Usually The Great Dane grows up until 36 months.
An incorrect feeding can provoke skeletal abnormalities. The calcium excess can cause concentration in the intestinal lumen, increase absorption and plasmatic calcium. The persistent hypocalcaemia results in the extreme secretion of calcitonin, slows down the parathyroid activity, intervening with the maturation, accenting the apposition, reducing bones and culminating with osteochondrosis in different places. A correct feeding promotes an appropriate growth and it prevents future sequels. It is fundamental that the food offered to the dog it is adapted to great races, with a tenor of calcium close to 1%.

Any fails nutritional will compromise his future. The diet for dogs in growth is different from the adults, because it requires higher amount of nutrients (usually with a higher protein ).

An adjusted formula with protein, minerals and vitamins allows a perfect synchronism in the dog’s growth. The food must be always offered dry.

Your dog must only be fed the appropriate ration, don’t give another food to him, besides not being good to the dog’s health, it can confuse his appetite and worse, it can transform your dog in a inopportune beggar. Affection can cause the same effect as piece of bread. So, candies, breads, biscuits, soft drinks, gravies, spiced food, potatoes, fats, fried food and bones are prohibited.

Special bones are recommended for dogs. Dog biscuits are an excellent alternative for people who don’t  resist offering treats.  And it also can help the teeth’s cleanness and fortify his jaw depending on the biscuit’s texture.

Other important aspect to observe is the place where you place the dog food, check if the food is offered in a correct height. Water and ration must never be offered on the floor. The food must be in a level where the animal doesn’t have to bend to feed himself; this position prevents posture problems and bones decreases.  Don’t put water and food on the same side, put them on opposite sides. 

Protein is a source of essential amino acid and participates in almost every level of the biochemist activity; if it is offered in a correct dose, it can produce proper muscular development. Fats are concentrated forms of energy, they highlight food flavor and provide soft and shining fur. Carbohydrates help in the digestion process and produce small, firmer excrements. Vitamins stimulate the immunologic system preventing infectious pathologies, act against stress and catalyze chemical reactions. Minerals provide teeth and bones’ development and act in the water-electrolyte metabolism. Quality industrialized food has all these ingredients in its formula, with balance to each animal’s phase. It is more practical, and its crunchy texture avoids accumulation of food residues in their teeth preventing tartar formation. Not mentioning that it helps to get more consistent stools.

BEHAVIOR and TRAINING

An important and specific point to mention about The Great Dane is the avoidance of his excessive jumping and mainly in people. As this dog is   a “heavy" breed, these kind of activities can provoke tendon injuries, joint injuries and are an undesirable behavior since your dog will be a big animal. Another important point is to avoid exercising after feeding. This can cause what we know as "gastric twist" and immediately causes the dog’s death.

Puppies
When a puppy arrives in your house you must focus on his education otherwise he can become an inconvenient dog.  It is necessary to talk about “the canine psychology” in order for you to be successful in your dog’s education. Théo Gygas, the author of "the Dog in Our House" says in his book that dogs are pack animals and they choose a leader in their pack of hounds, and all members must be subordinated to it. Gygas compares his statement by observing that in the present dogs hasn’t changed much; they choose their owner as a leader and obey him. Gygas advises about the necessity to demonstrate his or her leadership being firm and just. Any signal of weakness or condescension is interpreted by the animal instinct as subordination and the authority is inverted. So, when you give an order do him, be firm, don’t be rude, and at the same time praise and reward your dog with a treat when it deserves.
1st Night
Puppies cry in their first days, it’s natural because everything is new in their new home. One of the options is to offer a comfortable and warm place to sleep and it is also helpful to put an alarm-clock (its “tic-tac” sound helps the dog sleep). The place must be aired, dry, clean and without airflows.
Hygiene
To avoid  your puppy making mess in your house with his excrements, here are some tips: separate a place for this purpose, clean it every day and probably your dog will use it after feeding, therefore the movement in the digestive system stimulates the defecation and  is a good opportunity to praise your dog. People who live in apartments will find it helpful to put several newspaper sheets on the floor, and as soon as it becomes dirty you can easily remove it and put another one in its place.  If you prefer, there is a special carpet for this purpose.

HEALTH

VACCINES
In order for your puppy to have a healthy life, the first thing you have to do is to vaccinate it. A veterinarian will help you and they should be vaccinated in agreement with your doctor. It will be necessary an annual reinforcement of all the vaccines, to always maintain it immune. Don’t take walks with your puppy before it had received all vaccines your dog can be exposed to illnesses easily if it is not immunized, besides, there are serious illnesses known as Distemper (Canine Distemper Virus) and Parvovirus infection.

WALK
Avoid going outside in hot days or specific hours of the day, the best time to take walks are early in the morning and at the end of the afternoon.

DRINK
Your dog’s water must be clean, always keep the container full of fresh water in a cool place. Usually we use buckets since our friend will become a big dog and regular containers will be unconventional for it.

WORMS
Internal parasites
Worms frequently are found in dogs, that’s why it is necessary to make a periodic excrement examination, followed by treatment prescribed by the veterinarian. The parasites can cause debility, abdominal distend, diarrhea, reduce weight, anemia and depending on the worm can cause the dog’s death.
External parasites
(Fleas, ticks, lice and mites)They bother the animal, moreover, contaminated ticks transmit babesiosis and the ehrlichiosis, and these illnesses can cause death. The ingested fleas can contaminate them with taenia. Usually we use products like “Front Line”* to kill fleas and ticks.

SCABIES
(Mites) A dog is infected by: otodécica  (Otodectes cynotis), demodicosis (Demodex Canix) and Sarcoptic (Sarcoptes Scabiei). There are products to kill these parasites.
To be successful it is necessary to exterminate them in the environment where they live too. It is important not to use females bearers of scabies demodex, or even of lineages that already presented the scabies. Even so it is practically impossible to say, with certainty, that certain animal won't present in any signs of the same moment of stress in his life. 
The creator should always avoid that dogs that possess defects or undesirable characteristics continue as reproducers. Those dogs are wonderful companions, but they should not be used as reproducers.

BATHS
Puppies
Don’t give baths to your puppy before his first vaccination period. Before this period your puppy won’t be immunized and can be sick. To prevent it, you have to do a hygienic cleaning, using water and vinegar and soaking a cloth in this solution to clean the animal and his genital area. Then, dry it, clean his ears with cotton soaked in alcohol (pay attention: it’s not necessary alcohol in excess). Try to do this hygienic cleaning in hot days or in the warmer hours during cold season. For puppies older than 4 months we must choose hot days to give baths, but in this case you can give a full bath. Avoid water inside the dog's ears, to prevent otitis (ear inflammation), cover them with cotton.
Adults
It is given in agreement with the need, because the skin of the dog possesses glands sebaceous that provide to the body a greasy protection, defending it against the heat and the cold.

BRISHING
Brushing must be made very often to remove dead fur and  cells. Start brushing against the dog’s fur and then change this position using a specific brush for your dog’s breed.  By doing this, his fur will be always shining.

NAILS
Usually nails grow quickly in dogs which live inside houses. It is very important to trim them; otherwise it can hurt the animal or cause it to scratch someone. This process must only be done by veterinarians. Big nails also influence the animal movement and can cause pain and inflammation.

PAWS
An important characteristic of The Great Dane are his feet. These must always be observed, in the dry and cold climate they can present drying and cracks and that can be easily treated using a moisturizing cream (preferably unscented) applied without excess.

CALLUSES
The Great Dane tends to have calluses in his elbows, paws, and in his body. It happens because they are heavy dogs and sometimes they don’t lie down, they just sprawl and constantly hit his elbows. It can cause calluses and swollen, to solve this problem use special mattresses for dogs. Also we use a mixture of cream: moisturizing cream and some drops of “Aderogil” (vitamin A). Use this mixture in areas that tend to have calluses twice a day to prevent the formation of new ones. You must take care about calluses since the dog’s early age; this race has a natural tendency to have lots of them. It’s a hard work, but it needs to be prevented.

ENVIRONMENT
It is important for your dog to live in a sunny place, but it’s not necessary to take a sun bath for a long period. The area must be cleaned and if it’s possible, plant some grass on it. If you have a swimming pool pay attention: it’s necessary to put special stairs and teach your dog how to use it (in case he falls in). Under no circumstances let your dog imprisoned, this may cause bone problems and change his behavior.

EXERCISES
Your dog must be stimulated to exercise since The Great Dane is a lazy dog. It’s not necessary to exercise too long, avoid excesses and jumps.