The Best Grooming Practices for Great Danes

The recipient of a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Winona State University, Mike Loftus is the owner of the Elmhurst, IL-based MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions. When he isn’t overseeing day-to-day operations at MLE, which serves clients in the Chicago metropolitan area and beyond, Mike Loftus enjoys spending time at home with his family and four dogs, two of which are Great Danes.

Great Danes are an extremely low-odor breed and, as a result, do not require regular baths or visits to local dog-grooming establishments. In fact, giving your Great Dane regular baths may actually have negative effects, as doing so can strip essential oils from their coat. As such, you should limit baths to between six and eight weeks; in the warmer months, consider simply letting them play around in a pond or other body of fresh water. When you do give Great Danes a bath, be sure to first loosen dirt and debris with a high-velocity dryer or slicker brush.

Generally speaking, Great Danes shed most during the spring. While they do so about the same amount as other short-haired breeds, they can shed an excessive amount of hair if experiencing nutritional or skin conditions. If you notice excessive hair loss, consider a nutritional supplement or thyroid test. You can also brush their coat once per day to reduce shedding.

Another important element of proper Great Dane grooming is cleaning their ears, which should be done once per week to minimize the possibility of ear infections. You can complete an ear cleaning using water or products that contain aloe vera.