Advice-Great Dane care

DeadlyByDesign

So myself and the missus are thinking of buying a Great Dane when me house. Now people are telling me that you need to have a mansion in order to accomadate them. I was always under the impression that the size of the house does not matter if you walk and play with them every morning and evening? Would the dog be just as happy once he/she gets into a routine of being walked and let run around a park at certain times?[/FONT]

Lauragoesmad

Just so ya know, great danes life expectancy is very low. 7 or 8 is the average.:(
If ya dont have any luck with getting a great dane or decide against it, think about a weimaraner. Kind of similar in looks but smaller and live a bit longer. 12-13 average. They do need as much walking though and if you want one with a long tail, you will have to book one in advance as most breeders dock tails for show standards.
Once the dog is walked enough I wouldn't worry about the size of your house. Although I'd say you'd have to have a garden.
Good Luck.

DeadlyByDesign

Thanks for the replay. We plan to get a house with a garden out the back. Are Danes hard to come by? Are there breeders in ireland and how much should one expect to pay? Sorry for all the questions

Lauragoesmad

Try this. Don't know if you want to buy off a website though.

http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/59/33579459.html

hadook

Nope, the size of the house doesn't matter but the size of your couch does. Danes are very people orientated dogs and they'll want to be close by. I'd strongly advise a crate for the first year to eighteen months (teething Danes chew holes in walls and that's personal experience talking).

Get pet insurance - when anything goes wrong with a Dane it goes wrong in style (they've got these lovely flappy ears that other dogs like to pull out of while they play - resulting in a teeny tiny wound on a ear tip that won't heal and ceilings showered in blood when they shake their head for instance). :rolleyes: Be prepared for a dog that can reach all of the counters, that can see into the grill (they have to stoop to do this once they get a little older), a dog that can clear a coffee table with one tail wag. Someone once told me my home was toddler proof and it is because toddlers and Danes can break all of the same stuff. Be prepared for an animal the size of a small pony that wants to be close, that follows you around, that invades your personal space etc. Get long handled mops, Dane drool sticks to anything and it's a nightmare to get off the ceiling.

But most of all be prepared for a goofy, mad, loving, attentive, clever, protective, laid back, snoring giant of a dog.

They do have a shorter life span and they are prone to various genetic problems (I'm assuming you've googled the breed?). Raised properly, with lots of socialisation and training they're a wonderful dog and great to have around. Don't expect that you won't have to put work in though, they're big, they're very loyal so can be weird with strangers if not socialised properly and they need boundaries.

Exercise wise they don't need huge amounts and are happy enough to have a couple of decent walks and kip on the couch for the rest of the day.

bikki

My Nan has one of these, i loved him to bits. Im 6ft and when it jumped up on me it would tower over me. It used to get the finest foods, and used to eat better than us sometimes.

They had to get his tail docked twice and he split it open with the force that he could wag it at.

Had to be put down in the end has he got arthritis in his back legs and could no longer walk.

jimboddb

Have a good look on the net, visit good breeders & perhaps attend a show or two in Cloughran to pick some brains. A great dog but u'll have to be willing to put in lots of time in training socialising etc.

p.s. theres also 2 Great Dane rescues in Ireland that always have dogs available to good homes. PM me & ill try put you in the right direction.

fishfoodie

hadook wrote: »

Exercise wise they don't need huge amounts and are happy enough to have a couple of decent walks and kip on the couch for the rest of the day.

Sounds like my kinda dog

Fond of the occasional Guinness are the ?

DeadlyByDesign

Thanks for all the great advice. I am going to make sure I get a reputable breeder and as you guys have said, nothing from the internet. These dogs seem to have so much character and I cannot wai to get one.

kassie

Hey DBD, just wondering how you got on with your Dane search??? Hadook's post describes a dane in a nutshell, it made me giggle all the way through As a first time dane owner (1yr) i'd be happy to help with any questions you might have and i know of two great dane rescues i could put you in contact with, if thats not an option, i know some breeders but they vet their potential new dane owners thorougly to make sure their babies are going to only the best of homes. I had wanted a great dane from when i was a little girl, it finaly became a reality for my this time last year and my god what a year it has been, nothing will prepare you for living with such a big dog, i'm a huge doggie person and thought bring it on, but nothing prepares you for their sheer size when fully grown, and thats not necessarily a bad thing!! As Hadook said you have to be careful where you leave things down in case the dog eats or knocks it over, my hubby left out chops one evening for dinner, took his eye off them for a second and "gobble" the dog had them swallowed! LOL And beware the tail.... oh the dreaded tail, it will literaly tear the skin off you...my dane managed to turn our oven on as he wagged his tail passing the oven, luckily i was home to notice it and just today, i leaned over to tie my shoe and whack i got his tail full force in the face!!! The highs and lows of living with him have been amazing so far, well not the lows its stressful for me because i show my dane or when he is sick, not eating, bumped him leg... for such big dogs they need to be watched to make sure they don't seriously harm themselves! And i would strongly suggest taking out insurance... i'm paying in and around €20 per month which is only €5 per week, which is brilliant if he needs any serious medical care, and we all know that veterinary care is paid for by the kg, my dane is currently 75 kgs (almost 12 stone!!!) so i don't fancy paying per the kg out my own pocket!

Anywho.. just wondering if you got your dane and/or if you need any friendly advice or guidance as i know i needed all i could get when i got mine!