Hi all well i have a new rescue addition a 9 week old Great Dane called Seren...im just wondering if any Great Dane owners out there can tell me what weight a 9 week old pup should be..i know she is underweight...only 8kg...any ideas what i can feed her to put the weight on ...i also know i shouldnt put too much weight on her too fast as this can cause problems later on ...so any help would be greatfully received:)

Donna x

A rescue ...at 9 weeks of age ? :( :( :(

Yes fraid so ...she was in danger of being pts as possibly deaf :(
But she is now my little baby :)
Well littleish for now!
Donna x

Have she been BAER hearing tested? That is the only way to know for sure, and should be done asap - if you don't start the correct training methods for a deaf dog early, it can lead to great behavioural problems later on.

See here for testing centres.

Hi Donna

OK - what are you feeding her on now? She needs to be on 4 meals a day - I can recommend a good diet sheet if you wish? I have 2 danes. What colour is she? Do you know for definite she is deaf? Has she been wormed and innoculated yet?

Let me know and I'll see what I can do to help :)

C

Hi Chloe ...well i read that you should avoid puppy foods if possible for Great Danes...so i have been giving her Chappie tin and dried mixed 3 times a day ...will definitely up it to 4 times now though...all my dogs are on chappie since my Gsd had a very dodgy tummy and its the only thing that gives him relief. Is this okay for Danes or can you recommend something else ? A diet sheet would be most welcome...thankyou :)
I only got Seren on Saturday...so am in the deep end and learning to swim fast!
As far as i can tell from looking at pages and info on the net i think she is a Double Merle White which would explain the possible deafness. I dont know for definite we have been to the vets and had 2 vets look at her and do usual clapping etc but as you know thats not a true test and i do think she has some hearing...the breeder didnt get her tested.
She has been wormed the breeder told me she had but i did her myself with drontal too just to make sure :)
She has just had her first vaccinations.
Thankyou

Donna x

Jeangenie no she hasnt been tested i believe that was too expensive ;) not for me you understand...i have already started her training using handsignals.

As you know, hand-clapping is pretty much useless as a hearing test. Get her properly tested, then you can get professional advice on her training.
:)

The breeder thought roughly £30 was too expensive? :( Bad breeder

Hi

OK - diet first. Chappie is not really good enough to raise a dane puppy on I'm afraid - so, you need to get her on something like the following:

Breakfast:
Scrambled eggs
Lunch:
A good quality dry food - I have mine on Burns Complete Vennison and Rice. Its an excellent food, they deliver to the door, It soaks well and is a good protein level. Burns.
Drink of goats milk
Vitamin C tablet
Dinner:
Tripe. Raw Tripe. Preferably green, with a handful of Burns as a mixer
Supper:
Burns again - soaked.

In a few months time you can drop the supper, and mix the scrambled egg with some Burns. You don't want to over feed her...she needs small amounts often :)

As an adult, she will need two meals a day. Mine have a big bowlful of Burns for breakfast and Tripe and a mixer for dinner. She will need a raised bowl for water and for food. You can see my danes if you click on my profile and then on my site :)

I will ask Grace to pop along and talk to you about the deafness/genetic/colour issue

Thanx Jeangenie for the link i think the expense part came into the fact that there is not a local test centre ;).
Chloe Thanks so much will get her on Burns from tomorrow ...my others used to be on it until Spirits bad tum!
Raised bowls is to reduce risk of bloat ? Is that right?
Thanx so much will look at your profile now :)
Donna x

Hi

You need to raise her bowl in a couple of months. You also need to make sure she is quiet before and after feeding (especially after) and is not walked for an hour before nor 2 hours after feeding. Other than that - you will have a lovely dog on your hands :) Good luck - keep in touch please :)

C

:) Your pics are wonderful!
I will keep in touch dont worry i will need all the help i can get!
She has only been here since Saturday and has already made herself quite at home...she is the noisiest pup i have ever looked after and ive looked after a few ! So noisy that she has to come up and sleep with us otherwise she would wake the other dogs and the children...hubby keeps saying its great now but in a few months a horse in our bed will not be a good idea...i just told him she will have to have her own bedroom then ;)
Is 8kg very underweight for her age? I saw her siblings and they looked twice the size of her :(

Donna x

Hi

She wants to be about 10kilos in weight. You could also try raising her bowl from now. I didn't with Willis, but Phoebe's breeder did from an early age and she recommends it. I also poured corn oil in their bowls - means they lick every bit and you get nice clean bowls. Tuna is also good mixed into the scrambled egg occasionally, and don't forget the vit C :)

Get her on all this and she will really grow - you will see a difference very quickly :)