Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

Original poster

So I'm adopting a Great Dane

20 replies

ChocolateTeacup · 20/02/2014 12:19

I have fallen in love with an 18 month old Great Dane who has been returned to his breeder after his old owners moved, he arrives tomorrow, needs castration and manners.

I'm taking a trip to the pet shop to get the basics covered, he is fully vaccinated and flea & worming has been done recently. A vet trip has been booked for next week to get him checked over and dog training classes have been enrolled on!

Do any Great Dane owners have any advice, I have owned a St Bernard in the past but most of my dogs have been smaller collie and german shepherd types!

OP posts:

Aked · 20/02/2014 13:09

No advice I'm afraid, but good luck!!

RayPurchase · 20/02/2014 13:20

Good luck! I'm very jealous...

minkersmum · 20/02/2014 13:40

I had a Great Dane. She passed two years ago aged 10. She was the most gentle lovely girl ever. Adored children and was very affectionate and gentle around them. Once I had my dc she did become a little fussy about other dogs which seems like a bigger problem with a big dog.

She was fairly simple. My collie/terrier was always the boss and could run rings round her. It didn't make her any less loveable, perhaps more loveable.

At the end of her life she became incontinent and her body gave up way before her mind. Unlike my collie/terrier who became completely senile at 17 and was very ready to go. It was very hard to say goodbye to her because she was still very 'there' in mind. I loved that big lump so much ... Ooft choking back the tears here, sorry!!

In short I loved having my GD. She was majestic!

Think they probably similar to St Bernard in terms of being prone to same problems like bloat etc. Will also need feeding stand. Mine was a bit of a stinker! Quite smelly coat and also not bothered about having dirty bum/feet which she often did!! Apparently dirty bottoms are a common thing with GD's!! You learn to live with it and baby wipes are very handy!!

I would love another. My only reservation would be them going so young. Despite having my collie/terrier for 18 yrs and feeling she was my 'special' girl, it was harder saying goodbye to my GD. It completely broke my heart. The first dane I stroked after she passed had me in floods. There is something so special about them, velvet ears, funny wee boney bit on their heads, big slabbery chops!!

So no tips but lots of lovely memories!! I am sure you will LOVE him and you sound well prepared! Good luck x

mrslaughan · 20/02/2014 19:49

Latest studies about bloat, show that raising food on a stand, does not decrease the chances of bloat and may actually increase it.

I have a giAnt and walk regularly with a Great Dane pup ( she's nearly a year) - she is quite high energy, very bouncy, but loveable. I would be finding a well behaved large dog - like another giant, to walk with, to set your new boy a good example.

The other thing is a dogmatic halti, it's what my friend found best for managing her girl.

Also I believe there is a Facebook group devoted to Dane owners, and it seems very active with lots of people offering advise.

She also takes hers to a ring craft class - apparently hers is not show quality ( I wouldn't know) but the the class has a lot of Great Danes, and she uses it as another opportunity for training, socialisation and meeting other owners of Danes.

mrslaughan · 20/02/2014 19:50

The ring craft class is North London, if by chance that is anywhere near you.

tammytwigg · 20/02/2014 19:57

I used to have a dane ,three words gangly giddy and gorgeous loved her to bits ,no brain but the kindest dog I've had a privilege to own loved my Chloe x

minkersmum · 20/02/2014 22:34

I used a halti with my girl. She was always happy in it and walked beautifully.

I used a raised stand to give a more comfortable feeding position. I didn't actually know they had previously been thought to help prevent bloat.

Great danes are just fab!

Mine was quite a heavy chunky type rather than the more skinny ones. My dad called her Mallet Head!!

Original poster

ChocolateTeacup · 21/02/2014 07:31

Thank you all :) I am about to leave to go and collect him (he is 4 hours away from me!)

I am down south so unfortunately not mrslaughan although there is something similar near me

Very excited!

OP posts:

Cakesnbeer · 21/02/2014 08:47

Bloat, bone cancer, DCM and bowels of hell:)

Get life time cover with at least 7000 per condition. I have heard that the giant breed royal canin has reduced bloat in a few Dane specific rescues though we barf ours.

Dogmatic is my head collar of choice.

Don't let them on sofas, at some point they will shit all over it or leave poo crumbs.

Greedy, affectionate, bouncy and marvellous fun, mine all are rescues so I might sound a bit jaded- i get the decline

babblington · 21/02/2014 08:59

We just (before Christmas) adopted a 3 year old dane, gorgeous thing he is. You really need to up your game on food about as they can reach everything and do!

minkersmum · 22/02/2014 18:49

cakesnbeer poo crumbs!! Yip I remember those!! We called them 'poo stops'. I quickly learned never to assume a raisin on the floor was a raisin!!

I also had the shit all over the couch incident as we approached the incontinent years. I coped with 2 years of faecal incontinence and it got to the point where she would be unable to get up herself and would be covered in it

StrawberryCheese · 22/02/2014 18:56

No advice but I love Great Danes they are beautiful! Although I recently met a Great Dane called Grace, she was far from graceful

Please come back with a picture!

Original poster

ChocolateTeacup · 22/02/2014 20:15

Here he is

OP posts:

theincrediblealfonso · 22/02/2014 20:23

Aww, totally at home already!

roadwalker · 22/02/2014 20:26

I loved my great dane
He was called Jack Russel
Mine only lived to 5 though with terrible health problems. He had diabetes (that was challenging) and heart problems so I would second the health insurance
I am now of the belief that he came from a puppy farm, had an excellent pedigree, but things didn't add up. I had never heard of puppy farms then, it was years ago
Anyway, he had a lovely personality. He was v greedy and putting things out of reach was the biggest challenge
He would go bandy legged if I walked him too much. Picking up poo was something else
His co-ordination was terrible. He couldn't jump over a tiny wall, he would jump and land before he got to it.

Cakesnbeer · 22/02/2014 20:33

Oh minkers, here too....oh look you pooped yourself and are lying it. Gwad!

But chocolate poo and insurance aside, yours is lovely (mine are too really:)

I do think they look better in pairs though...

furlinedsheepskinjacket · 22/02/2014 20:38

wow lucky you

he's gorgeous

are you ready for the drooooooooooool?

Tigerstripes · 22/02/2014 20:40

We had Danes and st bernards from before I was born until I went to uni. Adored them! Is yours harlequin? My best advice would be to not leave food on the counter. Lost a few lunchtime sandwiches that way. They move faster than you think!

AHardDaysWrite · 22/02/2014 20:40

He's a beauty!

Tigerstripes · 22/02/2014 20:42

Oh yes, the drool! The roof of our land rover was covered inside. My dad refused to drive it.

Flip