Would you want this crossbreed?

[Milliways]

Just been at the vets. There was the most magnificent, huge, donkey size animal coming out a consultion room. My first thought was "dane" but the head was wrong.

I asked if it was a ridgeback, apparently everyone thinks that. It was a Dane/Rottweiler Cross. 9m old, beautiful and dangerous.

It was muzzled and they said it hates men/children/animals/strangers. In fact it bit a relative of theirs yesterday who was taking a photo. Has bitten a few times (indoors). They cannot control it on the lead.

I think it's a shame. They obviously love it and are trying to learn to control it, but it will never be allowed to run in a field (except dragging it's owner - they said he did this) and can't be trusted indoors.

Why would people choose to cross these breeds?

I hope they get good help with training though.

So it's still technically a puppy then? Poor thing

Fwiw I don't think any specific breeds are inherently dangerous. Some need more intensive socialisation programmes when they are puppies to avoid problems in the future I believe (not sure if either of those breeds need that though).

The only thing you can safely assume with crossing both those breeds is that you're gonna get a BIG dog.

I hope they get some good training too.

I wouldn't not want that crossbreed. The problems it has may be to do with breeding, but are not to do with the breeds it is.

if it is in a situation wher eit feels it has to bite people, they need otr address that for the dogs sake as much as anyone else's.

What Slubber and Midori said. The breeds or a cross of the two are not an issue and I like both, to the extent that I'd happily own a Dane cross Rott. I'd be far more worried about lifespan and risk of dying from bloat than I would the rare chance of the dog growing up to have an attitude problem.

I hope so much for his sake that the owners manage to train him and address his issues.

Agree with Slubber, Midori and Val!

Many of the behavioural problems discussed can be changed dramatically with correct training and a lot of hard work - not the breeds fault. I would be very very worried about health implications but behaviour can be sorted. Wish I was involved in that.

Is this a first for mumsnet a thread of agreement

I agree too, any dog can be dangerous and breed doesn't always come into it, my neighbours have a lhasa that is very snappy. I suppose the size of animal can be an issue, i would be worried i couldn't control such a big animal if it decided it wanted to go after something/someone.

I agree with midori, Val and minimu

I agree with everyone and will try to restrain myself from offering a group hug.

I wouldn't want that because it'd be so large.

I feel sorry for dogs that have not been socialised properly as pups, or trained well so are seen as inherently dangerous.

I very nearly put my name down for a GSD pup at the RSPCA a couple of weeks ago. Didn't because it would be a big dog. Another couple commented they wouldn't want it because it would be vicious . GSD can be extremely good natured but can have an image of an aggressive dog.

Oh go on Mme.

I'd be up for a group hug.

Phew we are saved - there is the voice of dissent

In the knowledge that 99.9999% of MNetters would rather have them than a group hug.

So close...

:) - Just come back to this, everyone playing nicely

I always wanted a Dane - we have the space in the garden, but the thought of a full grown puppy Dane in the lounge...... (but also the short life span too).

As I said, he was a magnificent animal - really beautiful, so hope he has a happy life.

I personally wouldn't want a dog that large either - it'd be way bigger than me!

Hope they can manage him, or find someone else who can - every dog should be well trained but a large dog really needs to be impeccably reliable.

He sounds beautiful - I'd have one with no worries about safety - as Val said, I'd be worried about lifespan/bloat etc

I would not want a dog that big. I like being able to tuck my dog into my handbag.

Agree with Midori, Slubber et al - although personally I wouldn't want a dog that size. I bet it was stunning though!

Mme Lindt I hanker for a handbag dog

Well, I wouldn't put it in a bag, but I do quite fancy one that could cuddle up on my lap without getting too heavy.

Calamity - get a cat

Giant breeds and Rotties are my thing anyway so I would give a Dane x Rott a home if it needed it but I'd never advocate purposely crossing those 2 breeds for a whole host of reasons

My sister shows/breeds Danes, they are beautiful dogs.

They just don't know how big they are though and any puppyish behaviour, although managable or cute in a small dog is amplified purely by their size.

My sister has chunks missing from their new kitchen worktop and from doors thanks to the teething puppy. Cups vanish from tables thanks to their tails and young children are constantly knocked over and whipped

She loves it, but it wouldn't be my cup of tea.

I can't have a cat, Chipping. My DP is desperately allergic :(

A <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=2.bp.blogspot.com/_V7fx18H4QKI/Sm0g7HMOA3I/AAAAAAAAAF4/2-fz7smXZ_M/s400/hairless%252Bcats.jpg&imgrefurl=www.inetgiant.com/Tags/Hairless-Cats&h=300&w=400&sz=27&tbnid=QJlrUVobgjry6M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhairless%2Bcats&zoom=1&q=hairless+cats&hl=en&usg=__iXSh03IM-2JiG1TUXh-XQ8FpctQ=&sa=X&ei=Ig9ATf2iJ5SZhQe5w7mhCA&sqi=2&ved=0CDQQ9QEwAg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">scary hairless cat?