18/05/2026
A well articulated post by Michelle Hickey
New puppy buyers just be very careful who contacts you to buy a puppy as not everybody is an ethical breeder. I’ve compiled a basic list of what to look for when purchasing a great Dane puppy.
Here’s a practical checklist of what responsible breeders should test for, what paperwork you should expect, and the red flags to look for
What To Look For in an Australian Great Dane Breeder
1. ANKC / Dogs Australia Registration
This is the starting point — not the finish line.
A reputable breeder should be registered with:
* Dogs Queensland
* Dogs NSW
* Dogs Victoria
* etc.
under the umbrella of:
* Dogs Australia
Important:
Being ANKC registered alone does not guarantee ethical breeding or proper health testing.
Good breeders go beyond minimum requirements.
Ask:
* Are the puppies on:
* Main Register?
* Limited Register?
* What endorsements apply?
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Essential Health Testing in Australia
2. Heart Testing (Critical in Great Danes)
Cardiac disease is one of the biggest long-term problems in Australian lines too.
Ideal testing:
* Echocardiogram performed by a veterinary cardiologist
* Holter monitoring where possible
* Annual re-testing on breeding stock
Reality in Australia:
Not all breeders Holter test due to availability and cost — but serious preservation breeders increasingly do.
Green flag:
Breeder understands:
* DCM
* arrhythmias
* sudden cardiac death risks
Red flags:
* “Our lines are clear” with no specialist testing
* Only routine vet checks
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3. Hip and Elbow Scoring
Australian breeders commonly use:
* AVA scoring scheme
* PennHIP (less common but respected)
What to ask for:
* Official hip scores
* Elbow scores
* Breed averages
Important:
A breeder should understand that structure affects longevity and soundness — not just show wins.
Red flag:
Breeding very young dogs before full maturity.
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4. Thyroid Testing
Still under-utilised in Australia compared with the US, but increasingly important.
Good breeders:
* Run full thyroid panels on breeding dogs
* Track autoimmune issues within lines
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5. Eye Testing
Not as heavily emphasised in Danes as some breeds, but responsible breeders still monitor eye health.
Look for:
* ACES eye examinations
* Openness about entropion, ectropion, cataracts etc.
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Understanding Colour Ethics in Australia
This is a major issue locally.
Under the Australian standard, accepted colours are:
* Fawn
* Brindle
* Blue
* Black
* Harlequin
* Mantle
Be cautious of breeders heavily advertising:
* “Rare colours”
* Merle-only programs
* Chocolate
* Lilac
* Blue fawn
* “Platinum”
* Patchwork marketing gimmicks
Many ethical Australian Dane breeders consider colour-only programs a major red flag if health and structure are secondary.
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Temperament Matters Enormously
A correct Great Dane temperament should be:
* Stable
* Calm
* Confident
* Reliable with people
Not:
* Sharp
* Fearful
* Hyper-reactive
In Australia, watch carefully for:
* Anxiety issues
* Poor nerve
* Overly timid Danes
These problems are becoming more common in poorly bred giant breeds.
Ask:
* Can you meet adult dogs?
* Have the parents done:
* showing
* obedience
* therapy
* temperament assessments?
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Raising Conditions Matter
The best Australian breeders usually raise puppies:
* In the home
* With enrichment
* On varied surfaces
* Around household noise
* With early socialisation
Green flags:
* Puppy culture concepts
* Confidence building
* Toilet training foundations
* Crate introduction
Red flags:
* Puppies raised entirely in outdoor kennels
* Dirty yards
* Minimal human interaction
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Bloat (GDV) Knowledge Is Essential
Gastric dilatation-volvulus is one of the leading killers of Great Danes worldwide, including Australia.
Good breeders should:
* Discuss it openly
* Know their line history
* Talk about feeding management
* Discuss prophylactic gastropexy
Huge red flag:
Breeder claims bloat “isn’t in their lines” and dismisses the discussion entirely.
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Show Results Are Helpful — But Not Everything
In Australia, conformation showing can tell you:
* the breeder participates in the breed community
* dogs have been evaluated against the standard
But:
A champion title alone does not equal health or ethical breeding.
The best breeders balance:
* health
* structure
* temperament
* longevity
* type
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Longevity Is Extremely Important
One of the smartest questions you can ask an Australian breeder:
“How long do your dogs typically live?”
A breeder focused only on ribbons may avoid discussing lifespan.
Good breeders often track:
* age at death
* cancer trends
* cardiac deaths
* bloat incidence
For Great Danes, longevity is hugely valuable.
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Contracts & Breeder Support
A quality Australian breeder should provide:
* Written sales contract
* Health guarantees/explanations
* Lifetime return policy
* Ongoing mentorship
Green flag:
Breeder remains invested in every puppy for life.
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Puppy Pricing in Australia
Ethically bred Great Danes in Australia are expensive to produce.
Very low pricing can indicate corners being cut on:
* health testing
* nutrition
* veterinary care
* socialisation
But very high pricing alone also does not equal quality.
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Massive Red Flags in Australia
Avoid breeders who:
* Constantly have litters available
* Breed multiple giant breeds commercially
* Sell “rare colours” aggressively
* Refuse health documentation
* Breed underage dogs
* Won’t discuss weaknesses in their lines
* Have fearful adult dogs
* Prioritise huge size over structure
* Use phrases like:
* “European lines” as marketing only
* “XXL”
* “King Danes”
* “oversized”
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What the Best Australian Great Dane Breeders Usually Have in Common
They are:
* brutally honest about the breed
* selective about homes
* deeply knowledgeable about pedigrees
* transparent about health problems
* active in the breed community
* focused on preserving correct Dane temperament and structure
And importantly:
They usually talk just as much about what they are trying to improve as what they are proud of .
