Is it tough to own a great dane with a small yard?

Question

We'd love to get a large breed dog, but we're not sure how much room it needs to roam. I'll be honest and say I'm a little concerned about how much mess a large breed would make, too. Anybody have any experience with them?

Answer 1

You really do need a large yard, or be able to take them to a dog park every day to run around. They need to stretch their legs and run, and because of their size, they need a fairly large place to do it in. As for the mess, its very large and because of that you need to clean up almost daily to avoid a foul odor in your back yard

Answer 2

No it isn't hard to have a Great Dane in a small yard. They don't need a large yard or a big amount of exercise. Most adult Danes much prefer a couch to running around.
Like any dog Danes need obedience training and socialization.

A Dane fed a good quality food won't have a big "mess" issue. The better the food the less the mess. My own dogs only poop once , on occassion twice daily per dog.Their mess is no different in size then that of a Lab.On the issue of food if a Dane is fed a good food it also won't eat all that much. My dogs get Canidae All Life Stages. They get 2 cups am, 2 pm plus they get 1/2 can of either Merrick or Canidae canned food.Also while some Dane do drool many do not. In all my years of Dane ownership I've never owned a Dane that drooled except for right after drinking water. Also Danes are not big shedders.

I've owned Danes for over 25 years.I show in conformation, obedience & rally. My Danes have their CGC and one is a certified therapy dog. I currently own 3 Danes.

Before considering adding a GIANT breed like a Dane to your household, research them thoroughly..A great book to get;
The Great Dane Model of Nobility by Jill Swedlow. It is a very honest, fact filled book written by a very knowledgable Dane person.

Answer 3

It's hard to have a small yard with any dog. I had a great dane/lab mix 130 lbs. I took my dogs to an open space to run EVERY DAY. They have to have excercise. If you get any large dog, find out where the dog parks are near you. If you feed them a good lamb and rice, like Iams, they will poo a lot less. Lots of poo comes from cheap food that has so much filler. You can also go online to get recipes to make your own food. Consult your vet before doing this. Escher, my dane/lab was the best dog ever. I will miss him till the day I die.
I just read other answers and wanted to respond. Escher was extremely active, loved to run and play. As a puppy he was a chewer. These things could be the lab in him, but all dogs need exercise. Also, I got him when he was 1, and he took off after a cat and never came home when he was 12. (we think someone found and kept him) anyway...he still had a lot of life in him at 12. However, I, as do most mutt lovers, reccomend getting a mix. Less health problems. Especially in the hips with big dogs. I also have a 14 yr old wolf/sheperd mix. Two of our other dogs are pure but they were rescue animals, bloodhound and blue tic.
Whatever you decide, I say that anyone who CAN have a dog, should. It is so rewarding and there are so many good ones out there waiting to come home with you.

Answer 4

great danes are among the more active of the large breeds. IF you want a large breed dog that is more/less lazy and will still be a good guard dog, then I would suggest you get a mastiff type breed of dog.

Breeds such as the:
African Borebol
Dogue de Bordeaux
English Mastiff
Johnson style American Bulldog
Neo Mastiff
Cane Corso
They will all do well in a small space for large dogs as long as you give them exercise at least once a day.

Answer 5

Actually, although the breed is large, it only needs daily moderate exercise. If your yrad is small, take him on a walk around the block or simply play a rigorous game in teh backyard. Great Danes are best suited to living indoors os make sure he has plenty of space to stretch out when sleeping. Other than that, they require only jmoderate exercise, can be easy to train, and are very affectionate.

Good Luck with your Great Dane!

Answer 6

You'll need to take him on a few walks a day so he can get his energy out. Also, if there is a dog park in your area or just a large field near your home- take him there and play fetch so he can get his energy out. I own a townhome and we have small yards, but one of my neighbors has a Great Dane- she walks him about three times a day and he does fine. So as long as you will walk with him and find a large area for him to play then you should be fine- if not, then it's not fair to the dog.

Answer 7

It depends on what you are considering a "small Yard"? They need a lot of room to roam, play etc. but you don't need to be on a farm or anything like that. A general single family detached home and average sized yard should be sufficient.
Yes they do make quite a bit of a mess (not just in the yard) they drool, they shed, etc. as well as eat ALOT!! Large breed dog.....large appetite!! And don't forget those VET bills.....Also the larger the breed of dog the lower life span expectancy, you should take all of it into consideration before you get one. They are beautiful, graceful animals with the proper care and love.

Answer 8

Any larger animal is going to need room to run and play. You can train any dog not to dig holes or make a mess, but you can't make a big dog fit into a small yard. Unless you are planning to take the dog out (like to a park) several times a day to run and play, I'd stick with a smaller animal.

I'm a dog lover and it's sad to see animals living in situations where the owner obviously didn't think about the aniumal's needs. I'm so glad to see your question. It shows you do care and you will do what's right for your potential pet.

Answer 9

As with fish in an aquariam, the larger the fish the larger the tank. So, now for the dog.... the larger the dog, the larger the space needs to be. In addition with a large breed you need to commit the time needed daily to walk them and keep them socialized.

As for the mess they leave behind. Well, I don't mean to be blunt, but the larger the animal the larger the feces left behind. You will need to, daily, with any breed of dog pick up after them.... rain or shine.

Really think through the time commitment and the space needed before getting any dog. It is not fair to the animal nor to you to go into this because it's cool or sounds like it would be cool.

Answer 10

If you are also cramped for space inside it might not be a good idea. However in regards to the size of the yard, as long as you are diligent in taking it for walks to make sure that it gets enough exercise, it should be fine. If you're not the walking type, then maybe a smaller dog is a better idea until you have a home with a larger yard. Good luck! =)

Answer 11

If you have any kind of love for dogs at all, you have to remember that it is NOT about you, it is about that animal. It's tough on the Dane when this large, vital, active animal needs space to move and be who he was intended to be. And if all you are worried about is the "mess" maybe you don't need a dog period. You said you wanted to be honest. I a m being honest back.

For over thirty years we have had the joy of many dogs in our life. The most we ever had at one time was seventeen.... LOL wall to wall dog. But our guys were never "dogs" and they didn't know it because nobody told them. They were fully paid up, contributing members of the family, and their happiness was ours, and vice versa.

Our dogs have acres to run and play. It is their domain... their territory... and they love every corner, every bush and tree, every nook and cranny. What do YOU want for this Great Dane you fancy to have? That he sit in a small confined space all day unable to exercise his large muscular limbs, unable to feel the air in his nostrils as he flies at top speed across the juicy grass? This is more than "a dog" this is a Being, with feelings, and needs, and a sense of joy or misery depending on what YOU, his owner, bring to him.

Our dogs are a joy, they are funny, and laughing and active, and rambunctious, and downright hilarious. And yes, they can be messy, but we don't care, because it's not about the mess, it's about the love. If you cannot feel that, you are not ready to take on the responsibility to be the caregiver and the protector of one of man's most beloved companions.