I've a friend who has just bought a large farm with lots of land, and wants a big dog to go with it (she had a bordie collie until recently but it died).
I recommended an Irish Wolfhound (I don't know much about dogs but just like them personally), but she prefers the idea of a Great Dane...however I have been told that they don't have a lot going for them; apparently they are slow, stupid and do nothing but eat. Is this true? The dog would have to be an outdoorsey type.
Are there any other alternatives in this size category? And how big are Wofhounds compared to Great Danes in terms of overall size (I'm presuming Wolfhounds are skinnier....)
Thanks!
2006-06-21 09:02:29 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Great Danes are very gentle and sweet dogs. All the ones i've ever met are docile and easy going. They are very intelligent too. I watched a 3 month old puppy in a pet store and when he wanted to play with one of the sale items hanging on the display, he was very gentle in nudging it nicely so that he wouldn't knock anything else over. Also, if you go into Google Video, there is a great dane baby sitting a 2 year old boy and playing with him ever so gently by ticking him with his nose. The kid absolutely adores the dog and the great dane is extremely protective and gentle with the child. It's a heart warming clip.
they are not hyper or destructive at all.
2006-06-21 09:14:50 · answer #1 · answered by GLOO 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
I have a great Dane. They are big big dogs and need a lot of exercise and room to run around. They can't really be locked up all day cos they will get quite destructive. Mine isn't aggressive at all, he still acts a big pup. This however puts people off him as he gets excited. I keep a muzzle on him in public, although I don't like it, - its better than him accidently bitting some one. At home the muzzle comes off straight away. I don't think he would bite intentionally but its not worth the risk. I believe aggression is brought up with the dog. If respected and trainned properly they should not be aggressive. They can be intimidating though.
As far as I know, Danes are slightly bigger than the Irish Wolfhound and they do eat a lot.
As your friend has loads of room, the dog should be happy enough.
Regards
Mick
2006-06-21 09:23:56 · answer #2 · answered by Michael F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Dane is 2 years old right now, and I'm happy to say that I've met more viscious mothballs. He's gigantic (almost 200 pounds of muscle), and it's easy to see why people sometimes get intimidated by him after a first glance, but I doubt that he even knows how big he actually is. He's not the brightest dog I've ever had, but he's definitley one of the sweetest. Yes, he eats a lot, but any big dog is going to...giant breed dogfood isn't actually any harder to find than regular brands, though, so it's not really too bad. The only thing with these guys, though, is that they're just like any other dog when they're puppies. They roughhouse, they chew things apart...just normal puppy stuff, but they can be overly destructive just because of their size. They need a LOT of excercise, so a farm would be perfect. However, they don't have very thick coats, so the winter can be a little tough and I wouldn't allow one of these guys into your house unless you have the time to dedicate to him. Ben is our first Dane and we weren't sure how to handle him at first, so we called in a trainer for a few weeks just to teach us the basics. It wasn't too expensive, and it was definetley worth the investment. I would definetley suggest getting some tips from people who have had experience with danes if you've never been around them. If you're looking for a watchdog, a Great Dane is probably a terribly choice...(I locked myself out of the house last week and had to climb through a window at 3 am. When I got inside, there was Ben, sacked out on the couch, snoring all over a stuffed duckie. Definetley all set to protect the house...) But, if you just want a REALLY great pet, I wouldn't suggest any other breed. They're wonderful animals, but they just need a little extra attention!! Good luck!!
2006-06-21 09:25:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I, personally, think the new Dane and your Dane may not get along if you keep them together. If he bit Annie, and has a history of biting, you may want to reconsider taking him in. I know it's hard to give up a dog you've fallen in love with, but you should have been informed of his bite history prior to adopting him. It sort of seems like they didn't tell you on purpose. A rescue can NOT miss an aggressive dog, nor should they ignore any previous bites. If your dog is usually well-behaved with others, maybe it's the male that is causing the problems. A low growl from Annie, I doubt, is the reason he attacked. She may have just been giving a warning and the male decided he wanted to show her he wants the alpha position. I would not adopt a dog that does not get along with my dog, and I would not risk my dog getting bitten again. Great Danes are not usually aggressive and are bred to be gentle giants. It may just be he was unsocialized or mistreated in the past that makes him more aggressive.
2016-03-27 00:07:52 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I knew a person who had a Great Dane and the dog was lovely. He was very friendly and he was not aggressive. He didn't seem stupid and slow but he did eat a lot. They are very big dogs, he was the same size as me but i was only about 7 years old at that time.
2006-06-21 09:15:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that they are anymore aggressive than your average dog it really depends on how you raise them. Thay can be slightly more klutzy and not as smart as other breeds of large dogs but they can be sweet.
I personally prefer Labs they love the outdoors and the country are very affectionate and are very smart although not as big as a great dane and can be a little hyper when they are young. Another dog you may want to consider is a Kouvas. Beautiful, smart, good natured dogs and man do they grow to be huge doggies!
2006-06-21 09:15:23 · answer #6 · answered by Fraibs 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well great danes are called gentle giants for a reason.. they mostly only look the part..
now if you want a big dog that will protect try a German Shepard... they take to you and are very protective... If she has a big farm why cant she have more than one dog.. I know I would...
2006-06-21 09:10:33 · answer #7 · answered by panda 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any dog is only as agressive as it is brought up! There is always a reason for a dog to be aggressive. Also if a dog is aggressive, it can be tamed, through a lot of hard work and patience. I have a Shar-Pei which were originally bred as fighting dogs but this has been bred out of them.
2006-06-21 09:07:54 · answer #8 · answered by scatz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have 2 great danes right now. i have had 30 in the past. ( counting puppies) never a one mean what so ever. its just not in them. HOWEVER b/c of their size they are powerful enough to do damage if raised to be mean. you can MAKE any dog mean by rough and extreme handling. but raised with love and tenderness ( as they should be ) they are softer than any other breed. hence the nick name (GENTLE GIANTS) and they are also more ...........loveable
2006-06-25 11:43:10 · answer #9 · answered by ♥ [yo] ☻ Muffin ☺ [Fear this!] ♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had a great dane. i loved him, but he was slow, stupid, and ate A LOT! they can also be very destructive if you don't have time to spend with them.
they are not aggressive though, we have kids and he loved them. keep in mind that their average life span is only about 8 years though.
2006-06-21 09:07:50 · answer #10 · answered by jamminursite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋