[Silverfoxkit]

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

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

[shazamataz]

*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!!

[shazamataz]

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 :)

[Silverfoxkit]

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.

[shazamataz]

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... :)

[Silverfoxkit]

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!

[shazamataz]

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.

[Silverfoxkit]

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!

[shazamataz]

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!

[Silverfoxkit]

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.

[shazamataz]

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

[Silverfoxkit]

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.

[shazamataz]

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 :)

[Silverfoxkit]

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

[shazamataz]

Oh no, so sorry to hear that Silver :(

[Silverfoxkit]

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

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.

[shazamataz]

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.

[shazamataz]

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

[Silverfoxkit]

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.

[Silverfoxkit]

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