How We Breed Amazing Puppies
Temperament
Our Blue Great Dane puppies are gentle giants with affectionate, loving personalities. We carefully select well balanced dogs with calm dispositions that meet the breed standard and purposely match the breeding pair to enhance the best personality traits.
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Although they are known for their calm nature, Great Danes also have a wonderfully goofy side! These puppies love to entertain and will often show off their silly antics. They are not overly excitable, making them ideal for homes where peace and tranquility are important. While they may enjoy the occasional play session, they are perfectly content lounging around and being your couch companion.
Health
We take the health of our Great Danes very seriously, and we are proud to offer puppies from breeding pairs that have undergone extensive DNA testing for genetic health conditions. This means our puppies have the best possible start in life with parents who are free from common inherited diseases.
We also ensure our breeding pairs have passed all required physical health screenings including OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) health testing. OFA health testing is an essential part of ensuring the physical well-being of our dogs. It includes screenings for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and over 200 potential structural or genetic issues. By passing these tests they have demonstrated that they are free from these common conditions, ensuring that their puppies will have the best foundation for a healthy, active life.
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Beyond DNA and physical health tests, we also perform a "conformation evaluation" or simply "conformation." This involves visually assessing the dog’s physical characteristics, such as size, structure, coat, and overall appearance, to ensure they match the breed standard.
How We Raise Amazing Puppies
We begin handling our puppies very gently and briefly during the first days of life. Early neurological stimulation also known as ENS begins with holding them to close to our heart to ensure their first interactions with humans are safe and loving. We use light touch on the face, ears, back, belly, tail, and paws and increase stimulation as they grow. These first interactions are very critical to instilling trust and safety.
Beyond the initial 3 weeks, we also follow the "Rule of 7-7-7", "Rule of "3-3-3", and the "BADASS Breeder" process. The first weeks of life are the most important to creating a positive human relationship and we work with all of our puppies to establish this foundation.
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​​What is ENS?
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Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) is a series of exercises performed with puppies during their first few weeks of life to promote healthy development. Here are some of the benefits of ENS for puppies:
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Improved Stress Tolerance: ENS helps puppies develop a better ability to handle stress and new experiences throughout their lives, making them more adaptable in different environments.
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Better Immune System Function: It is believed that ENS can strengthen the immune system, leading to healthier, more resilient puppies.
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Enhanced Learning and Problem-Solving: Puppies exposed to ENS are often quicker to learn and more responsive to training, as their brains are stimulated during critical developmental periods.
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Increased Socialization Skills: ENS promotes better social behaviors, making puppies more confident and well-adjusted when interacting with people, other animals, and different environments.
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Stronger Nerve Development: By gently introducing mild stressors, ENS can promote more robust nervous system development, leading to more stable and balanced adult dogs.
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Higher Quality of Life: Puppies that undergo ENS are often calmer, more adaptable, and easier to train as adults, which leads to a more fulfilling relationship between them and their owners.​​​​​​​​​
​​The Rule of 7-7-7
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We follow the rule of 7. Exposing puppies to 7 various sights, sounds, and situations by 7 weeks old. Puppies are
exposed to:
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7 different people
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7 different environments
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7 different objects or stimuli
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Early socialization is crucial for a puppy’s development, and the "Rule of 7" is a guideline from Puppy Culture that emphasizes exposing puppies to a variety of new experiences during their first 7 weeks of life. According to this rule, this early exposure helps puppies develop confidence and adaptability, reducing the likelihood of fearful or aggressive behavior as they grow. The "Rule of 7" ensures that puppies learn to cope with various sights, sounds, and situations, helping them become well-rounded, socially adept adult dogs.
The Rule of 3-3-3
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The "3-3-3 rule" is a guideline in Puppy Culture for transitioning a new puppy into their home, suggesting that the first three days should be for decompression, the next three weeks for establishing routines and basic training, and the following three months for further socialization and continued training to fully settle in.
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First 3 days:
Focus on providing a quiet space, basic needs like food and water, and minimal interaction to allow the puppy to adjust to the new surroundings without feeling overwhelmed. -
Next 3 weeks:
Begin basic training, establish a routine, and gradually introduce the puppy to different people, places, and other pets while still providing a safe space to retreat to when needed.
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First 3 months:
Continue training, socialization, and bonding with your puppy, allowing them to explore their new environment more confidently and develop a strong connection with you.
BADASS Breeder Methodology
(Behavioral and Developmental Achievements in Socialization and Sensitivity)
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​Early Socialization
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As a BADASS breeder, we prioritize the critical socialization period to ensure our puppies develop into confident, well-adjusted adults. This approach focuses on providing puppies with positive, structured exposure to a variety of people, environments, and experiences during their early weeks. By following this methodology, we expose our puppies to different sounds, sights, textures, and social interactions, helping them build a strong foundation of social skills and emotional resilience. This ensures that our puppies are not only comfortable with new experiences but are also better equipped to handle the challenges of their future homes. Through this intentional, carefully planned socialization, we aim to produce puppies who are confident, adaptable, and well-prepared to thrive in a variety of settings.
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​​​​​Sound Desensitization
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At our breeding program, we ensure that our puppies are exposed to a variety of sounds in a controlled, positive manner. As part of this approach, we carefully introduce puppies to various noise stimuli starting on DAY 18 to ensure they grow up confident and comfortable in diverse environments. By exposing them to sounds like clapping, vacuum cleaners, doorbells, and household appliances during their critical developmental windows, we help prevent future anxiety or fear of everyday noises. Through positive reinforcement, we create calm associations with these sounds, fostering well-rounded puppies who are not easily startled by noise. This focus on early, controlled exposure plays a key role in producing puppies with resilient temperaments, ready to thrive in their new homes without fear or hesitation.
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​​​Potty Training and Crate Introduction
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We begin introducing our puppies to potty training and crate training early to set them up for success in their new homes. The BADASS program emphasizes positive, gradual exposure to essential training tasks, starting as early as possible. We introduce puppies to designated potty areas to help them begin associating the right place for elimination. Simultaneously, we introduce crate training in a calm and positive way, making the crate a safe and comfortable space for rest. Using gentle, consistent methods and positive reinforcement, we help the puppies learn to adapt to these routines, which helps reduce anxiety and creates a smoother transition when they join their new families. By starting early, we lay the groundwork for well-mannered puppies who are confident in their ability to navigate essential life skills like potty training and crate use.​​​​​​​​