Important things to know about Great Danes?

Question

What are some really important things to know about Great Danes before purchasing one?
I'd really like to hear about personal experiences.

Also, Do you think an 850 sq. ft 2 bedroom loft is too small for a great dane?

If so, can you suggest another breed (keep in mind I AM NOT looking for chihuahua-sized dogs)?

Answer 1

great Danes need a lot of exercise they don't have a long life span due to there size it puts a lot of pressure on there joints,they eat a lot,have a lot of medical problems,no more than any other breed of dog but you need to research any breed of dog your getting

Answer 2

Believe it or not Great Danes are great apartment dogs. They don't need a lot of room to be happy. With that being said, you will still need to exercise them by walking them and letting them stretch their legs. Medically speaking they are a breed that is prone to a condition called "gastirc dilitation volvulus" or bloat. It's a life threatening condition, but can be warded off by having the dog "pexyed". This is a surgical procedure that can be done when you have a female spayed or a male neutered. It's a surgery that attatches the stomach to the abdominal wall so the stomach won't flip which accumulates air causeing pain and a cascade of problems. You can discuss this with a veterinarian prior to purchasing a Dane puppy. The only other down side is that their life span is not that long. The larger the breed the shorter the life span.
I used to raise Danes and absolutely love them. They are great dogs and want to get another one at some point. My order of preference is a black, fawn then brindle. I don't like the white, harlequin or merle colored danes. For some reason my observations have been negative when it comes to colors and color patterns. But don't let that discourage you from getting the dog you want, everybody's preference is different.
By all means get a Dane!!!!!!!!!! You'll love them
Good luck

Answer 3

I see a lot of misinformation posted in regards to Danes..
Danes aren't that shortlived (if bred right)they have an average of 10 years which is the same as that of Labs, Goldens, GSD, Dobermans etc..many live well into their mid teens now. They are no more prone to health issues then any other breed of dog. Just because they are a giant breed does not by any means mean that they will have issues.
They aren't all that big an eater if they are fed a good quality food such as Canidae, Wellness, Chicken Soup, etc. They are very easy to train. They also don't require a lot of exercise..regular walks and play time is just fine. They are good apartment/small house dogs since they are so mellow and are couch potatoes.
To have the best, healthiest, longest lived Dane possible always make sure to buy from a responsible, ethical breeder who abides by the breeder code of ethics.. Go to the Great Dane Club of America site and check out the breed standard and what the breeder ethics are.
I also recommend the book The Great Dane Model of Nobilty by Jill Swedlow It is a great book with a wealth of good info and correct info.

*****Lotsadog, Canidae All Life Stages is fine for Dane pups. It is at the high end of acceptable for protein level (24%) but it is fine. Many very responsible and very expereinced Dane breeders feed it to their dogs pups included. I have raised pups on it myself without incident...you are correct tohugh absolutely NO puppy food for a Dane puppy not even large breed...no food including adult food over 24% protein.. Also need to stay away from foods containing corn, wheat & soy. The Great Dane Lady does have a lot of good general info, however a lot of her feeding advise is outdated and promotes and advertises a particular brand of food..some of her things are far too complicated and fussy.**********

Answer 4

Great Danes are wonderful breed of dog, they are:

Patient
Kind
Gentle
Loves everyone he/she knows
Dignified
Great companion

Here are some things that my turn you away from a large breed dog:

Prone to bloat
Short life span
hip displacia
tumors
heart disease
grows quickly

The Dane when in the house is a HUGE couch potato. They will just find their spot on the couch and hang their until they are wanting to go out side.
As long as your dog is able to get out and run I don't see why your home wouldn't work for a large breed dog like a Great Dane.
The Danes that I care for only get fed twice a day and they are fed 4c per serving.

Here are some other great breed of dog, since you seem to like the large breed dog try to do some research on these breeds;

Bernese Mountain Dog
Giant Schnauzer
Great Pyrenees
Saint Bernard
Borzoi
Irish Wolfhound
Scottish Deerhound

Answer 5

GDLover gave you some really good info. I agree except about the Canidea. I think it's fine for 1 yr or older dogs, but is way too high in calories for GD pups.

I feed my 7 month old Chicken Soup/ Adult formula. Do NOT feed ANY puppy food, they're all way too high in protein for danes. Too many calories is thought to be one of the causes of HOD which is a serious bone growth disorder. My pup was weaned onto Nutro adult, and started knuckling over when he was 9 weeks old (couldn't walk at all). I switched his food, and within a day or two he was 100% better. The food you choose for them is so very important.

Check out GreatDaneLady.com for tons more helpful info.

My guy is a total couch potato. He'd be fine in an apartment as long as he got short walks and potty breaks each day. Extra rooms are unnecessary in his eyes. He is within 10 feet of me no matter where we are. Danes shouldn't go on long or very fast walks until at least 2 yrs old.

Danes are prone to some illnesses. My baby currently is going thru OCD surgery on both shoulders. This is genetic, and is one reason you need to go to a reputable breeder and ask about the health of the parents. Make sure you get a signed contract with a health guarantee from the breeder. If you don't, and have a major problem, you're SOL- just like me. This surgery alone is costing us about $5k in vet bills. Also, they can get HOD, PANO, and Bloat.

Any giant breed is going to be prone to a lot of the same health issues. Get the dog you want, just be prepared for any situation that arises.

Good luck!

Answer 6

They are a very large :) They grow very fast for their size and as puppies will drop to sleep for long periods of time. As a breed, they are not long lived -- they, like most breeds or mixes, have some serious health issues that need to have testing done on the parents prior to breeding. They are prone to hip and elbow problems so require OFA on the parents. Also they have serious problems with CVI - cervical vertebral instability that can cause paralysis and lead to death. Also bloat tends to be a big problem. Check online with the parent club, Great Dane Club of America, and they will give you information regarding the health issues. Also temperament is usually decent but there are people making puppies that don't know what they are doing and will often have serious temperament problems as well as not socialize the puppies well so they will be fearful or overly aggressive - not something you want :)

Just basically whatever breed you decide on, find a good, responsible, knowledgeable breeder that can help you learn about the breed so you can be a responsible purchaser.

Answer 7

Great Danes eat a lot and take up a lot of space!
Seriously, they do cost a lot to feed simply cause they are bigger! Danes can live in small space as they are not overly active (compared to a working breed dog). However, they will need to get out for a couple of decent walks a day to stretch their legs and have a change of scenery. Like any dog they need both physical and mental stimulation daily.
Training and socialisation is really important at a young age as, although they are generally gentle giants and generally well disposed to other dogs and people, their size can make them completely uncontrollable if they are not trained.
Great Danes, like most large breeds, generally have a short lifespan - 7-9 years.
Genetic predisposition to medical problems includes:
hip dysplasia
bloat (Gastric volvulus)
congenital heart disease
deafness or blindness (in white or mostly white danes)

Good luck with your dane search.

Answer 8

They are BIG with big tails and can massively destruct things like Nick-knacks.. on a lower shelf . They eat massive quanities of dog good... probably about 50 POUNDS every 1-2 weeks... (at great expense to the owner) VET bills will be high as any dog needs to be groomed, clipped (toenails), shots and SPADE or neutered...(females cost more then males to "fix")... you should not live in a tiny apartment with one of these dogs as they need plenty of room... but the biggest thing of all is, you MUST be sure you will have the time and energy to spend with the dog---they need lots of attention as any dog would... Being big dogs, they often have bone problems that mean many trips to the vet... however, they are great dogs... wonderful pets and no one would DARE try to hurt you when the dog is in your presence... NOT because the dog might attack (they are relative docile, friendly creatures) but due to their LARGE SIZE!!!! A great dane who jumps up on someone can stretch out to be over 6 ft TALL on his back legs... hope you are strong enough to hold on to his leash...

Answer 9

Sorry to say, that size of apt is wayyy too small for a great dane. If you insist on getting one, just be prepared to share that space with such a big dog and also you will have to walk him/her at least twice a day in order to provide it with the amount of exercise it needs.

I would suggest a beagle, cockerspaniel, or boston terrier since they're medium sized and generally have gentle personalities like the great dane. But if those are too small for you, I would recommend a lab or a retriever.... they make GREAT dogs, but the only down side is when they're puppies, they need a lot of training and proper attention/exercise so they don't become destructive (labs/retrievers are notorious for being chewers if neglectd). But they make great, loyal, gentle companions :)

Answer 10

OMG i LOVE great danes. ive had three in the past and loved every single one of them. they are gentle giants! my Zeke saved us from a robber once! they rly bond with your family and will protect you if any one tries to hurt you. they are big tho. you deffinatly need a big yard or be close to a park where you can take them often. its not the size of house, because they will just lay down indoors in matters in the area where they can run. but if you have the yard i deffinatly would suggest a great dane! they are soo great of dogs!