Great Dane — Junior Care
Care recommendations — Junior stage
As a Great Dane moves into the junior stage, keep exercise controlled and low-impact — giant breeds take up to 18-24 months to finish growing, and excess strain on developing joints now can cause problems later. Most individuals can transition toward a quality adult-maintenance diet around now, and this is also a common point to ask a vet about spay or neuter timing if it hasn't happened already. Provide a steady mix of daily walks, play sessions, and mental enrichment suited to its moderate energy level, since dogs at this age typically have energy and enthusiasm to spare, and keep up the training and grooming habits introduced as a puppy so they stay a normal, low-stress part of handling.
⚠️ Watch for
It's still uncommon at this age to see clear signs of the conditions Great Danes are predisposed to, but it doesn't hurt to ask a vet whether early baseline screening makes sense. Keep an eye out for a distended abdomen, unproductive retching, restlessness, or sudden distress — this is a medical emergency requiring immediate veterinary care, or lethargy, coughing, reduced exercise tolerance, or labored breathing, and mention anything unusual at routine visits.
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