Includes bibliographical references (pages 211-212) and index.

1. Are You Sure You Want a Great Dane? 1 -- Can You Handle the "Demolition Factor?" 2 -- 2. Great Dane's Ancestry 5 -- 3. Official Standard for the Great Dane 9 -- Official Standard for the Great Dane 10 -- 4. Finding the Right Great Dane for You 23 -- Interviewing the Breeder 26 -- Breeder's Turn to Question You 31 -- Alternatives to a Puppy 32 -- Choosing Your New Great Dane 34 -- Selecting a Show/Breeding Prospect 36 -- Contracts 38 -- General Information About Your New Great Dane Puppy 41 -- 5. Living with a Great Dane 47 -- Getting the Right Crate 47 -- Proper Use of Crates 48 -- Early Training and Socialization 49 -- Early Obedience Training 51 -- Special Dog, Special Bed 54 -- 6. Keeping Your Great Dane Happy and Healthy 57 -- Health Problems that Can Affect Great Danes 58 -- Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD), or a Blood Infection (Septicemia) 63 -- Finding a Vet for Your Dane 73 -- Vaccinations 73 -- A Brief Description of Serious Diseases 74 -- Spaying and Neutering 77 -- Emergencies and First Aid 79 -- 7. Caring for Your Great Dane 85 -- "Growing" a Great Dane 85 -- Feeding a Great Dane Puppy 89 -- Exercise 90 -- To Crop or Not to Crop 91 -- 8. Grooming Your Great Dane 101 -- Nails 101 -- Dental Care 102 -- Coat Care 102 -- Regular Bathing 103 -- Ears 104 -- Grooming for Show 104 -- 9. Showing Your Great Dane 107 -- How Do AKC Dog Shows Work? 107 -- How Does a Dog Become a Champion? 110 -- How Do You Enter a Dog Show? 111 -- Show Equipment 113 -- Your First Dog Show 113 -- Handlers and Handling Fees 116 -- Choosing a Handler 117 -- 10. Obedience Trials, Performance Activities and Other Fun Things / Lyn Richards 121 -- Basic/Pet Obedience: A Solid Foundation 122 -- Obedience Trials 124 -- Canine Good Citizen Program, Therapy Dog Training, Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) 126 -- Tracking 130 -- Flyball 131 -- Agility 132 -- Freestyle Heeling 132 -- Musical Freestyle (Dog Dancing) 133 -- Frisbee Competition (Flying Disc) 134 -- Search and Rescue (SAR) 136 -- Trick Training and My Dog Can Do That (MDCDT) Tournament Training 137.