Tell me more about Great Danes, please?

Question

I'm planning on buying myself a Great Dane pup. Not because I want a guard dog to protect our house, but because I am totally mesmerized by their sheer size!
Somebody told me Great Danes don't make ideal guard dogs, but that's okay with me.
Is it easy to raise a Great Dane puppy? Are these dogs loyal to their owners? What's the ideal cage size for Great Danes? Do large dogs need to eat more than smaller dogs? Are Great Danes high maintenance dogs? Is it true that these large dogs are just like Scooby Doo-big and tall, but are actually cowardly and scaredy-catlike in nature? Do they also drool like Rotts? What's the world-record for the tallest Dane?
I'd like to own a Great Dane because they just simply look Grand!
Do I have the right reasons for wanting a Great Dane?
:-)

Answer 1

I love the look of great danes as well. If you are going to get one I highly recommend getting one from a rescue rather than a puppy.

Not only can you save a great dog but they would know a lot about great danes and are usually happy to talk about them.

I couldn't find a general great dane rescue site but if you type in:
Great Dane Rescue "name of your state" you should be able to find one close if not try neighboring states.

Answer 2

How much time do you have? I have had Great Danes since I was 5 years old and I am 32 now. First of all, that is a myth that Great Danes are not good watch dogs. Yes, they are called the gentle giants but are very loyal and protective of their owners. The sheer size of these dogs is a deterent and their bark is very deep and definitely a deterent.

No puppy is easy to raise but in my experience none are as much fun as a Great Dane. They are a comic breed in that they aren't the most intelligent and still the most beautiful. The ideal cage size? The biggest you can find. Contacting a pet supply store and having them order the largest possible would be the wisest.

Now, feeding a Dane is a rather expensive task. Being as large as they are they will eat quite a bit more than the average dog. Like with any dog, making sure that you are not overfeeding him is a must. A good veterinarian can give you an idea of how much is a proper amount. In my experience I would say that 8 cups is more than enough to feed an adult Dane but again, a veterinarian would be best to talk to as your puppy grows. With that in mind, the bigger the dog the more it will eat and the more it will poop.

Great Danes aren't really a high maintenance dog on a daily basis. Walking them regularly is a must as they do need their exercise. Danes are known for being couch potatoes but obviously need to stretch their long legs. The biggest maintenance issue is probably medical. Again, the larger the dog the more your vet bill will be. The more the dog weighs the more the meds will be and the preventative meds as well, like flea prevention and heartworm pills. For that matter, should your Dane have an infection the antibiotics will cost more than a poodles would.

None of the Danes I have had were cowardly. It is like with any breed, it depends more on genetics and the upbringing. They are gentle but protective and mine were actually more intimidated by small dogs than anything. I suppose that could be seen as cowardly.

Danes don't necessarilly drool all day like a Mastiff and the like. They do make a mess after drinking though and will "drool" after doing so. That is something that has always made me laugh, now that I think of it, my Danes would only drink out of the bathroom sink and each learned it from the Dane before them. They can be messy drinkers.

I am not sure of the tallest Dane because there was supposedly a knew record holder found earlier this year. I believe it stood close to 7 feet on it's hind legs and over 200 pounds. My largest was 36 inches at the shoulder, 6+ feet on it's hind legs and 165 pounds.

One big thing is that a Dane needs to be around people and be socialized at an early age. This will help him to not be afraid of people and also not show any hostility. Like I said, like with any dog how it is raised and with positive reinforcement will go a long way in it being the good pet you are looking for. Danes are very sensitive and with the sheer size of them training starting before 6 months old is a must. They are very strong. With them being sensitive any negative reinforcement, like slapping and anything like it is counterproductive. Making a dog this size afraid can make for a rather dangerous situation being that dogs defend themselves by biting. Not to say Danes are noted for doing so, but any dog is capable.

Wanting a Dane because they look grand probably isn't the best reason to get one. Understanding that they can be expensive to keep because of the size means they are more expensive to care for, knowing they are not known as a large breed but a Giant breed means they do take up some space. They love attention and require it. Too mnay people buy them not realizing the cost, the size and all that goes with it and they end up in shelters or tied out. I would suggest checking out this site to see what happens when people misjudge caring for such a large dog. www.magdrl.com

Oh, and the life expectancy can be between 7-10 years, probably closer to the 7 more often than not. Cancer is common in them and the usual large dog problems like with the hips. I would never trade anything for my experiences with my Danes. They have been great with the kids and could not be more loyal.

If you do get one I wish you the best of luck and nothing but enjoyment.

Answer 3

They are awesome.

Be sure to have an extra room furnished with the finest things. They want their own real bed no dog bed and the couch belongs to them. Big leaners. You can lean back on them and hold each other up but they rarely stand on their own they will hunt you down to lean on you. Yeah gaurding is not their thing. If someone breaks in your house you can gaurantee the dane will be the first one to hide. They really don't need more room because of their size they are pretty lazy once they mature.

There are Great Dane rescues. Go meet some of them ask their fosters what they are like. Maybe foster for them to see a little more about them before you go to a breeder. Your best bet is check the rescue that are full grown who's personality is matured and you know what you are getting. We do get danes about twice a year. Usually around 6 months people can't handle them anymore. We still have two of them that their fosters kept them. The last one gave him up at a year and our volunteer figured the bad stuff was over she kept him. He runs (trollops) to his crate if someone comes to the door. And his boss is the old chihuahua,

Answer 4

They are loyal, affectionate and playful. The great dane is wellbehaved when properly socialized, trained and handled by an experienced owner. Training must bigin before the dog grows too large. It can be territorial and aggressive with other dogs and they do make a good watch dog- its size and deep bark are daunting for even the most determind intruder. However, it is usually even-tempered around its family and can be a gentle guardian for childeren and other animals. Supervision is required when the dog is around very small children, as it may inadvertently step on them or knock them over.
Their smooth, thick short-haired coat is easy to groom, just use a firm bristle brush. Use a dry shampoo to bath when necessary. Its a big job to use water. Make sure to keep nails trimmed if not woren down naturally by exercise. Start imprintig right away by handiling mouth,ears, and feet.
They need plenty of exercise, at the very least a really long daily walk or run alogside a bicycle. Avoid games such as tug-of-war or wrestling. A puppy under 10 months of age should never be given long or strenuous excercise sessions, as its bones are still forming and too much activity may cause abnormalties to develop. Insted, the pup should be given plenty of space to exercise freely on its own.
Slow to mature, the breed needs special netritional requirements during its growing period, which can last 20 months. Due to its susceptiblity to bloat, it should be fed two to three small meals a day and must never be exercised strenuously immediatly after feeding. Ideally, the dish should be raised so that the dog can eat without splaying his legs. This giant breed has a food bill to match.
Being a a very large and heavy breed, they are susceptible to hip dysplasia and some genetic heart ailments. Bone cancer and bloat are also common problems. They have a short life span of about 10 years. Hope this gives you some insite on this paticulare breed.
As for what size kennel to get, males reach 30 to 32 in and 100 to 125 pounds. Females reach 28 to 30 in and 90 to 105. your holding area needs to be tall enough for dog to stand in and long enough for them to easly turn around.
Please make sure you take in account of how much time, space and money is required for these dogs, before getting a great dane.

Answer 5

Great Danes are known to have digestive issues, as well as other health concerns. Yes, they drool and eat more food than a smaller dog. Make sure you research this breed before you just go out and get one.

Answer 6

Wasn't Hamlet Danish? I think he was great! So... hey, relax, I'm just kidding. Those are some really huge dogs...! Did you see the video clip of the tallest dog in the world? When this Great Dane stands up on his rear legs, he's over 7 feet tall! He's humongous!

Answer 7

Danes are wonderful pets.
They have a few health issues and are considered old at 7
You need to feed a large breed puppy chow as if they get to high protein the bones grow to fast and are not dense enought to hold thier weight. You need a controled protein fromula to slow the bone length down to get more dense bone.
They are great dogs and are not really high energy once out of puppy hood. They do well indoors and are good with most pthers dogs and cats also.
They are not good gaurd dogs as they are really not very aggressive. More likley to knock burgulary down and lick him.
They do eat more than other dogs and medicine is more for them as it is done by weight. It takes two large dog heartworm pills for many of them.
My vet has one and he weighs 215 pounds he is blue.
He has some health issues he is low thyroid so he takes a pill for that and he has arthritis so he takes meds for that as well.

Answer 8

Wow! That's a lot of questions. Let's see if I can nail down a few.
First, I LOVE Great Danes. They are my all time favorite breed of dog and I'm so glad you are in love with them, too! Second, whenever you are looking to get a dog, think about why you want the dog and why you like them and if you think that fits with your lifestyle. I will always recommend adopting from a rescue above buying a dog from a breeder. There are SO MANY Danes out there already looking for home. In fact, I've got one right now awaiting her adoption through Great Dane Rescue of North Texas. If you MUST have a purebred puppy, do your research and buy one from a reputable breeder who has legitimate proof of pedigree, health from a veterinarian, vaccines from a veterinarian, socializes her puppies, does health testing and hip dysplasia screens. You want to support breeders who love the breed for the breed characteristics and who work hard to maintain the breed standard and make BETTER dogs, not just more of them.

OK, now that that is out of the way... Most Danes don't make great guard dogs. Yes, they were at one point bred to be guard dogs, but the current breed now is basically a happy, goofy dog that thinks he weighs about 10 pounds. They love to sit in your lap and will become your shadow, following you everywhere. I've seen huge Danes cowering in the corner at the vet because they are so frightened of new experiences. This blatant fear of the unknown can be helped by good socialization at a young age (12 weeks and under) so if you buy from a breeder make sure they are taking steps to have well socialized puppies and breed for temperament. Most Danes are just happy dogs, though, not fearful, but not overly "in-your-face" either.

Danes are considered Giant breed dogs and take a long time (about 2 years) to reach their adult size and weight. They need to be fed a high quality adult dog food or puppy food made specifically for giant breed dogs. This helps to ensure that they grow slowly and their joints and bones develop completely before they get full size. Big dogs do eat more than small dogs. Depending on the food you feed, you might feed anywhere from 5 cups to 10 cups of food a day. Any dog will be loyal to his owner with proper training and bonding. If you develop a relationship with your dog, he or she will bond to you, protect you, and depend on you, no matter what the breed. Danes do need the largest crate size for in the home. For travel, they can often fit in the large size, but the largest is best for in the home where they sleep and stay during the night or when you are gone. http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441809365&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033465&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&bmUID=1158168055815&itemNo=4&Ntt=crate&In=All&previousText=crate&N=2

Danes are not high maintenance dogs. They have short hair that is easy to groom. They don't shed a lot, don't smell more than usual. I bathe mine out on the back porch with a water hose. SInce they are BIG dogs, everything is going to cost a bit more. They require more medication, more food, more everything so vet charges will likely be more (neuter early when they are still small). Also, Danes are susceptable to GDV (Gastric Dilation and Volvulus) or bloat which is a serious condition that can quickly become fatal. Many vets recommend performing a prophylactic gastropexy when the dog is neutered (they tack the stomach to the rib cage to prevent it from twisting on itself).
http://www.danerescue.net/detail.asp?id=30 If you have this surgery done, choose an experienced vet who has done it many times before.

Danes don't need a whole lot of exercise. A big yard to run in, or a couple walks a day are sufficient. They make great apartment dogs. They aren't lazy, but they typically aren't the overactive like terriers or labs. They like spending time with their owners.

Some Danes drool a lot and some don't. I had one with big jowls that slobbered everywhere! We kept a towel in every room to wipe his mouth when he walked by. But some don't have that and don't drool much.

I don't know what the record is, but the standard can be found at http://www.akc.org/breeds/great_dane/index.cfm

Answer 9

I've heard the have a short life because of their heart problems.Just hear say not 100% sure call your local vet and ask them questions,Also call and ask some area great dane breeders questions about the breed.

Answer 10

Go here for inherited breed disorders so that you know what to look for, and what your dane will probably get sick with:
http://www.gdca.org/healthandwelfare.htm

Danes are generally not guard dogs, they are considered gentle giants. They don't tend to drool alot, and if fed a proper diet, don't require massive amounts of food.