Great Dane Owners

[simplymisty]

I hoping that some of you own a Great Dane and you can tell me personally about them. I’m a single mom and my son is 11. We currently have a German Shepherd who is almost 6 and a Golden Retriever who will be 4 on Christmas.

I haven’t been thrilled with what I’ve been able to find out about them online. Each internet site says something different and don’t agree with each other. If you own or have owned a Great Dane, can you please tell me about your dog? Did you prefer male or female? How are they with other dogs? With kids? With living in a house (most are working dogs)? Temperament? Shedding?

Anything would be helpful!!!

 

[shadowfacedanes]

I'm on my lunch break, so this will be very brief....but to touch base on your questions - most of what you have asked will rely on genetics and training. MOST danes are good with children, MOST are good with other dogs, but as with any breed, exceptions are found within the dane as well.

I would not have a great dane that did not live indoors. They are a sensitive breed, and exiling them to life outdoors will bruise their spirits and lead to problems.

Having had both sexes, I do not prefer one over the other. Males for a first time owner can be a little pushy, but then again, so can females. They require a dominant, but gentle, owner.

For more info, feel free to take a look at my dane site: www.leansnslobbers.net

And if you have any more questions, or would like me to elaborate more on my quick answers, I'll be happy to after work this evening. .

 

[Herschel]

SimplyMisty, are you trolling by posting the same thread (with the breed name changed) or are you just looking for information on a lot of different breeds?

 

[simplymisty]

I had it under one post all together but I didn't get many responses so I thought if I broke it out by breed in my title that it might help.

Those are the breeds I'm considering but I wanted to check with everyone here first to see what other info I could get. I've already done a lot of internet research but it's different to actually hear from someone who owns and has real experience.

 

[simplymisty]

Ok, so I'm new to all this, what is trolling? I'm having a hard enough time trying to figure out the initials of dog breeds. LOL

 

[poodlesmom]

I have had the pleasure in the years past of having owned 2 Great Danes. Each were from rescue and approx. 1 yo when I got them. I absolutely love the breed! My daughter was considerably younger than your son when we got our 1st one, Samson. He was picked up as a stray. He got along wonderfully with the other dog we had at the time but was very dog aggressive with any other dogs. I personally think it was due to what he experienced when he was a stray because it was obvious by the condition of his feet when he was picked up that he had been running for a long time. The 2nd one got along with all other dogs but was initially skittish around men but based upon what I saw of his original owner he was quite justified in that feeling. With time and patience he eventually learned that men aren't necessarily bad. Both dogs co-habited with my cats just fine.

When we first got our 1st dane we lived in a relatively small 2 bedroom apartment on the 2nd floor. We ended up buying a 1 floor house and I am glad we did before Samson got up there in years as I am sure the stairs would have presented quite a problem for him in time.

Being such a giant breed not only is obedience training an absolute must but you would need to adjust some things around your home as well. If you like knickknacks or whatever on coffee tables or end tables that will have to change because with the long wagging tail they can clear off an entire coffee table in one swoop. Counter & table surfing is very easy for them so you really need to concentrate on that training.

Both danes were great with my daughter. They learned they needed to be extremely gentle with her when playing, that they could play a little rougher with me and could go all out with my hubby. That's not to say an accidental bump over didn't ever happen though.

Being a giant breed I'm sure you are aware their care is much more expensive. Food bills are more, medicine bills are more because they require a higher dosage, etc. The breed is also susceptible to bloat (I lost my 1st dane to that) and care has to be taken with them as any deep chested dog that exercise is limited before and after eating/drinking.

Danes absolutely love being with their people. I personally think they are truly gentle giants and they can also be very comical. They tend to think they are lap dogs, they drool when hot and although they are short haired they do shed.

While I was lucky and had my 1st dane until he was approx. 11 and my 2nd one until he was 10 they say the average life span for the breed is 7-9.

I hope I was able to help give you some info.

 

[noludoru]

You have several threads in this forum that are exactly the same, just the names (Komondor, Berner, Dane) are changed.

 

[simplymisty]

noludoru - see my post above that explains why I did that.