Great Dane grooming – Part 1
February 22, 2011 
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The gentle giant, majestic, proud, loyal and friendly all describe the Great Dane. Great Dane’s are truly a joy to have as pets. They love people, are easy going and easy to care for. These massive creatures require little in the way of grooming. Your Great Dane will reward the time you spend on grooming them with more love and devotion than you could have imagined.
Great Dane’s are a short haired breed so their coat requires little maintenance. They do shed but it is far less than longer haired breeds. Maintaining their coat requires only a simple brushing. Some recommend a daily brushing but every few days will work just as well. The Great Dane usually enjoys this time because of the physical contact with their owner. Brushing with a firm bristle or body brush will help to loosen dirt and dead hairs and help keep the coat shiny and smooth.
Bathing a Great Dane can be quite a challenge given their size. Fortunately Great Danes should not be bathed very often due to their affinity for dry skin. Bathing too often will strip their coats of essential oils necessary for healthy hair and skin. When you do bathe a Great Dane, do not use human shampoo as this will irritate their skin and leave them with a dry itchy coat. A dry shampoo works well for Great Danes and is a lot easier on the owner.
Cleaning a Great Dane’s ears is an important part of the weekly grooming. Special cleansers are available but Tree Tea Oil works well too. Once a week squirt a little of the cleanser down into the ear canal then gently massage the area just below the ears for a minute or so. Most dogs will shake as soon as you are done massaging so be prepared because some of the cleanser will escape the ear canal. After massaging, take a soft cloth and gently wipe the inside of the ear and down into the canal to remove dirt and debris. Cleaning the ears weekly will reduce the risk of infection and because you are watching the ears regularly, you will immediately notice if redness or irritation is present.
Taking care of the Great Dane’s teeth is simple and will reduce the chances of developing tooth or gum disease. You can literally brush your dog’s teeth but it is much simpler to give him a bone 2 or 3 times a week. The action of gnawing on the bone helps to scour the teeth removing plaque and tarter build up. If you do not want to give your dog raw bones then brushing the teeth is really the only way you can ensure the dental health of your dog.
The final aspect
