Great danes and the flock

[mamaKate]

Quote:
Please don't feel bad about giving your dog another home. It sounds like you've tried as best you can and it just isn't working. Sometimes a dog that is a total pain in one situation can be a real treasure in the right home. It sounds like the best choice to me. Then you could get the kids a pup that's easier to manage. As for the color, it's called merle. It's considered a defect. You can't show them and some breeders put them down at birth because they often carry deafness, blindness or sterility. I had a merle female for 8 years. She was great with kids and other animals but I had her in the suburbs inside the house and with a fenced yard. Danes (especially young ones ) don't need dominance as much as constant supervision. I hope you find the right solution.

 

[bUg_Farm]

donnap,

It's interesting that the vet recommended vegetable oil. I don't know for sure but I'm guessing it's preventative for any gas build up. In goats, if they get frothy bloat, vegetable oil can be administered as a method to break up the gas bubbles.

It makes sense - I may just research it a bit and implement it into my dane's diet.

I love the black danes - and I think I get the biggest kick when people say "wow, that's the biggest lab I've ever seen". Maybe because we kept his ears natural they think he's a lab ... maybe. But, it cracks me up every time!

 

[donnap1967]

Quote:
Hrm, I never knew that about goats. It does make a lot of sense.

 

[sundance]

[cw]is mine just a freak
NO I have a female identical to him. Only she is about 9 years old now, and the roo I have runs her in the house every time he sees her. Rasha is good with children, and chickens, other pets and even cats.Katie, my GGD loves her. I am 5'3 and Rasha stands above my waist. Still my baby. Oh I also have a pitt bull, a poodle mix and a yorkie, goes from one end of the size scale to the other. marrie

I pour some vegetable oil on Rasha's food everynight, to keep her coat glossy and in good condition, IT DOES NOT HELP WITH THE GAS, SHE CAN CLEAR A ROOM IN MINS.

 

[b.hromada]

I guess that I have been lucky with my two female danes. at first when the chickens were small, we had to keep an eye on the girls, because they thought that they were something to play with. After that though, it has been fine. I am also a foster for kittens from our local animal control, and they just love them!

Its really quite cute to see, such big dogs with these tiny little things.
Now, on the other hand, I also have a mixed pit bull, he is one year old, and he did hurt one of my ducks, because he chased her down, and bit her on her neck. Thank god, my husband was able to fix her up. He also likes to get into the back yard where we keep our chickens and go into their coop and eat the eggs!

That gets me so mad! My husband says that on a farm, he'd be shot! I'm happy that I have a separation in our back yard, with a gate that we keep shut, so that it won't happen again, at least I hope not, with my kids and all, leaving the door open, but I think even they get the picture now!

 

[malia]

My pit bull and great dane don't show any intrest in the chickens or ducks in their pens. The great dane also likes to poke her head in my brooder when I have chicks, but has never attempted to have a quick snack. However, when I brought home 2 new full sized chickens and they got loose, both dogs could not resist the chase. I am just lucky I have 2 very clumsy, some what well-behaved dogs.

 

[ravencreek]

ok I decided to NOT read the whole thread and only what the poster wrote. I just want to say a few things. I have owned/bred Great Danes for 7 years and it is in the training in EARLY puppyhood. I currently have a 4 time CKC Grand Champ and I can turn her loose with the rabbit, chickens, horses,goats, llama, and cats. She is also trained in what the breed is origionally known for which is boar hunting. She was also a star pupil in her Schutzhund class. Yet on the same farm I have a 2 yr old Champion that I can't trust to be with the same animals. I purchased him from a breeder and he was 15 weeks old when I got him. I missed the critical time to teach him to "respect" the other animals. I say this because if anyone has ever owned a dane they know that a 15 week old puppy is fairly LARGE and hard to wear out for training. I currently have 5 danes(all live inside) ranging from 6 months to 7 years. One of which is deaf. The others are all show dogs. I can turn all but the 2 yr old champion out with the animals without any worry. But I raised all the other pups from 7-8 weeks of age and handled/exposed them daily and they were taught by me as well as a rooster I have to have "respect" for them. So its not really the danes fault that he killed the chickens. To a dane they are mearly a moving squeeky toy unless it was taught before hand to respect the chickens. Don't get down on yourself. You can ALWAYS train the dog to leave them alone but it will take work on your part. I suppose it all depends on how much the dog means to you and your family. If you need training ideas PM me and I will try to help you as much as possible. I had a private trainer come to help me and we are working with my dane to teach him not to bother the animals.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I have dobermans and chickens. I also have secure pens.

Ditto. My CHICKENS are in the secure pens with hot wire, security cameras, motion detectors that turn on lights, etc. My dogs have their own runs for when they are not in the house or by my side.

Yes, my dogs are VERY well trained. So are my horses. But that does not mean I am willing to test that training on chickens, ducks, or small children. I'm the "better safe than sorry" type.

 

[MrMacon]

Do you have one to spare or know of one who needs a good home and demanding job?