English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

Can someone tell me if there are any differences in personality between male and female Great Danes?

Also do they shed alot?

Make good apartment dogs with exercise?

What food should they be on?

What type of toys can a Great Dane have?

How hard are they to housebreak?

Are they a protective breed?

Please don't say go on the AKC website and look, they have great information but most of the articles do not talk specifics that I would like to know especially about personality, thanks so much! Info from owners and breeders would be appreciated, thanks again..

2007-04-27 12:17:57 · 12 answers · asked by ? 1 in Pets Dogs

12 answers

Well, every dog is different, even dogs of the same breed so even generalizations can be misleading. BUT, I can answer some of your questions and the rest just depends on the specific dog you get.

In general, there isn't really a personality difference between males and females. I have found that with all dogs, males tend to be a little more active and playful, more puppyish for longer. Both males and females love their families and are protective. Both need attention and both can get along with or be aggressive to other dogs. It just depends on the individual dog.

They don't generally shed a lot. They have short hair. Some have smoother hair, some are more course. My personal Dane has very soft hair. EVERYONE comments on it. They shed less than a Lab but more than a Poodle, so it's all relative. I had a foster that shed a TON, but most don't shed much. They definitely shed much less than my mom's Lab mix.

They make GREAT apartment dogs. They do need a little more room to maneuver so too many cramped places and nowhere to turn around can be kind of hard on them, but most apartments have nice big open rooms, just not a whole lot of them. They can't turn around in tight spaces, but are pros at backing up! They don't need a lot of space (mine likes the couch more than any other place in the house), but will need regular exercise, just like any dog. They aren't terribly active, but when they get to running, they need a bit of space. We go to the dog park several times a week and I take my rollerblading. (Not for inexperienced skaters). They are NOT outside dogs.

They can have toys other dogs can have, but keep in mind they can swallow lots of things smaller dogs can't, so even some shouldn't have tennis balls or other small toys. Some can be very destructive so extra tough toys are a must. Kongs (the black ones are the tough ones) are great for Danes.

Easy to housebreak, as far as housebreaking goes for any dog. Much easier than a small dog. Crate training is a must in my book. All fosters through our rescue are crate trained. A crate is a must have in any case, especially in the chewy puppy stage.

ANY dog can be protective. As long as you love your dog and make him/her a part of the family, the dog will be protective. They are called gentle giants for a reason (they are generally just happy goofy dogs), but they bark when strangers come to the door and will protect their family when something isn't right. ANY dog will be that way if treated right, but a huge Dane is a really good deterrent to thieves and other unsavory people!

In general, they are just laid back, but happy, goofy, sweet dogs. They think they weigh about 10 pounds, love to sit or lean on their owners. Some slobber a lot and some don't slobber very much.

As far as health problems, Dane owners worry most about bloat (gastric dilation and volvulus or GDV) and joint or bone growth problems. Lots of sites will have more information on this.

Diet is a huge issue among Dane owners. Especially as puppies it is important to feed a low protein, low fat diet to restrict and slow the growth. If they grow too quickly, they can and do develop serious joint and bone growth conditions. Any Dane should be fed an easily digested, premium diet to help prevent bloat. Joint supplements like fatty acids and glucosamine are important for Danes of any age to help prevent discomfort from joint stress. These are big dogs and they have to carry around a lot of weight. It's important to reduce the stress as much as possible.

Visit our rescue site at http://danerescue.net/ for more information and visit the discussion board to ask more questions.

The AKC site is good and they ALSO have links to the national breed club and other rescues that will have more information for you.

http://greatdanelady.com/ also has lots of articles and information on feeding, specific disorders related to Danes and tons of other information. Some of it is a little exaggerated but it's good info overall.

Seriously consider rescuing if you want a Dane. Our rescue is currently full and there are so many lovable dogs out there looking for homes. They are beautiful, wonderful, perfect dogs that just want someone to love.

Good luck in your search!

2007-04-27 13:13:37 · answer #1 · answered by Lauren M 4 · 0 0

There really isn't much difference between males & females as far as personality goes..it is more individual dog.

They are not heavy shedders.

They usually make great apartment dogs.They don't require a lot of exercise or a big yard. They are quiet dogs that prefer the couch .

They should be on a good quality food with a protein level no higher then 24%. Stay away from store brand foods such as Science Diet, Purina, Pedigree, IAMS/Eukanuba, etc. They contain way too many high carb, cheap fillers and most contain soy which is a no no for Danes.

They love large balls, kongs, raw bones, stuffies etc for toys.

No they aren't hard to housetrain at all.

They aren't noted for being a protective breed..their size alone is enough of a deternet.They actually shouldn't be overly protective.

A wellbred Dane is strong and hardy. They aren't fragile like some people think. A wellbred well cared for Dane will have an average lifespan of 10 years, but many are living well into their teens now.

A well bred, well socialized, well trained Dane is a wonderful companion They are clean, quiet and easily trained. They love people. They also are house dogs not outdoor dogs.

I recommend the book The Great Dane Model of Nobility by Jill Swedlow. This is a wonderful informative book with correct info written by a very expereinced Dane owner/breeder. This is a staple book for Dane lovers and Dane owners no matter if they are new to the breed or old timers.
The Great Dane lady does have a bit of good info, but unfortunately most of it is outdated and over done.

2007-04-27 13:41:01 · answer #2 · answered by Great Dane Lover 7 · 1 0

I am in Great Dane rescue. Danes shed like other short breeds. They do shed more if they are nervous or excited.

I live in a trailer with my Dane and 2 smaller mix breeds and we have Dane rescues here at times.

A Dane pup should be on a food that is no higher then 23% protein, not on puppy chow. We feed just adult food to the pups. It's the same as large breed puppy food.

Most toys do not survive an older Dane. Kongs are good and so is a large, thick, knotted, cotton rope.

Some of the rescues are protective and some are not. The Dane I have now did not come from rescue. He is social to strangers, but is still protective of me.

As for housebreaking, they train like anyother dog. I have most adults housetrained in a couple of weeks. Pups, with crate training, are completely trained in a few months.

2007-04-27 13:45:45 · answer #3 · answered by A Great Dane Lady 7 · 0 0

I've never personally owned one, but have friends with them, and have been around them a lot.

There's no set difference between male and female dogs, but as a general rule with most dogs, the males are usually goofier and a bit more affectionate, females you don't have to worry about marking.

Also do they shed alot? They shed about the same as a lab, maybe a little less (they shed, but not horribly)

Make good apartment dogs with exercise? I've known lots of people that have them in apartments, they're not really active dogs, and 2-3 walks a day (potty breaks) are sufficient, you just have to take into account how much room they take just to lay down, walk around, and that their tails will clean off your coffee table.

What food should they be on? That's a matter of personal opinion, with all the food recalls, there's only 3 brands I trust, they're all high quality, made with human grade foods. Canidae, Natura, and Eagle Pack, everything is manufactured in the US.

What type of toys can a Great Dane have? Most I've known haven't been big on toys.

How hard are they to housebreak? They're huge, so can hold it a long time, makes for pretty easy housetraining.

Are they a protective breed? They're usually protective if given a reason to be, especially at your house, but when you're out, or introduce them to people, they're very friendly.

2007-04-27 12:28:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anna M 2 · 2 0

Males are obviously larger than females. As always, they can end up wanting to run away to find a female if they're not fixed. Females are sometimes more anxious than males as well.

Great Danes don't shed more than your average short-haired dog(think labs).

Please, don't buy one if you're going to be in an apartment. Despite any amount of exercise, it's still way too small of a space for that big of an animal. I've had a collie in a condominium and it' like a circus. You trip over an animal every which way you turn. If you will only be staying in an apartment for a short time, then ok. But if you'll be there for more than a year, consider a different breed.

Definitely get a large-breed food. I always recommend Nutro Natural-Choice as my favorite food. When he's a puppy, get him a large-breed puppy food.

Great Danes need tough toys. Get the biggest, strongest ones you can find. Those big rubber, indestructable Congas work best. All you have to do is fill them with peanut butter and they'll be entertained for hours.

I'm not too sure about housebreaking but I haven't heard that they are especially hard to break.

They are relatively protective. Not quite as protective as your average German Shepherd but even the sight of a Great Dane will scare off the toughest criminals

Good luck and please think about it!

2007-04-27 12:40:10 · answer #5 · answered by Jello 3 · 0 3

Danes are gently giants but in puppy hood they can be rambunctious. If you have a very large appartment then they should be fine. They do get very large over 100 pounds. Yes the do shed quite a bit. Any toys mades for big dogs. Housebreaking depends on how good you are taking the pup out to pee and poop. They should be fed a giant breed dog food. You have to be very careful of the amount of protein you feed a very large dog. To much can cause a condition called Knuckling. They need training in obedience school.
They are wonderful dogs and are very sweet.

2007-04-27 12:25:41 · answer #6 · answered by ♥Golden gal♥ 7 · 2 0

Hello,

I have been a breeder and owner of Great danes for 7 years now. I currently have 2 adults (a male Bronson, and Female Zora) and Zora's 16 puppies are 2 days old. I will try to anwser your questions for you.

Do They Shed?....not alot, i find that my danes shed more when it is coming into spring. thier coats get denser in the winter months depending on your climate. i am in ontario. But i don't find that they shed as much as other breeds and regular brushing with a hound glove or curry comb will cut down on the minimal hair on your carpet

I find Great Danes to be wonderful apartment dogs. I had three adults in a one bedroom apartment and walked twice daily with them. Yes they are huge but thier energy level is lower then that of alot of smaller breeds. They are couch potatoes and love just being close to thier humans.

FOOD: This is perhaps the most important thing about danes. They have to be on good quality food. Beacuse they grow so fast usually achieving close to thier adult height in the first 6 to 8 months. They need to eat a well balanced food. I do not feed my danes puppy food past 3 months of age I find that the protien cause the bones to grow to fast and can contribute to nutrition caused hip and joint problems.

Danes can have pretty much the same toys as any other dog though mine have been known to destroy an indestructible KONG toy. but at least they have a lifetime guerentee so you can get a new one free!

Great danes are easy to house break with consistancy, patience and a regular routine.

The reason I got my first dane was beacuse i wanted something that looked impossing but wasn't. Danes are fercely loyal to thier human family and will protect them if needed. but they will not usually snap or growl at strangers. again this is all in how they are raised. If you are nervous around men and single, chances are so will your dane. danes are very intune with thier owners feelings.

any other info you need please email me. Judor_danes@yahoo.com

2007-04-28 19:26:59 · answer #7 · answered by broken_crosst 2 · 0 0

Differences in personality:

There are different personalities across the board, male and female: Shy ones, timid ones, rambunctious ones, love hogs, dainty ones, steam rollers, really smart ones, really dumb ones. I just helped out my best friend in picking out her first great dane and she really wanted a particular color. I finally convinced her that it was more about finding the right personality fit more than color or gender. She was set on a boy, but we walked away with a spunky, curious, intelligent female. My friend is having a great time and so grateful she has a dog that fits her personality.

Shedding:
They are not bad compared to some dogs but you will see little bitty hairs everywhere like any other shedding breed. I do not find it difficult to keep up with, but that is just me.

Apartment dogs:
Great Danes are not running partners, frisbee dogs, or huge athletes. They do well with moderate excercise. For a apt/condo/small home, this is the large breed that I recommend. As with all large breeds, you have to moniter play and activity level because the bones will break easier than smaller breeds.

Food: Pups should eat LARGE breed adult dry food. Science Diet is a good choice, but other brands are okay. Puppy food is too high in protein for a dane.

Toys: Nylabones are great for chewing. Danes are so big that they can easily swallow regular toys. Absolutely no toys with plasic parts and squeekies. Kongs, basket balls, etc are good. You can also have special toys that your dog only gets to play with supervised like rope bones and tennis balls. But they must go up when you are not watching.

Housebreak:
Well, I have never heard any horror stories. A friend of mine lets his dane pee on the wood deck so now he thinks he can pee on everyone's deck. Not the dogs fault though.

Protective:
Yes. Danes tend to be protective. Actually, last time I was bit by a dog it was a dane protecting something in the home. Danes were bred to be guardians and in my experience, it is deep rooted in the breed. That said, I fortunately have not had any experience with any "mean" danes, but I am sure there are some out there.

I hope this helped. Also, please be careful with breeders. I prefer a german line because european breeders tend to be better breeders. I find many american line danes to have too many health issues because of uneducated or greedy breeders.

Here are some pictures of top notch danes enjoy
http://www.greatdanes.net/current_danes.htm

2007-04-27 12:44:25 · answer #8 · answered by Vita 2 · 0 1

Every dog is going to be different, sex doesn't matter much.

They're a mild shedder.

There are special foods available for large breed. Feed him what the breeder uses, it's almost always best to keep him on the same food.

Dog toys.

Almost every puppy is hard to house break. Know that the danes puppy stage is pure hell. It's a larger dog, so expect the unexpected.

They can be very protective.

2007-04-27 12:29:14 · answer #9 · answered by Stephanie V 3 · 0 1

great danes are very large and they are good for apartrment living just a walk around the yard would be good they are very friendly giants i have 4 and live in a trailor no they really are not that prot. not that hard to house break,large toys like big kongs they do not shed that much. I hopr i helped you out alot if you have more question please call at 731-3492 and ask for Kayla

2007-04-27 13:15:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

fedest.com, questions and answers