At 6 months and her current weight I would be more concerned about health problem than behavioral problems.

Great Danes are very hard dogs to raise and grow as it is... throw abuse into the mix and you can end up with permanent bone or joint damage.

Any dog can overcome abuse eventually, it just takes a little time and a lot of love.

We are most concerned about her health and weight. The only behavior she has currently that worries me a little is that she is skittish and timid.

Sorry if you already mentioned that... I'm only on here for a few minutes so admittedly I didn't read back.

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Originally Posted by thisisit

Thanks everyone! We will be calling for a vet appointment today. She was rescued FROM the actual previous owner, that is why she isn't spayed or anything. I say the previous owner is lucky we didn't call the humane society on them. They wanted her to pay $350.00 to take her. I said they should pay US to not turn them in to the police for curelty, abuse, and neglect of an animal.

We know giant breeds need some special care and don't want to stress her bones by causing her to gain too fast, or exercise her too much right away... but, she is so sweet and she already loves us so much!

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Now that I have actually read the posts... :D

How did she go at the vets?

Do you know what food your sister is feeding, or plans n feeding?
Danes need a low protein food for the growing stages of their life, 24% or less, never over.
It's probably very tempting to fatten her up fast but that's probably the worst possible thing you can do.
My mum had a rescue dane years ago and she was skinnier than your sis's new black one, she was absolutely shocking. Mum took her home, and not knowing much about dogs at the time fed her everything she could get her hands on.
Needless to say the diarrhea kept her entertained for a few days.

I don't know how much you know about Danes but if you need any tips or advice let me know, my mom has been breeding them for 20 years :)

EDIT - Just looking at the photo, she is going to be one beautiful Dane when she grows up.. beautiful angles and great lay of shoulder... I just don't know how people can be so cruel to such a beautiful dog.

Eegads! I don't know when her appointment is, but my sister did try to fatten her up too fast and the poor thing has had diarrhea all night and today. The weather was good today, so my sister almost went for a hike with Bailey too. I warned her that she doesn't know the vet history so it is too dangerous to take her out much, I think. Because Parvo stays in the ground for years and she is not even six months old. I'm not even sure if she got an appointment yet. I'll press her on that. She told me just a little while ago that she was making rice with chicken broth to feed her for dinner.

Ooooh OK I read that wrong... you were calling the vet today, not taking her today, whoops!

Yes, good idea, from the looks of her I doubt she would have had any vaccinations, if the previous owner took her to a vet looking like that they wouldn't have been getting her back!
She can play with other dogs and go for walk 14 days after she is vaccinated.

Rice and chicken is great... nice and bland but still filling.
She will need to be put on a high quality giant breed puppy formula once her stomach has settled though ;)

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Originally Posted by thisisit

eegads! I don't know when her appointment is, but my sister did try to fatten her up too fast and the poor thing has had diarrhea all night and today. The weather was good today, so my sister almost went for a hike with Bailey too. I warned her that she doesn't know the vet history so it is too dangerous to take her out much, I think. Because Parvo stays in the ground for years and she is not even six months old. I'm not even sure if she got an appointment yet. I'll press her on that. She told me just a little while ago that she was making rice with chicken broth to feed her for dinner.

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I hope its home made broth. Because most commercial chicken broth has tons and tons of salt. Another trick for home made animal food for dogs or cats is to get a pressure cooker. You can cook the carcus of a chicken in it after everyone eats and turn the bones to mush and mix with rice for filler. That way they get the benefit of the marrow.

Poor little pup. I don't have anything to add, it's all been said and with Shaz here you're getting the best advice you can get for this breed. She really knows her stuff.

I would personally love to go to the old owners house and teach him a thing or two. Maybe a few days in a cage with no food and water will smarten him up. Oops, was that out loud?

I would still call the humane society on this guy. If he's charged he could be prohibited from ever owning a dog again. Too many times these people get a puppy, grow tired of it, get rid of it and replace it with another.

That's your call of course.

I hope that everything works out and bless your sister for taking her in and you for being there for her. I'm sure she'll soon fit in to your sisters home and know that she has nothing to fear. :)

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Poor little pup. I don't have anything to add, it's all been said and with Shaz here you're getting the best advice you can get for this breed. She really knows her stuff.

I would personally love to go to the old owners house and teach him a thing or two. Maybe a few days in a cage with no food and water will smarten him up. Oops, was that out loud?

I would still call the humane society on this guy. If he's charged he could be prohibited from ever owning a dog again. Too many times these people get a puppy, grow tired of it, get rid of it and replace it with another.

That's your call of course.

I hope that everything works out and bless your sister for taking her in and you for being there for her. I'm sure she'll soon fit in to your sisters home and know that she has nothing to fear. :)

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... not really my call. I think it is up to my sister, otherwise... that is a whole other thread.

I did just get back from my sis's house, told her everything I read here and what else I could find online. She has not called a vet yet. I told her tomorrow WE are calling the vet. When I got over to her house I was greeted at the door by Bailey barking, and she peed on the floor right there. When I left, she tried to rush the door. She's such a pretty dog. I hope everything works out for her...

If it were up to me, I'd have the guy arrested who raised her till now. I don't feel I should butt in though, the guy is the father of my niece's new baby (my sister's baby's baby daddy). Yes, I'd like to put him in a cage with no water or food for a few days. No potty breaks either!

Bailey has a beautiful coat. :)

I know it's not your call, nor is it mine, just wishing out loud. ;)

She is a gorgeous dog! Her coat IS amazing! I really hope she gets her into some obiedience classes of some sort! But she really is beautiful!

Thanks, I took my sis some special oatmeal doggy shampoo yesterday, so she got a good scrubbing :) That's why she looks so shiny. Obedience class is a great idea! especially since Bailey is going to get so big.

Oatmeal doggy shampoo?

Brand name? Where did you get it? I've been looking for something good for a long time. I have 3 dogs, one lab mix, one border collie mix and a little stinker Beagle. ;)

The lab and border collie mixes have predominantly black fur and no matter what type of dog shampoo I buy it leaves their fur looking dull and lifeless. OMG, I sound like a commercial. ;)

Yes with a coat that shiny he must have been getting some decent food on the odd... just nowhere near enough of it!

Some people also do not realize that a Great Dane costs around $50 a week to feed... once the dog gets bigger and starts eating more they either neglect it, or get rid of it.
At one point, when my mums newest Dane was growing he was costing them $70 a WEEK to feed, it was crazy, but he just wasn't putting on enough weight on cheaper food.
Mum made the switch to feeding Eagle Pack and raw meat and he just stacked the weight on.

Toilet training is going to be fun... it's just the same as training any other dog, but when a dane has an accident, you might as well build a swimming pool!

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Oatmeal doggy shampoo?

Brand name? Where did you get it? I've been looking for something good for a long time. I have 3 dogs, one lab mix, one border collie mix and a little stinker Beagle. ;)

The lab and border collie mixes have predominantly black fur and no matter what type of dog shampoo I buy it leaves their fur looking dull and lifeless. OMG, I sound like a commercial. ;)

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I use curash baby bath, soothing oatmeal.
Not sure if it's available in Canada but here it's just in with all the other human baby shampoos and baths.
It's great for dogs with sensitive skin and it's even better if you can't actually bath your dog as it can just be wiped over with a cloth and there's no need to rinse.

LOL! Shazzy, the swimming pool comment made me laugh. Oh no, now I'm getting a mental picture.

I'm not laughing anymore. :(

I have three dogs and spend around $50/week to feed them. Wow!

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Originally Posted by shazamataz

I use curash baby bath, soothing oatmeal.
Not sure if it's available in Canada but here it's just in with all the other human baby shampoos and baths.
It's great for dogs with sensitive skin and it's even better if you can't actually bath your dog as it can just be wiped over with a cloth and there's no need to rinse.

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I'll have to look for that.

Jasper has severe dandruff and dry skin. We've tried every medicinal shampoo, oil, you name it. The vet has put him on medication and now she's even stumped. Nothing helps.

Right now we have a shampoo for Jasper and Indy that is especially for dogs with black coats and sensitive skin. The shampoo itself is black. It's not working. :(

I did use it myself once. We ran out of shampoo and I figured "what the heck, it won't kill me". I have to say, my hair was really shiny afterwards. :cool:

Is it okay to use conditioner on a dog? Do they have doggy conditioners? I think that might help. Both Jasper and Indy shed a lot during the spring because of the undercoat they build up in the winter. It's hard to brush it out because the shampoo makes their hair so rough.

Oops. I'm totally hijacking this thread.

Sorry Thisisit. I should start my own thread with the question of doggy shampoo.

Please forgive me.

I use allergroom. Awesome, awesome stuff.

I don'tt hink conditioner is good for dogs either...