Any Great Dane owners here?

[Kelly Green]

I have a friend who lives over in Waco, Texas in a small house with a small yard. Last year he got a Great Dane puppy. As dogs do, this one grew up and then grew even larger. It’s become too much dog for him and also the boy’s a digger, leaving the yard looking like it was bombed.

He thought of me and was wondering if I would want another dog. There are acres and acres here for a dog to roam and lots of wild critters to chase. He would probably be happier here than living in a small yard getting little exercise, except for digging. I have two collies that are working dogs but I’m considering taking the Great Dane. I don’t know one thing about this breed except I suspect they eat a lot. Any input from you folks who own the breed on what I could expect?

Thanks in advance,
Kel

 

[DustyJacket]

They poop a lot, too.

We now have my daughter's Great Dane/Labrador mix.

Big, clumbsy, lovable dog. Friendly, slobbery, and steps on your bare feet, and like to per her nose in your butt when bending over.

She digs and likes to sit in the dirt more than the grass.

 

[bamabiker]

We have one and she stays in the house. I know, I know, I'm an idiot.
Before we got her we did some reading and asking other owners about them. They are family dogs and want to be with their family. We were told they do not do good if you just keep them out in the yard and that they can be very destructive if left outside.
Our's, Gracie, thinks she is a lap dog but she can take up the whole couch. As far as eating, we feed her two bowls a day but there are some days when she will not eat any or all of one of them. At about 130 lbs. she is a small Dane compared to some we have seen but that's OK with us.
This is Gracie a couple of years ago and she is bigger now.

She is really just a big lovable dog that has become one of our family.

 

[Prof_Fate]

Have had several danes and collies. Danes are dumb compared to collies. They can get into things that a collie wont - like the kitchen sink, anything and everything you leave on the kitchen counter or stove. They like to lay on furniture (bed, couch, etc). If you don't have a padded place for them they'll get callusses on their elbows.
They are prone to 'bloat' - essentially they're stomach will twist around their intestines and it's almost always fatal (or expensive emergency operation).
They are quiet dogs for the most part, shed a lot, are good in the house (watch their tails - they can take out lamps!).
You need a big car - best yet a minivan for them.
They slobber.
They only live about 7 years, are playful for 2 years and then nice for 4 then old. An incontinent dog that weights 150 lbs that poops bigger piles than you do is a problem.
They need GOOD food- they can't eat enough cheap dog food to get the calories/nutrition they need, so you need iams or eukanuba. On the plus side good food is less filler - so less poop.
They pee a lot (well, they weight as much as most people) and it will kill the grass. We have a run (overhead wire) and never had grass ther when we had the dane, but do with the collie (both eat iams), both neutered males, collie weights 55lbs dane was 150-160.
They are great dogs, friendly, people oriented.
Take one for a walk and people will tell their kids 'go pet the big dog' - nobody ever asks 'is your dog friendly' as they do with smaller dogs. Yet nobody will hassle you when you have a dane. They very rarely growl at anything but they will at times show a dislike for someone and trust me - that someone will quietly retreat without your needing to say a thing!

 

[David LaPell]

My father had a 53 foot Great Dane once, but that was used for hauling alot of stuff around and wasn't much good for anything else.

 

[Frank46]

Back in my old stomping grounds a neighbor's daughter had two of them. Venus and apolo. They could stand on their feet and put their front paws on my shoulders and they would still be taller than me. I heard some screaming and yelling one night and went to see who was causing all the rukus. Both of them had cornered a man and his only choice of refuge was on top of a car. Since they knew me very well it was easy to get them back in their yard. Now the guy he starts getting his back up making all sorts of threats and out come the two dogs again. He's back up on the roof. I told him that these dogs were not mine and would he please from calling me names or it was going to be a very long night.So the dogs are now tucked away and the gate is locked. He starts in and the other nehibor's dog comes out. Pure breed german sheppard and that dog didn't like people of the african persuasion.By now the other dog is going ballistic trying to get him. the dogs name was heidi. I called her over and we walked to the front porch of her house. Told they guy he better hit the road 3 encounters with really large dogs in one night he isn't doing too well. Funny thing neither of the three dogs are vicious.Oh well Frank

 

[310Pilot]

I had quite a few Great Danes over the years, they are wonderful dogs! They are very family oriented, love their families, and will protect their territory (i.e., your home and land) from those they sense do not belong or have bad intent. Contrary to some earlier posts, I found them to be of high intelligence, very easy to train, and capable of learning anything you wish to teach them. They are very social, and need to be with their humans, don't just leave them outside. Always gentle with their family (humans and other animals), but will be very protective if they sense a threat. Usually, that starts with snarly faces, if it progresses to growling, that is a final warning, and they do mean business! I wrote a story in another thread a month or so ago of how one of my Danes ended a crime wave in a relatively new neighborhood - btw, they are smart enough to use tactics in their protective modes. The previous poster's story of two Danes "cornering" an intruder is typical. They do consume relatively large quantities of food, and, what goes in must also come out. On the other hand, cleanup is pretty easy, as you will have no problem identifying the target, with little potential for a "misstep," as can often happen with smaller dogs. On the whole, they are usually very gentle, loving dogs with a big heart, but will protect their charges with whatever degree of force becomes necessary. I highly recommend taking in your new family member, he will become devoted to you in a short time if you show hime attention and affection. Oh yes, I second the recommendation on feeding a high quality food. I always fed my Danes (as well as my other dogs) Iams, and they thrived on it.

 

[longhair]

I've got two, both indoor pets. They don't eat a great deal and are very easy to deal with. I've had several in the past and find them to be an enjoyable animal.

 

[wbraswell]

A friend owned one once. He was a very friendly boy, but man, could that thing poop. Looked like as much as 3 or 4 people. It scared me into never wanting one.

 

[Arik]

Why dont people do research before buying, especially when its another living organism? Didnt he know they get big? There are some great big dogs that are couch potatoes and some smaller dogs who need all day exercise.

5 minutes online and you'll have all the info you need to find out if this animal is right for you!

Now its possible that this dog can go to a shelter because the so called superiorly intellectual being forgot or could not rub 2 brain cells together.

Yea i like dogs, more then 99.999999% of people

 

[Damn Yankee]

You state you have acres and acres so train him to dig and defecate out in the back forty.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

My son had several. When they wag their tail, it can almost knock you down. The last one that he had was well trained and he taught it a lot of tricks. When it was 2, it had the intestine problem and died before he could get it to the vet. He now has a doberman.

 

[bamabiker]

My son had several. When they wag their tail, it can almost knock you down. The last one that he had was well trained and he taught it a lot of tricks. When it was 2, it had the intestine problem and died before he could get it to the vet. He now has a doberman.

You do need to watch those tails if it has not been cut. Ours is just about the right heigth for the family jewels and it feels like being hit with a piece of rope. Don't ask me how I know.
As far the stomach turning over, we had Gracie's stomach stitched to her side when she was young and being "fixed". This prevents that problem. It's a common procedure for this.

 

[wheelgun28]

I had a Great Dane growing up got him I was about 4 or 5. My parents researched it found a breeder etc. He was a great dog, my pal and protector for sure...

He ate one good sized bowl per day. He did make a good sized deposit in the yard. It nothing a shovel didnt fix.

He died just under 10 years old, bowel problems.

The tail stories bring back memories

Ok, quick one In my bedroom I had a dresser, next to the dresser was a small trash pail. My dresser had things on it, things a young boy would have, a hair brush, piggy bank things like that. One day my moms is mad at me, why for throwing out all the stuff on top of my dresser. Now I didnt have a clue as to what she was talking about...

The stuff went back on the dresser, next time the dog was in the room, swinging that big o'l tail just like a broom, swipe swipe all the stuff from my dresser into the trash...

Since we had gotten him in the early 1970's his name was....(drum roll) Scooby Doo.

Other great stories, eating the police mans hat, stealing the Thanksgiving turkey carcass, chasing the guy that just did an armed robbery at the ice cream shop.

I still see some of the people from the old neighbor hood, the still speak of Scooby Doo.

Oh, he had one other small trait, if he came over to great you and you pet him, he would lean against you. Problem was that if you weren't ready, he could almost knock you over. He also like to step on and stand on your foot

If I had the room, I would consider one.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, I haven't thought of these things in years

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

I know that the Great Dane restaurant in downtown Madison, Wisconsin has some mighty fine brats!

 

[therevjay]

Never owned one, but have a friend who has had several. Very easy going friendly dogs. But they do take up alot of space, poop biiiig piles, and like most really big dogs don't often make it to a real old age.

 

[JcMack]

A friend of mine had 2 female Danes. He was married and both he and his wife were animal lovers. They had a litter of pups every year by alternating females. My son was about 3 then and I brought him to my buddies house when six Dane puppies were about 30 lbs each. My kid couldn't remain standing for longer than a minute because the puppy tails kept knocking him down. My son thought it was fun. My buddy had one adult Dane get bloat. They saved her because they caught it early. It's best to feed large dogs from bowls on a stand. Ralph told me a way to test dog food for propensity for bloat was take a piece of food a drop it in a glass of water. If it expands greatly it's bad because it blows the dogs stomach up and the bloat risk goes up. Worst thing to chance bloat is to feed a dog and let it out to run around.

 

[Fishslayer]

I have two collies that are working dogs but I’m considering taking the Great Dane. I don’t know one thing about this breed except I suspect they eat a lot. Any input from you folks who own the breed on what I could expect?

Thanks in advance,
Kel

Never owned one but the ones I've met were wonderful dogs. They call the Mastiffs & Great Danes "gentle giants."

You have GOT to get that dog. I would be very curious to see if he would take a cue from the Collies & help out with the chores!

And yeah. They DO like to lean on their humans. Wonder what that's about?

 

[PA Reb]

You do need to watch those tails if it has not been cut. Ours is just about the right heigth for the family jewels and it feels like being hit with a piece of rope. Don't ask me how I know.
As far the stomach turning over, we had Gracie's stomach stitched to her side when she was young and being "fixed". This prevents that problem. It's a common procedure for this.

LOL ~ My daughter has two Danes and they've buckled me over several times !

 

[pharman]

Bella...the "Mastidane"

Never owned one but the ones I've met were wonderful dogs. They call the Mastiffs & Great Danes "gentle giants."

I have a female "Mastidane" named Bella. Her father was the Mastiff and her mother the Great Dane. What a wonderful BIG dog she is. Yes she is a "gentle giant" once she knows you... Brindle in color...about 150 lbs... does not realize how big she is, but that's OK as we watch for her coming. Eats 3 cups of food twice a day. We feed her Science Diet Healthy Mobility adult large breed. Very expensive, but worth it healthwise in the long run. What a wonderful house dog she is...a great watchdog...NO ONE ..I repeat NO ONE comes in the house until my wife or I say the word that it's OK... but once she knows you, she is the gentlest friend you could ever have. Wonderful with our small Grandchildren. She is one of the best dogs we have ever had. I think you would be very happy with the Great Dane....