Great danes and the flock

[cw]

yea we are contaplating giving him to a friend that has a bigger farm. dozer are dog already knows him and his family. he raises corn and not live stock and he dozer to keep pest away, he is the type that said he wouldnt have another dog because the last one he had pasted away, and it was too hard on his family, but they said they woul;d love to have him.. and it aint like they dont know what they are getting into.. how much did your dane cost you?

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Hey I have been resting after knee surgery so missed this post till today. I raised and bred Great Danes for 10 years, studied them for 20 before that and even though due to health reasons I can't keep them any more still keep in with them thru other breeders. Dane pups are anywhere from free to $5000 right now, depends on the breeder.


That pup (yes he is a pup) is either a fawn/ harl mix or a blue/ harl mix and for a harl to go 240 is not uncommon. That said it is also not a reconised color but does not take away from the pet in any way.

I raised blues and blacks, but keep up with all colors. That said retraining is neccessary. He is a pup and will try to get away with everything when you are not looking, just like your 2 year old ya can't take your eyes off of him. That said the sad part of being a dane owner is that just when they become perfect their health goes. If you get a dane to 6 that dane had a good life. Are some getting to live longer yes up to 11 or even 14 but 80% live to between 4 to 6.

Health is not good as their size is so big for their heart hard to believe as they have such big hearts but their ya go. Bloat 90% of bloat is brought on by stress. I used raised bowl but there is so much do and don't with bloat and for everyone who says raised ya have someone who says don't. Me I raised my bowls. I actually used those PopCorn tins ya get at holidays with a big stainless steel bowl in it and ran them thru the dishwasher every night. The best thing about the popcorn tins where that ya could get holiday themed ones or even ones that went with your room theme.

I am really sad to hear ya say you want to rehome your dane. Sad because you would never rehome your child if ya had a problem with one. But the dog you commited to as a pup, well when it needs time to retrain or just to enforce the training ya have in place, well that is just to much like work so give it away out of sight out of mind. Sure wish ya would rethink that and take the time to work with him.

He should not be out running without supervision at all times. He is too young for that. What is forgotten when new animals come into our lives is that it might be cute when they are pups but not when they are adults so all training should start right away if that pup is not going to be able to do something when it is an adult then stop it when it starts. Another words start how you mean to go on.

No dog should be allowed to jump up on a person not a small dog and not a large dog. Four on the floor should of been your first command. It should be the first thing taught to all dogs. When a dog comes up to someone they should immediatly sit quietly at that persons feet and wait to be acknowledged. NO MATTER WHAT SIZE THE DOG.

That said I have only one more thing to add. Someone said that you should not own a dane, to get a poodle or a different small breed. I need to disagree here. If you commit to a dane or any dog and you do not honor the commitment and do everything in your power to correct your mistakes with that dog, and you rehome it. Then you should not get another dog till you are able to commit to it and take the tough with the good. That dane is perfectly able to turn this around with your help. But you need some training to retrain that dog. Get help if ya have too but you fix the problem you created, then if you want to rehome him I say all well and good.

Not meaning to gang up on ya and sound harsh but I am so hardened to the disposable animal attitude of this generation that I get on a soap box.

Dogs like children need rules, regulations and discipline, affection and love fall in there when the other 3 are enforced.

Again not trying to attack anyone just giving my opinion as harsh as it is. Ya don't have to take it but thanks for letting me share it.

 

[sandypaws]

i have not read all comments... but this is for all destructive dogs...

usually if they are "good" when you are around.. then "bad" when you are not...
when they get into trouble,,it is because of bordom.. usually the smarter they are the more things they think of to do..
like i said before.. get some (large) cookie balls.. like a giant kong ball.. my akita loved his.. in the summer time you can stuff it full of canned dog food and then put it in the freezer.. when you leave, give it to him.. keeps them busy for HOURS...
i have one for my toy poodle, she rolls it all over trying to get the cookies out.. funny to watch
also they need lots of physical exersize.. a tired body is a tired mind, and he wont get into so much trouble..
also sit on command it OK.. but it takes a submissive dog to "laydown" on command.. most dominant dogs this is the hardest command to teach...
most danes are very easy going.. but YES they were bred as WAR dogs.. and to bring down ANY big game.. elk/deer/boar ect.


and again.. i did NOT mean a LITTERAL 2x4... i ment "firm training"..
i think anybody that litterally uses a 2X4 should be in jail..

 

[sandypaws]

this thread is not only for DANES.. it if for ANY type of dog...

 

[donnap1967]

We had our Dane for 10 years and she died of cancer. Thank God she never bloated. Some tips we were given on how to avoid bloat included raising their food to chest height. It's better than putting their bowl on the floor and having them bend way down to try to eat. Never feed them right after vigorous activity and allow them time to digest after eating before letting them exercise. We used to feed ours in the evening when we knew she would be quiet the rest of the night.

Another tip is feed a high quality dog food. The cheaper foods tend to "bloat" or absorb large amounts of water and make the food "blow up" too much. Also one more thing was we added a capful of vegetable oil to her food.

I am not sure these are veterinarian type suggestions but like I said, we never had a problem with bloat so I don't know if we were lucky or if it was our methods.

I have to find a picture of Missy to post. I miss her more than ever now that I have been reading all about your danes and looking at their pictures.

Someday I would love to have another Dane. Even though they live a short life they are such a pleasure I would definately do it all over again.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
i also soak my dogs food in warm water..so it is swollen already before gets in their tummy....you metioned veg. oil in their food...what is that for? maybe i'll give that a try also..thanks, Wendy ;o)

 

[donnap1967]

OK the only picture I could find on this computer was this really old one of her first birthday celebration. I will have to find some better ones to post later.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
awww! that is so cute! i can tell she much loved!

 

[donnap1967]

Thanks redhen, she was VERY much loved. The oil was supposed to be good for their coat and skin. She always had a nice shiny coat so I guess it helped.

 

[mikarod]

I've read all of the posts and after thinking...

Why not do positive reinforcement training on a leash? Put him on a leash with a pinch collar and keep him RIGHT next to you. Don't let him look anywhere for long periods of time, because he's concentrating on how to best get ahold of one.

Then, when he calms down, loosen the slack...only a little. Until he calms down again. Move around the pen and watch for tensing of his muscles or concentration of that big ole brain.

When he does something good...reward him. If he lunges/jumps/'plays around/concentrates too hard on one bird give a quick jerk and give a low voice command such as "No." or "Don't."