Great Danes
- Thread starter Shadow101
- Start date
J
Awesome dogs, I have 2, at this time, and will always own them.
One is full, and the other is a half dane, half shepherd that is the size of a full dane.
Excellent personalities, very friendly, they do tend to take up a lot of the bed at night.:lol-sign:
Personalities vary, as with any other breed, but the general dispositon is constant companion, laid back(after 18 months of age), friendly to strangers.
dog aggression can be an issue in some, but not to family member dogs
A dane has a 2000psi bite, and scissor jaws, so any dog fight can result in serious vet bills
Danes cannot be left outside to be yard dogs, they are strictly an indoor dogs
They are not capable of living outside.
Everyday with a dane is a day with laughter in it.
They have some strange, at first, quirks, like sitting on the couch with just their butts on it, or their butts, and one, or both back legs on it.
They will even do this in response to a sit command, and they are technically correct, and comfortable.
Some form of Training is best started very young.
A normal 25 lbs, 12 week old puppy, or a 6 month old 65 pound puppy can be a hand full of dog. By the time they are 12 months they will generally be over 100lbs, so even and mildly mischievious Dane puppy is a big problem.:yikes:
I can't say if they are good for a rookie owner, or not, but I see no reason why a dedicated newbie could not handle one, if they were willing to work with them. Many are given up because of a lack of training, and the owners have no control, that even the most rudimentary training would solve
They do fine with small kids, but they are giant dogs, so they do tend to knock things, and people over.
Everything with a dane cost twice as much as a normal dog, vet visits are fairly expensive when compared to a small 70 pound dog, because anything they need takes twice as much.
They are suceptable to quite a few health problems, so it isimportant to find a good breeder, and not to be fooled by a low life breeder.
Top quality food is a must, they will probably will not tolerate cheap crap food, figure 1-2 pounds of high quality kibble food per day(50.00 per month)
or consider the RAW diet
7-10 years is a normal life span, although they can live 10-15, but everything afer 8-9 is a blessing. With this breed you will likely have to make the PTS decision, so be ready to buck up, and accept that as a responsibility
You love them while you got'em.
Their life is short, but in that relatively short life the love flows freely.
They love like no other dog I have ever known. It is not that golden retriever type attachment, but something deeper you have to experience
They are a heart break breed, so if you ever get one, be prepared to lose them to bloat, cancer, or old age at 8+years old.
They can be extremely stuborn, and stoic, and will never let you know they are ill, or in pain. You really need to be in tune with them.
Mine will willingly get stitches without anesthesia being needed. They can have sensitivity problems to anesthesia, like never waking up.
although some of the newer anesthetics are supposed to be safer
I will always have one, regardless of the potential problems.
Caveat, and I know it will sound stupid, but it is the number one reason people give them up is ...... they get so big.
Just remember that cute little 9 pound 5-6 week old puppy, that takes up a corner of the couch, will, within a year, or so, take up almost the whole couch, so do not be surpised by just how big they get. They get so big, that what you once called big, is now a small dog.
I am talking about a dog that leans down to drink from the bathroom sink faucet. and does not reach up to drink from the kitchen faucet. With a dog that is 36+ inches at the withers, they see everything on the counter, and can reach it.
You almost have to crate train them, because when a Dane puppy naws up a table leg, he naws up the whole table, and if he chews the sofa, there will be little left of it.
I stop crating at about 18 months.
There you go, the good with the bad, and they are so good to own, it easily outweighs the bad.
One is full, and the other is a half dane, half shepherd that is the size of a full dane.
Excellent personalities, very friendly, they do tend to take up a lot of the bed at night.:lol-sign:
Personalities vary, as with any other breed, but the general dispositon is constant companion, laid back(after 18 months of age), friendly to strangers.
dog aggression can be an issue in some, but not to family member dogs
A dane has a 2000psi bite, and scissor jaws, so any dog fight can result in serious vet bills
Danes cannot be left outside to be yard dogs, they are strictly an indoor dogs
They are not capable of living outside.
Everyday with a dane is a day with laughter in it.
They have some strange, at first, quirks, like sitting on the couch with just their butts on it, or their butts, and one, or both back legs on it.
They will even do this in response to a sit command, and they are technically correct, and comfortable.
Some form of Training is best started very young.
A normal 25 lbs, 12 week old puppy, or a 6 month old 65 pound puppy can be a hand full of dog. By the time they are 12 months they will generally be over 100lbs, so even and mildly mischievious Dane puppy is a big problem.:yikes:
I can't say if they are good for a rookie owner, or not, but I see no reason why a dedicated newbie could not handle one, if they were willing to work with them. Many are given up because of a lack of training, and the owners have no control, that even the most rudimentary training would solve
They do fine with small kids, but they are giant dogs, so they do tend to knock things, and people over.
Everything with a dane cost twice as much as a normal dog, vet visits are fairly expensive when compared to a small 70 pound dog, because anything they need takes twice as much.
They are suceptable to quite a few health problems, so it isimportant to find a good breeder, and not to be fooled by a low life breeder.
Top quality food is a must, they will probably will not tolerate cheap crap food, figure 1-2 pounds of high quality kibble food per day(50.00 per month)
or consider the RAW diet
7-10 years is a normal life span, although they can live 10-15, but everything afer 8-9 is a blessing. With this breed you will likely have to make the PTS decision, so be ready to buck up, and accept that as a responsibility
You love them while you got'em.
Their life is short, but in that relatively short life the love flows freely.
They love like no other dog I have ever known. It is not that golden retriever type attachment, but something deeper you have to experience
They are a heart break breed, so if you ever get one, be prepared to lose them to bloat, cancer, or old age at 8+years old.
They can be extremely stuborn, and stoic, and will never let you know they are ill, or in pain. You really need to be in tune with them.
Mine will willingly get stitches without anesthesia being needed. They can have sensitivity problems to anesthesia, like never waking up.
although some of the newer anesthetics are supposed to be saferI will always have one, regardless of the potential problems.
Caveat, and I know it will sound stupid, but it is the number one reason people give them up is ...... they get so big.
Just remember that cute little 9 pound 5-6 week old puppy, that takes up a corner of the couch, will, within a year, or so, take up almost the whole couch, so do not be surpised by just how big they get. They get so big, that what you once called big, is now a small dog.
I am talking about a dog that leans down to drink from the bathroom sink faucet. and does not reach up to drink from the kitchen faucet. With a dog that is 36+ inches at the withers, they see everything on the counter, and can reach it.
You almost have to crate train them, because when a Dane puppy naws up a table leg, he naws up the whole table, and if he chews the sofa, there will be little left of it.
I stop crating at about 18 months.
There you go, the good with the bad, and they are so good to own, it easily outweighs the bad.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 2,947
- Likes
- 0
- Points
- 36
They are not an inexpensive breed to own. I'm far from rich, and I don't want to sound snobbish, but this is not a breed for someone who is not willing to shell out some cash...not just on the purchase price, but on care and maintenance alone. And if your dane should bloat, count on at the minimum $2000 for the surgery.
The bigger the dog, the bigger the bills. Everything is costlier with a dane. Food, medications, boarding, toys, beds, etc.
Also, it is critical that you find a breeder who health tests extensively - and don't take the breeders word for it - research it and confirm it. Trust me completely when I tell you this. I will never be without a dane, but I have had my heart broken far too many times by losing them far too young from health problems. My current dane comes from wonderful lines, but I found out (too late) that her pedigree and health testing documents I was provided with were falsified. She is 2 years old and acts like she is 7 or 8 years old most days.
If you cannot tolerate a velcro dog, danes are not the breed for you. You will never be alone again - even to go to the bathroom.
If you want to see lots of dane pics, by all means click on the link in my signature to see Hannah and tons of her dane friends.
The bigger the dog, the bigger the bills. Everything is costlier with a dane. Food, medications, boarding, toys, beds, etc.
Also, it is critical that you find a breeder who health tests extensively - and don't take the breeders word for it - research it and confirm it. Trust me completely when I tell you this. I will never be without a dane, but I have had my heart broken far too many times by losing them far too young from health problems. My current dane comes from wonderful lines, but I found out (too late) that her pedigree and health testing documents I was provided with were falsified. She is 2 years old and acts like she is 7 or 8 years old most days.
If you cannot tolerate a velcro dog, danes are not the breed for you. You will never be alone again - even to go to the bathroom.
If you want to see lots of dane pics, by all means click on the link in my signature to see Hannah and tons of her dane friends.
Boemy, some do, but I really guess its just the dog, we have a 11 year old right now... They usualy live to be around 8-9...
I own 2, and like many people said, you have to keep them part of the family, they are not dogs to be tied out... Not that I think you would! However, they usualy are very calm with everyone, but my Sasha will NOT let ANYONE in the house other than the family who lives in the house. We have had neighbors say "watch out for her - she bites!" when she doesn't, and a VERY close Family friend has her two sons scared to death of Sasha.
But over all they are a GREAT breed, and if I can, I will have one all my life....
I own 2, and like many people said, you have to keep them part of the family, they are not dogs to be tied out... Not that I think you would! However, they usualy are very calm with everyone, but my Sasha will NOT let ANYONE in the house other than the family who lives in the house. We have had neighbors say "watch out for her - she bites!" when she doesn't, and a VERY close Family friend has her two sons scared to death of Sasha.
But over all they are a GREAT breed, and if I can, I will have one all my life....
