Why did I ever agree to getting these two dogs?

[caraway]

Okay. The local rescue has put up a beautiful Great Dane bitch, spayed, who's coming to the end of her life, and a wonderful, intelligent and seemingly well behaved Irish Wolfhound called Emma, who's at her peak, and has also been spayed. They came from a loving family who had to move, and have been fostered for 4mnths in a family until now. No training issues apparently, and when we were with them, they knew all the commands, and the Great Dane, Milly, just loved lying down.

I've fostered a Boxer before, and I used to have two German Shepherds when I was twenty four, and as a kid I had a Bernese Mountain Dog. But God those dogs are big. I have three kids- DD, DSD and DSS. 7, 5 and 4. RSPCA said they would probably be fine, but we are using baby gates for the bedrooms (we don't want them to clamber onto the beds when they're sleeping) and will sleep in a large converted garage, which we used as a playroom until now.

Adoption papers have been signed. I've walked them. Home checks and tests have been completed. We now own two giant dogs, to be collected tomorrow morning.

Anyone else have two big dogs? How do you cope?

[HelgatheHairy]

No advice, (I keep freaking out when people tell me my golden retriever puppy is going to be huge), but huge contratulations and well done you for taking them on. Especially the Great Dane and allowing them to stay together.

[MagratGarlik]

Once you've had them a while, they won't seem big - other dogs will seem very small.

Mine are not on that scale, but when we got lurchergirl she seemed massive next to our whippet, now she seems positively petite.

[Scuttlebutter]

Agree with Magrat. We've currently got four greyhounds, varying in size, but the biggest is a big lad, around 38kg and comes up to my hip. Most Deerhounds I've met tend to be laid back, chilled out dogs with really nice temperaments. You won't trip over them, and they won't be constantly bouncing up and down demanding attention, stealing your socks and yapping. Before we had the greys, Danes used to seem really big, now I just look at them and think, "ooh, what a lovely dog". Main issue to resolve will be transport - most of the Dane owners i know usually end up with a van. How are you tackling this?

Also, sadly, it sounds as though the GD won't be with you for a very long time, so even if it is a bit of a squeeze it will be temporary. I'm a firm believer in "If you can see the floor, there's room for one more."

Good luck!

[TheGOLDCunnyFunt]

Scuttle that is a great motto :o

Totally agree that your dogs won't be big soon, other dogs will be small

I have a large greyhound (the brother of ScuttleButters 38kg hound actually!) and he seemed massive at first, but now he's just a normal sized dog. It's other dogs that are unnaturally tiny :o it is rather like living with a small horse, as we have a small house (2 up 2 down I think it's called even though it's extended). You just get used to it really, after a week or so it'll be second nature to walk around stepping over numerous legs and tails :o

[bassetfeet]

Lovely thread

reminded me of this poem :

www.experienceproject.com/stories/Love-Poetry/499374

always room for another one caraway.........or two .......... Ah all those wet paws .

[beancurd]

I have two wolfhounds and a dane, get insurance now!

[beancurd]

Get high baby gates ... even my old gal can clear them if she wants to.

Are you up to speed on bloat? You are especially at risk at times of stress...like rehomes.

The best wolfhound site is torteval ... just Google.

Dogmatic headcollars good too. Hoseable beds like tuffies or Bronte glen are great,

[kilmuir]

have to say seems a bit irresponsible on the rescues part and maybe yours. sure you meant well. having said that I do have 2 Danes and 4 children!
yes dogmatics are great

[Wolfiefan]

Look at my name. I'd literally move mountains to get a wolfhound!
They don't seem as big when they are asleep. (unless you want to actually sit on your sofa!)

[beancurd]

Wolfhounds are the most beautiful, and wondrous but once you have had either breed you want more.

Careful walking them off lead with the children until you know whether they look where they are going whilst running. I have known owners with all sorts from head injuries to leg breaks from collusiona

[beancurd]

Collisions. I meant. My Wolfhohnds have been better than my danes at avoiding collisions and dane boys worst of all but maybe that is just mine!

[Ephiny]

I have two Rotties, which admittedly are not as huge as GDs etc but they're fairly big boys and we have a small house! You get used to it though, I can't imagine not having them around now.

After a while they won't seem big to you any more :)

[beancurd]

Soooo are they with you now? How is it going?

[CharlieMumma]

How exciting! Hope they are both settling in well, your children must all be so excited as well! Good luck with the two new additions!!

[aJumpedUpPantryBoy]

We used to have 3 German Shepherds and terrier - at the time we lived in a very small cottage but it was fine. We just got used to stepping over dogs and squasing in together
We have a mastiff and a terrier now (in a much bigger house) and I keep telling DH there is room for one more but he doesn't agree.
Oh, and we have 5 cats so I can't really complain that we don't have enough pets.

Good luck with your new girls - I am sure they will bring you happiness and more love than you can imagine

[caraway]

Oh I've fallen in love with both of them! Milly (the GD) and Emma (Irish Wolfhound) are just so loving. No problems so far! Four days and I already feel like I've had them forever. I guess any big problems will be exposed later on - it's only been a while- but they're both soppy things, especially Milly, and love sleeping. The babygates are very, very high and Milly probably isn't strong enough to jump it . The kids love them both too. We've already discovered so much. I've never really been to the park so early, and as it's a gigantic park with a lake and things, it's so beautiful. I already feel fitter because Emma needs so much exercise. I never knew how easy it was for dogs to destroy the 'Indestructible Balls' sold at our local petshop. Or how much fun it was chasing a gigantic dog (Emma) around the garden.

They're both very beautiful. I think the rescue could have prepared us a tiny bit more- but they've been very supportive, recommending insurances, vets, to call them if there is any trouble- even ten years down the line- and as I've had strong dogs before, we're managing well.

I've fallen in love! (don't tell DH, but he's got two rivals- I'm considering proposing to both of them- they're darling dogs and Milly can fetch the post, unlike DH)

[TheGOLDCunnyFunt]

Oh I'm so glad you're getting on so well, they sound like brilliant dogs! :)

[caraway]

They are brilliant dogs. I can't believe how lucky we were to find them- they're both so wonderful and if we'd decided to go to the Dogs Trust or to Battersea, like we were wondering about, we'd have never met them. Every time I come home from work- and I know it's only been four days with them here- they try and snuggle up. They've settled in so well in just four days. Milly (the GD) is currently on the sofa, lying across the laps of all three of my kids, very content, having just finished watching Merlin (she seemed to enjoy it) and Emma is leaning against the armchair, staring up at DH, trying to get him to give her another treat. However much he says 'no- I'm not moving', he'll end up getting one. Lucky that it's meant to be a healthy, no fat treat or Emma would turn into one tubby wolfhound!

[TheGOLDCunnyFunt]

:o at lying across all 3 kids :o that's another good thing about big dogs, there's room for everyone to pat them at once :)

Does it feel like they've been there forever yet?

[caraway]

Oh it definitely feels like they've been here forever! They'e like furniture. In four days, I've become used to having two lovely faces begging with their eyes for a treat and I'm used to running being dragged along in the park early in the mornings, and petting them both, and sitting watching TV with them.