twice a day. “
Never once a day for
the entire life of your
dog.”
Never leave moistened kibble
down for more than 15
minutes or so. Moistened
kibble sours quickly outside
in the summer and will also
sour at room temperature.
Sour food can contribute
to the development of bloat
and/or torsion.
*NEVER CHANGE BRANDS OF DOG
FOOD SUDDENLY! TAKE A FEW
DAYS.*
A sudden change of food can
result in a case of bloat
and/or torsion. If you want to change
kibble, do so over a few
days. The first day, feed ¾
old brand food and ¼ new
brand food. The second day,
feed half new brand kibble
and half old brand kibble.
The third day, feed ¾ new
brand kibble and ¼ old brand
kibble. The fourth day,
feed all new brand kibble.
*DO NOT ALLOW EXCESSIVE
WATER CONSUMPTION WITH MEALS
OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER MEALS*
Consumption of a small
amount of water with meals
or immediately after meals
is normal. Excessive water
consumption with or
immediately after meals can
contribute to a bloat and/or
torsion problem. If your
Dane attempts to consume an
excessive amount of water
with or immediately after
meals, limit his or her
water intake to about eight
ounces for an hour after
meals. One hour after
meals, you can allow free
consumption of water.
With the exception of
possible controlled water
intake within an hour of
eating, always have plenty
of clean, fresh water
available for your Dane.
*KEEP YOUR DANE CALM FOR
ONE TO ONE AND ONE HALF
HOURS AFTER MEALS*
Excessive exercise
immediately after meals can
contribute to the
development of bloat and/or
torsion.
This is very important!!
*TOYS AND CHEWABLES*
Do not allow you Dane to
play with or chew old shoes,
rawhide, cow hoofs, pig
ears!!! Who is to determine
what is an old shoe and what
is a “good” shoe? Shoes are
off limits. Rawhide, cow
hoofs, and pig ears can
choke Danes.
Give your Danes
ONLY
beef shank and/or knuckle
bones. They don’t
splinter…. they chip. Other
bones can choke your Dane.
Do not feed pork or chicken
bones at all. We let our
guys have a couple of Milk
Bones a day, and a beef
shank bone with the knuckles
attached. Your grocer may
be willing to provide them.
We bake ours for just a
while so they do not get
extremely slimy.
We also let the Danes play
with gallon milk jugs,
litter drink bottles, and
stuffed toys with no plastic
eyes or nose. Once they rip
a jug or drink bottle, we
throw it away and give them
a new one.
*Bedding*
This is a heavy breed and
they have a tendency to
“plop” when they go from a
standing position to lying
down. Always provide a soft
surface for them to do so.
If they are allowed to lay
on hard surfaces
continuously, they could
develop fluid filled areas
on their elbows called
“hygromas” that sometimes
require draining and can be
quiet painful.
*SUPPLEMENTATION*
Many vets want to give Dane
pups calcium supplements.
Calcium supplements are only
not
necessary, but too
much calcium can be
harmful. We suggest at 3
months of age you start
giving your puppy 500 mg of
Ester C twice a day.
*WEIGHT CONTROL*
DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DANE TO
GET GROSSLY OVER-WEIGHT!!
Do not confuse large with
fat. Excessive weight can
result in a fatal heart
attack. So, once again,
please do not confuse large
with fat. You should be
able to easily feel your
Dane’s ribs. The ribs
should not be readily
visible.
If you keep your adult Dane
outside year round, during
the summer, you should be
able to see faint fib
ripples, not protruding
ribs. During the winter,
the ribs should be well
covered but easily felt.
This means a 10-15 pound
adjustment from summer to
winter and again from winter
to summer. The weight
adjustments should be made
slowly over a three-month
period. If your Dane is a
housedog, a constant weight
should be maintained.
Remember, you should be able
to easily feel the ribs, but
they should not protrude.
*FENCED YARDS*
Never leave a Dane in a
fenced yard when you are not
home unless the gate is
LOCKED. Leaving a Dane in
the yard with an unlocked
gate is asking for trouble.
A child could open the gate
to play with your Dane and
accidentally let the Dane
out. Your Dane could be hit
by a car, get lost, be
picked up by someone, etc.
There are individuals who
steal purebred dogs.
Locking your gate will make
theft more difficult,
especially as the Dane
matures, and will generally
avoid unnecessary problems.
*COLLARS*
Never leave a choke collar
on a Dane, and never
leave any collar on an
unattended puppy. If a
pup’s collar gets caught on
something, the pup will
panic and can choke itself.
We’ve known of several cases
of adult dogs who, while
playing with another dog,
got their choke collars
entangled; could not get the
collars untangled; and
choked to death.
*EAR CROPPING*
We do not crop ears
anymore. If you elect to do
so make sure you find a
supportive DVM that is
willing to help you with the
tapings if you can’t do it
yourself. Also consider
that it can take up to a
year in some cases to get
the ears to stand. So if
you don’t have the patience
or the time don’t do it. If
you are determined to crop
the ears they need to be
done between 8 and 12 weeks
of age. The earlier the
better.
*HEARTWORM MEDICATION*
Put your Dane on heartworm
preventative at three months
and give the medication year
round. If you prefer not to
give daily medication, a
monthly wormer is
available. Do not miss
medication! Do not
discontinue medication
during winter months.
*WORMING*
Most Danes will require
worming a couple of times a
year, so have your Dane
checked every four to six
months by taking a stool
sample to your vet and
asking him/her to check for
parasites. If you observe
blood in your Dane’s stool,
or you can’t seem to keep
him/her in good weight,
although food consumption is
good, check for worms.
*BOOSTER SHOTS*
Distemper, parvo and rabies
(unless your Dane had the 3
year shot) are boostered
annually. Keep accurate
records of your Danes
immunizations.
*EXERCISE*
Most Danes do not require a
vast amount of exercise.
Walking with you is great.
They can play fetch and
retrieve a ball, but Great
Danes are so large that all
unnecessary stress to their
skeletal system should be
avoided, especially for
their first two years. As
most jogging is done on
concrete, Danes are not good
candidates for jogging
partners. Jogging is very
hard on their hips and can
destroy a sound set of
hips. Do not take your
Dane jogging.
*TRAINING*
If you raise your Dane as
you would a child with love,
discipline, rules, and
praise, you will have a
super pet. These guys are
not dumb animals. They are
intelligent, often
stubborn…don’t sell them
short! They are capable of
every emotion that you
experience. When you are
having a bad day, your Dane
may be smarter than you are.J
Do not allow a puppy to do
anything that you would not
want a 150 pound Dane
doing!!
*PROBLEMS*
If you have a problem with
your Dane, never hesitate to
call us. If our recorder answers,
leave your name, area
code, phone number, and
state. We will get back
to you as quickly as
possible. If it is an
emergency, so state on the
recorder, and we will call
you as soon as we get the
message, regardless of the
hour!
Never fail to call us if you
need advice or suggestions
with a physical problem, a
medical problem, or a
behavior problem. We are
always willing to call you
back. Remember, we cannot
be expected to guarantee the
Dane if we are unaware of
the problem. If a problem
exists, we need to know
about it immediately in
order to provide meaningful
input for its resolution.
*INSTRUCTIONAL CONFLICTS*
If you are using a
veterinarian whose
instructions conflict with
ours, remember, we guarantee
your Dane. Your vet does
not. Our instructions must
take priority.
If there are instructional
conflicts and you are
uncomfortable, please call
us immediately so that the
conflict can be quickly
resolved.
*Returning your puppy or dog
to us*
If for any reason you cannot
keep your puppy, we reserve
the right to be notified and
may require you return the
dog or puppy Littlehorse in
order to find it proper
placement.
If shipping is
required the owner agrees to
ship the puppy or dog back
to us at their expense.
When we rehome the puppy the
adoption fee will be sent to
original owner.
If
you place your puppy in
another home that we haven’t
approved of we will not
transfer the guarantee or
the A.K.C. registration.
At
no time do we agree to
refund money. We are not
responsible for any expenses
incurred by one of our puppies.
All puppies have a “puppy
replacement” guarantee if
they fall under our health
clause. Such as hip
dysplasia, enlarged hearts
at less than 7 years of age,
or general health.
(That does not mean that you
return your dog to us. We
would not expect you to give
up a family member.)