A great dane or not?

Question

I'd like to get a great dane. i've heard they are good with families, kids, other pets, etc. Does anyone have any reasons to suggest otherwise?

Answer 1

Wow so much misinformation!!!

1) Danes average life span is 10 years..the same as a Lab, Golden, Boxer, etc..a well bred, well cared for Dane can and often does live into it's mid teens
2) Danes are no more prone to health issues then any other breed...hip dysplasia, thyroid, eye are the same as those in GSD, Labs, Goldens (actually Labs & Goldens are more likely to have hip & eye problems then a Dane)
3) bloat is not because of their size..it is because of their deep chest build..other breeds just as prone to bloat...Dachshunds, Bassetts, German Shorthaired Pointers, Greyhounds, Whippets, English Pointers to name a few
4) Temeprament...they have great ones IF well bred, well socialized and well trained
5) Danes are not as big an eater as people think they are IF they are fed a good quality food
6) it does cost more to spay/neuter, for flea meds and heartworm prevention

I suggest if interested in a Dane that you get and read the book The Great Dane Model of Nobility by Jill Swedlow...this is a very informative book with CORRECT info it is a must have for Dane lover's and owners no matter if expereinced or novice.

I've owned Danes both rescues and from breeders for years. I show in conformation, Rally & obedience. My Danes have their AKC CGC awards, one is a TDI certified therapy dog, I do demos, use them as meet & greet dogs for CGC tests, go in parades, etc with my dogs.

****to the poster claiming the top show Dane in the country bit her at a dog park... I sincerly doubt it**********

Answer 2

Kim,
I'm not sure how Jordie has had so many bad experiances with Danes, but that's not typical. The Dane is called the Apollo of dogs for a reason. I've got one, and my neighbor has 4. All of them are wonderful dogs. They do not shed copious amounts of hair, but you do need to be able to deal with some drool. My little guy (16 weeks) doesn't drool like a mastiff or St Bernard, but after he eats or drinks, watch out! He's the king of slobber for a few minutes.

He gets along fantastic with my other 3 dogs (lab, shep, lhasa), 13 yr old son, and 2 Guinea pigs. Nutrition, and feeding schedule is extremely important to help prevent bloat and HOD symptoms (if you get a puppy). If you feed a good quality food (like Canidae or Eagle Pack) the piles in the yard are no bigger than any other big dog (from personal experiance).

Any breed is going to have temperment exceptions to the rule. Check out your local Great Dane rescue. They should be able to match you up with the perfect pup for your lifestyle.
Good luck!

Answer 3

Nope, I'm not suggesting otherwise, but there's a lot to consider!

They are HUGE ... and so are all the related expenses (vet care, feeding requirements, etc)

They have a short life-expectancy (8 years is pretty good for a Dane)

They are prone to some diseases and conditions that affect the giant breeds

Assuming you've done some research and are planning to acquire your dog from a breeder who has tested for genetic problems, AND you're sure you can manage the financial aspects, AND you're committed to training and socializing the dog, then ... yes, it could be a great dog for you!

Answer 4

If you're not looking to spend a lot of cash, the a Great Dane is not for you. The bigger the dog, the bigger the expense in EVERYTHING - food, vet bills, you name it. You can try a Dane rescue in your area, but remember - the initial cost of the dog is the least amount of money you will spend on your dog. Remember to factor in training, vaccinations, vet bills, micro-chipping, toys, leashes, food (costly for a dog that big), any boarding, grooming, etc. If you go the breeder route, you will get what you pay for. A good breeder will charge you at least $1000 (if not more), but you will be assured of a healthy, well-bred dog and not some BYB pup who will only cost you in vet bills and heartache later in life.

Answer 5

Great Danes are very friendly dogs. They are very expensive as others have said. Big food bill and big vet bills. If money isn't a problem with you and your family, then I say go for it. I have a friend who owns two Great Danes and they are the most friendly dogs I have been around, other than my Gator though.LOL

Answer 6

As long as you know that they have short life spans compared to many, many other breeds and you will probably only have the dog 7-8 years as an average. Also be well aware of the feeding requirements for a giant breed. Get your dog from a responsible and reputable breeder that has done the testing for inheritable diseases or problems (such as hip dysplasia)

Plan to take the dog to classes to train it so that you have a well behaved giant on the end of the lead.

They really are great family dogs.

Answer 7

Great danes, in my experience, are very big friendly goofy dogs. People can feel threatened by their size, but I've never known any that were mean at all. The ones I've known have been big lap dogs.

Answer 8

I used to love them, I love BIG dogs and they were one of my favorites. I never got one because of all the health problems and really I dont have a big enough house to accomodate one. In the last year Ive been taking my dogs to the dog park at least 5 days a week. I have two dobermans. Out of all the dogs i've met at the park, my dop five most hated dogs (on a dog to dog basis) are great danes. One that I met was (at the time) the number one show dane in the country, He bit me, hard. I didnt provoke him. I put my hand on his shoulder to pet him, he turned around and chomped down and didnt let go until his owner yelled at him. If I hadnt' been wearing a long sleeved shirt, sweatshirt and heavy coat he would have broken skin. As it was I only had a black arm that was swollen for 2 weeks... Another that I met was a blue 11month old puppy, he out of nowhere VICIOUSLY attacked my 6 month old male gashing his leg open. I had to pick up my 60lb dog to keep him from getting his throat ripped out and had the bottom half of the front of my t-shirt ripped off.... The dog at the top of my hated dogs list is a dog that I actually stuck up for for several months, he kept getting mildly agressive and i stood up for he and his owner because I personally liked the owner and the dog. Until he cornered and went after my girl. I happened to have my chuckit in my hand at the time and saved her by bashing him in the head with it. It snapped him out of it but the owner was unapologetic and i finally saw i shouldnt have been sticking up for him. One day a friends golden ran past him to get a ball and he grabbed him by his back and shook him like a rag. 5 other dogs were near and immediately got involved, we started to run out there to try and break it up. He tried to bite the goldens owner until another dog grabbed his ankle and he lost track, when another man grabbed his collar he turned at him, looked straight at him and lunged. The guy was only unhurt by a SERIOUSLY matrix like move i doubt he will ever be able to duplicate. I've met two or three others since then that were agressive (not to that point though) and now i'm seriously uncertain about great danes. I know there are bad dogs in every breed but I've met more agressive danes than the supposedly vicious pitbulls. Not just dog agressive but also agressive towards people. The incident at the dog fight was weird, and people usually get bitten breaking up a fight, but the fact that I SAW him look at both men before he tried to bite them, had a moment to think about it, that scares me.

I would say go to a reputable breeder, you will be guaranteed a great temperment, but the dog that bit me was a showdog....

be VERY picky about what dog you get and be very careful when raising him.

Answer 9

They are wonderful familypets. However-be alerted- They are prone to "bloat" which is a condition when the stomach fills with air from eating/drinking too fast such as gulping- causing the stomach to twist and can require to fix asap. You need to learn how to feed and water them appropriately. And, large dogs such as danes have shorter life spans than smaller dogs. Sad, but true. If you can manage the feeding and love them enough-they'll be a great pet. My neighbors have 2 and they are big, friendly babies, who play with my dogs- Neo mastiffs.

Answer 10

yes they are great with family and kids, but they are hairy...they shed all over the place...believe me...after a month of picking up after a great dane...you would with you got a more less hairy dog

good luck