A Giant-Pawed Great Dane Puppy Hugged a Pony on a Snowy Day

Snow covers the lawn as a wrinkly fawn Great Dane puppy leans against the neck of a resting shaggy pony. The puppy's big paws are stretched in front, and his face presses gently against her cheek, while the pony rests with eyes half closed and her thick mane dusted with snowflakes. A wooden fence and bare shrubs stand behind them in the cold light.

We could call the pony Clover and the puppy Duke. Duke is still growing into his enormous paws, and he clings to Clover like a child with a favorite blanket. Her thick winter coat keeps her warm, and she gives him a little of it.

Great Dane puppies grow astonishingly fast, which means they need a good-quality puppy food suited to large breeds and gentle, limited exercise so their joints can develop. Ask your vet for a feeding plan. Short-coated dogs like Danes can chill quickly in winter, so limit time outside and provide a warm coat if needed. Ponies grow a fluffy winter coat and are usually comfortable in cold weather if they have shelter from wind and wet, plus plenty of hay and unfrozen water. Watch both animals for shivering and bring them in if the temperature drops too low.

With a hug like that, Duke and Clover have nothing to fear from the winter.