Tropicals & Tender Perennials: New Photo Thread is here:, 1 by crestedchik

crestedchik wrote:
I agree they look more regal with the ears cropped,we went back and forth on the cropping ,yes,no,yes ,and she has been such a pain about them we also said ,nope ,not gunna do it when we get the new pup this spring ,but......now that her ears are starting to stand up ,and as much as the breed standard says they can be uncropped,I've rarely seen a Dane do well in the show ring with uncropped ears.
We didn't get hers done till she was 12 weeks,(the next one is getting done at 5 weeks)that was the oldest they could be according to the vet.We drove 6 hours to take her to the vet .He's the one the breeders here in this area use for show crops.If it was a pet crop I would have taken her to my regular vet,but her ears were enormous and thick so it was gunna take a vet that really knew what he was doing.This guy is an artist!He wanted pictures of what ears we liked,and he drew out what he was doing to do.After the cropping they glued a sponge to the ears...that stayed on for 2 or 3 weeks and then you start the taping.

Kell,they put the springs in the ears,it then builds up the cartilage to make them stand on their own,then they remove them.
It costs 500 bucks ,but after the hassle with vixen its gunna be well worth it on a new pup
I've probably spent 400 on tape and glue so far....LOL
I also have them on an expensive food.Natural Balance,and she's never had puppy food.I was told to keep her protein under 23%.It is expensive and while they are growing they eat a lot,but the Cinders eat no more than a lab does .I add a 1/4 of a can to each of their bowls 2x's a day,so thats only 1 can of food a day,a big dollop of plain yogurt,and I give the esterC and glucosamine every day.
I use to have Newfoundlands and I had one end up with elbow displacia because he grew too fast(I was feeding Eukanuba)The vet had me change to a grocery store food and just kinda kept with it over the years....
I can't believe the difference in Cinders since I started her on Natural Balance.Vixens breeder gave me a choice of 10 good foods and thats the one I could find around here.Its at Petco ,and a pain in the butt to get but the difference is worth it.Cinders has gained weight,her coat is so shiny and soft,they don't poop as much(which with the size of Danes is a good thing when you are on Dog Poop Patrol)
Yeah they cost more at the vets,every thing goes by weight!
And I put a doggie door in for the,it cost as much as the door did...LOL
And someone made a comment that the doggie door is big enough for burgulars to come in the house thru,but what idiot is gunna crawl thru a door that big knowing there are dogs that size that come thru that door...LOL

What kind of Digestive enzyme do you give Apollo?

Here's a picture of Vixen with the sponge on her head after the cropping.....