All right everyone, as you know I already have two Siberian Huskies and three cats but it has always been my dream to own a Great Dane. II had a puppy once but he got sick and we lost him. It broke my heart and I gave up on the dream for a long time but a recent run in with a Dane got my spirits up and revived my dream Well now might be the time it really gets to happen. We've been told we have a good chance of getting the dog and that we are on the top of the list and at any time once they review the application we could get a make or break call.

Adopt a Great Dane: Zeus: Petfinder (http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13298046)

I have read a lot about these dogs but I would like to hear some stories and tips first hand from Great Dane owners.

*puts hand up*

What do you want to know :)

Ours is the biggest retarded doofus in the world lol
They are the sweetest dogs but you need to train them very early!!

Shoot - got to go now but post or PM me any questions as I've been living with Danes for the past 23 years :)

I know, training, diseases, feeding, puppy growth.. pretty much anything I don't know my mum does :)

Luckily the Dane -see link above has already received some training and is house broken. From what we've been told he has a wonderful personality, loves dogs, people and gets on fine with cats.

I don't really have any specific questions I guess, I'm just looking for anything that you as a owner may think I need to know.

Umm well basically they are lovely dogs. They tend not to realise their size and every one that we have had has thought it was a poodle and tried to sit on your lap. :D

He looks like a beautiful dog :)

The condition he has on his elbows is caused by laying on hard surfaces for long periods (poor thing :( )

They can be territorial of their home but if you invite someone into your home then they will welcome them.

We feed ours Eaglepack dog food but a cheaper giant breed food would be fine with an older dog.

I'll try to think of some more info for you as it's 6am and I haven't been to bed yet... my brain has shut down... :)

Thanks for the tid bits.

I think I'm going to have an anxiety attack if I don't hear something soon!!

Wish me luck!

I hope all goes well for you. :)
Sadly there are a lot of Danes in shelters as people don't realise how big they actually get and they can be hard to live with because of their size.

I love big dogs. The bigger the dog, the bigger the heart. ;) I don't particularly care if he weighs more then I do! There's plenty of room.

It's going to some sleepless nights for a while. Our application has been approved.. but so has someone else. We're going to meet the dog and people Sunday if all goes as planned. They don't want to decide until meeting both prospective families. This means a lot to me. This isn't an Oh well deal. I'm really worried. What if I meet the dog in person and fall even more in love with him and they pick the other family. I don't know anything about whoever else wants him. It's really stressing me out! I really want this dog!

It will be hard if they pick the other family but try not to stress too much. There is nothing you can do about it and if the other people don't have any other dogs or are home all the time this might be an advantage to them.

There are plenty of other Danes out there looking for a new family :) Goodluck and I really hope you get your boy... you will be a wonderful Dane owner!

Well I don't know about them but I'm home virtually 24/7. The dog would rarely be alone and never for more then a few hours. If we go out of town the dogs come with us. Taking care of the animals and AMHD pretty much take up the average day. This dog doesn't just like the company of other dogs but LOVES to be with other dogs. I have two. I know I have a lot going for us on our side, but I'm still on pins and needles.

Ahh OK, that would be anvantage for YOU then :)

Sunday is going to seem a LONG way away :(

I cross my fingers for you and let us know how you go!

Oooh also here is a link for the Great Dane breed standard.

Great Dane Breed Information (http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/information/great-dane.asp)

Thanks for the link. I've already done a good bit of research into the dogs but every little bit helps. :)

Boy, tomorrow and then the three and a half hour drive there are really going to give me premature grey hairs!

I first fell in love with them more then ten years ago when I saw a show on animal planet about a Great Dane rescue. Its been my dream since. Ever since I lost Ares I've been kind of bleak and sad when Great Dane's were mentioned but a run in with a lost Dane rekindled the flame. I thought she was another dump off at first because a lot of dogs get tossed at the local dumpster and I had just enough time to fall in love with her before I found out she wasn't a dump and she belonged a little ways down another road. That broke my heart so incredibly bad I cried for hours but after a day or moping I decided to look again and I saw Zeus, It will really, really break my heart if we don't get him. It was hard enough to face my sadness and put myself out there for another Dane.

I know all dogs should be trreated the same but there really is something special about Danes... They are said to be "The Apollo of all breeds" and it's so true, they are noble and loyal. Unfortunately one of the facts of life about danes is that they don't have the longest life span, Our oldest was 10 when he died from Cardiomyopathy, it's common problem in the breed which can't be tested for and symptoms don't show until they are older (Which makes breeding them hard)

That's good and bad that you found their owners... good that the dog wasn't just dumped.
Bad because you would have taken good care of it and fell in love with it :(

Yeah, I've had dogs for a very long time and am still finding out new things :)

Tips not needed. We didn't get him. I don't know why.

Oh no, so sorry to hear that Silver :(

Thank you for your help and consideration. I am admittedly a good bit irritated with that Humane Society. Were were kind of jerked around on a short string. One says we have tp priority over any other applicants, another says we are treating the applicant equally. Both applications were equally good, we don't want to decide without meeting both families first. Then what do they do? Meet the other people first, say we like them well enough. Screw our word and the other family, they don't need a chance! Pah, honesty. Who needs it?

I'm going to keep trying and if anyone would like to help then by all means its welcome.

I'm looking for any full blooded Great Dane that is within Louisiana or would adopt into Louisiana. I do not care what the dog looks like. Looks are not the main priority. I need a Dane that is good with other dogs and cats.

I just sent in an application for

Adopt a Great Dane: Jetta: Petfinder (http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13555717)

But I don't know if they would adopt out of state. Its not mentioned. Doesn't hurt to try. I just need to learn to stay detached until the dog's in front of me to save form heartbreak all over again.

That's awful. It had better be a GREAT home :mad:
Who are they to say that these other people were better without even finding out about you!

Jetta is very cute... fawns are my favourite :)
I'll have a scout about the internet andsee what I can find.

Here is the great dane club of Louisiana... They have a LOT of rescue danes up for adoption (I'm quite partial to Duncan actually :) )

Great Dane Club of Louisiana (http://www.gdcla.com/)

You know after four days of constant anxiety, disappointment is at least better then better pulled around and just not knowing. That was the worse part of it. At least I now KNOW that we aren't getting him so I can look again.

Oh! I overlooked that site! I thought it was just an information page about the breed.

Yes I suppose you are right, no more wondering :)

Yep, there's a link on the side that says 'rescue' in there are quite a few danes up for adoption.

I'm glad you haven't given up :)

Thank you very much for the rescue link your showed me! I've been in contact with the rescue since you pointed it out and my application has been approved. The lady that runs it just needs to work with the dogs a bit more to figure out who would be best for us.

Oh and I never heard back about that other inquiry of the young Dane on petfinder but that doesn't really matter as much now that I am talking to this rescue. Really, one would think rescues would be a bit more accommodating to people interested in adopting! If she was no longer available or if they didn't adopt out of state I wish they would have the courtesy to respond and say so!

That's great Silver :D
I hope al goes well with the new rescue place!

Yes, it would be nice of them to get back to you. It doesn't help the whole puppymill situation when people don't hear back from a shelter or rescue place then go out and buy a puppy from a pet store.

Well if all goes as planned we should be driving to pick up the Great Dane we are adopting currently named "Kane". He seems to be a perfect fit for us. He's great with dogs, cats, and people. He's well mannered and trained. The only reason he was given up was because his previous owners hit a rough patch and could no longer afford to keep him.

That's OK then, at least you know he wasn't mistreated, the previous owners did the right thing if they couldn't give him proper care anymore.

That's funny because my mums great dane's name is "Kade" hehe

Let me tell you I thought my Siberian Husky was a crazy puppy, but he ain't got nothing on my neighbours great dane...

I don't own a Great Dane, but I babysit for my neighbours so am around there great dane quite a bit.

First tip I'd give you is build you counters higherLOL. No but really early training is a must as these dogs grow like crazy and grow to be huge.

They are kind dogs, but they are not gentle therefore should not be left alone with children. Like I said they are sweet but they are big and have the potential to knock a child over with ease. The kids I babysit usually make me carry the, everywhere as they are scared the dog will knock them over.

They must be taught boundaries, as they can easily reach up to the stove, table and cupboards.

All in all, they are sweet loving dogs, who don't know their own strength and therefore must be taught young and like all other dogs carefully supervised around children.

They must be taught boundaries, as they can easily reach up to the stove, table and cupboards.


Isn't that the truth, moms dane tries to climb on to the benches to steal things!

I hope he's already had some training on stealing things but if not then at least I have two very good examples for him to learn from. They learned from day 1 that you never, ever steal food. Not from mommy or each other.
If they try and steal something they get nothing at all, but if they wait patiently then they often get a very small piece, if its safe for them. Instead of snatchers I have two dogs who will politely sit and then stare you to death. It works for me.

We are leaving to drive to get him in about 2 hours, and then it's a 3 1/2 hour drive there.

Thank you again shami, I probably wouldn't have even realized there was a rescue link if you hadn't pointed it out to me.

No worries Silver, I'm just glad that you are finally getting somewhere. No matter what Dane you get, you will love it :)

Sorry to keep posting personal stories but mom has trained nearly every one of your Danes to take food out of your mouth on command... (never stealing)
You hold the food in your lips and they will very gently take it out... shows you how much we trust them :)

I am so nervous and excited! I can't wait for the hubby to get off work already so we can go already!


You hold the food in your lips and they will very gently take it out... shows you how much we trust them

I have also taught my huskies to do that to. Most people probably think its gross but they slobber all over my face anyway and its not like they are reaching in my mouth. I'm no pet germ a phobe.

I think it's cute :)
Please let us know as soon as you do... I'm crossing all my fingers and toes :)

We just got home about twenty minutes ago with Kane. It was an exhaustingly long drive but well worth it.

He's still a bit unsure of what's going on but he's settling in okay, especially when we put burgers on the stove. I swear he has the best beg face ever. He's absolutely wonderful and huge. My huskies can walk under him without having to duck. Comparatively he makes them seem tiny.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Welcome home, Kane!

Great I am glad you got your Dane. I can just picture you huskies walking under him. Reminds me of Clifford the big red dog.LOL

Congratulations silver!

I am so happy for you and I can't wait for photos!

Wow! That picture is really neat. I couldn't do anything like that. As soon as I can find the darn cord that connects the camera to the computer I'll post some. Irony, as soon as the camera is fixed the cord disappears. That's just how life is with me.

I think that Kane might have been taught to not get on furniture before. We weren't able to coax him onto the bed or couch. Hopefully I can fix that. ;) We put the futon mattress on the bedroom floor for him and to reassure him my husband slept on the floor on it with him. I would have to but there wasn't enough room.

Today we took him into town with us and we walked along Front Street's Riverbank where they usually have booths set up on Saturdays so he got lots of love and compliments. He was a prefect gentleman as expected. I'm kind of glad things fell through for me with Zeus. Because of that two good dogs got homes and I got my wonderful Kane. I guess everything happens for a reason!

Oh, and he's scared of kittens. No terrified throwing a fit, but avoids them like the plague. He just sat in my lap a few second ago to avoid them. Here's is this dog this is big by even Dane standards scared of little kittens. :rolleyes:

Silver I just found this thread, how did I miss it?

Congratulations on your Dane, I'm so very happy for you. Lucky dog, he's got a home with one of the best dog people I know, I love it when that happens. :)

Pictures, find that cord, don't stop looking, I want pictures! :)

LOL A dane in your lap? Could you hubby find you under all that dog. Kittens can be scary,right? Someone should do a cartoon about that.

Awwww that was so sweet of your husband to sleep on the floor with him!

Lol they are funny things, I've enver seen one scared of kittens before, ours have always loved little fluffy things, they seem to know their size and always play so gently with the little ones.
He will warm to the kittens eventually :)

As Alty said, don't stop looking for that cable! Lol

I found a picture on my computer for you silver :)

Aw, that's an adorable picture shami! Just too cute.

I slept with him last night and it was actually pretty comfy until the big storm rolled through 12 hours ago and knocked us out of power. Yup, still not back yet. That's what I hate about living so far out. We are always at the bottom of the priority list.

Aww that really sucks silver! I hate power outs. Thankfully we have a gas oven so we can still have our precious coffee lol

Sounds like he's settling in pretty well, he's got you wrapped around his paw already lol

Ah, 25 hours later the power comes back. Uck. That took ridiculously long. They didn't even take that long the last time a hurricane blew threw. I hate our electric company.

Oh yes, he has me. Me and him have the same policy towards sleeping. Sleep until the sun comes up and then stick our heads under a blanket.

Great danes are very good dog but be sure not to run him after he eat or feed him too much danes are at a high risk for blot because of there deep chest I just lost my male great dane to blot. But I can tell you one think they are great dogs he was the most loving dog in the whole world danes are a great family dog..

I had the pleasure of having two Great Danes over the years. Both were Harlequins( the black and white ones). They both were great dogs to own. Loving and gentle , great with children and smaller animals. I hopefully will get another soon now that I have children of my own. The only bad thing about them is their longevity. The bigger the dog the shorter the lifespan. If you can, check out the parents. This breed has trouble with hip dis-placement. Also, make sure they get good vitamins and minerals when they're growing.

Good points jmjoseph.
As horrible as it is to think about, you need to get his heart checked regularly after the age of about 4. I have had 2 go from Cardiomyopathy.

Shaelee made a good point about bloating as well. If they have any exercise in the hour after they eat it can cause their stomach to twist and gases to build up. It is treatable if caught early.

I have a Great Dane which is AKC registered. I only ask that he be given a good home. I keep him inside and he is potty trained. He listens to commands and is great with people. AGE: 2 yrs on 8/5

He fathered 9 pups (by accident) with my yellow lab. The pups are
4 weeks old all are black with blue eyes and look like a Black Dane.